Ray Jorbel of Wayne, age eighty-two, passed away peacefully on Wednesday March 29, 2017 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Ray was born and raised in Clifton, he graduated from Clifton High School with the class of 1952. Immediately after his graduation he was hired by Western Electric as an Installer. Western Electric then joined with AT&T and eventually became Lucent Technologies. Ray worked his way up through the ranks finally earning the title of Regional Supervisor of the entire Northern District. Having worked for thirty-seven years with Western Electric and Lucent, Ray had the opportunity to take an early retirement package at the age of fifty-five in late 1989. Ray was able to enjoy nearly thirty years of retirement with his wife and spend much more quality time with his family. Ray was also a columnist for one of Lucent Technologies newsletters for twenty years, where he wrote articles concerning updates about retirees benefits and so on.

When Ray was around sixteen years old, he was with some friends at the Passaic Roller Skating Rink. During that night there was a “Ladies Choice” song played, and a pretty young girl by the name of Dolly Dowling picked him to skate with her. They hit it off wonderfully and after about two weeks of phone calls back and forth they went on their first date to the movies at the Fabian Theater in Paterson. As fate would have it they fell in love. They dated for almost five years and were married on August 4th, 1956.

Immediately after getting married, Dolly and Ray moved into an apartment in a multi-family house owned by Dolly’s Parents in Totowa. They spent the next four years together in Totowa until eventually moving to Wayne in the Early 1960’s. Wayne was where Ray and Dolly called home and raised their five daughters. Tragedy struck Ray and Dolly’s lives in 2004 when their oldest daughter, Cynthia, passed away. Although Ray was heartbroken, he found the strength and will from the love of his family to go on with his life. Dolly remembers Ray bringing her flowers for no particular reason, just to say he loved her. Dolly and Ray cherished over sixty years of a loving and loyal marriage.

Ray enjoyed fishing, playing golf, and was an avid New York Giants Fan. Dolly and Ray traveled together and enjoyed many trips to Atlantic City. Ray could fix just about anything, from electronics to small engines and also could build a multitude of things. Ray was also dedicated to his Catholic faith, and Ray and Dolly were parishioners of Holy Cross Church in Wayne, where Ray also volunteered his skills in fixing and building. He was also an usher and helped work the collections during mass. Above all of his hobbies, talents, devotions and skills, Ray’s deepest love and devotion was for his family. He was a loving and loyal husband, a devoted father and cherished grandfather.

Ray is survived by his wife Miriam (nee Dowling) of Wayne, four daughters; Linda Rizk and her husband Thomas of Franklin Lakes, NJ, Lisa Jorbel-Brown and her husband George of Chattanooga, TN, Diana Clark and her husband John of Bluffton, SC, and Sharon Russo and her husband John of Wayne, NJ, ten grandchildren; Geoffery Rizk, Alexandra Keane, Melissa Sankar, Scott Jorbel, Kyle Jorbel, Ryan Clark, Taylor Clark, Logan Clark, John Michael Russo, and Abigail Russo, he was predeceased by his oldest daughter Cynthia Jorbel in 2004, and was also predeceased by his four sisters; Olga, Emily, Irene, and Julia, as well as his brother Andy.

Those wishing to make a donation in Ray’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959

Mitzi Schroeder, age 91, of Wayne, passed away at home on Monday, March 27, 2017.

Mitzi Schroeder was well known in Wayne for many years as a successful realtor, enjoying her career well into her seventies. A Pines Lake resident for 63 years, she was the first woman President of the Pines Lake Association, and a fifty year member and past President of the Pines Lake Woman's Club and its literature group, and the Pines Lake Garden Club, and more recently a member of the Pines Lake Seniors and the New Jersey Hosta Society, organizations in which she remained active until her passing. An expert gardener, she was also a respected flower arranger and instructor, winning many statewide and local awards and was invited to exhibit regularly at the Montclair Museum, the Van Ripper Hopper House, and Sunnybank. She was a founding member of Our Lady of Consolation Church.

The widow of George F. Schroeder, she is survived by her three daughters, Georgette Schroeder Rilinger, Jeanne Schroeder, and Mitzi Schroeder Brooks, her sons in laws Eric Rilinger and David Carlson, her two grandchildren Anneliese and Cassandra Rilinger, and her brother Philip C. Forst and his family.

Christine Parese, age 65, of Wayne, passed Sunday, March 26, 2017.

Born in Paterson to Frank and the late Genevieve Parese, Christine was raised in West Paterson, graduating from Passaic Valley High School with the Class of 1969. A proud twirler for the Passaic Valley Hornets, Chris still had her twirler batons and high school varsity jacket emblazoned with crisscrossed batons. Christine graduated from Montclair State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

Just out of high school Christine found work at the Singer-Kearfott Guidance & Navigation Corporation in West Paterson and was the lead Finance Specialist for many years before retirement. She always enjoyed her work and was especially proud of her assignments relating to NASA and the Space Shuttle Program.

Christine was fond of travel, visiting England, China and the Caribbean. However, her favorite destination was much closer to home at Seaside Heights and the Jersey Shore. As her dad once said, “She had salt water in her veins.” For many years Christine enjoyed a beachfront home in Seaside Heights and truly loved socializing with all the family and friends in that community and with those who visited. In fact, anyone who stayed overnight was required to attend a balcony view of the sunrise over the ocean, regardless of what time they went to bed.

Christine loved and kept in touch regularly with an extensive circle of friends drawn from high school, work, and North and South Jersey. She will be lovingly remembered for her fun-loving and extroverted personality, mischievous sense of humor, big laugh, and love of bling. She had beautiful taste in decorating and was meticulous to a fault. In both Wayne and Seaside, everything had its place and was chosen with care. Chris was also known for her holiday contributions. For years she was in charge of the stuffing at Thanksgiving, and could always be counted on for her delicious gourmet cornbread casserole and outrageous cranberry sauce.

Christine is the loving daughter of Frank Parese of Seaside Heights and the late Genevieve Parese; cherished wife of the late John McDiarmid (2007); loved sister of Robert Parese of Paterson. She will be sorely missed by her stepfamily Lisa Maguire of Stockholm, Lorelei Moskowitz of Pequannock and Cassie and Michael Maguire. She is also survived by many loving maternal cousins including Elaine Landau, Joe and Tom Scehovic, James Stewart, Nancy DeCandia, Jacqueline Beraitis, Marlene Grant, Karen Smith, Lauren Perkins and Gary Wright. She will be equally missed by paternal cousins Adele Buschmann, Rosemarie Occhipinti, Shirley Maietta, and Richard Nugnes. Christine also leaves behind many loving second cousins and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312. www.diabetes.org/donate

Elizabeth (Betty) Dorothy Fick, of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - formally of Wyckoff and Green Pond New Jersey - passed away peacefully on March 24, 2017.

Betty was born in Koln, Germany, the only child to Otto and Elizabeth Peters, on October 15, 1921. She was 95 years old.

She enjoyed a career in the New York City garment industry for 30 plus years, modeling and showroom sales.

Betty was an avid tennis and bridge player. In her later years she was ranked #4 for 65 and over in the state of Florida and achieved the level of silver life master in bridge.

She also loved entertaining friends and family.

Betty was a talented seamstress, making and designing many of her own clothes and home decor items.

Her husband of 51 years, Russell Fick, Sr. predeceased her in 1993. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Galdo (Ralph), and son Russell Fick, Jr. (Irene), grandchildren Kathryn Reed, Elizabeth Pettit, Russell Fick III, Sandi Bimbi, and great grandchildren, Sarah, Juliet, and Emily Reed, Conner and Kinsey Pettit, Colin and Gwenyth Fick, Landon and Austin Bimbi.

John Jenkins, age 88, of East Stroudsburg, PA and formerly of Haledon, NJ passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 23, 2017.

John was born and raised in Paterson, NJ. He had to leave school before graduating to help his parents and seven siblings. When John was just seventeen-and-a-half years old, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, in January of 1946. Stationed in Fort Hood, Texas, he proudly served in the Second Armored Division known as “Hell on Wheels” as a gunner in the tank division.

Upon completion of his Army service, John returned home and soon after met the love of his life. Her name was Marion Turner and their first date was a night at the movies with friends. What followed was a loving relationship which lead to marriage on May 6, 1951. They enjoyed forty-six years as man and wife in what all who knew them would describe as a match made in heaven and the envy of many. They were always so happy to be together and they remained as such until Marion’s passing in 1997. John and Marion cherished annual family trips down the Jersey shore to Seaside Heights and later in life, a dream-come-true trip to the Grand Old Opry in Nashville Tennessee in celebration of their wedding anniversary.

John was very skilled with his hands and so he enjoyed a career for many years as a special class gas pipe fitter with Public Service Electric & Gas Company. In his spare time he was always found ways to enrich his and the lives of others. As a resident of Haledon and a U.S. Army veteran, he joined the American Legion Post 267 in Haledon and after years of proud service through various philanthropic endeavors including distribution of Christmas gifts to the poor, raising money for kids through UNICEF, visiting elderly veterans in the local veteran homes and hospitals, and organizing countless fundraising dinners, John was bestowed the honor of becoming a Lifetime Member. His dedication was so great that he remained Post 267’s treasurer until just two years ago when he turned 86! John made many good friends in the American Legion and he always looked forward to annual week-long deer hunting trips with some of those friends. He also loved to fresh-water fish and tend to his vegetables – especially tomato and cucumbers that he grew in his backyard garden.

John was the best “Grandpa” to his three grandsons. He loved to keep the boys busy by exposing them to all kinds of adventures. Teaching them to fish was one of those adventures. He’d take them to the Franklin Lakes Reservoir or on weekend trips to the Eldred Preservation in New York State where he’d invariably spend more time untangling their fishing lines which would get caught in trees, power lines, or just crossed up with each other. He enjoyed letting his grandsons cut the grass and taking them to the American Legion Hall where he would proudly show them off to his friends.

After his wife Marion passed away, John did find special friendship again when he met Arnolda Pinon. They became true companions and John enjoyed a warm relationship with Arnolda’s children and grandchildren as well.

Everyone who knew John will miss his great sense of humor, always happy disposition, patience, and loving, friendly demeanor.

John was the loving husband of Marion who predeceased him in 1997. He is survived by his two dear children: Nancy Jenkins and companion Keith Doherty of E. Stroudsburg, PA, and John Thomas and wife Bonnie Jenkins of Rockfield, KY; three grandsons: John and wife Jamie Keeney, Jason Keeney, and Daniel and wife Chelsae Keeney; great-grandchildren: Jordan, Lena, and Aiden; his brother Charles and wife Janice Jenkins of Wirtz, VA, and his sister Betty Bariezas of Palm Springs, FL; dear companion Arnolda Pinon and her children: Rita and husband Glen Stafford, Debbie and husband Doug Highland, Dennis and wife Amy Pinon, Christina and husband James Bouwens, and Tamara and husband Hank Pena; and step-grandchildren: Erin, Shannon and Lauren Spreen. He was also predeceased by two sisters and three brothers.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in John’s name are asked to consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Donor Services, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Steven C. Robinson, age 55 of Bronx, NY died unexpectedly in Wayne on Wednesday, March 22, 2017.

Steve grew up on Gunther Avenue in the Bronx and graduated from the Harry S. Truman High School near Co-Op City. He was a bright kid and began working in the computer industry during the early 1980’s. He learned quickly and enjoyed a career managing data and technology for firms such as Union Bank of Bavaria, Bear Sterns, and Data Industries, all in New York City. More recently he had been recruiting in the technology industry.

When he wasn’t working, Steve loved to gamble! Visiting the casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas were pure joy to him. He played Blackjack and loved the slots too, and the Borgata was among his favorite casinos. He was a very personable guy and also enjoyed meeting people, networking, and he was genuinely interested in really knowing his friends. He had a real knack for cooking and his family referred to him as “Chef Rumana".

Steve met his second half, Babette Simon, many years ago but they had fallen out of touch. Recently, the two of them bumped into one another on the streets of New York City and thus began their current relationship. Once they began dating, they never looked back. Steve became Babette’s best friend and they truly enjoyed being together. Although Steve never had any children of his own, he cared for Babette’s two kids as if they were his own and he was very kind and nurturing to them. Jake and Raquel nicknamed him “T-Mobile,” and they’ve had a special bond with Steve. Jake enjoyed getting his haircut with Steve, followed by going out for chicken wings, and they always watched “Steven Universe” together. They will all miss him dearly.

Steve is survived by his beloved Babette of Wayne, her two children; Jake and Raquel, a brother; Louis Williams of Chester, VA, and two sisters; Angela Agostinelli of Colonial Heights, VA and Lisa Payne.

Those wishing to make a donation in lieu of flowers in Steven’s memory are asked to please consider Autism New Jersey, 500 Horizon Drive, Suite 530, Robbinsville, NJ 08691, or visit www.autismnj.org.

Maria T. Senti, 84 of Wayne, died on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Born and raised in Cuba, Maria came to America with her family in 1960. Fleeing the Castro regime wasn’t easy, but her family was sponsored by a Reverend Miller, a Methodist pastor, who was able to secure the necessary papers and bring them to the United States. He even helped Maria, who was just twenty-seven years old at the time, to secure a job. Reverend Miller also sponsored Maria’s husband at the time, and did his best to assist him in his own aspirations of becoming a Methodist minister.

Maria originally lived in Dade City, Florida but moved to Paterson, NJ in 1964 when her husband at the time, became the pastor of the Methodist church in town.

She went to school at Montclair State University where she received her undergraduate degree in Teaching then furthered her education at William Paterson University in Wayne where she earned Master’s Degrees in Bi-Lingual Teaching and Guidance Counseling.

Maria worked at Head Start in Paterson, NJ, as a Social Worker for several years before becoming a career Guidance Counselor with the Paterson Public Schools until retirement in 1994.

Maria loved music, could play the piano and sing. For over twenty years she played the piano at the Trinity Methodist Church in Paterson and was the Director of the day care at the church. She was very proud of her Cuban heritage, would always tell stories about life in Cuba, loved Spanish food, and treated everyone like she was their mother. She had a great sense of humor, loved to tell jokes, and was always fashionably dressed.

She was a member of the Wayne United Methodist Church for the past seventeen years.

She was the devoted mother of daughter Reina and Michael Cerce of Wayne, daughter Maria and Miguel Gonzalez of Oakland, daughter Susanna Senti and Veronica Abarca of Dover, son Anthony Senti of Florida; cherished grandmother of Joseph and Tammy Cerce of Florida, Michael and Lynette Gonzalez of Ringwood, Kristopher and Brittny Gonzalez of Florida, Desiree Senti of Florida, Michael Cerce of Florida, Austin Cerce of Florida, and Christopher and Meridith Purdy of Florida; much loved great-grandmother of Lila Gonzalez of Florida, Gabriela Gonzalez of Ringwood.

Giuseppe “Joe” Sabia, age 84, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2017.

Giuseppe was born and raised in Serino, Italy. As a young boy, he worked with his dad on the family farm where crops including chestnuts, wheat and potatoes were grown.

Giuseppe’s parents had friends in a neighboring town who had a nice daughter named Cristina. Giuseppe and Cristina’s parents arranged for their children to meet at a town festival. It turned out to be a good arrangement as Giuseppe and Cristina fell in love, and got married on Sunday, November 29, 1953. Soon afterwards, this young couple decided to make a go of it in the United States. They lived for a short time in Newark, then they moved to Paterson, ultimately settling on Nagle Street where they raised their family and remained for forty-one years. In 2006, they moved to Wayne where they remained to the present.

Giuseppe, or Joe as he became known in the U.S., worked in the textile industry, as a Burlington machine operator. Over the span of more than forty years, he worked at various textile mills, most recently with Marjon Dye and Finish Company of East Rutherford, until retirement at age sixty-five in 1987. Joe worked with a high degree of integrity and took great pride in his craft, earning him the respect of his fellow workers.

Joe was a quiet man who found great enjoyment and pleasure communing with the great outdoors. He was very proud of his big, beautiful backyard garden in which he literally grew every vegetable under the sun. His hard worked typically yielded upwards of 150 jars of tomato sauce which his wife Cristina canned every season. They made quite a good team! Joe was also a dedicated hunter of upland game and big game - especially deer. Every year in fall and winter months, he and his son Carmine engaged in the pursuit of hunting with bow or gun. Joe frankly loved it! You could always find Joe doing something with his hands and winemaking was another of his passions. While he derived great enjoyment from these hobbies, Joe’s greatest passion was being with his family. In younger years he enjoyed vacationing with his wife and children, and his brothers and their families down the Jersey shore in Wildwood Crest. They’d all enjoy the sun and surf by day, then staying in the same hotel together, he recalled beautiful evenings, maybe with some delicious cheese and sharing a glass of his homemade wine. He was a loving “Poppy” to his grandchildren and was thankful for the blessing of sharing in their lives in his later years.

Joe was the beloved husband of Christina (Mazza); loving father of: Stella and husband Dan Pasquariello of Wayne, and Carmine and wife Marissa Sabia of Wayne; cherished grandfather of: Danielle and husband Dan Bartolomeo, Alyssa and husband Michael Berhang, and Francesa Sabia; adored great-grandfather of Rachel, Victoria, and Isabella; dear brother of Antonio and wife Maria Sabia of Totowa; and dear uncle of several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Ciriaco Sabia in 2013.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Giuseppe’s name are asked to consider Our Lady of Pompei Church.

Reverend Robert “Bob” Wayne Barrowclough, 77, died peacefully on Sunday afternoon surrounded by his wife and two children.

Born in Paterson, NJ on December 29, 1939 to George W. Barrowclough and Roberta Verduin and raised in Hawthorne, NJ, Bob graduated from Hawthorne High School, and received his B.A. in Religion from Princeton University in 1961. He earned his Master of Divinity from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1965.

Bob then completed a mission with the Jicarilla Apache tribe in New Mexico before commencing forty years of service at North Reformed Church in downtown Newark, NJ, where he served as Associate Pastor from 1965-1972 and Senior Pastor 1973 to 2005. After a brief retirement, Bob became Pastor at Cedar Crest Chapel in Pompton Plains in 2007 retiring in 2016.

At North Reformed Church, Bob delivered strength and guidance to those in need and ran Bessie Green Community, Inc. which provided food, shelter, and clothing to the poor. Throughout his ministry, he regularly visited the sick and shut-in and was a mentor and friend to people of all faiths. Bob’s joy in life was helping and comforting others. He was humble, sincere, and dedicated to God’s work.

Bob is survived by Priscilla, his wife of 34 years; daughter, Naomi; son, Peter; two sisters, Brenda Brodie and Karen Hancock; cousins, Marsha Shotmeyer, Keith Vandervelt, and Donna Anson; and mother-in-law, Evelyn De Leeuw.

Donations in Bob’s memory can be made to the New Brunswick Theological Seminary (a place Bob held near and dear to his heart), 35 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, http://www.nbts.edu/, or the Green Pond Volunteer First Aid Squad, PO Box 251, Newfoundland, NJ 07435.

Mae Giardino, age 84 of Pompton Lakes, died peacefully on Friday, March 17, 2017.

Born and raised in Paterson, Mae was introduced to her husband Alfred in 1955. They went on their first date to the Meadowbrook in Cedar Grove for a night of dancing. They were soon engaged and then married on June 23, 1957 at St. John’s Cathedral in Paterson. They enjoyed a honeymoon to Niagara Falls and then settled in South Paterson, where they raised their three children. In the early 1970’s, they made the move from Paterson to Pompton Lakes, where they have resided ever since. On June 23, 2016 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Mae worked for many years at the Pompton Lakes and Klugetown Bakeries. She always loved to cook and taught her grandchildren how to navigate the kitchen. Her eggplant parmigiana, veal scaloppini, and rock cornish game hens were some of her tastiest creations, and her family simply loved her cooking. Mae also enjoyed being taken on Sunday drives, usually to the Jersey Shore or up into the country, which usually included a stop at the famous Old Barn Milk Bar in Wayne.

During her eighty-four years, she never learned to drive and never got behind the wheel of a car, but that didn’t stop her from traveling! She had been to Hawaii, Bermuda, California, Canada, Las Vegas, and multiple trips to Disney World in Florida.

Mae also loved to watch detective shows and game shows, solve crossword puzzles, and play card games.

Mae was a selfless person in many regards, and she always put her family first. She proudly attended every school play, soccer game and dance recital without fail. She spoiled her husband, children, and grandchildren at every opportunity, and they will each miss her dearly.

Mae is survived by her beloved husband Alfred of Pompton Lakes, her three children; Norma Giardino-Gray and her husband Ronald of Wayne, Susan Colaneri and her husband Robert of Bloomingdale, Steven Giardino and his wife Lori of Wayne, four grandchildren; David Colaneri and his wife Jessica of Bloomingdale, Daniel Colaneri of Bloomingdale, Nicole and Alyssa Giardino of Wayne, and one great-granddaughter, Charlotte Colaneri. Loving Aunt to many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her five siblings, Christopher Dean, George Dean, Lillian Dean, Marie Dean and Veronica Mizzone.

Donations in Mae’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the St. Mary’s Food Pantry, St. Mary’s Church, 17 Pompton Ave, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.

Anthony R. Pante, 79 of Towaco, NJ, died Thursday, March 16, 2017. He had lived in Wayne for fifteen years before moving to Towaco in 1995.

Tony enjoyed an illustrious career with State Farm Insurance Co. that lasted more than fifty years. He started with the company after college where he trained at the Pennsylvania Regional Office and then was transferred to the new Wayne Regional Office and began is journey when the new corporate offices opened on Rt. 23. He later had his own State Farm agency in the Packanack Shopping Center on Rt. 23.

Tony met his wife Marie (nee DeCaro) in 1978 at that very same State Farm office which later became his own. They married on July 4, 1981. They settled in Wayne to raise their family. Tony was a devoted father who made it to every activity the kids were involved in. He was a big sports fan and enjoyed endless seasons tailgating at GIANTS games for many years. It was a true joy for him to take his friends and family to those games. Tony and Marie cherished their time together at their home in Manchester Vermont. Tony was always such a generous and sentimental man. At Christmas time, he loved to put on his Santa hat and have every grandchild sit on his lap for a photo with Pop-Pop Tony. Tony and Marie had many wonderful vacations, including several memorable trips to Italy and too many of the magnificent beaches that the Caribbean had to offer. They were truly blessed to have enjoyed thirty six years of loving marriage together, and Marie will miss him dearly.

Tony’s grandchildren were so very precious to him. He made a point of going to as many of their special events as he could, and he also spoiled them with loving gifts. They will all miss him dearly, but his love will always be evident whenever they think of him.

Tony is survived by his devoted wife Marie of Towaco, NJ, by his four children; Christine Scher and her husband Greg of Madison, NJ, Steven Pante and his wife Marjory of Manalapan, NJ, Rick DeLisi and his wife Daniela of Flanders, NJ, and Laura Palumbo and her husband Richard of Basking Ridge, NJ, ten wonderful grandchildren, as well as his brother; Dennis Pante and his wife Helen of Flanders, NJ.

In lieu of flowers donations in Tony’s memory would be appreciated to the St. Francis Breadline, 144 West 32nd St, New York, NY 10001 or visit www.stfrancisbreadline.org.

Choice E. Hunter, age 86 of Lincoln Park, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. She had lived in the Pines Lake neighborhood of Wayne since 1963 and retired to Lincoln Park in 2003.

Choice had been a Registered Nurse throughout her career. She began her nursing education at Fitchburg State University and also studied at Johns Hopkins University before earning her BSN degree. She worked briefly as a nurse before taking on the daunting responsibilities of being a full-time mom. After her children were grown, she began nursing again for several area physicians and also worked several years at Paterson General Hospital in Wayne. She finished her career at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation where she specialized in helping patients with AIDS.

On November 30, 1957, she married William Hunter and thus began a wonderful marriage that endured for fifty eight years. The two of them were like the best of friends. Together, they enjoyed a great social life and lots of travel. They embarked on more than ten cruises, including a trip up the Amazon River and another one through the Panama Canal. They visited Aruba with regularity, and visited nearly each one of the fifty United States during their many excursions. Raising their family in Pines Lake was the highlight of her life and she was very proud of her children. She was a very loving and nurturing mom, an excellent cook, and her Thanksgiving feasts were always to be remembered. She also enjoyed relaxing with her needlepoint, knitting, tending to her flower garden, and watching the birds who visited her well-stocked feeders. She was simply a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother whom they will all miss dearly.

Choice is survived by her beloved children; John Hunter and his wife Barbara of Lewistown, Montana, Sally Herman and her husband Ronald of Pompton Plains, NJ and Choice Soden and her husband Scott of Pequannock, NJ, eight grandchildren; Amanda, Ashley Steven, Billy, Nicolette, Hunter, Garrett, and Danny, her sister; Priscila Brightman of Fall River, MA, brother Dawson Getchell and his wife Edith Ann of Austin, TX, sister-in-law Alva Breithaupt of Wayne, NJ, brothter-in-law Jim Martin and extended family.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband William in 2014, her sister Hope Martin in 2014, brother-in-laws Bob Brightman, Malcolm Breithaupt and John (Jack) Hunter.

Choice’s family is grateful for the selfless and frequent services rendered by the Lincoln Park First Aid Squad. Donations in Choice’s memory to their benefit would therefore be much appreciated. Mail to: 34 Chapel Hill Rd., PO Box 332, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035-0332. Donations to Choice’s church would also be greatly appreciated; Preakness Reformed Church, 131 Church Lane, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Ralph Anson Clark, Jr age 87 of Pequannock passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Ralph was born and raised in Galveston, TX. He graduated from Ball High School and attended college at Texas A&M and the University of Texas in Houston. Ralph’s higher education was cut a little short when he was called to serve his country in the United States Air Force from 1951 until 1954.

During his time in the Air Force he took leave in Miami and met a young lady by the name of Janet. They communicated through letter and after Ralph’s service ended they started dating. Janet and Ralph married in May of 1956. They first moved to Kearney, NJ for a very short time and then settled in Pequannock. Ralph would call Pequannock his home the rest of his life and raised his two daughter there. Ralph cherished twenty-four years of his marriage with Janet until her passing in 1980.

Although Ralph was heartbroken, he found and fell in love again with a woman named Doris Hart whom he had known and worked with for many years. After a wonderful and romantic courtship they were married in November of 1981 in Wyckoff at Grace United Methodist Church. Doris and Ralph stayed in Pequannock and cherished thirty-six years of loving and loyal marriage. They enjoyed traveling together and took a special and memorable trip to Europe recently.

Following Ralph’s discharge from the US Air Force, Ralph got a job as a cost Estimator for Singer Kearfott in West Paterson. He held this position for over thirty-five years until he was forced into an early retirement in 1988. Ralph was volunteer fireman for the Pequannock Township Fire Company #2. He enjoyed socializing with the guys there and the camaraderie that came with it. Ralph was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Pompton Lakes and the VFW in Pequannock. He was also a parishioner of St Timothy’s Church in Wayne many years ago.

Ralph enjoyed bowling and spending time with his friends and neighbors. He was a huge college football fan as well as a devoted fan of the Dallas Cowboys. Aside from all of his interests and talents, nothing was more precious to Ralph than his family. He was dedicated husband, a devoted father and a loving and cherished grandfather. Ralph touched the lives of many people and a will be sincerely missed by all who knew him.

Ralph is survived by his wife Doris (nee Hart), two daughters; Elaine Trama and her husband Joel of Clifton and Corrine Vara and her husband Anthony of New Hampton, NY, five grandchildren; Marc, Jocelyn, Julie, Jared, and Anthony Bryan, he was predeceased by his first wife Janet Clark in 1980.

Those wishing to make a donation in Ralph’s name may make it to the charity of their choice.

Dorothy A. Tulko, “Dottie”, age 74, of Lodi, passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2017.

Dottie was born and raised in Jersey City, the older of Edward and Susan (nee Mras) Kaminski’s two children. She attended William L. Dickinson High School where her kid brother Butch was her greatest ally. You see, Dottie liked to cut school from time-to-time. Of course, she didn’t want her parents to know, and with her brother Butch working in the office, they never did learn of her sneaky ways because Brother Butch would intercept the cards meant to be sent home recording her absence. Despite missing some days, Dottie did graduate with the Class of 1960.

Another fond memory of those teenage years was meeting her husband Joseph. Dottie met him in high school, they dated throughout high school, then married in 1963 at St. Anne’s Church in Jersey City. A couple of years later, Dottie assumed the role of homemaker and mom with the welcomed arrival of a little girl named Jodie who was followed by a little brother Joe a year-and-a-half later.

Dottie lovingly attended to her husband Joe’s needs prior to his untimely passing in 1974 after just eleven years of marriage, but after he died, she was forced to get a job to provide for her two young, growing children. In her search for employment she initially found work as a cocktail waitress at a place called The Captain’s Table in Jersey City. She ultimately settled into a career as a secretary with Roadway Services Trucking Company working at the Carlstadt location. Her stint with Roadway was no mere one as it spanned 50 years and culminated with a 2005 celebratory retirement party at the Pequannock American Legion Hall, put on by family and colleagues.

Dottie’s energetic personality was magnetic, and family and friends loved having her in their lives. One such friend was Kathy Van Cleft, a young lady Dottie met way back in the 1960’s. She and Dottie enjoyed lots of happy times including vacations with their families down the Jersey shore in Point Pleasant. They made quite a pair, often comparing themselves to Lucy (Kathy) and Ethel (Dottie) from the “I Love Lucy” television show. Dottie loved having her family gathered for the holidays and ham and kielbasa were the traditional favorites served on Christmas Eve. She always spent as much time as possible with her children, grandchildren, brother and sister-in-law and nieces and nephews. A crafty individual, she excitedly crocheted angel Christmas tree toppers for everyone’s tree and she took great joy in knitting scarves and blankets for all her grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Without a doubt, Dottie’s favorite pastime was probably testing her luck in Atlantic City. This love of chance began as a child when she learned how to gamble playing a board game called Pokeno. It progressed to nights with family and friends playing poker, black jack and twenty-one at home. Dottie loved that these game nights always involved the chance to win cash as a wager was always part of the fun. When visiting the casinos in Atlantic City, usually with her brother Butch, Dottie’s choice method was pulling the lever on the slot machines and, over the years, there were some thrilling moments when the machine spewed forth a winning tally of cash!

Those who knew and loved Dottie will miss the distinct sound of her voice, her typical bluntness – you always knew how she felt - and her inner and outward strength that was always an inspiring influence.

Dottie was the loving mom of Jodie Quinn and Joseph Tulko; cherished grandmother of Shannon, Joseph, Melody, Ricky, and Alex; dear sister of Butch and wife Trish Kaminski; and dear aunt of Eddie Kaminski, Jr., Kelly and husband Jason Spieser, and Amanda Kaminski. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Joseph in 1974, and her dear son-in-law Michael Quinn in 2017.

Barbara Spitzer (nee Fleisig), 84 of Monroe Township, NJ, died peacefully on Tuesday, March 14, 2017. Barbara had lived in Wayne, NJ since 1977 and had retired to Monroe Township, NJ.

Barbara was born in Brooklyn, New York, growing up in the Sheepshead Bay section. Her neighborhood was primarily comprised of Jewish and Italian residents, and the community was vibrant. Barbara subsequently enjoyed a very healthy zest for life. She always loved to have a good time, visiting Atlantic City nearly every other week, with a cocktail in hand, of course! Smiles, laughter, and good memories were a part of every day. Despite being a two-time cancer survivor and recently recovering from a broken back, Barbara simply never slowed down. She had a unique ability to ‘tell it like it is,’ and you always knew where you stood in Barbara’s eyes. Her son fondly recalls the day his mother told him “you’re fat,” and she then turned to his wife and said the same thing! You simply had to love her for her frank demeanor. However, not every waiter she encountered felt the same way. Barbara would often snap her fingers at restaurant wait staff, and it’s rumored that she tossed a dinner roll, with precise aim, at a waiter who wasn’t paying enough attention to her table.

Barbara’s heart was centered on her family. Raising three young boys essentially on her own, Barbara devoted all her time, effort and resources to doing the best she could for them. She worked tirelessly, spending all her savings on her boys, and she was still able to be there for them at all times. She was a “cool” mom in a sort of unconventional way, always willing to try new things, not too strict, yet steadfastly supportive. Becoming a grandmother was all too easy for her; she just continued in her loving and supportive role as she always had. Later in life, she enjoyed spending time with family at the Jersey Shore, boating, and relaxing with her family. Of course, even in her 80’s she didn’t slow down and just last week she was still driving a car and played cards and Mahjong with her friends. She was a wonderful matriarch to her family and will be deeply missed by all who loved her.

Barbara is survived by her three sons; Peter Feldman and his wife Linda of Wayne, Todd Feldman and his wife J.C. of New York City, and Michael Feldman and his wife Patti of Montebello, NY, five grandchildren; Amanda and Alexandria Feldman of Wayne, Jessica Feldman of Brooklyn, and Jared and Monica Feldman of Montebello, NY, and one brother; Robert Fleisig and his wife Carol of New York City. She was predeceased by her husband Abraham Spitzer in 2007.

Donations in Barbara’s memory would be appreciated to the America Cancer Society, NJ Chapter, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601, www.usacancerfoundation.org.

Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Brugaletta, age 79, of Oak Ridge, passed peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, on Sunday, March 12, 2017

She was born in Paterson and raised at 9-11 Thomas Street in the city. This was a six family home that was owned by her grandfather at the time. Betty graduated from Central High School in Paterson with the Class of 1955. Just out of high school she worked for the Garden State Credit Bureau in Clifton. In just a few years she met and married John Brugaletta on July 12, 1958 at Saint George’s Church in Paterson and honeymooned at the Jersey Shore. John and Betty enjoyed a wonderful fifty-nine years together with many fond memories of family summers at Chadwick Beach. Betty will be remembered for being the life of the party, strong willed, funny, generous, and considerate. She loved to go shopping with her sisters, spoiled her children and grandchildren at Christmas time with tons of gifts, and even had presents for the mailman, UPS delivery man, and just about anyone whose life she touched.

She was the loving wife of John Brugaletta; beloved mother of Doreen Watson and her husband Tom of Vernon, John Brugaletta, Jr and his significant other Sue McGurr of Haskell, and Kathy McCormick and her husband Kevin of Highland Lakes; cherished grandmother of Deena and Alyse Watson, Janell, Krysten, and Heather Brugaletta, Connor and Braydon McCormick; she was the loved sister of Arlene Loreng and her husband Walter of Kinnelon, and Dolores Salvati of Kinnelon.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the West Milford First Aid Squad, PO Box 387, West Milford, NJ 07480 would be greatly appreciated.

Camille R. Linder age 85 of Oakland, formerly of Wayne, passed peacefully at home while holding her daughter’s hand on Sunday, March 12, 2017.

She was born and raised in Garfield to the late John and Rose Maciag where she graduated from Garfield High School where she was a majorette. She lived in North Arlington, Wayne for thirty-five years, Spring Hill, Florida for nineteen years before moving to Oakland seven years ago.

Camille worked for the Aramis Company in Oakland as a computer technician for seventeen years before retiring in 1991.

She met George J. Linder while on a blind date to a New York Ranger game. George was smitten but Camille needed some additional persuasion. They eventually fell in love and were married on October 24, 1953 at Saint Stanislaus Kostka Church in Garfield.

For many years she was a parishioner of Holy Cross RC Church in Wayne.

Camille was a member of the Wayne Elks Lodge 2181 Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at the Oak Hill Hospital in Brooksville, Florida. She will be remembered for her calm, easygoing demeanor, and perpetual smile. Many will remember her weekly trips to have her hair and nails done and the fact that she was extremely organized. If you asked her for a tax bill from 1968 or a vaccination record for one of her children she would simply refer to her labeled plastic bins and find you what you needed.

She was the loving wife of 54 years to the late George J. Linder (2008); the devoted mother of Susan Linder of Oakland, George R. Linder and his wife Anita of Wayne, and Nancy Schicke and her husband Jim of Boonton Township; cherished grandmother of GM Linder and his fiancé Lyndsey Hentz, Brittany Linder, Jessica Schicke, Jimmy Schicke, and Jake Schicke; she was the dear sister of the late Theresa Daly (2016).

Sally Lee Murray, age 62, of Pompton Lakes, formerly of Saddle Brook, passed peacefully at home on Friday, March 10, 2017.

She was born in Passaic, to Anthony and Marcia Engravalle, and raised in Saddle Brook. She graduated from Saddle Brook High School with the Class of 1976 and continued her education at the Berkley Business School.

Sally worked for the American Cyanamid Corporation’s world headquarters in Wayne and went on to work as a Quality Assurance Specialist for the Purdue Pharma Company in Totowa for twenty-four years. She later worked in the Quality Assurance Operations of Lohman Therapy Systems in West Caldwell up until recently when her battle with Glioblastoma forced her to stop working.

She was a member of the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fair Lawn for many years.

Sally will be remembered as a loving, kind, non-judgmental, all around good person. She was fiercely loyal to both her family and friends.

Sally met Philip Murray, who had just finished his years of service in the United States Air Force, at a friend’s home in 1980. They fell in love and married on November 12, 1983 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Saddle Brook and honeymooned in St Lucia. As newlyweds Sally and Philip initially lived in an apartment in Little Ferry and soon found a home in Pompton Lakes where they have lived since 1985. They have enjoyed a loving, caring, “soul mates,” marriage of thirty-four years.

Sally was the beloved wife of Philip Murray; beloved mother of Brittany, Sean, and Ryan Murray; devoted daughter of Anthony Engravalle and the late Marcia Engravalle (2003); dear sister of Suzanne Weiss and the late Richard Weiss, Cindy Engravalle, and Marcia and Fred Parisi. She is also survived by her loving mother-in-law Jane Murray; sister-in-law Patti and her husband Lenny D’Amico; brother-in-laws Peter and his wife Janis Murray and Paul and his wife Melissa Murray. She was the much loved aunt of Rick, Kate, Jake, Tony, Laura, Kevin, Katie, Colby, Devin, Kyle, Courteney, Ashton, Colleen, Douglas, Danny, Rayna, David, Olivia Sage, and Kevin.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to The Valley Hospital Foundation, 223 N. Van Dien Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 07450 would be greatly appreciated.

Lois A. Herman, age 62, of Vernon, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 10, 2017.

Born and raised in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, NY, Lois’ family moved to Kirk Terrace in Wayne in 1967. Five years later, she graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1972.

After marriage, Lois was blessed with the birth of her two sons – David in August of 1974 and Michael in November of 1975. They continued to live on Manchester Court in Wayne until divorce ushered in a difficult series of chapters in Lois’ life. Despite many hardships, she always persevered, early on walking several miles to a job she secured at Child World in Wayne by the former Wayne Hills Mall on Hamburg Turnpike. She enrolled in computer classes to bolster her skills and her hard work paid off as this enabled her to land a better job with Anchor Bank in Wayne as a data processor. Her goal was always to do her best to provide the most decent childhood she could for her boys.

Lois and her sons moved to Vernon and she began working as a temporary employee with United Parcel Service. She remained in temporary status with the company from 1994 to 1997, then UPS hired her outright and she eventually rose to the title of Project Coordinator. Her role was to deploy software and hardware to data centers in Mahwah, NJ and Windward, GA and she performed her job with efficiency and integrity which earned her the admiration and respect of her fellow employees. One of those employees was a gentleman named Jim Clemo. Lois and Jim initially met working together on UPS’ internal help desk. Lois took such a liking to Jim that on August 12, 1995, she decided to ask him out. The feelings were mutual and a beautiful and loving companionship began and they remained devoted to each other for the past twenty-two years.

When the boys were little, Lois loved doing ceramics and she always looked forward to the Christmas holidays and gathering with her whole extended family for the annual cookie baking extravaganza. It usually took place in either the first or second weekend in December and the amount of cookies her family produced would have put cookie makers like Nabisco, Sunshine, and Keebler to shame – and the quality of her family’s cookies were much better too. Lois dearly cherished those memories spent with her family!

There’s no doubt that one of Lois’ greatest loves was NASCAR Racing. She and Jim were present to cheer on their favorites at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania, Dover International Speedway in Delaware, Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, Daytona International Speedway in Florida, and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Nevada. Lois got into NASCAR because of UPS company pride. United Parcel Service sponsored a car which was driven by Dale Jarrett but recently Martin Truex was her favorite driver. When going to Pocono Raceway, Lois and Jim would generously buy whole blocks of tickets and invite family and friends. Many good times were had at the races and the tailgate parties before and after the events.

Attending NASCAR races was a great way for Lois and Jim to see lots of great places in America including the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. She cherished a Celebrity Cruise she got to enjoy with her Mom to the Hawaiian Islands and one she and Jim got to take to Bermuda. Lots of vacations included family including visiting with Jim’s grandchildren in Canada and Kansas as well as trips to Myrtle Beach and to Disney World and Bush Gardens in Florida with her two grandchildren – Emma and Michael. Lois had such a generous spirit, she always insisted on paying all expenses so her family could pour all they’re fun-loving energy into having a good time. Just knowing that her family was cared for and having fun is what gave her a good time.

Everyone’s “Mom”, Lois would give you the shirt off her back. Her family is grateful for unconditional love and the tremendous example she set by overcoming tough times in her life while always maintaining a positive attitude.

Lois was the loving companion of Jim Clemo of Sussex; dear mom of: David Herman of Sussex, and Michael Herman of Sussex; cherished grandmother of Emma and Michael; and dear sister of: Linda and husband James Barry of Pompton Plains, Lorraine and husband Richard Hughes of Marlton, Lori Mitchell of Vernon, and Anthony Mitchell of Jonas, PA. She was predeceased by her parents: Peter E. and Antoinette “Toni” Mitchell; and her brothers: Peter Mitchell and William Mitchell.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Lois’ name are asked to consider The Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, New York 11714 or at www.lustgarten.org. 100% of every donation goes directly to pancreatic cancer research.

Grace Champy, age 79 formerly of Paterson and Wayne, NJ died peacefully on Thursday, March 9, 2017 in Rockwall, Texas.

Grace grew up in Paterson, NJ and graduated with a “Perfect Attendance” award from Eastside High School in 1955. She went on to work for Southern Bell Telephone and for Bunker Hill in Paterson. She also devoted many years working at her family’s business; Whitey’s Bar & Grill on Green Street in Paterson along with her Aunt Annie, her children and nieces and nephews who helped out on the weekends. After her children were grown, she became an office assistant at Digital Creations in Closter, NJ and Dentalmatrix in Broomall, PA both with her daughter Kim.

Grace was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Throughout the years when she was raising her children, Grace became the ‘neighborhood mom,’ offering a willing ear and her gentle heart to all of the neighborhood kids. Sometimes it seemed as though everyone came to her for emotional support and guidance. Of course, they may have been coming for her food as well – she was an excellent cook and baker. Grace also enjoyed gardening and tending to her flowers, swimming, and caring for her pet birds, cats, and dogs whom she loved dearly. If she wasn’t knitting, planning a trip to the casino, or dining out, then she was with her family. Her world revolved around her family and she has always been very proud of them.

Grace met her husband, Albert Champy, just after graduating high school. They were enrolled at dancing school together and this became a lifelong passion of theirs. They were the envy of the dance floor, spinning to the Cha Cha as well as many other traditional ballroom dances. Grace and Al married in 1957 at St. Michael’s Church in Paterson and settled on Buffalo Ave. in Paterson before moving to Wayne in 1963. They were blessed with a truly wonderful, fun loving marriage for thirty two years before Al passed away in 1989. Gratefully, they enjoyed many vacations together including a cruise to Bermuda, many vacations in the Catskills, and several trips to Pinellas Park, Florida to visit with her parents. They used to frequent the horse track, where Grace loved to bet on the ponies. It all added up to many happy memories for the entire family.

Grace is survived by her loving children; Kim McCullough and her husband Gary of Bushkill, PA, and Keith Champy of Rockwall, TX, six grandchildren; A.J. McNally of Bushkill, PA, Keith R. Champy of Rockwall, TX, Chad McCullough of Bushkill, PA, Peter McCullough (Nikki) of River Edge, NJ, Jason McCullough (Nicole) of Bushkill, PA, Carly Brownlee (Matt) of Bushkill, PA, three great-grandchildren, one sister; Eleanor Shepherd of Crystal River, FL, her uncle; Phil Bartolotto (Doris) of Fair Lawn, NJ, her aunt Anne Pelosi of Totowa, NJ, her niece Donna Price (Allen) of Summerton, SC, nephew John Baker (Denise) of Greenville, SC, niece Debra Nash (Rick) of Greer, SC, nephew Anthony D'Anna (Michelle) of East Hanover, NJ, nephew Nick D'Anna of Livingston, NJ, nephew Joe D'Anna of Livingston, NJ and many cousins.

Donations in Grace’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association. Donations can be made online by visiting alz.org, or mail you’re your donation to; Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011

Arthur D. Cangialosi, 84 of Wayne, died Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Having attained his B.S. and M.E. from Newark College of Engineering, Art had been a Mechanical Engineer with Curtis-Wright and Singer-Kearfott throughout his career. He remained active with the “650 Club,” a group of retired Singer-Kearfott employees who met monthly at the Barnyard in Totowa to reminisce about their days at Singer.

Art was raised in Garfield and Clifton, graduating from Clifton High School in 1949. A very bright student, Art was also a stellar athlete. Throughout his entire life he played competitively, including tennis, softball, basketball, and hand ball. He played well into his 70’s on several teams before slowing down. On a recent, memorable occasion, Art was at the church picnic and he was encouraged to join the softball game. At 81 years old, no one was expecting what happened; Art swung at the first pitch, driving it right past the pitchers head and well into the outfield, right between the 2nd baseman and shortstop! He took off running, rounded 1st base and went sliding into 2nd! Everyone there thought he had broken his hip, or worse, and would surely need to be rushed to the hospital. But Art defied them all as he got up, wiped off the dirt, and remained “safe” at 2nd base! He was fine and raring to go! If you knew Art, then you know that there was simply no way to slow him down. Art was also a model airplane enthusiast and he belonged for decades to The North Jersey Soaring Society which met in Boonton. He previously belonged to the Circle Burners, flying control line planes and has been designing and building planes since his teen years. Art’s obsession with model planes and his career work were ironic since he was afraid of heights, and refused to get on a plane himself!

Art was blessed to have met the true love of his life in Doris Hempstead. The two of them together created their own whirlwind – never able to sit still, they were always on the go and doing some sort of athletic or social activity. They purchased a home together at Lake Mohawk in Sparta and loved all that the community had to offer. Art took great care of Doris when she became ill and he nursed her until she passed in 2013.

Art is survived by his two children; Laura O’Connell and her husband Glenn of Pequannock, and Kurt Hempstead and his wife Jackie of Pompton Plains, six grandchildren; Heather, Samantha Brooke, Daniel, Taylor, Georgiana, and Trevor, as well as his dear friend; George Hardman.

Andrew “Buddy” L. Bain, Sr., age 94, of West Caldwell, formerly of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, passed peacefully on Wednesday, March 8, 2017.

He was born in Chicago, Illinois and lived in Dallas, Texas, Minto, North Dakota, and Washington, D.C. during his youth. Andrew graduated from Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland with the Class of 1938. He continued his education at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he enrolled at the age of sixteen and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Andrew later enrolled in Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D.C. where he received his Juris Doctor of Laws degree. Upon his graduation from law school he was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the U.S., the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the District Court. He, as others before him, worked his way through college and law school. In the beginning it was janitorial duties, grocery clerk, draftsman, patent examiner, etc. His education was temporarily interrupted when he enlisted in the Coast Guard during WWII and he stayed on active reserve until his time added up to 40 years of service. He retired as a Lt. Commander.

He served in some very prestigious and responsible positions for the federal government. His office was located in the Pentagon and he worked for the Defense Dept. under Secretary of Defense McNamara. He worked for the U.S. patent office as well. He was a member of the Presidential and Congressional committees and negotiated multi-million dollar defense contracts and international licensing agreements. He was also responsible for the performance of a billion dollars in contracts, foreign and domestic.

In private industry he made his mark as well. He worked over twenty years for Kearfott Engineering, General Precision Corp and at the Singer Corporation before retiring in 1982. He was VP for government contracts and director of advanced research. In addition he was VP of Operations and Acquisitions.

Andy was proud of his heritage. He is a 4th generation American of Scottish descent dating back to 1835. His ancestors are from Inverness, which explained his involvement in golf.

One evening when Andrew was attending college, a group of boys were going out and ask Andrew to get a date and go out with them. He told the guys he couldn’t get a date on such short notice and one of the guys said I’ll get you one-my sister is at home. They proceeded over to Margaret’s house and tossed stones at her window until she acknowledged them and agreed to go out for drinks. Andrew was, in his own word “smitten.” Margaret not so much. They dated until Andrew was called to serve his country during WWII. On leave from the service he went to a USO dance and was re-acquainted with Margaret who was there as well. They dated again for a time but Margaret had her reservations as she thought Andrew’s personality was too conservative for her liking. Andrew was still “smitten” and worked up the nerve to ask Margaret to marry him. He proposed while parked in the car in front of her house saying “I think we should get married-what do you think?” After a long and agonizing pause she said “that’s a terrible proposal but yes I would like to marry you.” They married on September 1, 1945 at Blessed Sacrament Church in Washington, DC and honeymooned at a New York City motel. After the first night Andrew went to the front desk and said “I can’t afford this place – we’re checking out” to which the manager told him you have a military service discount, your good friend knows the manager so you’re getting the manager’s discount, and this room is costing you $7.00 per night. Andrew and Margaret enjoyed sixty-four years of loving and caring marriage before her passing in January of 2010.

Andrew will be remembered for his extremely dry and witty sense of humor. He never liked to be social but was good at it when the situation warranted. As a father he was a great teacher of life lessons and when his great-grandchildren came along and he was asked how they should address him he responded that he’d always been fond of being called “Sir.” He was an athlete in his heart and enjoyed playing basketball, tennis, daily swam laps in the pool for many years, and was an accomplished golfer who has played the game around the world. He also enjoyed trips to the Jersey Shore including Long Beach Island, Point Pleasant, and Lavallette.

Andrew was the loving husband of the late Margaret (Weschler) Bain (2010); devoted father of the late Andrew Bain, Jr. (2003) and his surviving wife Janis, Margaret E. Bain and her husband Jan Kopecky of Commerce City, CO, Dr. Frank Bain and his wife Jackie of Towaco, Mary Tiefenbacher and her husband Robert of Wayne, and Alice Breeman of Morris Plains. He was the much loved grandfather of David and his wife Alyson, Andrew and his wife Alissa, Matthew, Megan, John, Tim, Tom, Kate and Nick; and dear great-grandfather of Daniel, Gabriel, Amelie, Reese and Charlotte.

Andrew was very proud of his late son Andrew Bain’s years of service to Packanack Lake Fire Co. #5. To honor both Andrew, and his namesake son’s memory, those inclined to make a memorial donation are asked to consider the Packanack Lake Fire Co. #5, 5 lake Drive West, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Patricia M. Kinon, age 69 of Pompton Lakes, passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2017.

Patti, as she was affectionately known, was born in Paterson, but grew up in Clifton and Saddle Brook. The oldest of Salvatore “Sam” and Elsa Regina “Jean” (nee Larkin) Sangis’ two daughters, her parent’s desire for her and her sister was a well-grounded, faith-based education, so both girls attended Pope Pious XII High School in Passaic and Patti was a proud member of the graduating Class of 1965.

Patti always displayed a flair of creativity and, following graduation, she concentrated her creative passions toward beauty by enrolling in the Capri Beauty School in Clifton. Using her sister Jeanne as her favorite “go-to-mannequin”, Patti perfected the art of women’s hairstyle fashion but eventually her focus shifted when she became grossed out by the women who would just come in to the salon for what was known as a “re-comb.” To Patti, the gross part was that, apparently to many customers, a re-comb didn’t require the washing of their hair for their appointment. Patti moved on to other endeavors but was always available for private hair appointments with family and close friends.

In 1962, during a party at her best friend and next door neighbor Loretta’s house, Patti first crossed paths with a nice guy named Jeffery Kinon who just happened to be good friends with Loretta’s boyfriend Tommy. It was because of Tommy that Jeffery, his brother, and his buddy Frank ended up being at the same party. On a separate occasion, Jeff, Patti and their friends all jumped in Jeff’s car because he had the driver’s license, and headed off to the local White Castle hamburger joint. Upon returning to Patti’s house, when they got on her street, Patti abruptly told Jeff to drop her off several doors from her house so her father wouldn’t see her with him. Too late! As the words of instruction were coming out of her mouth, here came her father roaring down the street in his own car. He pulled up to Jeff, rolled down the window and exclaimed, “What do you think my daughter is, some kind of tomato? Now get out of here and don’t come back!” Well, Jeff came back anyway…..again and again. Patti’s father eventually warmed up to him and it’s a good thing he did. They were married on Saturday, January 17, 1970 at Holy Trinity Church in Passaic by a priest who was experiencing a level of swaying inebriation which also caused him to call Patti by the wrong name. After a memorable reception at the Cotillian Banquet Hall in Garfield, Patti and Jeff honeymooned on Paradise Island in the Bahamas before settling into one of the Manchester Apartments on Valley Road in Wayne for two years. In 1972 they purchased their own home in Pompton Lakes. That home was meant to be a temporary stepping stone to a better one but, because of double-digit mortgage interest rates at the time, and Patti’s amazing skills at making a mere house into a warm and welcoming home, Patti and Jeff have continued to live there for the past 45 years.

Patti worked for Elrob Manufacturing – a parts supplier for General Motors Corporation in Cedar Grove. More recently, she was employed by Emerald Healthcare in Wayne. While she always enjoyed the respect and company of her coworkers, Patti’s real passion was caring for her family, including her beautiful daughter Danielle who she and Jeff were blessed to welcome in 1978. She was extremely devoted to Danielle pouring all of her attention and devotion into insuring her with a great childhood. Early on, Danielle displayed a real talent as a little soccer player in the Pompton Lakes Recreational League. Having no real interest in the game herself, Patti never-the-less became the consummate “soccer mom” by attending all those games to cheer Danielle on. And as her daughter progressed to travel leagues and playing for the Pompton Lakes High School team, Patti never missed a game. She also volunteered with Danielle’s Girl Scout Troop and, while not crazy at all about camping trips, she attended anyway. She was also a tremendous asset to Girl Scouts with her artistic contributions. Patti always enjoyed the family’s annual trips to Cape Cod – especially going crabbing and enjoying all the wonderful restaurants at night (and not having to cook herself).

Much of Patti’s time was enjoyed immersing herself in her artistic pursuits. Her special focus was painting – especially wood ornaments which she was regularly chosen by juried crafters to display at prominent craft shows like the annual one at Lambert Castle in Paterson. Her trademark on all her creations was her little initials “PK” which her loyal customers always looked for. She was a better artist than business woman so she could easily be bartered with but, while she did it for the money, there is no doubt, Patti did it more for the love of creating beautiful crafts that would bring joy to her customers. No doubt, Patti’s house was filled with her own art and it was always festively decorated for every holiday including the obvious ones like Easter, Halloween and Christmas, but also the more obscure ones like Flag Day and Valentine’s Day. She and Jeff used to love getting dressed up in Halloween costumes to greet the trick–or-treaters that would ring there doorbell. When it came to art, it seemed that Patti could do anything. She was a longtime member of the Pompton Lakes Woman’s Club and the other women were all too happy to have Patti lead their club to numerous victories in their annual scrap-booking competitions between other woman’s club chapters. Patti loved sharing her artistic gifts with others. Her daughter Danielle especially appreciated this quality that her mom possessed and recalls the thoughtful things she would do for her, like the time she gave her a gift encased in an ice sculptor. It was fun waiting for the ice to melt to receive the surprise of that gift inside!

Already as a young girl Patti loved going to Atlantic City. Her father would take her along on bus trips to there that he would organize. That love of “AC” continued and regular trips were made down the Garden State Parkway so she could play the slot machines. She also had fond memories growing up of trips to the old Liberty Bell Park Racetrack in Northern Philadelphia and the Monmouth Park Race Track in Oceanport, NJ.

Everyone is going to miss Patti’s lively personality and humorous demeanor. They’ll miss hearing about her striking up a friendly conversation with perfect strangers in the store, and hearing her incredible laugh when she was being told one of the funny “little boy stories” that her adored grandsons Parker and Declan would tell. They’ll miss the quirky, crazy, unexplainable things she would do like the time she walked right across her daughter’s soccer field while the game was in progress and she had seemingly no idea that this was not good!

Patti was a great inspiration through her handling of a brave and fierce battle with breast cancer. The chemo treatments damaged Patti’s heart and, unfortunately, a disorder which caused her to have chronically low blood platelet counts prevented her doctors from being able to perform more surgeries. Patti’s daughter and grandson have been diagnosed with this same low platelet disorder so it is Patti’s wish that if you feel so inclined to consider an expression of sympathy in her memory, that you consider giving a gift to the Platelet Disorder Support Association (PDSA) 8751 Brecksville Road, Suite 150, Cleveland, Ohio 44141 (www.pdsa.org).

Surviving are her beloved husband of 47 years – Jeffery; loving daughter Danielle and husband Peter Walsh of Towaco; adored grandsons: Parker and Declan; dear sister: Jeanne and husband George Morris of Pompton Lakes; dear nieces and nephews: George Morris, Samantha Morris, Jennifer Kinon, Cristina Kinon, Ric Kinon, Mike Kinon, Alison Lehnert, Kim LaHart, Stephanie Ahrens, and Connor Morris; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Victor and wife Martha Kinon, Stephen and wife Christina Kinon, Cheryl Ahrens, and Alex and wife Doreen Kinon.

Ann Rose Paylo (nee Gondola) age 96 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 7, 2017.

Ann grew up the daughter of a poor immigrant family seeking a better life in the United States. Ann was born and raised in Paterson and moved to Wayne in the mid 1960’s. Her parents taught her as she grew up, the importance of strong family values and a hard day’s work. Although Ann did not get far in school, she worked harder than many adults around her when she was just twelve years old. At that young age she went to work cleaning houses and working as a nanny for families that lived in her area.

Ann’s parents were good friends with the parents of another young man named John Paylo. John was called to serve his country during World War II. While john was serving his country in the United States Navy, Ann’s mom and dad urged on of their five daughters to write to John during the war to keep him in positive spirits. One of Ann’s sisters did just that, however when it was time for John to return home, Ann and her four sisters were unsure who would meet him and welcome him home. It turned out that Ann and John met, they fell in love and on January 25, 1941 they were married in St Boniface RC Church in Paterson. Very shortly after they were married Ann and John started their family. Ann took on the daunting and rewarding position of a full time homemaker. She devoted her entire life to her husband and her boys. There was never a night when dinner was not on the table, or a day when the house wasn’t cleaned. For several years of her life, Ann worked in the garment industry, eventually retiring in the early 1950’s to dedicate to her family. Ann was extremely dedicated to her faith and was a parishioner of St Boniface RC Church in Paterson and Our lady of the Valley RC Church for many years after moving to Wayne.

She was a long-time member of the Women’s Club of Allwood in Clifton where she created life-long friendships with many of the ladies there. She also developed a close and special relationship with her sister in-law Sue with whom she and her family would visit with in Pennsylvania quite frequently. Another special person in Ann’s life was her best friend Aggie Shaw who was from the New Jersey area originally then moved to Lake George. Ann always kept in touch with her and vacationed with her family to visit her frequently as well.

Ann didn’t have many interests or hobbies, her greatest passion and what meant most in her life was her family. John and Ann cherished 66 years of loving and loyal marriage together until John’s passing in 2007. She was a loving wife, a dedicated mother and devoted grandmother and great grandmother. Ann was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by all who knew her.

Ann is survived by her son Dennis and his wife Patricia of Wayne, six grandchildren; Lori, Dennis, John, Katharine, Vena, and Arion, and four great grandchildren; Amanda, John, Emily, and Victoria, two brothers; John and Joseph Gondola, she was predeceased by her husband John Paylo in 2007 and her son Kenneth Paylo in 2012. She was also predeceased by her four sisters; Elizabeth, Mary, Helen, and Bessie.

Marion F. Zanet, age 87, of Wayne and formerly of Clifton, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2017.

Also known by many as “Dolly” and “Doll” she was born in Trenton and grew up in Hightstown and Bordentown. She was the oldest of Frank and Marion Shestko’s three daughters, and as a little girl, it quickly became evident Marion was capable of doing seemingly anything. She was sometimes described as the son her father never had. She was never afraid to tackle a hard job, whether it was a home remodel project or sewing a new dress for a special occasion. Mom had many talents. Her family enjoyed hearing the stories of her childhood - like when she came home one day from grammar school and asked her Mother to "get Daddy's rifle" - she was going to make her hunter father proud by bagging her first rabbit. Pop came home and she proudly brought him into the back yard to present her trophy. Her father, a carpenter, worked full-time and when finished with his work day came home to tend to their farm on which he grew fresh strawberries, which Mom loved her whole life. After harvest, Dolly and her two sisters would get all dressed up and go with him to her Grandmother's (Grandmom's) house in downtown Trenton to deliver the berries to families who had placed their weekly orders.

Marion graduated from Bordentown High School with the Class of 1942. During high school, she was a cheerleader for the school’s Bordentown Scotties sports teams.

After graduating, Marion first worked as a secretary in the Trenton statehouse in the grant office. This was right during the time when the Garden State Parkway was moving from being a mere concept to becoming an actual major New Jersey roadway. The story is told of how in her new position her boss dictated a letter to her which was being drafted in an attempt to secure grant money for the construction of the Parkway. After it was dictated to her, confident and capable Marion felt that she would use her creativity to add flare to what she felt was a rather dull and uninspiring document. When she proudly presented it to her boss for final review, he explained how these dictations were legal documents that had to be transcribed verbatim. Momentarily deterred from being creative, it did not last long, as she continued on throughout life in her take-charge way.

Dolly met her husband-to-be down the Jersey shore on the beach at Seaside Heights. She was with her sister Dottie and some girlfriends and they spotted several handsome gentlemen. Noticing that these servicemen were without a beach blanket to sun bathe on, they cleverly seized the opportunity to meet them by inviting them to recline on their blanket. Their plan worked and young John Zanet and Marion (Doll, as Dad always called her) Shestko began their life’s journey together, which led to love and the ultimate exchange of wedding promises before family and friends on July 1, 1948.

While dating and throughout their marriage, Marion and John enjoyed participating together in the art of dance. Marion first learned to dance in grammar school from her Uncle Leon. Mom and her young Aunt Fran practiced every day after school and loved to attend church dances. She and John loved getting all decked out for a night out of dinner and dancing with friends at the famous Meadowbrook Club in Cedar Grove.

After marriage, their first home together was in the brand new Stuyertown Garden Apartments in the Allwood section of Clifton. While there, they grew to become a family of four as Dolly and John welcomed daughter Donna in 1950 and son Bruce in 1951. After a couple of years living in Fair Lawn, the family moved into their brand new home in Cedar Grove. They lived there for ten years, then moved to Pond Street in Clifton and, after John’s passing in 1985, to New Brier Lane in Clifton where Marion remained until moving in to her daughter Donna’s house in Wayne in 2015. Marion always embraced her role of mother and homemaker. Mom was happiest when she knew that all was well with her family. Two weeks ago she said to us: "it's all coming together". We believe this was her signal to us that she was ready to be with her maker.

Blessed with the ability to create beauty all around her, Marion used her artistic gifts to do just that! As a young lady, she learned to be a seamstress and enjoyed creating outfits for herself that were the epitome of style. She had an eye for interior design and she knew how to make a house a home in every facet from selecting colors or wall paper patterns to designing and sewing all the beautiful drapery in her home. Her yard, her labor of love, was an extension of the inside of her home, adorned with well thought out plantings meant to ensure that something was always blooming from early spring and throughout the summer and into the fall season.

Marion lovingly shared her artistic gifts with friends and family. As a young mom she was always volunteering to help out with events for her children at St Catherine’s Cedar Grove Parochial School, and she enjoyed getting together with her girlfriends in the Cedar Grove Women’s Club to assist with the club’s fundraisers such as making all the puppets for the performance of the Nutcracker Suite. She was an inspiration to her kids, granting them some garden space of their own so that they could learn to appreciate and enjoy creating beauty in the great outdoors. The kitchen was another one of Marion’s favorite places to create, and friends and family were all too happy to enjoy the delicious fruits of her cooking and baking efforts. In 1965, she decided to return to work outside the home, and sharing her kitchen skills with her daughter Donna enriched Donna’s life while freeing up Marion’s schedule so she could return to work. She worked as a correspondent banking secretary with New Jersey Bank in Passaic, and through the banks acquisition by PNC Bank of West Paterson – now known as Woodland Park. She worked almost twenty years, but when her beloved John became ill, she retired so she could lovingly care for him until his passing in 1985.

When she got the chance to relax, Marion enjoyed reading – especially spy novels and books of mystery. She also loved to paint, and her house was decorated with her beautiful oil paintings, many of which she gave as gifts to friends and family. She enjoyed many years of monthly Bridge games with her dear neighbors Barbara, Rita and Denise from Cedar Grove. Even after moving to Clifton they continued to get together for many years. Although Denise and Rita have since passed away, Barbara and Marion continued their lifelong friendship until the very end.

Dolly’s life purpose was to provide care and nurturing for her family, and to create beauty. Whether she was taking her children ice skating in Cedar Grove, or spending time with her grandchildren going to their sports games or watching Dallas and Falcon Crest with them when they were young, everything was done with love.

Marion was predeceased by her beloved husband John Robert in 1985. She was the loving mother of Donna and husband Douglas Coyle of Wayne, and Bruce F. Zanet and his partner Mary Kulp of Ballston Spa, NY; adored grandmother of Gwen DeSimoni, Justin and wife Stephanie Shaw, and John Robert Zanet, II; adored step grandmother of Kelly and husband Nick Guerra, Kevin and wife Fiona Coyle, and Dennis Coyle; cherished great-grandmother of Gianna DeSimoni, Anthony DeSimoni, Marco DeSimoni, Sawyer Shaw, Oakley Shaw, and Ashton Shaw; cherished step great-grandmother of Mikayla Guerra and Brianna Guerra; dear sister of Dorothy and husband James Peeney, and Ilene and husband Edward Bulanowski of Mantoloking Shores, NJ.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Marion’s name are asked to consider Valley Hospice, c/o The Valley Hospital Foundation, 223 N. Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450, or in honor of her love of art, a charity of your choice that supports the arts.

Henrietta R. Glans (nee Klindworth) passed peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2017.

She was born and raised in New York City and lived in Clifton, NJ briefly before moving to Wayne, NJ over sixty years ago.

Henrietta worked at a company that made Girl Scout Cookies for a few years and then worked as a credit manager for the Clark-O’Neill Company in Fairview for many years before retiring.

She was active in local politics having been a member of the Women’s Republican Club and the Tea Party in Wayne. Years ago she is credited for sitting by the roadside at the intersection of French Hill Road and Alps Road in Wayne counting the passing cars.  She used her statistical information to petition Wayne Township and notably Robert Roe to put a traffic light at the intersection. She then partnered with Robert Roe and both were instrumental in founding UNICEF in New Jersey.

Henrietta was a long time and dedicated member of Saint Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne and served on many committees within the church.

She will be remembered as a person that was always active, caring, ready to lend a hand, and a devoted mom.

Friends may visit with the family from 3-7 PM on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.

Henrietta was the loving wife of thirty-nine years to the late Joseph C. Glans(1988) and the late Roger O’Connor (2009); she was the devoted mother of Carolyn H. Lake of Chicago, Ill., and Clifford Glansen of Hollywood, FL; and beloved step-mother to Roger O'Connor and wife Patricia; she was the cherished grandmother of Tracy, Kristin, Thomas Glansen, and Sarah O'Connor; she was the much loved great-grandmother of Daniel and Zachary Mallow. Henrietta was predeceased by her sister Ethel K. Scheele.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Timothy Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 395 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated.

Antonia Gorga (nee Campiglia) age 66 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Friday March 3rd, 2017 with her loving family by her side.

Antonia was born in Sala Consilina, Italy. She struggled early in her life, her mom had passed away when she was only twelve years old.  Her father told her that he was going to work in Venezuela but never returned.  Antonia was left to be raised by her grandmother, who passed on from her previous generations a strong work ethic and the idea that there is nothing more important than family.

While growing up in Sala Consilina, at about the age of thirteen, Antonia met a young man by the name of Giacinto “Gino” Gorga. They met in the Piazza in Sala Consilina which happened to be Gino’s twentieth birthday. You could probably say that it was love at first sight, immediately Gino wanted to speak with her. However, Antonia being only thirteen years old, told Gino that he would have to come to the house where she lived with her grandmother and speak with her there. One week later Gino and his parents went to Antonia’s house to share a meal. While they were there, Antonia was preparing the sauce, grinding up tomatoes and including the skin of the tomatoes as well. Gino saw this and told her that he didn’t like the skin and that she shouldn’t put it in the sauce. This sort of set the tone for their relationship.

Gino and Antonia dated for about six months and unfortunately broke up. Five years later, while Gino was in the United States, in 1969 to visit his sister Maria, he wrote letters to Antonia saying that he couldn’t stop thinking about her and that he wanted to marry her. Antonia wrote back to him saying that she wanted to marry him but he would have to come back to Italy if he really wanted her. On September 28, 1969, Gino flew back to Italy and on December 27, 1969 Gino and Antonia were husband and wife. They were married only a short time when they decided that there was a better life waiting for them in America. On October 13, 1971 Antonia and Gino, without being able to speak a word of English bravely left behind their life in Italy to travel to the United States in search of the American Dream. Antonia was also a couple of months pregnant with her first child, unbeknownst to her.

They settled in Paterson when they first arrived in a small attic apartment. Gino got a job washing dishes in a small restaurant called the Mona Lisa in West Paterson. Paterson was the place they would call their home for many years and raise their two children, Teresa and Giuseppe. Antonia quickly settled into the role she would keep and dedicate herself the rest of her life, a homemaker. Gino later moved in to the business of construction and worked long hours. No matter what time Gino got home from work, there was also a clean house and a hot home cooked dinner on the table. Being a devoted mom and wife seemed to come very natural to Antonia. She had dinner on the table at 5:30 every day for her family Monday through Saturday. Sunday dinners were always at two o’clock sharp and not a minute after. Antonia had a strong dedication to her faith as well. While living in Paterson for many years they were parishioners of St Mary’s RC Church and later at St. Gerard’s RC Church also in Paterson. Eventually Gino and Antonia move to the Town of Wayne, where they have lived for the last fourteen years.

Antonia was an amazing cook, her daughter Teresa Giudice has four cook books published, all of them influenced by her mom. One of them with the title “Fabulicious” includes a photo of the family’s three generation together, Antonia, Teresa and her granddaughter Gia. Antonia enjoyed traveling with her family all throughout the Caribbean, Punta Cana being one of her favorite places. She was very fortunate to have spent her last vacation there in November of 2016. To say that Antonia was devoted to her family would be an understatement. She never missed a family gathering, birthday or holiday. While her son Giuseppe, “Joey”, who she affectionately called “Jovi”, was growing up, she never missed a football game or sporting event he played. Her son Joe would always look to the crowd for his mom and she was always there. Antonia would always say that every game she hear the announcer shout, “Touch-a-down Joe Gorga.” Later when Joe went to work in construction, he too would work long hours like his dad did, sometimes coming home past eleven o’clock at night, but his mom would always get up out of bed and make him something fresh to eat.

Antonia fell into roll of grandmother with great ease, there was nothing more precious to her than her grandchildren. Antonia and Giacinto cherished forty-eight years of loving and loyal marriage. There was a classic beauty about Antonia, but at the same time a quiet innocence as well, and she could always make you laugh. Antonia always put her family first even before herself. She was a truly selfless person. She was extraordinarily sweet yet wonderfully simple as well. She touched the lived of so many people and will be sincerely missed everyone that knew her.

Antonia was the loving wife of Giacinto Gorga of Wayne for 47 years, devoted mother of her son Giuseppe Gorga and his wife Melissa of Montville, and her daughter Teresa Giudice and her husband Giuseppe of Towaco, cherished grandmother to Gia Giudice, Gabriella Giudice, Milania Giudice, Audriana Giudice, Antonia Gorga, Giuseppe Gorga, and Gino Gorga.

Peter Luyster, age 85, of Raphine, VA and formerly of Lincoln Park and Montville, passed away on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

Born in Clifton, NJ, Peter grew up in Paterson where he studied and ultimately graduated from Paterson Vocational Technical School with the Class of 1954. He immediately enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served, primarily while stationed in Japan from 1951 to 1954 and in the Reserves until 1959. In later years, as a veteran, he was an active participant in the American Legion Post 279 in Lincoln Park.

Upon return to civilian life, Peter briefly worked in HVAC installation and service before becoming a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 102 of Paterson. During his 56 years as a loyal and faithful member of the union, he worked for various union contractors including twenty years as a supervisor with Allan Electric of Totowa. He also held the position of Towaco Shade Tree Commissioner for several years.

Peter retired to a quiet life in Virginia where, for over twenty years, he enjoyed helping his neighbors with such activities as excavation projects, snow plowing and chopping wood, always with the company of his two black Labrador Retrievers and, in more recent years, his King Charles Spaniel named Hobbes.

Peter is survived by his two sons: Peter J. Luyster of Jenson Beach, FL, and David Luyster of Matthews, NC; his three daughters: Veronica J. Luyster of Lake Worth, FL, Anne C. and husband Douglas Garrett of Fithian, IL, and Irene M. Luyster of Roanoke, VA; his eleven grandchildren; his brother James and wife Loretta Luyster of North Haledon; and his sister Alice Campomizzi of Haledon. He was predeceased by his son John; his three brothers: Harry, Andrew, and Frederick Luyster; and his sister Rosemary Willis.

Concetta “Connie” Compesi, age 91, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Wednesday, March 1, 2017.

She was born and raised at number 38 West Street in East Paterson which is now known as Elmwood Park. She was the eighth of nine children born to Frank and Josephine DeBonis who had emigrated from Naples, Italy to the United States, because it was "the land of opportunity".  Like many Italian families of the time, they had a vegetable garden with enormous tomatoes and a fig tree in the back yard. They also had their own grape vines for making wine. Life was filled with family gatherings in their home. Surrounded by brothers, sisters, in-laws, and lots of kids, they always shared a meal. Afterwards it was card games for the grownups, music and dancing for the teens, and just playing outside long after dark for the kids!

As a young girl, she played outside with her girlfriends. Without today's technology, they had to be creative to fill their days. They called themselves "The Gashouse Gang" because they were always up to a little mischief, for a laugh. East Paterson did not have a high school, so she attended Lodi High School. Since they were growing up during the Great Depression (1929-1939) and World War II (1939-1945), times were tough. All of the children in the family had to leave high school at age 16 and go to work to help support the family. The boys went to war.

After the war, life got a little easier. The boys were back home from the war and enjoyed meeting girls at clubs and bars. One Friday, while Connie stopped for a drink with her cousin, she noticed that a cute young man kept looking her way. She returned his glance with a friendly smile and soon he was over to talk. His first words were “Do I know you from somewhere…you look familiar” to which Connie replied “I think you do know me.” Love would take it from there and on September 19, 1948 Connie DeBonis and Russell Compesi were married at Saint Leo's Church in East Paterson. They honeymooned at Lake George, New York.

Connie’s was anxious to establish her own home and become a mom. She soon had a family started and would be blessed with three children. Connie devoted herself to her family and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. When her son got up at 4 AM to go fishing he would find Mom awake and making him a hot breakfast. She made the difficult task of being a mother and homemaker look effortless. She did everything fast. She was like a tornado in the kitchen whipping together meals and snacks in no time. She was known for her lasagna, everyone's favorite! Her Christmas struffoli & filled cookies, Easter pizzagaina, and spectacular apple pie will be greatly missed. Connie truly loved family dinners and holiday gatherings and she made everyone feel special and treasured!

At home Connie was a get-it-done person. Russ would come home from work and find she had painted the garage, redecorated a room, cut the grass, or weeded the beds surrounding the house. Connie devoted herself to family. She helped out wherever she was needed. Life would have her caring for her parents, and in-laws as they aged through the autumn years of their lives.

For entertainment, Connie didn't ask for much. She saw her fair share of Broadway shows in NYC, but truthfully preferred a poker game at home instead. It didn't matter if the stakes were just nickels & dimes, she took the game seriously and was quite the card shark. Connie and Russ also enjoyed vacations in Las Vegas where they saw some great shows and topped off the night with some time at the Blackjack tables. They were happy when Atlantic City opened to gambling and they could make day trips to the casinos. Connie also enjoyed vacations at the Jersey Shore. She loved getting up early, packing snacks for the car, and heading to the beach. After her grandchildren were born, she delighted in watching them play in the sand and splash in the water.

She was the life of the party, friendly, talkative, and outgoing. She enjoyed music and dancing. She ran her life through her gigantic heart. She was kind and complimentary to everyone around her. She knew just what to say, in a genuine way, to make people feel appreciated and special.

Concetta was the loving wife of fifty-nine years to the late Russell Stephen Compesi (2007); devoted mother of Eileen Lehault and her husband William Blair of Wayne, Gary Compesi and his wife JoAnn of Wayne, and Alan Compesi of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Michael Lehault and his wife Allison of San Pedro, CA, Christopher Lehault and his wife Lindsay of Cranford, Jenna Furfaro and her husband James of Wayne, William Lehault and his wife Kathleen of Warwick, NY, and Philip Compesi of North Hollywood, CA; much loved great-grandmother of Franco Furfaro, Alexandra Lehault, Sebastian Lehault, Donovan Lehault, and Miles Lehault. She was also the dearly loved sister of Ralph DeBonis and his wife Jean of Fair Lawn, and her late siblings: Alfonse, Albert, Fred, Tony DeBonis, Lena Mazzaza, Josephine Natoli, and Anna Dolfi.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, (click on the blue text to make an online donation) PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474 would be greatly appreciated.

Teresa Rillo Pellegrino, a lifelong resident of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday February 28, 2017 with her family by her side.

Terry was raised on “the Rillo Farm” on Valley Rd owned by her parents Peter and Anna Rillo. The farm and greenhouses were known for growing a variety of vegetables and flowers including tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, pumpkins, geraniums, pansies, and chrysanthemums. The vegetables supplied area supermarkets and were also sold at the local Farmers Market. The florist served the community for many years. In the late 60s the farm was sold and a street in Wayne, Rillo Drive, was named after the family.

Terry married Louis Pellegrino and they built their home in Wayne. Louis was a carpenter and built their home with his own two hands. Terry and Louis never left Wayne. They continued to call it home their entire lives and raised their two children, Barbara and Peter, there as well. Louis passed away in 1992.

Following the sale of the farm, Terry went to work as a secretary for the Wayne Police Department. Terry was in the Narcotics Squad for the first three years and then moved into the Detective Bureau where she stayed until she retired in 2012. Terry worked for the Wayne Police Department for thirty-eight years and it was a big part of her life. She loved the people she worked with and has maintained close friendships with many of the retired and active police officers to this day.

Terry loved to work in her yard and enjoyed traveling, cooking and baking. She loved to bake for family and friends and a birthday never went by at the police department without a homemade cake. One of Terry’s greatest passions was working in her yard and caring for her azaleas. Terry’s house has been well known in Wayne for many years because of the azalea gardens surrounding the property. Terry spent every waking moment meticulously caring for the plants. People in her community as well as passerby’s couldn’t help but notice the vibrant colors of her azaleas.

Terry was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother and her family and friends were grateful to have had her in good health for so many years. Terry was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will sincerely be missed by all who knew her.

Terry is survived by her daughter; Barbara Griffin and her husband Dan of Fuquay Varina, NC, and her son Peter Pellegrino and his wife Darlene of Wayne NJ, three grandchildren; Susan Viola, Christine Daly, and Michael Pellegrino, and one great grandchild; Sammy Viola. Terry was pre-deceased by her husband Louis in 1992.

Carolyn Joan Greydanus, age 72, of Grand Rapids, Michigan and a former longtime resident of Wayne, New Jersey, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Carolyn was born in Paterson, New Jersey. She became the oldest living child of Neil and Bernice (nee Spyksma) Greydanus when her older brother Stewart passed away at the tender age of five. Along with her four younger siblings, Carolyn spent her early years living in Prospect Park, Hawthorne and North Haledon. Her maternal grandparents were Dutch Friesian immigrants who came to America in 1912 on a ship called the Nieu Amsterdam. It was interesting to note that they originally booked passage on the infamous Titanic but, as God’s will would have it, they asked to be taken over on a Dutch ship instead.

Carolyn was a graduate of Eastern Christian High School of North Haledon, New Jersey with the Class of 1962. After high school she pursued her aspirations of becoming a registered nurse graduating from the Columbia School of Nursing in New York City with the Class of 1967. Her passion was caring for children and, touched by the loss of her older brother Stewart to leukemia when he was just five, she first worked in oncology at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, caring for children suffering from the same affliction that took her brother’s life. The bulk of her nursing career was working with little ones, for many years on the pediatric floor at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York, a nursing instructor at Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck and later a labor and delivery nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. Much of her spare time was also spent both advocating for the unborn as a volunteer with the Right to Life Organization and helping to place children for adoption through Bethany Christian Services.

As if working in the hospital and volunteering in her spare time wasn’t enough activity for one person, Carolyn also kept busy at home raising her two daughters and two sons. As a former member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Paterson and Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church in Wyckoff, NJ, she volunteered as a leader for her daughters in the church’s Girl Scout troop called Calvinettes.

A lover of family traditions, Carolyn always enjoyed spending summers as a child down the Jersey shore in Wildwood at a hotel owned by her parents called The Grey Manor. As a teenager, she enjoyed earning spending money by working part-time in the hotel cleaning rooms, then passing the rest of the day being with family and friends enjoying the sun and surf. When she had children of her own, they often spent summers down the shore too, as well as a week in Speculator, NY at a Christian summer family camp in the woods – appropriately called Camp of the Woods.

Every fall after going apple picking as a family, Carolyn would get busy in the kitchen making delicious fresh apple sauce for everyone to enjoy, and during the Christmas holidays her house was always filled with the smell of delicious Dutch apple breads which she gave as gifts to friends. As a child she learned of the Dutch Christmas customs all based around Sinterklaas, who would come to each children’s house with treats. Carolyn enjoyed Sinterklaas so much as a child and she loved celebrating the tradition with her own children and grandchildren too. She was also an excellent seamstress. She could make anything including nightgowns for her nieces, Halloween costumes for her children, and even doll clothes.

Clearly, Carolyn held her family very close to her heart. She simply loved being with them, thinking nothing of traveling to see them in Florida, California, Michigan or Ohio. She also enjoyed vacations with them to far-away places including seeing much of the American Southwest, a trip to Italy when her youngest daughter Janelle was studying there, and trips to Amsterdam and Paris with her daughters and granddaughter.

Carolyn will be missed for her vivacious personality. She was a lot of fun to be around. She loved her red 1960’s Ford Mustang so much, she bought another one in the early 2000’s. She had a warm and giving spirit that will always be remembered and cherished by those blessed to have known her. In her later years, due to declining health, her giving spirit was channeled to interceding for others through prayer. Carolyn would let people know that she was covering them in prayer on journeys or for other concerns.

Carolyn was the loving mother of Kevin and his wife Gail Hengeveld of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Judith Hengeveld and her husband Jason Meurer of Wayne, Stewart Hengeveld and his wife Emel Demirel of Hasbrouck Heights, and Janelle Hengeveld and her husband Chris Guerrero of Houston, Texas; adored grandmother of Ella, Maddie, Isabella, Evan, and Christopher; dear sister of Elaine and husband Wayne Bush of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Stuart and wife Mary Greydanus of West Palm Beach, Florida, James and wife Suzanne Greydanus of Grand Haven, Michigan, and Judith Greydanus of Spring Lake, Michigan; and loved aunt of numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother Stewart Greydanus when he was just five years old.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Carolyn’s name are asked to consider St. Baldrick’s Foundation, 1333 South Mayflower Avenue, Suite 400, Monrovia, CA 91016 (www.stbaldricks.org). St. Baldrick’s Foundation is dedicated to funding research for childhood cancer.

Anthony J. Giannetti, age 96, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Born and raised in Montclair, the second of Pasquale and Lucia Giannetti’s seven children, Anthony attended Montclair High School but, like so many of his contemporaries, he withdrew in 1937 before getting the chance to graduate, so that he could help his father in the family landscape and gardening business. From 1940 to 1942 Anthony worked as a shipping and receiving checker for Walter Kidde Corporation, manufacturer of fire extinguishers in Bloomfield.

In 1942, Anthony was drafted and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He attained the rank of Corporal in the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron serving exclusively in Alaska as the squadron’s chief cook and baker. His job was a big undertaking as he had to prepare breakfast, dinner and supper for approximately 300 men. One of the perks of being the cook that Anthony really enjoyed was not having to be out in the cold Alaska climate for long periods at a time. For his proud service he was the recipient of the World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the American Theater Medal and Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal.

Upon Anthony’s return to civilian life in 1945, he worked for a short time for his father before finding a career as a masonry construction laborer with Montclair Laborers Local 464. Most of his work over his 35-year career took place in Montclair, Verona and Fairfield and he retired in 1986.

To the best of his children’s recollection, Anthony met his wife-to-be Geraldine McMinn in 1959 at a dance. They married that same year and went on to enjoy a life of love that spanned twenty-nine years living in Butler, Montclair, and most recently in Wayne since 1968. Sadly, Geraldine passed away from cancer in 1988, just as she and Tony were entering their golden years of retirement. Throughout her illness, Anthony faithfully and lovingly cared for his dear wife.

Anthony valued the simple things of life like a roof over his head and food on the table. A child of the depression, he held strongly to the value of wasting nothing and never living to excess. When he went to purchase one of the cars that he drove throughout his lifetime, he had his eyes on the thrifty Toyota Tercel. His family tried to convince him to upgrade to the Corolla but Anthony would not hear of it. To him, a car was about getting from point A to point B and doing it as cheaply as possible. To him the Tercel was perfect and he really enjoyed that little car for many years. He believed in the virtue of hard work so much that he could never understand why his sons would go to the gym to work out when they could get huge muscles like he did by doing something like hauling masonry block for a living.

Tony’s enjoyment of cooking carried over from his days in the service and he especially liked to prepare chicken dishes and London broil. He was a man of habits and his day always started with the reading of the local newspaper. He’d work a little in his garden in which he strictly grew tomatoes and cucumbers. When it was time for a break, nothing made him more content than sitting out on his patio, soaking in the warmth of the sun (remember how he didn’t like the coldness of Alaska) and enjoying looking out over his back yard. He loved cheering for his beloved New York Yankees and rarely missed an opportunity to catch the game on television. While he never saw Babe Ruth actually play, Anthony did get to see him once at the stadium when the Yankees honored him after he retired.

Above all, Anthony loved his family the most. He loved time spent with his children and four grandchildren.

Anthony was predeceased by his beloved wife Geraldine (McMinn) Giannetti in 1988. He is survived by his two dear sons: Patrick of Wayne, and Alan of Rockaway; his dear daughter Marie and husband Louis Luisi of Totowa; and four cherished grandchildren: Dominick, Victoria, Meagan, Matthew. He was also predeceased by his six dear siblings: Phyllis, John, Frank, Connie, Marie, and Eleanor.

Schuyler “Sky” Forbes Cumings, age 89, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Saturday, February 25, 2017 with the comfort of his wife by his side.

The son of Captain Schuyler Forbes and Mary (Brown) Cumings, he was born in the Bronx, New York and raised in Bronxville, New York having graduated from Roosevelt High School with the Class of 1945.

Schuyler, with a strong sense of patriotism inspired by WWII, enlisted in the United States Navy at the age of seventeen. He was following in his father’s Navy footsteps, but his activation was deferred until he graduated from high school. He served aboard the USS Chara AKA-58, an Andromeda-class attack cargo ship. Schuyler boarded the ship in San Francisco just before the war ended. He was honorably discharged as a Seaman First Class on August 17th of 1946 and received the World War II Victory Medal for his service.

After his service Schuyler worked for the Allied Chemical Company in New York City while attending night school at NYU University. He also worked for the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company (Westvaco) in New York City as an auditor where he worked for over twenty five years before retiring in 1985. After his retirement he worked for the Wayne Board of Education for several years before fully retiring. For many years he volunteered as the treasurer of the Packanack Community Church in Wayne leaving that position in 2011.

Sky will be remembered as a meticulous perfectionist that would spend hours trying to find the penny that was keeping him from balancing the books. He was tenacious and steadfast in his beliefs, yet had a lively sense of humor. He was immaculately clean, generous, and being raised and influenced by the depression years, was always conscious not to waste anything. While grocery shopping and attempting to find the best value for every dollar he spent, he would even analyze the number of slices of bread in a loaf to determine the best value. He never liked the idea of using credit and would save enough to make purchases outright. He was very independent, didn’t want to burden his parents in any way, and insisted on putting himself through college. Sky had a healthy appetite and loved to eat yet not gain a pound. His metabolism was fortified by his love of jogging before it was popular. He also enjoyed mapping all the streets in a town and walking each and every one. Once he finished one town he would move on and conquer another. Sky had a thirst for knowledge. He would read books, the daily newspaper front to back, and Reader’s Digest cover to cover. With all his reading he had a vast array of knowledge and was gifted with the ability to recall that information on cue. Even in his retirement he went to computer programming school, graduated first in his class, and joined a computer programming club. He also volunteered and served as a Master Board Member for the Passaic Count Election Board certifying results garnered from area voting machines.

As a young man Sky and Virginia Herbert went to the same high school. They knew each other on a causal basis and after high school Sky saw Virginia walking home from the bus stop as he was driving home from the train station. He was struck by Virginia’s outfit and especially the yellow shoes she was wearing. They dated and went square dancing many times and were soon dating steady. Sky proposed to Virginia, and they were married on her birthday, August 15, 1953 at St Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Hartsdale, New York. They drove in Sky’s 1953 blue and white Chevrolet hardtop convertible to honeymoon in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Sky was extremely light skinned and Virginia was very tan. After just two visits to the beach Sky was sunburned even after wearing a long sleeve shirt, long pants, and socks. They newlyweds settled into an attic apartment in a Yonkers, New York Cape Cod style home. Sky’s work would have them move to Huntington, West Virginia, back to New York City, Mahwah, New Jersey, Richmond, Virginia and in 1968 they settled into a home in the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne, New Jersey. They have enjoyed sixty-four years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Schuyler was the devoted father of Captain Bruce Cumings and his wife Amy of Fort Lauderdale, FL; cherished grandfather of Sarah Elizabeth Cumings and Ryan Schuyler Cumings; he was the brother of the late Jack Cumings and the late Ruth Dunn.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated.

Scott David Logan, age 47, of Wayne, passed away Friday, February 24, 2017.

He was born in Pequannock, lived briefly in Pompton Lakes, and was raised in Wayne. He graduated from Wayne Valley High School, where he was a pitcher for the baseball team, with the Class of 1988. He continued his education at Morris Community College where he pitched as well.

As a young man, he worked locally at Bochagaloops Restaurant, Wayne Tile, the 7-11 and for a HVAC contractor in Wayne. He always wanted to be a police officer and moved to Rhode Island where he graduated from the Providence Police Academy and was the top marksman of his graduating class. He went on to serve on the Providence Police Department for almost twenty years.

Scott will be lovingly remembered for his kind, loving, gentle ways. He was reliable, mellow, low key, and genuine to a fault. He was an all-around athlete that loved baseball, tennis, and playing on the Rhode Island Lawman Softball Team. He was a New York Giants fan and enjoyed watching hockey and Ultimate Fighting bouts on television. He also enjoyed deep sea fishing, Rock N Roll music, and had a huge soft spot in his heart for animals. Scott had many fond memories of family vacations including: cruises, trips to Martha’s Vineyard, Block Island, and Jamaica.

He was the loving son of Maryann Logan of Bloomingdale and the late Robert Logan (2011); beloved brother of Monica Goodwin and her husband Kevin of Wayne; his adored niece and nephews; Kevin Goodwin, Jr., Jessica Goodwin, and Nicholas Goodwin all of Wayne. Scott joins his loving dog Titan in heaven and will be greatly missed by his dog Pippy who he cherished.

Josephine M. Baccash, age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on Wednesday, February 22, 2017. She had been a resident of Brooklyn, NY before moving to NJ in 1994.

Josephine was raised in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn and graduated from the Brooklyn Industrial High School for Girls in 1944. As a requirement for graduation, she had to sew her own dress for the matriculation ceremony. She was a graceful woman who embraced her femininity and always looked her best, regardless of the situation. She was like “Martha Stewart” before there was a Martha Stewart. Her wardrobe was made almost entirely of dresses and skirts, and her children estimate that Josephine was likely in her 60’s before ever donning her first pair of pants. She was truly a lady. She was “the best” mom they could have ever dreamed of having and she was always there for them. She was also an incredible homemaker and an outstanding cook. She wasn’t simply a “cook,” but rather, she “prepared” wonderful meals. She honored her family heritage and learned many traditional Lebanese recipes. Sometimes it’s the simple things that mean the most, and her children recall from their early childhood that nothing was better than mom’s BLT sandwiches!

Josephine dedicated herself to her family, but she was also very charitable, kind hearted, and willing to help others in need. For many years, she dedicated herself to the “Nairys” (“Syrian” spelled backwards) in Brooklyn, an organization of Syrian Christians who helped to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in New York. Her family requests that friends who wish to make a donation in Josephine’s memory please consider St. Jude Hospital. In later years she served as a volunteer at the St. Nicholas home in Brooklyn, and Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ.

Josephine’s marriage was similar to those written about in story books. She met Joseph Baccash when they were both just young children, living in the same building in Brooklyn. Joseph went off to fight in World War II and upon his return from the service, he was quite elated to discover the now ‘grown up’ version of Josephine. The two of them began dating almost immediately and they married on May 29, 1949 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral in Brooklyn. Following a honeymoon to Niagara Falls, they settled in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and raised their three children there. Josephine and Joe loved each other very much and everyone knew it. They were both excellent dancers and it was common for them to drop whatever it was that they were doing and begin dancing together if a familiar song came on the radio.

Josephine is survived by her three children; Joyce Dellagatta and her husband Andrew of Wayne, Basil Baccash and his wife Janet of Holmdel, NJ, and Nicholas Baccash and his wife Jeanette of Doylestown, PA, as well as six grandchildren; Jeffrey Baccash, Christine Dellagatta, Nicholas Baccash and his wife Valerie, Dianna Baccash, Lauren Baccash, and Christopher Baccash, and her first great-grandchild expected this April. Josephine was predeceased by her beloved husband Joseph in 1987, and by her two brothers.

Donations in Josephine’s memory would be greatly appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, or visit www.stjude.org.

84 of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, February 22, 2017.

When Joan Tucker first saw the light of understanding suddenly appear in the eyes of a student, she knew that teaching was her vocation and spent the next 50 years as a teacher, vice-principal, principal or professor. Even after she retired as principal of Mt. Olive High School in 1999, Joan continued to work as an adjunct professor at Caldwell College and with the Geraldine Dodge Foundation to improve teaching methods and curriculum. Believing that life-long learning and improvement were necessary to be a good educator and person, there was hardly a year in which she would not be studying for a degree or taking a class. After graduating from Montclair University, Cum Laude, in 1954, she went on to study at New York University. She received a Masters of Arts in Education from Montclair then a Masters of Letters from Drew University. At the age of 70, she received a Doctor of Letters from Drew University.

Dr. Joan, as her sons would later call her, started her career in 1954 in what is now Wayne Valley High School. It is here that she would meet Charles Tucker. They shared a love of the art and craft of teaching, the theater, travel, great quotations, and reading. How they loved reading! (They are the only people we have ever seen wear out a Kindle). She would be his “flower” and he would be her “dearest one” for the rest of their lives. Tuck would support his flower while she pursued a Ph.D. and became a principal. Joan would support her Tuck by patiently doing needle point in the casino lobby. In Tuck’s sisters, Betsy and Bill and Rosemary and Dan, became her family as well. She loved seeing them and sharing all of the news from the children and grandchildren.

Born in Clifton, Joan loved her father, Harry Carmen, but adored her brothers Bill and George. Her brothers would give her money to get into the double feature or take the bus, acts of kindness she would remember for the rest of her life and tell her children about. She truly loved to visit her brothers, and their wives Sue and Bet, in Florida, especially bowling with Sue. While Joan demanded excellence from herself (there was that C in Comparative Government, however) and others professionally, the kindness she and her brothers shared would color all the relationships to come. She showed a calm, patient love for her family and friends accepting each one for their virtues and their faults. Frequently not the center of attention, Joan was incredibly funny if you took the time to listen to her.

Joan Walsh, her friend of 60 years, was a kindred spirit who shared her commitment to education and excellence. Despite disagreements about the thermostat, the two Joans enjoyed the theater, museums, their love of hats and travelling. Helen and Rudy Wanke and Ange and Ed McCran, friends of more than 40 years, shared dinners and travel and, possibly, even enjoyed All the King’s Men.

Charles, Edward and Michael, were the best sons a mother could have, as far as Joan was concerned. She loved each of them for being themselves and was happiest simply being with them. You would often find her patiently waiting for a PAL baseball game or swimming lesson to end. She would sit doing her crocheting or reading, happy to be with her sons. However, after spending so many years in the company of three sons and a husband, Joan was excited when first Diane, then Mary and then Pam became her daughters-in-law. Finally she had daughters who understood that a new pair of shoes really can change your life.

Her greatest happiness, however, were her grandchildren. Bobby, Andrew, Emma, Faith, Caleb, Nathaniel, Michael, Isabelle and now Hannah ‘the’ Joan. Reading to them, hearing about their day or correcting their homework. Joan would teach them the nuances of English and grammar. She elevated, whether or not they liked it, their lives with knowledge and vocabularies beyond the usual expectations with the occasional teacher saying, “kids today don’t use that language; it must be plagiarism”. Joan, ever the teacher, would have nothing to do with low expectations and would correct their view on teaching and their understanding of language as well.

Joan often said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small is ever wasted.”

She lived doing what she loved most; teaching and learning. She was gifted with the things she most wanted; loving friends and family. Joan finally joined her Dearest One on February 22, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at www.giving.mskcc.org.

Monica Helen Lanza, age 81, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Sunday, February 19, 2017.

She was born in Passaic to William and Helen Mayerchak and raised at 25 Holden Street in Clifton. She graduated from Pope Pius High School in Clifton with the Class of 1953.

Just out of high school Monica worked as a secretary for Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, worked as a Newspaper Reporter for the Herald & News and Suburban Trends in Passaic for over twenty years, before accepting a position as a Legislative Aide for Senator Gerald Cardinale in Cresskill where she worked for over fifteen years before retiring in 2005.

Monica will be remembered for her strong will, strong faith, and her organizational skills. She was a musician who could play the piano and accordion. She loved gardening and being outdoors and grew strawberries, blackberries, red raspberries, grapes, corn, and rhubarb in her garden. She also had a cherry tree, apple tree, and a peach tree in the yard. For over thirty years she had canaries as pets and loved to hear them sing. She was an artist who loved to paint, had a huge heart, and was a very positive person. Most of all she will be remembered as the mother of nine children. She truly had her hands full with eight boys and one girl. The wooden spoon was her utensil of choice when disciplining her children and when she broke too many of those she sent you to cut a switch from the forsythia bush in the yard.

Monica was very dedicated to her faith and was an ordained minister with the Assembly of God Church. Her positive attitude and willingness to speak in front of others also helped her as a motivational speaker. She attended the Calvary Temple Church in Wayne for over forty years and sang in the choir for a time. Monica was also involved with the Deaf Ministry at Calvary Temple and served as a sign language interpreter to the hearing impaired during Sunday Services for many years.

She met the love of her life, Daniel J. Lanza, Sr. by pure chance. Monica and her best friend Marion were walking down the street in Clifton and wandered into a soda fountain. Little did they know that Daniel and his best friend Vincent were driving around looking for girls. They spied the two pretty girls walking into the soda shop, parked the car, and ventured inside to strike up a conversation. When Daniel asked the girls what they were up to, Monica’s friend Marion replied “playing tiddlywinks with manhole covers…what’s it to you.” Well the four hit it off and wound up marrying each other. Monica married Daniel at Saint Cyril’s Church in Clifton on November 26, 1953. They enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage of forty-two years before Daniel’s passing in 1995.

She was the loving wife of the late Daniel J. Lanza, Sr. (1995); devoted mother of William Lanza and his wife Kathy of Towaco, the late Daniel Lanza(2002); the late Karen Sibilia (2011) and her surviving husband Stephen of Nutley, Leonard Lanza and his wife Lisa of Wayne, the late Stephen Lanza (1960); the late Anthony Lanza (2009) and his surviving wife Heather, Thomas Lanza and his wife Niki of Wayne, Jay Lanza of Wayne, and the late Kenneth Lanza (2011); she was the cherished grandmother of Jonathan Sibilia and his wife Carmen, Joanna Sibilia, Shaun, Jaymi, Colette, Krystian, A.J., Danielle, and Alex Lanza; she was the loving sister of the late George Mayerchak, the late William Mayerchak and his surviving wife Barbara, and the late Joseph Mayerchak and his surviving wife Dorothy; and the much love aunt to many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Calvary Temple, 1111, Preakness Ave., Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated.

Frank DiGirolamo, “Mr. D” age 87, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 18, 2017.

Born at home in Garfield, Frank was raised there and attended Garfield High School where he starred on the school’s Boilermakers football team.

Frank proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1952 to 1955. While stationed in Italy in 1954 during the Korean Conflict, he was the recipient of the Best Soldier Award, bestowed upon him by the 7617 USFA Support Command for earning the highest ranking in loyalty, dependability, cooperation, initiative, judgment, tact, command ability, military bearing, attention to duty and setting a good example. By his actions he materially increased the efficiency of his section and was an inspiration to his fellow soldiers as well as a credit to his command. They even had a parade in Italy for Frank. As the parade was going on, Frank saw an American flag and, saluting it, his General told him not to because this day was to honor him! He was most proud of that accomplishment. He was also the recipient of the National Defense Service Medal. Upon his return to civilian life Frank went on to serve actively as a member of the VFW and American Legion.

Frank fell in love with Phyllis Vanecek and they married September 24, 1955 at Holy Name Church in Garfield. Together, they enjoyed a storied marriage blest with two great sons and the love of many friends. The two of them loved to entertain guests at their house, complete with full bars inside and outside the house and parties every weekend with 20 to 30 friends regularly in attendance, having a good time by the pool. At Christmas time Frank enjoyed serving fried fish and all his vegetables were always the freshest. One time he even got lost in the woods while searching for wild mushrooms, and everyone enjoyed Frank’s stuffed pizza on New Year’s Eve – a tradition which will live on in his two sons. He also loved going party boat fishing off of Manasquan and Point Pleasant.

Frank was founder and president of F. DiGirolamo & Son, Inc. Construction Company, established in 1977 which specialized in retail store renovations, demolition, and environmental services. He was a member of Carpenters Local Union 253, Hackensack.

Frank served in Garfield as chairman of the Board of Adjustments and dedicated his time and talent to building the setting for the bell in front of Garfield’s town hall. His greatest passion though was participating in Garfield’s drum and bugle corps. As a young kid growing up, Frank was a member of the championship Drum and Bugle Corps Holy Name Cadets of Garfield. As an adult, while involved with the Garfield Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, he created and directed the First Garfield Plebes and Feeder Corps to the Garfield Cadets. This later becoming the Epochs Drum and Bugle Corps. So dedicated was Frank to inspiring young kids, he onetime took a second mortgage on his house, just to front the money needed to get them new uniforms and instruments. This was essential to moving them from a parade corps to a field corps and to helping them compete against much more established drum and bugle corps. The three big annual competitions took place in Wildwood, Marion, Ohio, and Lynn Massachusetts. He spared no expense to help the kids have a winning attitude and while many other bugle corps traveled to competitions by school bus, Frank’s bugle corps always traveled by coach. His efforts paid off as the Epochs Drum and Bugle Corps won many awards during their existence including the state championship in 1971.

For countless years Frank and Phyllis were faithful parishioners, attending every Sunday at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne where they moved in 1993.

Frank was a great story teller. He could tell story after story and he was always good for a joke too. He’ll be missed for all the qualities that he possessed and shared freely as a soldier, co-worker, volunteer, husband, father and brother.

Frank was predeceased by his beloved wife of 43 years - Phyllis Vanecek DiGirolamo; his father and mother Tony and Lucille DiGirolamo, and his brother Jerry DiGirolamo. He is survived by his two dear sons: Drew and Glen DiGirolamo, both of Wayne; and his brother Vito and wife Lucy DiGirolamo of Paramus.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Frank’s name are asked to consider Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church, or Friends of Wayne Animals (FOWA) P.O. Box 3701, Wayne, NJ 07470.

George E. Spaulding, Jr. was born June 3, 1929 at home in Bennington, New Hampshire to George Elmer Spaulding, Sr. and Ella NICHOLS Spaulding. George enjoyed life on the farm and the many animals he cared for. George graduated Peterborough High School in 1946 and enrolled at Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he graduated in 1950 with a Bachelors of Science Degree. In August of 1950 George married Phyllis E. Hampton. George was employed at Lipton Tea Company, Hoboken, New Jersey and attended Steven’s Institute of Technology nights. In 1952, George was drafted for the Korean Conflict. He and his wife moved to Philadelphia where he served in the Veterinary Corp. Upon discharge from the military, George returned to work with Lipton Tea and graduated from Steven’s with a Masters in Science Degree in Chemical Engineering. George was employed by Domino Sugar Company, New York City until his retirement in 1992. George served as Exalted Ruler of Wayne BPOE.

Together, George and Phyllis had three children; Donald, Douglas and Shirleyjean.

In 1957 the family moved to Wayne, New Jersey.

George enjoyed traveling to antique shows, gardening, and doing jigsaw puzzles.

George is preceded in death by his parents and son, Douglas. He is survived by wife Phyllis, son Dr. Donald H. Spaulding of Rancho Cucamonga, California and daughter Shirleyjean Heyne of Cherry Valley, California, four grandchildren; Ryan J. Spaulding, Jacqueline E. Spaulding, Sara M. Williams and Kaitlyn L. Spaulding of California.

June O’Rourke, age 94, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 16, 2017.

Born in Mount Vernon, NY, June was the second of Stanley and Gladys Bosley’s four children and raised in Bloomingdale, NJ. She graduated from Butler High School with the Class of 1940.

One day while walking to a doctor’s appointment in Paterson, June didn’t pay any attention to the handsome sailor driving his car down the street but he apparently noticed her. That sailor was Stephen O’Rourke and somehow he introduced himself to June. It had to be love at first sight because two months later on August 21, 1943.They eloped to Philadelphia, PA and got married before the Justice of the Peace. Stephen, who was home on a short leave from the U.S. Navy immediately returned to service and June went back home to her family in Bloomingdale where she announced that she had just gotten married.

Stephen returned home from his Navy service and the newlyweds began a loving marriage that would span more than a half century before Stephen’s passing in 1996. They lived for a short time in Paterson and Hawthorne before moving to Bloomingdale where June gave birth to their firstborn – a son which they named Stephen. While in Bloomingdale, she and her husband Stephen ran a little convenience store out of their home. At the time televisions just were becoming available and June had one in the store. It generated more traffic in the store as “shoppers” would stop in to watch, but it didn’t increase sales. Shortly after they moved to Wayne and June again gave birth – this time to a little baby girl which they named Janice. June dedicated herself to the care of her children, creating a welcoming and loving home for all of her family.

June and Stephen had two main hobbies – collecting and traveling. They loved taking trips together to New York State to go antiquing as well as to local garage sales. Consequently, their house in Wayne was filled with wonderful artifacts, keepsakes, conversation pieces and furniture from a bygone era. The whole activity of antiquing was a real bonding experience for the two of them. Their love of traveling took them to many destinations at home in the U.S. and abroad. Since her husband loved road trips, they saw most of the U.S. states including Alaska, and they also enjoyed vacations to Switzerland and even Australia and New Zealand.

In recent years, June’s health kept her home a bit more. She’d pass the time watching television – especially British programming on the PBS Channel. She especially enjoyed it when her son Stephen would play such musical favorites as Grosz Wilhelm’s Red Sails in the Sunset and Beethoven’s Fur Elise on the piano for her.

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

She sailed at the dawning, all day I've been blue

Red sails in the sunset, I'm trusting in you

Swift wings you must borrow

Make straight for the shore

We marry tomorrow

And she goes sailing no more

Red sails in the sunset, way out on the sea

Oh, carry my loved one home safely to me

Swift wings you must borrow

Make straight for the shore

We marry tomorrow

And she goes sailing no more

June was a very friendly, approachable and talkative person with a great sense of humor. For Halloween, she’d often get dressed up herself and greet the kids who would come to her house to Trick-or-Treat for candy. Her even-keeled character and ability to be supportive and encouraging to others will be greatly missed.

June is survived by her dear son Stephen O’Rourke of Wayne; her dear daughter Janice and husband Ronald Van Dunk of Wayne; three cherished grandchildren: Courtney and husband Andrew Pharo of Loveland, OH, Miranda Sloane Van Dunk of Wayne, and Charles and wife Julie O’Rourke of Sciota, PA; her adored great-grandson Wyatt Joseph Pharo; her dear sister Ruth Trengove of Tarpon Springs, FL; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Stephen O’Rourke, Sr. in 1996 and also her brother Robert Bosley, and her sister Doris Whritenour.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in June’s name are asked to consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Joseph F. Pillar age 86 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday February 15, 2017 with his loving family by his side.

Joseph was born and raised in Paterson, NJ. After graduating from Eastside High School, Joe worked for his dad, driving their family coal truck. He worked for his father for about three years and then decided in 1951 to enlist in the United States Marine Corps at Camp LeJunne. Joseph’s service in the Marine Corps lasted from 1951 to 1953. During the first year of his service, Joe was at the Falls View Grill with some friends when he met a lovely young lady by the name of Ann Ciarlo. They started dating, and after a wonderful and romantic courtship of several years they were married. Joe and Ann were married in St Anthony’s RC Church in Paterson and honeymooned in Canada at Niagara Falls.

When Ann and Joe were first married they stayed in Paterson and lived on 21st Street. They were there for a short time and then rented a house from their aunt on Front Street, also located in Paterson. In 1961, Joe and Ann moved to Wayne, NJ. It was here in Wayne where they would spend the rest of their lives together and raise their two daughters JoAnn and Debbie. Joe and Ann cherished sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Following Joe’s honorable discharge from the US Marine Corps, he earned a position as a Scrap Gang Leader for the Continental Can Company in Paterson. Joe worked there for twenty-seven years until he was forced into an early retirement in 1981 due to the closing of the company. Joe felt he was too young for retirement and didn’t waste much time finding another job. He landed a job as an owner/operator for a company called Northern Valley Courier where he worked for seventeen years. He then tried his hand at retirement once again in 1998. It didn’t fare very well for Joe, he got bored quickly and again went out looking for work. Joe then got yet another job driving for 002 Auto Parts in 1999 and worked there until 2013. Joe finally retired in 2013 due to some health conditions, but nothing could keep him still. If Joe could have worked for the rest of his life, he would have, nothing could stop him.

Aside from his outstanding work ethic, Joe was an avid hunter and fisherman. He took annual trips to Wyoming where he would go deer hunting. He would often take his two daughters fishing with him, as well as his grandchildren. Joe and his family would take annual trips to St Petersburg, FL during the last week in July to the first week in August. He was also a New York Giants and New York Mets fan. But aside from Joe’s passion for work, hunting, and fishing, his greatest thrill and love was for his family. He was a devoted father, grandfather, and great grandfather, as well as a loving and dedicated husband. Nothing came between Joe and his family. He was caring, generous and full of energy throughout his entire life. He was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.

Joe was the loving husband of Ann Pillar (nee Ciarlo) of Wayne, devoted father of JoAnn Stinnard and her husband Donald of Pompton Lakes, and Debbie Arena also of Pompton Lakes, cherished grandfather of Michelle Warren and her husband Eric, Aimee Pires and her husband Dan, Mark Stinnard, Dale Arena, Jenna Arena and her boyfriend Ryan Kennedy, and Shane Stinnard and his wife Becki, loving great-grandfather of Nathan Pires, Nicholas and Jake Warren, beloved sister to Dolores Smith. Joe was predeceased by his parents Andrew and Rose (Buccieri) Pillar and his sister Mary Schlereth.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joseph’s name may be made to Grace Healthcare Services, Raritan Plaza III, 105 Fieldcrest Ave., Suite 402, Edison, NJ 08837-3628 (www.gracehcs.com), or Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834-1365 (www.alz.org/nj).

Margaret “Marge” Seifried (nee Grant), 87 of Wayne, died peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2017. Marge lived in Wayne since 1957. She was a forty-year employee of A&P grocery and retired just a few years ago when the A&P market closed on Valley Rd. in Wayne.

Marge was raised in the Fort Hamilton section of Brooklyn, NY and lived there before moving to Wayne in 1957. As a young woman living in Brooklyn, her girlfriend introduced her to a handsome NYPD officer named Eugene Seifried. Marge was, at that time, engaged to be married, but she quickly broke it off when she met Eugene and the two of them fell in love. They were soon married and first lived in Brooklyn before deciding to move out to “the country,” settling in Wayne. Marge was very proud of her house and with her husband Eugene, they created a warm and loving home where friends and family were always welcome, and her trademark laughter was frequently heard. Marge’s neighbors would tell you that she loved to decorate for the holidays – all of them! At any time of year you would know what holiday was approaching simply by looking at her home; Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and today it remains decorated for Valentine’s Day. When you consider the size of her large, loving heart, it comes as no surprise that she passed on Valentine’s Day.

Marge’s faith was unquestionably her foundation, and her devotion to the Lord was self-evident. She was a fixture at her parish home; Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne. A Eucharistic Minister and member of the Rosary Society, she prayed daily and attended Mass each and every day. She prayed for countless people over the years, many of them complete strangers. During the past three years, her faith was tested but only grew stronger as she endured the loss of her daughter Mary Ellen, her son Eugene, Jr., and her grandson Alex. Her family and friends find consolation knowing that she’s reunited with her loved ones today, rejoicing together in the splendor of God’s Kingdom.

Marge is survived by her loving sons; Charles and his wife Verica of Pompton Plains, and Stephen and his wife Joyce of Wayne, four grandchildren; Natasha Seifried of Pompton Plains, Stephen J. and Kasey Seifried of Wayne, and Michael Catalonello of Morris Plains. She was predeceased by her husband Eugene, Sr. (1994), by three children; Richard (1967), Mary Ellen Otte (2013), Eugene, Jr. (2016), and by her grandson Alexander (2016).

Marge’s second home was her beloved church; Our Lady of Consolation, and it is her desire that memorial donations in her honor go to the church; Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Greg P. Foy, age 65, of Pompton Lakes and formerly of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 11, 2017. He was receiving the love of his incredibly adoring family who were gathered around him in prayer at the time of his passing.

Greg was born and raised in the Totowa section of Paterson. After graduating from Passaic County Technical Institute in 1969, he spent the next four years of his life proudly serving in the U.S. Air Force. He spent all four years stationed at Dyess Air Force Base and although he volunteered to serve in Vietnam, he was never given the chance.

Greg met his bride to someday be – Jacqueline Merritt when he was sixteen years old. He’d pass by her house almost every day and, being as sociable as he was, he would often stop to talk to her if she was sitting on her front porch when he walked by. Greg would hang out until Jackie’s father said it was time to go. Eventually they went out together. It was just a simple get-together at the Colonial Grill on Chamberlain Ave. but it would be the first of many dates. They both finished High School the same year and although they were separated by Greg’s joining the Air Force, they burned through many pens as they continued to correspond regularly by written letter. After the first two years of his service, Greg came home for a short leave and they married on Saturday, November 27, 1971 at the Union Ave. Baptist Church in Paterson. There was no time for a honeymoon as Greg had to immediately report back to the base in Texas, but his new bride joined him and the newlyweds began the first of 45 years in a blessed and wonderful marriage together while Greg completed his last two years of service in the Air Force. Upon his return to civilian life, they moved back to Paterson, NJ where they welcomed their first of two babies – a little girl which they named Kimberly. They moved to Vernon and lived there for five years then they moved to Wayne. There they welcomed another precious daughter and named her Jennifer.

As a partner in Halls Pressing Company in Wayne – a supplier of dry cleaning presses, Greg worked all facets of the business from sales to installation to service. After thirty years on the job, he retired but, never able to be still, and being a black seal boiler license holder, he took a job as a custodian and boiler maintenance man for the Wayne Board of Education. His work was always in the George Washington Middle School and he was loved by all – students and faculty alike. You could say that Greg retired twice from the Wayne Board of Ed., but the first time he only told his family, and to celebrate, he took them all, including his two sons-in-law and grandchildren, to Disney World in Florida. After that trip, he changed his mind and worked a little more until officially retiring in 2014 after nine years on the job.

Greg and Jackie spent thirty years living in Wayne but, being such a tight-knit family, they eventually followed their two daughters and their families to Pompton Lakes where they’ve lived for the past five years.

Following that official retirement Greg did a little work on the side for the Pompton Lakes Board of Education but his real new job – one that he would probably say was his best – was spending time with his three granddaughters and one grandson. Those kids couldn’t have been blessed with a better “Grampy.” He always brought them to school and when he picked them up at the end of the day, they loved to “con” him into taking them to Dunkin Donuts. Other times when asked, he’d take them to Party Fair. They knew Grampy didn’t especially love that store but the fact that he happily took them anyway just made them love and respect him even more.

Greg loved to get outside and work in his yard. He took care of it meticulously – so meticulously that he was even known to get out there with a pair of scissors to trim his grass and bushes to perfection. He also loved to go to Mount Airy Lodge. It’s not that he was a big gambler at all! He just loved the whole experience and doing something that came natural to him – making friends with strangers. His girls will always remember growing up and spending summers down the shore at LBI and, more recently, going altogether with his children and grandchildren to Cape May as well as countless trips over the years to Disney World.

Three months ago, Greg and Jackie celebrated 45 years of marriage by spontaneously taking the whole family to that family favorite destination - Disney World. The family’s last big event with Greg was this past December 3, 2016. He surprised the whole family with a trip to New York City to see the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall followed by a nice family dinner at the Bryant Park Grill. Four days later he received the official diagnosis of Leukemia. He was doing great but life’s events don’t always work out exactly the way we wish. His family, who loved Greg so incredibly much, now rely on their faith and your prayers as they struggle through the difficult days ahead.

Greg was a selfless man who would do anything for anyone. He had a big personality and a great sense of humor. He possessed the “gift of gab” and was friendly to anyone and everyone he would meet. You could not find someone with a bigger heart. He was the best husband, father, and grampy anyone could ask for who will forever live on with his loved ones in their hearts.

Surviving are Greg’s beloved wife of 45 years, Jacqueline (nee Merritt): two dear daughters: Kimberly and husband Brian Sek of Pompton Lakes and Jennifer and husband Raymond Bosma also of Pompton Lakes; four cherished grandchildren: Kaeley and Brenna Sek, and Connor, and Kendall Bosma; six loving sisters and one loving brother: Mary Ann Smith, Diane Geary, Marjorie Lee, Bonnie Porcelli, Debra McManon, Terry Verblaauw, and Paul Foy; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his loving parents: William Foy in 1972, Lena Foy in 2006, and his dear loving brother William Foy in 1967.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Greg’s name are asked to consider The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 14 Commerce Drive, Suite 301, Cranford, NJ 07016 (www.lls.org/new-jersey), or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Pearline T. Nazzaro, age 89, of Pompton Plains, passed peacefully at home with the comfort of family surrounding her, on Saturday, February 11, 2017.

She was born in Paterson to the late Loreto and Anna Toppetta and graduated from Central High School in Paterson with the Class of 1945. She lived in Paterson and Wayne before moving to Pompton Plains twelve years ago.

Just out of high school, Pearline worked for New Jersey Bell Telephone Company in Paterson as a switchboard operator before getting married. She was introduced to a handsome young man named Rocco Nazzaro by her father and her father-in-law to be who both worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Rocco was in medical school studying to be a dentist and gave Pearline his fraternity pin pledging his love for her. They married on April 25, 1948 and honeymooned in Washington, D.C. during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Pearline and Rocco enjoyed fifty years of loving and devoted marriage before his passing in 1997.

Pearline will be remembered as a giving, outgoing, friendly, person who loved people. She can be quoted as saying “I’m the wealthiest person on earth” regarding the love she gave and received from her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She never had a bad word to say about anyone and always had a positive attitude towards just about every aspect of life. She also had great respect and care for those less fortunate than herself, often preparing grocery bags of food she would just give away to those in need. She was an amazing cook, who learned her way around the kitchen from her mother and mother-in-law. She found great joy in making incredible Sunday dinners where everything was made from scratch for upwards of fifteen people. The special ingredient of love in her recipes will always be lovingly remembered.

Pearline was dedicated to her community as well. She was a member of the Wayne UNICO, served as a Den Mother for the Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts, and served with the Brownies and Girl Scouts during her children’s formative years. Pearline had lots of room in her heart for animals as well. Over the years she was host to dogs, cats, ducks, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, a monkey, a parrot, turtles, and fish. She will also be missed by her grand-dog Riley who loved to visit her.

Pearline was the loving wife of fifty years to the late Rocco P. Nazzaro, DDS (1997); devoted mother of Rocco L. Nazzaro and his wife Dorothy of Kinnelon, Virginia Bailey of Pompton Plains, Kathleen Stanicki and her husband Gary of Albrightsville, PA, Loretta Nazzaro-Maloney and her husband Martin of Pompton Plains, Lou Nazzaro and his wife Eileen of Lincoln Park; much loved sister of Loretta Luyster and her husband James of North Haledon; cherished grandmother of Anthony, Rocco G., David, Charles, Nicholas, Brian, and Breanna; dearly loved great-grandmother of Austin, Kyle, Timothy, Vincent, Dylan and Ryan.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Abundant Life Worship Center, 103 Jacksonville Road, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035 or St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105-9959, or visit www.stjude.org to donate on line.

Jeannette A. Kokos, age 83, of Toms River, passed away quietly and comfortably after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s disease. She was born in Pennsauken, New Jersey to Earl and Mary Applegate and raised on East Cedar Avenue in Merchantville, New Jersey.

Jeannette graduated from Merchantville High School with the Class of 1951 and was always proud to tell anyone who would listen, that she was a cheerleader during her high school years. After high school she worked as a secretary in the City of Philadelphia. She was introduced to a handsome young man named Basil Kokos and they soon fell in love. Basil and Jeannette married on December 13, 1956 and honeymooned in Niagara Falls, New York. They soon started a family and Jeannette dedicated herself to raising the two children their marriage was blessed with.

In 1968 Basil and Jeannette opened a travel agency that would come to be known as All-Ways Travel in Wayne. Just four years after opening the travel agency Basil passed away and Jeannette, being a single parent, ran the agency for many years to support her family. The agency handled many Wayne area business and personal travel accounts. Jeannette sold the agency in 1985 and continued on in the travel industry until formally retiring in 1990. She will be remembered as a loving, sweet, compassionate, selfless, strong, funny, private person with a beautiful smile.

Jeannette was predeceased by her husband of fifteen years Basil Kokos (1972); her sisters Margie Reed, Betty Edwards, Honey Saunders and her brother EJ Applegate. She will be missed dearly by her son Alex Kokos and his wife Laurie, her daughter Cindy Kokos and her grandchildren Kevin, Brian, and Alex Kokos Jr.

Those inclined to make a memorial donation in her memory are asked to consider Brandywine Living At Toms River 1587 Old Freehold Road Toms River, NJ 08755 in Memory of Jeannette Kokos.

Valeria “Val” Menne, age 95, of the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne for sixty-seven years, passed peacefully on Friday, February 10, 2017.

She was born in Wyandotte, Michigan to Stanley and Rose Hojnowski. Val thoroughly enjoyed her childhood and would recall with a sly grin how her father was a bootlegger during the prohibition years! Val excelled in school and was proud to have been accepted into medical school, only to be told by her father that this wasn't a profession for girls. This in turn inspired Val to enlist in the US Army where she joined the Nurse’s Corps as an RN. While stationed in Regensburg, Germany, Val met the man who was to become her husband, Lt. Robert J. Menne, Bob was on a hospital floor after hours and Val’s first words ever to him were “What do you want?” Robert fell in love at first sight and after some persistence and patience on Bob’s part they began dating. After their first date, Bob professed "I'm going to marry you." and then he went out and purchased a pewter mug and plate set on which he had engraved "all my love". Val would chuckle that after this very romantic gesture, on their next date, he took her to the Nuremburg Trials.. He even named his Army jeep, Valeria. Bob was clearly smitten and Val allowed him to be smitten. Both were discharged in the spring and were married on October 5, 1946 at Mount Carmel Church in Wyandotte, Michigan and honeymooned in Puerto Rico and Florida. They had a classic marriage were proud to uphold traditional family values. They maintained a loving home for their children and always accepted less for themselves in order to give their children all they could.

After her military service Val worked in a Detroit, Michigan hospital and transitioned to a stay at home mom when her first daughter was born. Bob was working for the Ford Motor Company in 1950 when he was transferred to New York and they moved to the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne.

While in Wayne they were members of Holy Cross Church which is the mother Catholic Church in the township. Val and Bob were soon members of a group petitioning the church for a new location in the Packanack Lake section of the township and helped found the Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church. Val was dedicated to her Catholic faith and a devoted founding member of Immaculate Heart of Mary. She was active with all types of organizations within the church, and most recently was a member of the church’s Lazarus Society and prayer group. She maintained her interest in nursing, often taking refresher courses and becoming a member of the Saint Joseph’s Paterson Hospital’s Auxiliary. When her two youngest children entered their high school years she re-entered the work force at the age of 55 as a Registered Nurse for Saint Vincent’s Nursing Home in Montclair. She loved nursing, but as time went on she became frustrated by all the time spent on computers and paperwork rather than time with the patients. She formally retired in 1999 from Saint Vincent’s.

Val was the loving wife of fifty-three years to the late Robert J. Menne (1999); devoted mother of the late Susan Menne (2002), Marie Menne of New York City, and Christopher Menne of Boulder, Colorado; cherished grandmother of Ted Heron and Eve Menne-Edwards; she was the loved sister of Robert Hojnowski, and the late Jerome Hojnowski, Rose Prygoski, Veronica Patalan, and Adeline Renkiewicz. She also deeply loved her nieces and nephews very much and often lamented not living closer to them. Val had an amazing circle of friends and they meant the world to her. She would say, "I am so blessed."

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 would be greatly appreciated.

Harry G. Merklin, age 72, of Pompton Lakes, NJ passed away peacefully with his loving family by his side on Friday, February 10, 2017.

Harry was born into the Merklin family of Orange, New Jersey as the youngest of six boys on July 12, 1944. His wife Edna, who knew him as a child, fondly remembers Harry as the little kid walking up the street every Sunday for church. He graduated from Our Lady of the Valley in Orange, while also working as a dishwasher at his brother’s luncheonette. At that point, he considered committing to life as a priest, spending six months at a seminary, and then thought better of it. After returning home, Harry began to date the girl next door--Edna, his wife of nearly 50 years. They married on April 8, 1967, with a honeymoon in the Poconos. He was inspired to become a teacher after watching To Sir, With Love. While raising their first child, Ryan, Harry earned a Masters degree in Education at Seton Hall University by attending classes at night. Following Ryan thirteen years later, Harry and Edna adopted their daughter, Kelly, who was then followed two years later by their third child, Nicole. Supporting his family for the majority of his life, Harry held a career as a teacher for the Wayne Board of Education across many schools and grades through the town, eventually retiring in 2007. He cultivated life long friendships with some of his colleagues.

Consistently working multiple jobs for decades, Harry devoted much of his life to providing for his family. He leaves his wife, children, their spouses and grandchildren with an abundance of memories from Sunday suppers and beach vacations. He carried a special love and pride in becoming a grandfather. As an honorary grandfather to many children of the neighborhood, he offered a friendly and reassuring presence. His presence sitting outside on the side porch was so steadfast, one young neighbor who waved to him daily became convinced he lived on the porch.

Harry's solitary pastimes were caring for the lawn, tanning, and watching Judge Judy and Law & Order, but he derived the most pleasure by participating in the comings and goings of everyday life around him. As such, he was seen as part neighborhood mayor, part town gossip. He was a neighborhood character who loved knowing all the characters of the neighborhood. He loved being the switchboard, reporting what he'd learned through an earlier conversation with someone else. As a lifetime teller of tall tales, what details he couldn't remember, he would invent.

Harry felt most at home when he was surrounded by others. He adored getting attention, but was ultimately happy just to be a part of it all. He loved neighborhood tailgate parties, though he had no interest in sports. Even while managing multiple health issues at the end of his life, he continued to go to the gym to socialize with his friends. He fought to stay in the world with all the stubbornness he'd always possessed, and Harry finally let go peacefully, while his family had dinner in the next room, amidst their chattering company.

Harry is survived by his loving wife, Edna (née Breen) Merklin of Pompton Lakes; three children: Ryan Merklin and his wife Jennifer of Wayne, Kelly Merklin and her husband William Jacobs of New York, NY, and Nicole VanDermark and her husband Harold of Pompton Lakes; two grandchildren,Tyler and Gavin; one brother, David Merklin, Sr. and his wife, Doris of Stuart, FL; several nieces and nephews; and his beloved cat. Harry was predeceased by his brothers: John Merklin, Frederick Merklin, Joseph Merklin, and Francis Merklin.

In lieu of flowers, Harry requested that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Michael Quinn, “Quinny”, age 58, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday morning, February 8, 2017.

Mike was born in Valley Hospital in Ridgewood and raised in Paramus where, while attending Paramus Catholic High School, he excelled at cross country and won many races and awards as a member of the Paramus Catholic Paladins. After graduation from high school he began attending Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA. As a communications major, Quinny had dreams of working in some capacity in television or radio. It’s not surprising therefore that, while at Susquehanna, he was the voice of the university’s radio station WQSU, spinning vinyls and serving up all they latest hits to those who turned the dial to 88.9 FM on their radios. This job was perfect for Mike as he just loved music, especially musical artists like Yes, Jon Anderson and musical genres like reggae, Cajun, and other eclectic stuff. As the years rolled on, his vinyl records were slowly replaced by CD’s of which he presently had over 600!

After college, Mike ended up in computer sales and distribution. Most of his thirty-five plus year career was with Micro America Corporation of Moonachie, serving as their outside sales representative for all of New Jersey. Most recently he was serving as a consultant with several computer retailers.

Mike met his wife Jodie while at Micro America. It turns out that the company had to let the inside sales rep go, so Mike added that role to his responsibilities while the company pursued a permanent replacement. Jodie was the inside sales secretary and the two of them soon took a real liking to each other. Their first official date was to Segovia Restaurant in Moonachie. They soon fell in love and the night came when Mike planned to ask for Jodie’s hand in marriage while at a restaurant. Mike just couldn’t contain his excitement and, getting down on one knee, he asked Jodie to marry him before they even went out. She was elated at the proposition of being Quinny’s wife and they married on Saturday, September 10, 1988. After a honeymoon in Aruba, they lived for a short time in Budd Lake, then moved to their home in the Lions Head Lake section of Wayne in 1989 where they have remained to the present time. In 1993 Mike and Jodie were blessed with the birth of their daughter Shannon.

If you were to ask Mike, he would no-doubt tell you that he was enjoying the blessings of a great life! He adored his wife of 28 years and his daughter Shannon, the bills were paid, and he had time for pursuits of leisure. Mike was never bored and one of his favorite hobbies was working in the kitchen. Ask his daughter Shannon. She would tell you that he made the best orzo salad in the world. He had high standards in the kitchen so nothing came out of a can. Instead, he would make his own stocks and freeze them. Every summer when the corn was in season, he’d make a big production out of husking, cooking, blanching and removing the corn from the cob and freezing it for future use in favorite recipes like corn pudding and corn soup. With his daughter Shannon working by his side in the kitchen he was the happiest – sharing two of his greatest loves. Quinny especially loved spicy foods including Cajun recipes like jambalaya, and gumbo. Mike liked to bribe Shannon to try certain foods by offering her money as an incentive. One time he offered her $20 if she would just try a little bit of duck.

When he was younger, Mike liked to downhill ski. He’d often go with his friends to Vermont and he loved to visit his brother in New Hampshire when he’d ski at Loon Mountain. In recent years, Mike and Jodie got to travel a bit more. They enjoyed trips to Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and to Spain where they got to visit Shannon when she was there for college. They also visited California, Mexico and, while in Ireland and Scotland, Quinny got to participate in another love…..golf. He also played locally but eventually his love of Golf was overcome by his love of fishing. He and his buddy Kevin shared a small fishing boat and they loved to drop their fishing lines, early in the morning, in the saltwater down in Sandy Hook. He especially loved sea bass, fluke and flounder. He’d come home and quickly prepare it for Jodie and Shannon and he would often excitedly say something like, “Just think, this delicious fish that you are enjoying was caught just five hours ago. It doesn’t get any fresher than that!”

Mike’s family always adored his friendly, fun, good-natured disposition. He loved the simple things of life like gummy bears, sour candies, ice cream, singing the song playing over the loudspeaker in the mall and trying on funny hats, just for a laugh when shopping with his family. He was spontaneous and had difficulty keeping a secret if he had something special planned for you. One time while out shopping with Jodie, she saw a beautiful article of jewelry at an estate sale. She loved it very much but figured it was too expensive. This took place right before Christmas so Mike secretly went back and bought it for Jodie. Just like when they got engaged Mike couldn’t contain his excitement and couldn’t wait to see Jodie’s reaction so he surprised her with the gift before Christmas. His actions were always motivated by his love of family, friends, or anyone he’d meet. More concerned about others than himself, Mike was always willing to help and he would give you his last dollar if you needed it.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife Jodie (nee Tulko); his very much-loved daughter Shannon of Providence, RI; dear parents Jack and Adele Quinn of Wayne; his brother John “Jack” and wife Beth Littman-Quinn of Cape Cod, MA; his sister Lisa Arias of Wayne; and nieces and nephews: Jason, Ryan, Anna, Nicki, Stephanie, Polina, Victoria, Patrick, Joseph, and Melody. He was predeceased by his brother Jim Quinn, and his nephew John.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Michael’s name are asked to consider the NJ Sharing Network, Attn: Foundation, 691 Central Ave., New Providence, NJ 07974 (njsharingnetwork.org).

Madeline, G., age 82, of Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2017.

Madeline was born and raised in Paterson. Already as a young girl, she knew that someday she wanted to be a school teacher. After graduation from Eastside High School Madeline pursued her dream, first earning her Bachelor of Science degree from William Paterson Teachers College, and then her Master’s degree from Columbia University. She went on to enjoy a fulfilling career, having a positive influence on the lives of many students as a special education teacher with the Wayne Board of Education. She instituted the special education program at John F. Kennedy Elementary School and mostly also taught at Pines Lake Elementary and Lafayette Elementary School during her thirty-one years of service until retiring in 1994. Even after retirement, Madeline returned often as a dedicated volunteer tutor.

Public service was an integral part of Madeline’s very being. She greatly enjoyed serving others, using her gifts as a volunteer with the Wayne WINS Nutrition Center and with the Friends of Wayne Library where she’d frequently donate some hours to help sort the many books which were donated to the library.

Madeline enjoyed extensive travel throughout the United States. She and two friends and her sister Nancy especially liked to visit national parks including Great Sand Dunes Park in Colorado, Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park in California, and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. There were also several river boat trips up and down the Mississippi River that were especially enjoyable. Madeline was the best aunt that anyone could ever wish for. She loved being Aunt Madeline to her nieces and nephews and was known to spoil them a bit. They all will cherish great memories of how she would take them on adventurous vacations to such destinations as Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, and the Thousand Islands and Niagara Falls straddling the New York and Canadian international border– all her nieces one year and all her nephews the next.

In 1979 and again in 1984, Madeline was afflicted with a benign tumor on her ocular nerve which left her blinded in one eye. While it was no-doubt a trial in her life, she took it in stride holding close to her faith, always trusting that God would see her through anything that she had to face in life. Her faith was nourished for over forty years as a parishioner of Holy Cross Church in the Mountain View section of Wayne and she prayed the rosary faithfully every day to help keep her focus on God. Her faith has now become sight, again in both eyes, as she rests in the arms of her loving savior, Jesus Christ.

Madeline is survived by dear brother George and wife Sandra Holterhoff of Manahawkin, NJ; dear sister Nancy and husband Fred Meenen of Englewood, FL; six much-loved nieces and nephews: Karen Pagliaro, Cheryl Albanese, George Holterhoff, Dr. Beth Ann Haynes, David Meenen, and Loren Barrows; and numerous great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Madeline’s name are asked to consider St. Joseph’s School for the Blind, 761 Summit Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07307-3831 (schoolfortheblind.org).

Rita Joan Loughrey Lennon, age 79, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, February 6, 2017 with her dear daughter Marianne and her dear dog Sean by her bedside.

Born in Passaic, she was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford with the Class of 1955. As a teenager in high school, Rita loved to go to her school’s pep rallies and, although the rallies were always done way before she had to be home, Rita had a penchant for breaking her 10:00 PM curfew. Trying to typically sneak in about 11:00 PM, her mom would sometimes wait behind the door and surprise her.

Rita began working at the tender age of sixteen as a clerk in Woolworth’s Department Store. After completing high school, she began a job as an administrative secretary with Flinkote Roofing Company in East Rutherford. She transitioned for a good number of years into full-time work as a mother and homemaker for her four children, but then, she returned to work outside of the home, taking a job with Prudential Life Insurance Company in Parsippany for the next fifteen years. After that, she spent ten years working as an administrative secretary for Dr. Michael Biehl in the St. Joseph Hospital Electro Physiology Department in Paterson. Prior to complete retirement she served as one of the people that safely got your children across the street on their way to school in Wayne Township for five years. Throughout her many years in the workplace Rita was always a hard worker with a strong work ethic, often working 60 hour per week to help her daughter Marianne get ahead in life.

Rita loved to shop at the Christmas Tree Shop and Yankee Candle Store in Nanuet, NY. Always out for a bargain but never wanting to confront anyone herself, she would have her daughter Marianne bargain with the retail merchant to get a better price. Rita also loved to watch those home improvement programs on cable television, like This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop, and other similar shows on the HGTV channel. She was an excellent seamstress who made a lot of her own clothing and who loved to make Halloween costumes for Marianne. So great was Rita’s love for Halloween, she would frequently do silly things like dress up in a costume she made and go un-announced to her neighbor friends who would have no idea that it was her. She also loved the smell of freshly cut Christmas trees which she and Marianne would decorate for Christmas.

A feisty Irish woman who always expressed pride in her heritage, Rita faced obstacles, like fighting and overcoming breast cancer, with tenacity and courage. She could be tough when she had to be but deep inside her heart, she was a caring, devoted soul who was always putting other’s needs and desires ahead of her own. She would give the shirt off of her back if it would bless someone else’s life. For many years, Rita enjoyed serving others as a Eucharistic Minister at the Chapel in St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. She also volunteered one Halloween at the Wayne First Aid Squad Fundraiser - Haunted Halloween Ride at the farm on Black Oak Ridge Road. Even in the passing of her own life it was her desire to be an organ donor. She tried but, due to her Alzheimer’s condition, she was not a candidate. In honor of her effort to donate, the NJ Sharing Network still bestowed her with the honorary title of Donor of Desire.

Rita was a devoted “Grammy” to Shamrock and Sean – her two Coton De Teulear breed dogs. She referred to them as “The Boys” and her love for them was so great that everything revolved around what was going on in their lives. It seemed that Sean was always glued to Rita’s side and both dogs loved to cuddle with her on the couch for a night of watching television. As Rita lay in bed the last few hours of her own life, her dear Shamrock laid in bed with her by her side and passed away approximately four hours before Rita did.

Rita is survived by three daughters: Marianne Lennon, Diane Lennon, Nancy Lennon; one son: Robert and wife Diane Lennon; her sister Mary Frances Houghton; numerous nieces and nephews; and her dog Sean. She was predeceased by her parents Anne (nee Conway) and Michael Loughrey and her brother Michael Loughrey.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Rita’s name are asked to consider Compassionate Care Hospice 1373 Broad Street, Clifton, NJ 07013, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Michael P. Frank, Sr., age 90 a sixty year resident of Haledon, passed peacefully at home on Monday, February 6, 2017.

He was born to the late John and Pauline Frank, and raised in Jersey City. Mike graduated from Dickerson High School in Jersey City with the Class of 1944 and was a parishioner of Saint Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Jersey City for many years.

Mike was a United States Navy Veteran of WWII where he served with the Seabees whose motto was “we build, we fight.” He would relate stories of building air strips and Kwanzaa huts while serving in the Philippines and China. Mike received the American Theatre Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and the World War II Victory Medal for his service.

After his service in the military, Mike worked a lifelong career with in the telephone industry having worked for Western Electric and AT&T Technologies in Fair Lawn and Kearny, New Jersey.

Mike met and fell in love with Emilia Kurylka and they married on May 8, 1948 at Saint Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church in Jersey City. Their marriage was blessed with three children: Carol, Michele, and Michael.

Mike was a natural athlete who played baseball in high school and in area semi-pro leagues as a pitcher, including the Clifton Phillies, for many years. In 1980, Mike was inducted into Bergen County’s Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a dedicated New York Yankee fan and was always watching games on television. An avid bowler he sometimes bowled three times a week. Another of his loves was gardening. He would grow fruits and vegetables, and his favorite herb parsley. Mike was also a Mr.-Fix-It. He could adjust, fix, and make just about anything he put his mind to. And once his mind was made up about something, step aside because he was as determined and strong willed as they come.

He was also dedicated to helping others. He was a volunteer fireman for the Haledon Fire Company 1 for over forty years and also served as a Councilman for the Borough of Haledon for twelve years as well.

Mike was the loving husband of almost 67 years to the late Emilia Frank (2015); devoted father of Michele Frank of Oak Ridge, Michael Frank, Jr. of Haledon, the late Carol Ann Chryscine (2012) and her surviving husband Peter Chryscine of Wayne; he was also the loved brother of Dorothy Chabin and her husband John of Colorado, Mary Cecere of Florida, and the late Ann Cozzi, John, Julius, Paul, Edward Frank.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Lustgarten Foundation, 1111 Stewart Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714 or the Michael J. Fox Foundation, 469 7th Ave., NY, NY 10018 would be greatly appreciated.

Reverend Monsignor Patrick E. Brown, of Wayne, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Brown, passed peacefully with the comfort of family and friends

Reverend Monsignor Patrick E. Brown, of Wayne, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Patrick E. Brown, passed peacefully with the comfort of family and friends by his side, on Sunday, February 5, 2017. He was born and raised in the Greenwich Village section of New York City.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 18th, 1978 by Bishop Rodimer in the Assumption Church, Morristown. That same year he received his Masters of Theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary, Seton Hall University.

He was named a Monsignor by Pope John Paul, II on May 29, 1998. On June 20, 2001, His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan inducted him into the Knights of Malta. Later that year, he was inducted into the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. He served for four years at Our Lady of the Lake, Sparta and for ten years at Christ the King, New Vernon, and Saint Vincent DePaul Church, Stirling where he served as Pastor for eighteen years, before moving to Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Wayne.

In January of 2000, Bishop Rodimer appointed him Dean of Southeastern Morris County. In October of 2000, Bishop Rodimer appointed him Chaplain of the Morris County Chapter of Legatus.

Monsignor Brown was appointed Chaplain of the Morris County Jail in 1983, where he continues to serve. He is also Chaplain of the Long Hill Township Police Department; the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, and the Morris County Police & Fire Academy.

He has served on the Morris County Board of Social Services and Morris View Nursing Home. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Morris County Division of Youth Services; the Diocesan School Subsidy Committee, and Priest Moderator of the Diocesan Federation of Home & School Associations; Trustee of St. Elizabeth’s Academy, Convent Station; Honesty House, Stirling; Lounsberry Meadow Senior & Handicapped Housing, Stirling, the Assumption College, Mendham; Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Paterson; the Board of Advisors of the Legal Center for the Defense of Life; and in September 2004 was named to the Board of Visitors at the Seton Hall University Law School.

In 1995 he received the Ubi Caritas Award from the Board of Directors of Catholic Charities. In 1997 he received the President’s Award from the Diocesan Federation of Home School Associations. In 1997 he received the Archbishop Walsh Award from Seton Hall University. In 1998, he received the St. Ignatius Loyola Medal for Community Service from the Jesuit Community. In 2001, he was honored as Morris County Citizen of the Year. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office presented the Civilian Award in 2002 for 20 years of faithful service, and the Assumption College for Sisters, presented him with their First Caring Basket Award for Educational Services. In 2002, The Boy Scouts of America presented Monsignor Brown with a Lifetime Achievement Award. On November 8, 2003, the Paterson Federation of the Knights of Columbus Councils awarded Msgr. Brown with a Humanitarian Award, and on May 22nd, 2004 Seton Hall Alumni Association presented him with their Humanitarian Award for his involvement with Prison Ministry and work with the American Red Cross.

He was the loving brother of Sheila M. Brown of Budd Lake, Elizabeth N. Pettinato of New York City and her late husband Lawrence G. Pettinato, and Thomas M. Brown and his wife Patricia A. Brown of New York City; he was the much loved uncle of Shelia Brown O’Donnell, Lawrence G. Pettinato, Jr, Kathryn Brown Manning, Michael P. Pettinato, Thomas M. Brown, Jr., and Margaret M. Brown; he was the cherished great-uncle of Kathryn, Aiden, and Brynn O’Donnell, Lucy and Dillon Pettinato, and Emma, Audrey, and Charlotte Manning.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Catholic Family & Community Services, 24 DeGrasse Street, Paterson, NJ 07505 would be greatly appreciated. To make a donation online please click on the blue text above.  If you are donating online in the area where it asks where to send acknowledgement of your donation please type "The family of Rev. Msgr. Patrick E. Brown" and your donation will be properly acknowledged to the family.

Theresa J. Del Mauro (Terri), 81 of Wayne, died on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017.

Terri was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey. She was the 4th child of 1st generation Italian-Americans Antonetta Contursi and John A. Del Mauro Sr. She was predeceased by all of her siblings, Phyllis LaPolla, Nina Lelinho, Arthur and John Del Mauro Jr. Sadly, Terri lost her father when she was only 10 years old and her mother had to take on the task of raising five children on her own.

As a testament to her mother’s dedication to the family Terri was instilled with a strong sense of family values from an early age which would stay with her all her life. Terri graduated from Central High School in 1953. She had aspirations and the opportunity to pursue a career in modeling. She had an interview with a New York Agency but couldn’t deal with being away from her family. After graduating from high school she then began work as a key punch operator at Prudential Insurance in Newark, and remained there until she started her own family. She enjoyed time down the Jersey Shore with her friends at the Chatterbox, dancing at the Terrace Ballroom in Newark, and The Plaza in Paterson as well as attending Broadway Shows. She had many stories to tell about seeing Frank Sinatra live on numerous occasions as well as the entire Rat Pack in Las Vegas.

She met Peter Barbier Sr. (1997) also from Newark and they married in 1958. Although their marriage ended in a divorce in 1975, they were both very proud of the three children they brought into the world together. Terri did much of the child rearing herself after the divorce with the values instilled from her upbringing. She was able to take a night shift job at Data Processing in Bloomfield so that she was available to her children during the day, knowing her kids were safe at home with their grandmother. She was able to attend all her children’s school events, was a member of the PTA, chaperoned class trips and remained a vital part of their lives throughout all their formative years. Her children recall she even rode the log flume at Great Adventure during one of those class trips and they recall that she was their for them in every capacity.

Later in life, Terri was able to travel a bit and had visited Hawaii with her daughter and son-in-law as recent as 2015 for her 80th Birthday. She also traveled to the Bahamas and Las Vegas, as well as numerous day trips to Atlantic City. She was also active with the Italian American Club in Totowa, where she served as treasurer for a few years before resigning in 2014 when her health started failing. Friends will recall that she was meticulous in keeping the books balanced, and equally meticulous about her appearance and recall she would never leave the house without her lipstick.

Terri is survived by her three children; Dr. Andrea Barbier and her husband Anthony Gagliano of Wayne, Charles Barbier of Callicoon, NY, and Peter Barbier, Jr. of Wayne, one grandson; Peter John Barbier of Bloomfield, as well as 80 cousins, nieces and nephews. She is also loved by numerous friends, and will be especially missed by her Yorkshire Terrier Phoebe.

Terri a lifelong non-smoker, left us on February 4th from complications of Pneumonia and underlying Pulmonary Fibrosis. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.  Terri was a contributor to other foundations such as the American Diabetes Association and the ASPCA.

**PLEASE NOTE: due to the forecast snow storm, all scheduled events for Thursday are being moved one day forward to Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. All times and locations remain unchanged.

Carmen F. Passalacqua, age 97, of Jackson and formerly of Paterson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 4, 2017.

Carmen was born in Paterson and lived there for nearly sixty years in the Totowa section. Following retirement, he had lived in Jackson, NJ for the past thirty-eight years.

Carmen attended Eastside High School in Paterson, then he took a job at the Paterson Throwing Company – one of the silk city’s many textile factories. While there he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he proudly served during World War II as a machine gunner in campaigns in Central Europe including Italy, Germany, and France. For his brave service, Carmen was the recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, American Service Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal.

After the war, Carmen returned to his job at the Paterson Throwing Company where he was a member of the Textile Workers Union of America. There he met his wife Antoinette “Ann” Sacco and they were married at St. Mary’s RC Church in Paterson in 1948. Eventually, Carmen took the test to become a U.S. letter carrier. He proudly passed and began a career in 1953 with the U.S. Postal Service and was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers. During the span of more than thirty years as a postal worker, his route was always in Paterson and always on foot. He burned through a lot a pairs of shoes and made many friends along the way as he faithfully and reliably supplied mail to his Paterson residents.

During the years since their retirement, Carmen and his wife Anne travelled extensively throughout the United States and Canada, as well as Italy. They enjoyed sixty years of marriage as “best friends”, lovingly devoted to each other until Ann’s passing in 2009. They were always committed to their Catholic faith and were faithful parishioners of St. Mary’s Church in Paterson and Saint Monica Church in Jackson.

When he wasn’t working, Carmen loved to bowl and was a member of numerous bowling leagues, some with Anne who also liked to bowl. These bowling competitions took him all over the country. He also loved to collect rare and valuable coins and stamps and he was a big fan of baseball – faithfully devoted to rooting for the Brooklyn Dodgers until they unfaithfully left town for sunshiny Los Angeles, California. Then he became a Mets fan.

While Carmen and Anne were not able to have children of their own, Carmen enjoyed a special relationship with his nephews and niece and his many great nieces and nephews. He loved spending time with them and they especially enjoyed his good-natured wit.

Carmen was predeceased by his beloved wife of sixty years - Antoinette “Ann” (Sacco) in 2009; his brother Andrew Passalacqua, and his sister Josephine Gallo; and his nephew Eugene Passalacqua. He is survived by his dear nephews and niece: Anthony J. Passalacqua and fiancé Josephine Ricca of Wayne, Andrew Passalacqua of Montrose, PA, Nicholas D. Gallo and wife Lois of Glen Ridge, Robert Gallo of Lake Hopatcong, and Joyce Deehan of Parsippany; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Carmen’s name are asked to consider the National Kidney Foundation, Finance Department, 30 East 33rd St. New York, NY 10016 (www.kidney.org), or the American Heart Association PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005 (www.heart.org).

Phyllis A. Devlin (nee Di Petrillo), 72 of Pompton Lakes, died Friday, Feb. 3, 2017. She had lived in West Paterson for thirty years before moving to Pompton Lakes in 2014.

“Tidz,” as she was affectionately known to many, grew up in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School with the class of 1962. She began her career at Brogan Cadillac and retired from their Accounts Payable department after forty years of service. More recently she had also worked for WASCO (Wholesale Auto Supply, Co.) in South Hackensack.

Tidz was one of the most impatient people you could have ever met and always in a rush to get where she was going (usually nowhere important). Her passionate love of family was self-evident and she was the proverbial “glue” that held them all together. In fact, she was more like Superglue sometimes! She truly loved her family and always wanted to be together with each of them. She never needed a reason to get together, but the holidays were especially important to her, and dancing together on Christmas made for many great memories. She spoiled her nieces and nephews rotten, but her generosity didn’t stop there. She loved to spoil her great-nieces and nephews too. She loved to play board games, do puzzles, and or course; dance! She was an excellent cook and her family always looked forward to her Christmas cookies! She also enjoyed watching NCIS, Law & Order SVU, and just about any TV crime drama, as well as reading David Baldacci novels. Anyone who knew her could certainly tell you that her greatest hobby of all…was smoking. She loved her Marlboro Light 100’s and even after beating lung cancer nearly ten years ago, she wasn’t interested in quitting her favorite pastime.

Phyllis met the love of her life, Thomas Devlin, while working at Brogan Cadillac during the 1970’s. They dated for nearly thirty years before deciding to get married on November 5, 2008. Their marriage could be described as a comical love affair. They were inseparable and never left each other’s side, doing the food shopping together, visiting the laundromat, and everything else. They enjoyed visiting Washington, D.C., the Amish country in Pennsylvania, and other historically themed vacations. Just like two squawking crows, they never parted. To Tom, she was his whole world.

Phyllis is survived by her beloved Thomas of Pompton Lakes, by her two sisters; Julia Di Petrillo Kuryla and her husband Joseph of Hoptacong, NJ, and Lorraine Coccari of Wayne, four nieces; Janet Nelemans and her husband Greg of Tampa, FL, Jennifer Herd and her husband Ryan of Pompton Plains, Wendy Grecco and her husband Ken of Wayne, and Jo Anne Cobb and her husband John of Apollo Beach, FL, one nephew; Joseph Kuryla, Jr. of Ledgewood, NJ, her stepson; Tim Devlin and his wife Barbara of Vernon, NJ, a granddaughter; Kyla Devlin, and eight great-nieces and nephews; Lorenzo Kuryla, Cierra Kuryla, Brooklynn Nelemans, Kaedyn Cobb, Stella Grecco, Riley Herd, Toby Herd, and Peyton Herd.

Donations in Phyllis’ memory would be appreciated to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 155 East 55th Street, Suite 6H, New York, NY 10022, or visit www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org.

Dorothy “Dot” Reading, age 93 of Pompton Plains, died peacefully at home on Thursday, February 2, 2017. During her seventy year marriage to her husband Edward (2014), they had lived in Paterson, Totowa, Hawthorne, Chadwick Island, Brick, and Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

Dot was a devoted Catholic and enjoyed many years at St. Anthony’s RC Church in Hawthorne. She and Ed lived there from 1959 to 1977, during which time she was a CCD teacher and member of the Rosary Society. While living at Cedar Crest Village during the past eleven years, she was a Eucharistic Minister to the local community

Dot was raised in Paterson during the “Roaring 20’s” and graduated from Central High School in 1940. Her parents were Hungarian immigrants who often sponsored other Hungarian families to come to this country. As a result, Dot grew up with lots of family in the house and a strong appreciation for the love of family. In high school, Dot met Edward Reading, Jr. and the two of them began a lifelong journey together. They courted while Ed was in the Service and then, during a brief visit home while on leave, Ed proposed and they married on May 27, 1944. After a brief and joy-filled honeymoon to Asbury Park, they settled in Paterson. They were devoted to one another and shared a love that never faded. Dot was a wonderful homemaker and a dedicated mom to her four children. She became PTA President, and was always involved in the children’s activities. In retirement, Dot began to play golf and quickly fell in love with the sport. She had the good fortune of shooting a hole-in-one on three occasions! She and Ed were fortunate to have traveled extensively and they enjoyed an Asian tour consisting of Singapore, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and many other nations during their trip. They had also visited Rome, Pompeii, and Mt. Vesuvius on a wonderful Italian vacation. Dot and Ed shared many laughs, and a few tears during their seventy years together, but their love for each other grew stronger and stronger. Ed’s last words to her were; “Dot, thank you for marrying me.” She’s been patiently waiting these past two and a half years to join him once again.

Dorothy is survived by her four loving children; Rev. Edward Reading of Ortley Beach, Patrick Reading of Paterson, Lynn Connelly of Wayne and her late husband Joseph (2009), and Thomas Reading and Eunice Bensinger of Forked River, four grandchildren; Brendan Connelly and his wife Christina, Kevin Connelly, Kelsey Reading, and Dolton Reading, and her family friend; Ronald DuBree. She was predeceased by her loving husband of seventy years; Edward in 2014.

Donations in Dot’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Dr., Totowa, NJ 07512.

Margaret Preiss, age 54 of New York, died suddenly on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.

Margaret moved to Wayne with her family when she was just five years old. She graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the class of 1980 and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion from New Hampshire College. She began her career in the retail fashion industry soon thereafter and has worked for several retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue and Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Margaret loved living in Manhattan and although her apartment was small, she made room for lots of family photos.

Her younger brother, Walter, recalls Margaret as a loving and protective big sister when they were children. They shared many memories at their aunt’s house in Egg Harbor on the Jersey Shore. Margaret was able to travel and had toured throughout Europe, but she especially loved vacationing on Cape Cod. She volunteered at a local hospital and enjoyed spending time with the elderly patients there. She was a kind and loving soul.

Margaret is survived by her brother Walter of Wayne, by her Aunt Else Preiss of Summit, NJ and Florida. Margaret was predeceased by her parents; Sonja R. Preiss (2005), and George Preiss (2004).

Joe Bongiovanni, age 90 of formerly of Barnegat, NJ passed away peacefully while receiving the loving care of his family on Wednesday February

Joseph P. Bongiovanni, aged 90, formerly of Barnegat, NJ, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.

Joe was born to Vincenzo and Sophia Bongiovanni in Naugatuck Ct. in 1926. He would be the first generation Italian -American for our family. He moved with his family to the Bronx and graduated there from high school. He then joined the United States Navy and fought in World War II. Joe served aboard the USS New Orleans, having seen action in the Pacific Theater and the battle at Okinawa; though not a topic of conversation for him , he was extremely proud.

After the war, he continued his education and graduated from Adelphi University in Garden City NY with a Bachelor's Degree and pursued a career as an investment advisor for various companies: Spencer Trask, Rothschild, and Merrill Lynch.

In September 1949, Joseph married Eleanor Marie Jambor and for the next 52 years they enjoyed a blessed, loving marriage, while raising their 3 children: Robert, Barbara, and Peter. Yankee games, going out to restaurants, vacationing (particularly on Cape Cod) and most of all, family dinners with everyone were the memories their children cherish the most.

After retirement, Joe and Eleanor traveled extensively. They took cruises to many different destinations, and traveled throughout Europe. They visited many memorable places such as Italy, Ireland. Egypt, Israel, and Greece to name a few. Above all though, he was dedicated to his family. Nothing was more important to him than his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who all in turn will remember him as a man of sincere honesty and integrity. Joseph was an extraordinary man that touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.

Joseph is survived by his three children; his son Robert Bongiovanni and his wife Rosalia of Wayne, his daughter Barbara Barra and her husband James of Carmel, NY, and his son Peter and his wife Joanne of Salt Point, NY; six grandchildren: Joseph and his wife Laurie, Thomas and his wife Aimee, Daniel and his wife Kim, Rhiana, James Austin, and Mark, and eight great grandchildren: Alina, Nicholas, Siena, Justin, Kaitlyn, Samantha, Hailey, and Emerson. Joseph was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Eleanor (nee Jambor) in 2001, and is the last of his parents five children.

Flowers are a most welcome gesture, those who would like to make a donation in Joe’s name may make it to the charity of their choice.

James Gabriel, Jr., age 91 of Washington State, died on January 29, 2017. He had been an Engineering Inspector for Wayne Township and he was partners with his dad and brother, Albert, Sr., at Gabriel’s Bar and Restaurant in Wayne.

Jim was born July 24, 1925 to Jack and Francis Gabriel in Stockport, NY. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II and upon his discharge in 1946, his family moved to Wayne. In addition to being a partner in the restaurant, Jim started a “James Gabriel & Son’s Trucking” which he operated for many years. Jimmy was an active member of the Wayne community and served for more than twenty five years on the Wayne Community Fire Co. #1. He was Fire Chief on two occasions; from 1951-1952, and again from 1957-1958.

Jim was predeceased by his wife; Laura Rose (Dixon) of Washington State in 1999, and by his son James R. (Jimmy) in 2012. He is survived by his daughter; Ann and son David, also of Washington, and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.

Dr. Frank Armenio, age 89, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, January 28, 2017.

Born and raised in Cattolica Eraclea in Sicily, Italy, he and his wife Marjorie moved to Wayne in 1961, where they raised their family and resided to the present time.

Dr. Armenio earned his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Parma in Italy. He ran an analytical laboratory for Harmon Colors of Haledon, NJ for thirty-three years, retiring in 1994.

Frank and his wife Marjorie were founding parishioners of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church of Wayne where Frank faithfully served as an usher for over twenty-five years, and the founding patrons of St. Francis Church in India.

Surviving are Frank’s cherished wife of fifty-eight years, Marjorie; two beloved daughters: Marie Armenio and Eileen and husband Dominic Prizzi, both of Wayne; one beloved son: Peter J. and wife Sandra Armenio of New York City; and his faithful grand-dog Moxie. He was predeceased by his dear older brother Vincent Armenio in 2010. We remain all for one and one for all.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Frank’s name are asked to consider donations to Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Roman Catholic Church of Wayne, or The Franciscan Friars of the Atonement Graymoor, P.O. Box 309, Garrison, NY 10524-309 (atonementfriars.org), or The Progeria Research Foundation, P.O. Box 3453, Peabody, MA 01961-3453 (progeriaresearch.org).

The following is the eulogy delivered by Peter J. Armenio, son of Dr. Frank Armenio, during February 1, 2017 funeral Mass at Annunciation Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Wayne, New Jersey.

‍

In Loving Memory Of Frank Armenio, My Father

August 27, 1927 – January 28, 2017

Thank you, Father Peter for your moving Homily and all the care you have taken of our family these last ten years. And thank you Father Dan. As some of you may know, Father Dan served Annunciation parish for years. You may have seen in the anteroom at the wake yesterday the picture of Father Dan celebrating my first holy communion at our house some 40-plus years ago. Thank you Father Peter and Father Dan. We are grateful that you are here with us today.

Thank you to everyone in attendance. I know that many of you have traveled from Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and all over New York and New Jersey to be here today. Your presence is a great comfort to our family.

Every life is a journey. We sketched the outline of my Father’s journey in his obituary, and will add more details in a lasting website. But I wanted to tell you a bit about my Father’s journey in person.

My Father’s journey started in 1927 in Cattolica Eraclea in Sicily, a small village of a few hundred people.

Like all of us, my Father’s journey had its challenges:

       Cattolica Eraclea was turned upside down by World War II, and as a child my Father and his dear older brother Vincent saw their village and neighbors go through tough times beyond their control. But Pop and his family persevered, and he was able to attend the University of Parma.

       During his University years, my Father suffered significant, life-long hearing loss. It changed his course of study from studying medicine to become a doctor to chemistry, but Pop persevered and earned a PhD in Organic Chemistry.

       After his University years, Pop came to America. 1950s America was not the easiest place for a Sicilian with an accent and hearing trouble to make his way. But Pop persevered and built a career, eventually running an analytical chemistry laboratory for Harmon Colors in Haledon for over 30 years. I worked with Pop at Harmon Colors during my summers in college, and, I have to say, it was amazing to see him in action. He was responsible for making sure that huge shipments of things like sulfuric acid were pure to thousandths of a percent. That was my Pop, careful and precise. Someone you could rely on.

Like all of us, my Father’s journey also had its blessings:

       Shortly after coming to America, my father met Marjorie Bruno, the beautiful lady in the front row, my Mom, the love of his life. They enjoyed 58 years of marriage and were always together: Mom and Pop, Marge and Frank.

       Marge and Frank had three kids: Marie, Eileen, and me. They embraced being parents and having a family. They were always there for us. The best. As one of many stories, I cannot tell you how many times Pop drove me to PAL little league baseball and basketball practices and games as a kid, even though he never played those sports himself. He just wanted to be there for me. His devotion in this and every aspect of family life was clear and unwavering. He loved his family -- it was the most important thing in his life. He was loved in return. And that love grew over time, as we were joined by Eileen’s husband, Nick, my wife, Sandi, and Marie’s significant other, Tom. Pop was happiest when we were all together. Holidays and big events for sure, but also diner breakfasts and quiet times watching TV or doing the puzzles he loved so much. Pop’s motto for the family was – All for One and One for All – and he and Mom showed us every day what it meant to live those words.

       In addition to his family, Pop loved his community – he loved you. He was blessed with great neighbors and a great parish here at Annunciation. He enjoyed talking with everyone and watching their families grow, kids going off to college and starting careers. He tried to look after everyone, and you treated him like a part of your families. That was shown yet again the last several days. As we were driving home from the wake yesterday, neighbors were shoveling the snow from our sidewalks. Sending your condolences and attending the wake and funeral, that has all been such a comfort and has meant so much to us. Thank you for everything. Words cannot express how grateful we are for your care and friendship.

Lastly, like all of us, my Father’s journey had a hoped for destination:

       Pop was a devoted Catholic, and with Mom, sent the three of us to DePaul and brought us up to share their faith.

       Like some of you here today, Mom and Pop were founding parishioners here at Annunciation. I have traveled a lot for work and attended Mass all over the country. But without a doubt, this is the warmest, most caring church I have ever known. It is Home. Even when I have traveled for a time and come back, it was like I had never left. This is Home.

       Like the Church, Pop was constant in his love and caring. A rock that we all relied upon for guidance and strength. We miss him terribly. But we are guided by his example and his memory. He will always be loved and remembered – missed with tears and celebrated with laughter and family times together.

       We pray for you in Heaven, Pop. You made it. We love you.

*****

Aris Sclavounos, age 85, of Wayne, passed on Saturday, January 28, 2017 with the comfort of family by his side.

He was born in Pessada, Kefalonia, Greece where he lived until he was about fifteen years old. When he was fifteen he went to Italy to work with his uncle who was the captain of a ship. He began working on the ship when his uncle passed away. He continued working on ships traveling routes from South America through the Caribbean, and the Eastern Coast of the United States. He eventually left the shipping industry and started making a home for himself in New York City. He began busing tables and eventually was offered a unique consignment bartending job. He was told he had to pay .50 cents per bottle to the proprietor and whatever he charged above that he could keep for himself. Well Aris began to become flush with cash as he was getting about $4.00 per bottle. He was making so much money that his cousin saw his bank account statement and was worried that Aris was involved in something illegal. Aris saw opportunity in the United States and was attempting to become a citizen. He even tried to enlist in the Army. While he was trying to enlist the Federal Bureau of Investigation was after him for overstaying his Visa in America and then the Military Draft Board was looking for him as he had been drafted. He finally was enlisted in the US Army and all issues were erased. Aris served with the Army’s 101st Airborne Division, first in Korea and later in Frankfort, Germany where he would spy a cute girl named Margot Butzom who was working at a local salon. Aris went to the salon and showed the shopkeeper a photo of his cousin who was of a similar age to the shopkeeper’s child. He suggested the kids play together and Margot was sent as a chaperone. His plan worked perfectly as he got Margot alone. He soon won her affection and they began dating. A short time after they began dating Aris received his discharge from the Army and was sent back to the United States. Aris told Margot he would send for her. He followed through and called the town, which only had one phone at the local firehouse. The fire chief tracked Margot down and she was soon on her way to the United States. Margot and Aris fell in love and were married at the Russian Orthodox Church in Frankfort, Germany on August 18, 1956. They have enjoyed sixty years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Aris was a very hard worker who was stubborn and motivated but on the inside he had a huge loving heart and a twinkle in his eye. He was a dedicated family man who loved and adored his wife, children, and grandchildren. He had a very strong work ethic and loved the restaurant business. He had the foresight and vision to be the first in the world to open a Greek food based franchise, Acropolis Restaurant, with twenty-two locations in shopping malls throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009 he retired after over 60 years in the restaurant business. In his retirement he was always there to consult his children and grandchildren in their restaurants.

Aris, as you can imagine, was an excellent cook. He was always trying new recipes. With his collection of tested recipes he has written several Greek cookbooks. He was born and raised on the Greek Island of Kefalonia which fostered a love for all types of fish and seafood. Aris loved gardening growing tomatoes and figs and if he wasn’t in his garden or working he was watching the television show Gunsmoke. Somewhere, deep down in his heart, this island boy was a cowboy.

Aris was the loving husband of Margot Sclavounos; devoted father of Irene Nikolaidis and her husband George of Pompton Plains, and Archimedes Sclavounos of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Nicholas Nikolaidis of Queens, NY, Jesse Nikolaidis of Pompton Plains, Aris Sclavounos of Wayne and Spyros Sclavounos also of Wayne; he was the dear brother of the late Pete Sclavounos and Nick Sclavounos and his wife Ann of Kefalonia, Greece.

June V. Halpin (nee Peters), age 78, of Wayne, NJ and Palm City, FL, died peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2017.

June was born and grew up in Passaic, NJ. She graduated from Passaic High School with the Class of 1956.

Her first job was that of a switchboard operator for the Ivory Diaper Company of Passaic. Back before disposable diapers were invented, June was one of the ladies that answered the phone when you called when you needed a diaper delivery or pickup, and she considered it a much better job than being the dirty diaper pickup person.

In 1970, June moved to Wayne and started working as a secretary and payroll processor for Industrial Metal Fabricating Company, Inc. of Wayne – a metal fabricator involved in many large scale projects including the building of the toll booths for the George Washington Bridge as well as all the toll booths on the New York Thruway and New Jersey and Pennsylvania Turnpikes, and the fabrication of missile containers.

There were two gentlemen that owned Industrial Metal Fabricators and one of them was a guy named John “Jack” Halpin. June cared more for one of the owners and, at first, it wasn’t Jack. But, like many things, we all experience in this life, first impressions aren’t always the most accurate and eventually June and Jack took a liking to each other. In fact, Jack one day asked June out and their first date was just out for lunch. Their second date was to see a play on Broadway in New York City. As the saying goes, “the rest is history!” They married on Saturday, May 25, 1974 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne. Following a garden reception in June’s back yard in Wayne, the newlyweds enjoyed a honeymoon in Puerto Rico. They returned home and began their life together as husband and wife - a loving relationship that lasted forty years and they experienced many memorable and pleasant moments until Jack’s passing in July of 2014. June remained a resident of Wayne until her passing – a total of 47 years.

An astute woman herself, after marriage June continued to work with Jack in the family business rising through the ranks from that initial position of secretary to ultimately become the company’s vice president. Then, in 1991, the business was sold and June and Jack began a season of retirement enjoying trips to Palm City, FL where they lived part of each year at Harbour Ridge Yacht and Country Club while always maintaining their residence in Wayne.

June was a woman who was packed with boundless energy. Her idea of relaxation was getting together three days a week with her girlfriends in Florida to play a Chinese card game called Mahjong and, if there was a Bingo night being offered, you know that’s where she could be found. June also had a seventh sense for finding Tricky Trays and Garage Sales. She just couldn’t resist them. She’d come home all excited at the great things she won or bought and most of the time, she wasn’t buying them for herself. Instead, she had a family member or friend in mind to give her acquired treasures to. June was always thinking about special things she could do for others. She loved people and she especially loved gathering both sides of her family together for Sunday dinner, holidays, and summer barbeques, many of those times celebrated at the Halpin Ponderosa Country Estate, a gentlemen’s farm she and Jack owned and liked to spend time at.

June was also extremely charitable – especially to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation – an organization that grew near-and-dear to her heart as a result of a family relative being diagnosed. She not only donated lots of money but also lots of time – over 30 years in all, volunteering as a coordinator for too many fundraising dinners to count. She also had a special place in her heart for down-and-out animals – especially cats. She had no problem finding feral cats and converting them to house pets. She’d also rescue them from shelters and she had three or four of them at the farm. June presently had a precious three-year old kitty in Florida named Mila.

A faithful parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne during her 47 years in the town, when in New Jersey, she never missed a mass, usually attending on Saturday afternoons then going out for dinner with friends to either the Village Inn or the Paris Inn. In Florida too, she always faithfully attended mass followed by dinner at favorites like the Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, or the Outback Steakhouse.

June is survived by her dear brother Al and wife Cathy Pietrkowsky of Hamburg; nephew Barry and wife Darlena Schiro of Woodland Park; niece Karen Napodano of Clifton; two aunts: Rita Casteline of Totowa, and Elizabeth Mattaliano of Wayne; and many cousins. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 40 years – John “Jack” C Halpin.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in June’s name are asked to consider the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 6931 Arlington Road, 2nd Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814 (www.cff.org), or the Wayne Animal Shelter, 201 Pompton Plains Crossroad, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Julianna “Julia” Balla, age 98, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Thursday, January 26, 2017.

She was born in the bucolic village of Kisrozvagy, Hungary on Christmas Day 1918, shortly after the guns had fallen silent along the Western Front of World War I. In a bygone time of horse drawn carts and carriages, she spent her youth in Kisrozvagy as a pastoral farm girl. Seeking new life and opportunity amidst the ravages of post war Europe’s global conflict, she immigrated to the United States at the insistence of her father. At the tender age of seventeen, she departed her home country for an unknown fate in a foreign land. She came by ship, surviving an arduous transatlantic voyage that she would later speak of, with a passionate earnest, for the rest of her life. Arriving in America, she had no money, and could not speak English. Despite this, she did not fall, but made her stand in the face of adversity, showing an indomitable and unshakeable resilience and resourcefulness that those who knew her, will not forget. She assimilated into American society, securing status as a citizen, of which she was immensely proud.

As an immigrant, she bore the indignity of menial labor and low wages, vowing not to return home until she had saved no small sum of $1,000. She worked as a domestic in Roseland, New Jersey where she met her future husband of fifty five years, Joseph Balla.

Characteristic of the ambition and determination for which she is remembered, she was able to buy her first home in Kearny, NJ, using that precious savings of $1000, in the early 1940s. It was at this time, that her husband, Joseph, was drafted into the U.S. Navy to fight in the world’s sec-ond, great global conflict of the century. Although allowed a short deferment for the birth of their first son, Joseph departed for the war effort, leaving Julia to raise their first born son. Her hus-band served in the navy from 1944-1945, before returning home. In 1954, the couple moved to the then sparsely populated township of Wayne, where they bought the house they owned for the next sixty-three years.

Julia will be remembered as an incredibly strong woman of character. She was honest, intensely independent, critically intelligent, and astute up until the very end. Julia was incredibly proud and protective of her family, and instilled in them the strong desire to succeed. She was a great be-liever in education. Both of her sons, Joseph and Robert, will remember her undying devotion to her family as she worked in the hot, confined conditions of a sweat shop, as a piece-work seam-stress, earning fractions of a cent for every garment she sewed. It was an undesirable, hard, and tedious job, at which she proudly excelled as the highest paid worker, due to her dexterous speed and agility. It was by this unfailing, dogged determination that she financed the education of her boys, laying the foundation for their future careers as dentists. One can say, without a doubt, that she was truly proud of her two sons, Joseph, and Robert.

Julianna will be remembered for her excellent, ethnic culinary skills of Hungarian cuisine. Those who enjoyed her home cooking will always remember hearty meals of stuffed cabbage, chicken paprikash, and dumpling soup. True to tradition, her meals were served with five different types of meat, and will be greatly missed. In her kindly affable manner, she loved nature, especially gardening, with a special affinity for moon flowers. She loved animals, always delighting in the presence of family pets, whether they were cats or dogs. Her grandchildren, Debbie, and Amy especially remember their grandmother’s love and generosity as she hand measured them each Fall season for holiday wear. At Christmas, there was always that special, sentimental hand sewn gift from grandma in the form of a hand-knitted garment. Those who spent time with her will also remember her unusual luck with lottery scratch off games, which she thoroughly en-joyed.

Julia was the loving wife of the late Joseph Balla (1997); devoted mother of Dr. Joseph Balla and his wife Carol, of Franklin Lakes; Dr. Robert Balla and his wife Ellen of Canton CT. She was the cherished grandmother of Deborah Troy, Amy Eilert, Alexander Balla, and Gregory Balla. She was the much loved great-grandmother of Benjamin Eilert, Samuel Eilert, and Carly Troy. Julianna was the dear sister of the late Steve Kiss and Gizella Godzsak.

Sam Ciervo, better known as “Mr. Ciervo,” died unexpectedly on January 25, 2017 at the age of 63.

A pillar of his community, he was a passionate, respected English teacher for 25 years at his alma mater, Pompton Lakes High School (PLHS). He taught legions of students the difference between “good” and “well,” and inspired many to become teachers. While his deep humility meant downplaying his own accomplishments, he earned many accolades including Teacher of the Year (twice, a rarity) and Coach of the Year by His Peers from the N.J.I.F.A. Most important to him was the respect he earned from students, parents, colleagues, coaches and peers.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Joanne, his beloved daughters, Clare and Emily, his sisters, Vikki and Rose, his nieces, Cailin and Keri, and his loving extended family and circle of friends. These people experienced his greatest gift: unrelenting devotion to his loved ones. Always present and helping, often before he was asked, he was a companion by the bedside in hospitals, an on-call family repair man, a supporter at every event for his children, and a daily presence in his parents’ lives. We will never know a man more devoted to his family than Sam, Dad, Mr. Ciervo.

As a tribute to Sam’s legacy, his family intends to create a memory book. They would like to include your stories and fond memories. “Mr. Ciervo” certainly touched many lives as a teacher, a coach, and a friend, and you are all encouraged to write down your special story and bring it with you to the funeral home on Sunday where they will be collected and given to the family. If you are unable to attend on Sunday but would like to share a memory please feel free to email them to info@vandermay.com and include in the subject line: Memories of Sam Ciervo.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to the “Sam Ciervo Memorial Scholarship Fund,” care of PLHS, 44 Lakeside Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442.

Rose Lovullo, age 96,  passed peacefully on Monday, January 23, 2017.

She was predeceased by her husband Michael J. Lovullo on January 4, 2009 and her sisters Nina and Angie.

Rose enjoyed traveling to Palm Springs, CA, Arizona and Florida.  She enjoyed cooking, dancing, gardening, bocce, golf, and watching her New York Yankees because Joe Torre was the manager.   She was a member of the Columbiettes - Knights of Columbus and was a parishioner at Saint Matthias Church in Ridgewood, New York.

Louis Senzamici, age 79, of Paterson and Toms River, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, January 22, 2017.

Louis was born and raised in Paterson. After graduating from Central High School in Paterson with the Class of 1956, Louis began a job as in the engineering department with the County of Passaic. His career was temporarily interrupted when he was drafted in to the U.S. Army. Stationed in Thailand, he proudly served and attained the rank of Corporal during his tour of duty from 1960 to 1962. After being honorable discharged, he served an additional four years in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Upon his return from Army duty, Louis returned to his position with the County of Passaic Road Department. He enjoyed a forty-two year career and was head of the department from 1991 until retirement in 1999.

Louis was a proud member of the Republican Party who worked enthusiastically and tirelessly in support of the Passaic County Freeholders. He would often go to Trenton and represent his party at the county level, and he was frequently involved in breakfast, dinner and cocktail party fundraisers. One of his proudest moments was when he was named to be a delegate to the 1980 Republican National Convention – the year that Ronald Reagan was elected to become the 40th President of the United States.

It was in 1992 that Louis met his beloved companion Claudia Geers at a fundraising dinner for the county freeholders. They went on to enjoy each other’s love and companionship for the next 25 years especially enjoying travel together to destinations such as Aruba, several countries in Europe and, during the last four years, on cruises to Greece, Spain, Italy, Mallorca, and Turkey. They loved the cruises because they quickly learned that they only had to pack once versus taking bus trips where they had to unpack and repack for each destination. Louis also loved his beach house that he purchased in 1985 in Chadwick Beach, located in Toms River. He was always involved with the Chadwick Beach Association, formerly serving three years each as Vice-President and President, and presently as a Trustee of Building and Grounds.

Louis had a very special relationship with his great-nephews: Kevin, Luke, and Connor. He took a genuine interest in their lives, always looking forward to seeing them, and he was present for many occasions like their baptisms, confirmations as well as holidays when he loved to spoil them.

Extremely outgoing, Louis was a friend of many. While he pulled no punches and you always knew his thoughts on any given issue, he was extremely loyal and always there to help when needed.

Predeceased by his loving parents Antonio and Angelina Senzamici, Louis was the dear brother of Anthony and wife Eleanor Senzamici of Bergenfield; cherished uncle of Anthony and wife Maureen Senzamici, and Mark Senzamici; adored great-uncle of Kevin, Luke, and Connor Senzamici, and long-time beloved companion of Claudia Geers of Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Louis’ name are asked to consider a charity of your choice.

Ann Russo, née Sarsano, a long-time resident of Wayne, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday the 22nd of January at the age of 78.

Ann was born in 1938 in Brooklyn, NY. At the age of 14, she moved to New Milford, NJ with her family and was a graduate of Hackensack High School.

Ann was proud of her Italian heritage and Brooklyn roots. This was a key ingredient in her passion and love for cooking. She also loved traveling, reading, socializing, spending time in Wildwood Crest with family and friends, enjoying dinners at the Washington Inn in Cape May, going to see Broadway plays, and having luncheons with her friends. Most of all Ann loved spending time with her family, especially her 16 grandchildren, each of whom brought her tremendous joy. Her love for her family was unconditional. Ann rarely missed an opportunity to attend a school play, recital, sporting event, graduation ceremony, or an opportunity to connect with her kids and grandchildren. Always putting others needs before her own, she was warm, loving, generous, and brought a smile with her wherever she went.

Ann was also an active parishioner of her church, Our Lady of the Valley. She was deeply devoted, took part in Adoration on a weekly basis for many years as a testament to her faith, and was guided by St. Joseph and the Blessed Mother.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 57 years, Chet; her son Michael, his wife Patty and their three children – Nicole, Matthew and Joseph; her son Thomas and his three children – Stephanie, Gigi and Devin; her daughter Susan, her husband Peter and their two children – Lia (husband Evan) and Michelle (husband Michael); her son Joseph, his wife Robin and their three children – Donovan, Noah and Sebastian; her son Patrick, his wife Amy and their three children - Ethan, Sela and Jaden, and her daughter Maria, her husband Larry and their two children – Julia and Carly. She is also survived by her loving sister Sylvia Palmerin of Emerson, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that all donations be made to the American Cancer Society, NJ Chapter, 20 Mercer Street. Hackensack, NJ 07601, and the Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L Street NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20036.

William “Bill” V. Marrinan, age 76, a forty-three year resident of Wayne, passed suddenly but peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Bill was born in New Haven, CT and raised in West Haven, CT where he graduated from West Haven High with the Class of 1958.

After high school, he worked as a meter reader for the United Aluminum Company in West Haven before being drafted into the United States Army in 1963. Bill served stateside during the Vietnam War and was in the US Army Reserves before being Honorably Discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1969. During his service he was awarded the title of Expert in Rifle and earned the Good Conduct Medal.

While serving in the Army, Bill spied a girl from the Women’s Army Corps (WAC) playing softball at Fort Riley in Kansas. He and a friend signed up to drive the WACs softball team to a tournament in Fort Leavenworth where that girl, named Donna Wheeler, was sure to ride. He slowly made his attraction to her known and she simply stated she wasn’t interested. Bill was persistent to the point that he and a friend snuck into the WAC’s barracks, which was a blatant rules violation, and where Donna happened to be the ranking Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), whose job it was to report such an infraction. Donna directed Bill and his friend to leave immediately and they left without further incident. He saw Donna again at the NCO club on base and she finally gave in to his persistent advances. They met in September of 1964, were engaged to be married by December, and married on July 31, 1965. Bill was discharged from active duty in June of 1965 and settled in Manhattan, Kansas awaiting Donna’s discharge in November.

Bill found work in the shoe department at the local Sears store. Little did he know that this job would lead to a career in the shoe industry spanning forty years. About a year after Donna’s discharge from active duty, the young couple moved back east to Nashua, New Hampshire, to be closer to family, where Bill found work at the JF McElwain Shoe Company as a buyer. He took college classes at the Daniel Webster College in Nashua and in 1973 had the opportunity to work with Meldisco in Hackensack, New Jersey. He took the job and was directed by friends to buy a house in the quiet town of Wayne, New Jersey. Throughout his career he also worked for such companies as Manow International where his office was at the Empire State Building and later on 5th Avenue in New York City. At this point in his career, Bill and Donna’s love and commitment to each other saw them through his six to eight week trips abroad, with very limited communication; as you can imagine, these weeks apart from his family were difficult for a dedicated family man, not to mention the stress on Donna raising their children, while pursuing her degree. In addition, he worked for the Frye Company, and Iron Age Corporation, before retiring in 2007.

He had a passion and love of baseball, both as a player and a dedicated fan of the New York Yankees and the University of Scranton Royals where his grandson Anthony William Simone is currently playing. As a young man, his loving Aunt Anna made him practice one hour of piano a day and that always interfered with his baseball time. He would begrudgingly practice with his baseball mitt perched atop the piano waiting for that hour to pass. His talent led Bill to play semi-pro baseball as a young man and then to play softball in the Army, which positioned him to meet the love of his life. In addition to baseball, he was an avid sports fan, loving all sports and all things Notre Dame. Bill eventually grew to love playing the piano but that love was only realized in his adult years. He was a 3rd degree black belt in Karate as well.

Bill had a deep love for his Catholic faith. He was a dedicated parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne, where he served on the Pre-Cana wedding ministry, as a Eucharistic Minister, a Faith Formation teacher, an usher, and on the funeral ministry. He was also a member of the church’s Knights of Columbus Council 6354 where he was a 4th degree Sir Knight.

As a natural leader, in his retirement, Bill served on the Board of Directors of his townhome community for twelve years.

When remembering the special man Bill was, one can simply remember his huge smile and sense of humor. He was easy to talk to, friendly, uplifting, and positive, laughed easily, and knew people all over the world. To know Bill is to know that he never knew a stranger. His positive attitude was evidenced by his referring to any problem as simply another “challenge” along his life journey.

Most important in Bill’s life was his family, which was his pride and joy. He never missed an opportunity to support them, their teams, and their events. He was the loving husband of fifty-one years to Donna (Wheeler) Marrinan; devoted father of Coleen Bronson and her husband Tom of Cape Coral, FL, the late William V. Marrinan III (1961), Kelley Simone and her husband Anthony of Wayne, and Sean Marrinan and his wife Cindy of Chatham; cherished grandfather (“Pa”) of Anthony William Simone, Anna Simone, Aidan Marrinan, and Eva Marrinan; dear brother of Gary Marrinan and his wife Eleanor of Clinton, CT. He will also be dearly missed by his grand-dog Sirius and has joined his dog Rags and his grand-dog Mollie.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Eva’s Village, 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 would be appreciated.

Martin D. Majuri, age 84, of Wayne, passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2017.

Born (and raised) in Queens, NY, Martin was a resident of Wayne since 1968.

Martin was self-employed with Dane Paperboard – a company in Wood Ridge that specialized in packaging printing for high-end clients including pharmaceuticals such as: Pfizer, Becton Dickinson, Whitehall Labs; perfume makers such as: Coty, Jordache, Fabergé, and Clinique; Lindt Swiss Chocolatiers; as well as a host of other products. His career in the printing business spanned more than forty years until his retirement in 1997.

Martin met the love of his life Roseann when she was just fifteen. As the story goes, Roseann was walking down the street in Clifton one day, with bleach blond hair and wearing a cute pair of red shorts. Along came eighteen-year old Martin behind the wheel of his first car. Upon seeing Roseann he rolled down the window and shouted her a compliment! Roseann’s dad wouldn’t allow his fifteen year old daughter date this eighteen year old boy, but when she turned seventeen, he gave Martin the green light. For Martin, the two year wait was definitely worth it. Their first date was to a dance hall in Clifton where they danced so well together, you could say they owned the dance floor. As a couple, they won many competitions dancing to classics like “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller. Their love grew and Roseann became Mrs. Roseann Majuri on Saturday, October 8, 1955 when she and Martin married at St. Philip Church in Clifton. Their honeymoon was going to be in Niagara Falls but when they got there, they discovered a spider in their bed. Terrified of bugs, Roseann made Martin take her home. They initially settled into a small apartment in Paterson equipped with not much more than a hot plate. Who needed luxuries when they had such a great love for each other? A couple years later, they moved to Totowa where they welcomed their first two children, Doreen and Frank. They eventually moved to Wayne in 1968 and soon after welcomed their third child – another girl which they named Donna. Roseann and Martin lived in Wayne ever since and were blessed with 60 years in a loving marriage until Roseann’s passing in December, 2015.

Martin enjoyed taking his chances with “Lady Luck” – especially playing craps at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City. The casinos recognized how serious Martin was and, as a high-stakes roller, he gambled in exclusive rooms. It’s not that he was cocky, just very passionate about the game. He also enjoyed harness racing and even owned competitive horses during the 1980’s and 1990’s. On Saturdays you could be sure to find him with his buddies and his son Frank at the Meadowlands Race Track. The day typically started at 10:00 AM and, including lunch, usually ended around 4:00 PM. Sometimes they’d win and sometimes they’d lose, but you can bet they always had a good time, and it was a great tradition.

As the saying goes about the game of golf, “They call it golf because all the other four letter words are taken.” Despite this unanimous perception, Martin loved playing the game anyway, and for years, he played four days a week at the Passaic County Golf Course in Wayne. He also played a little tennis. He and Roseann had a tennis court right in their own back yard where they frequently played doubles matches with friends.

Martin really loved his two grandchildren, Tina Rose and Doren. While their mom Doreen went to work, Martin and Roseann were all too happy to watch these two dear ones. They would all go to lunch and do other fun stuff and Pop Martin and Nana Roseann were always at their school to pick them up at the end of the day.

Martin adored his wife Roseann. She was the perfect companion and they really enjoyed living life together. Roseann was always up for helping Martin entertain his clients and they really enjoyed going out to dinner together to the Villa D'este, French Hill Inn, Colfax Manor, and, if they wanted to throw in a little dancing, they would go to the Holiday Inn where there was always live bands. He was very generous in general with everyone and never questioned what his wife bought. And that’s saying a lot because Roseann loved to shop! Martin was known for having his big house parties although it was guaranteed to rain on that day.

Martin was the beloved husband of Roseann (nee De Francesco) to whom he was married for 60 years until her passing in 2015; loving father of Doreen Majuri, Frank Majuri and Donna Majuri all of Wayne; dear grandfather - "Pop" of Tina Rose Calafiore and husband Eduardo Cortes, and Doren Calafiore; dear brother of Jean Rizutti and Grace Cooper – both of Spring Hill, FL; and dear uncle of two niece and two nephews. He is also survived by one brother-in-law David “Butch” Quinn, Jr. of Pompton Lakes. He was predeceased by his dear sister Olivia Tuminello and dear brother –Purple Heart recipient Frank P. Majuri who lost his life during World War II when his Navy ship, the USS Harden was lost in the Pacific, and predeceased by one niece and one nephew.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Martin’s name are asked to consider a donation to Alzheimer’s Foundation of New Jersey, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834-1365 would be greatly appreciated.

Frank Ochab, 96 of Wayne, died peacefully on Thursday, January 19, 2017. Frank had lived in Garfield for eighty-six years before moving to Wayne in 2006.

Frank’s true home was Garfield. He grew up there and lived for the first eighty-six years of his life within an area of about one square mile. At eighteen years old, he took a job with Tenneco Chemical (the company name changed a few times throughout the decades) and he remained there until retiring at age sixty; forty-two years with the same company!

Frank was very proud of his Polish heritage and he enjoyed the Garfield community immensely. He recalled his childhood there with fondness and was just recently telling stories about grabbing the back bumper of the city bus and sliding on the snow-covered road as the bus dragged him and his friends around town! The youngest child of eight, Frank was the baby of the family but certainly not the runt! He was a standout athlete, a fantastic third-baseman, and he excelled in many sports. He remained a loyal Yankees fan throughout his entire life and always held Joe DiMaggio in high esteem. Frank was generally the quiet type, but when he did choose to speak, he was deeply insightful and very bright, although his wife usually did most of the talking. Frank was always happiest in his garden. Gladys used to complain a bit because when he arrived home from work, he would go straight to his garden and tend to the plants before even saying “hello!” Frank was such an incredible gardener however, that his family came to appreciate his talents. He grew the most splendid vegetables, and flowers too. He could have easily been a professional farmer of award winning crops…except for his peas; he always struggled to grow peas. What Frank never learned was that his kids were eating the peas right off the plants during the day, and by the time he arrived home from work to check on his garden, there were simply no peas to be found on the otherwise healthy plants. Of course, even if he had learned the reason for this mystery, it would not have changed how incredibly proud he was of his children and their families.

Frank met his wife Gladys at a community dance in Garfield. Gladys rejected his initial advances on several occasions because he was simply too young for her, despite the fact that they were born just seven days apart! Coincidentally, they had been baptized as little babies at the same church, on the same day, and eventually Gladys warmed up to him. They were married on May 4, 1946 at St. Joseph’s Church, Passaic, the same church they had been baptized in, and they settled into their family home in Garfield. The two of them were a great couple and they did everything together. They traveled a bit, enjoyed summer vacations in Wildwood, NJ, and they had a ‘country retreat’ in Branchville, NJ that they used to enjoy escaping to every so often. Nevertheless, they enjoyed sixty years together before Gladys passed away in 2006.

After Gladys passed away, Frank moved to Siena Village in Wayne. It took him about six months living there before he came out of his shell and began to socialize. In short order, he made many new friends and enjoyed being treated like the honorary Mayor of Siena Village. As a widower, “Frankie” was especially grateful to receive the attention of a few ladies who brought him fresh baked cookies and meals. But, as he told his daughter one day; “the women here in their 80’s are much too young for me,” and he remaining lovingly faithful to his dearly departed Gladys.

Frank is survived by his loving children; Maryann Pilson and her husband Paul of Wayne, Thomas Ochab and his wife Catherine of DeBary, Florida, and Wanda Pawlak and her husband Anthony of Garfield, six grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his dear Gladys in 2006 and by all seven of his siblings.

Margaret “Peggy” Eng, age 69, of Haskell entered into the eternal peace and presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, January 17, 2017.

Peggy was born in Orlando Florida. Her father was serving in the U.S. Air Force and stationed near Orlando at the time. Peggy never had the chance to become a true Floridian because soon after she was born her father’s Air Force service ended. Consequently, the family moved to Totowa Boro - before Peggy’s first birthday. The house they moved into was next door to her grandparent’s but it wasn’t actually a house – it was their future garage! You see, her father built the garage with one temporary bedroom, kitchen, living room and bath first, and Peggy lived there with her parents while her dad proceeded to build the house. That home was located in Totowa at 701 Riverview Drive and the street was so quiet back then that Peggy could actually ride her bike with little worry about passing cars. Try doing that on Riverview drive today!

Peggy had wonderful memories of her “family” at Calvary Gospel Church and Sunday School held at a Wayne, NJ firehouse, swimming at Bruce Burns Lake with the Storms side of her family and Thanksgiving with the Beattie side of her family - especially enjoying her grandma’s pies.

As a child, Peggy was a student at Totowa’s Memorial Elementary School. After graduating from Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls with the Class 1965, she worked briefly for Little Falls Laundry as a switchboard operator and ticket counter. She then enrolled and attended Nyack Missionary College in Nyack, NY. She later received a B.S. degree in Ancient History at Northeastern Bible College in Essex Fells, NJ. There she studied the Bible because she loved God, and Christian education because she loved children and teaching.

One of Peggy’s first jobs after college was with Brookdale Christian School in Bloomfield. She taught all subjects in grades four through six, and her students loved her so much, that they begged her to teach seventh grade. Knowing that students in general tend to develop an “I dare you to teach me anything” attitude as they get older, she politely declined but was never-the-less honored by their admiration. She later taught in the Ringwood Christian School as a fourth and fifth grade teacher. Again, she taught all subjects until retiring in the mid 1990’s. Seeking a little less stress in her life, Peggy was driving through Oakland one day when she saw a building that looked like a log cabin with a “Help Wanted” sign posted on it. It turned out to be a pool installation and service company called Ramapo Valley Pool Service, and Peggy decided to “inquire within.” She got a job doing billing and filing and enjoyed working there until illness forced her to retire in 2013. Her co-worker Trish and the people at Ramapo became like a second family and God used them to bless her life in so many ways. “Thank You” could never say how grateful she truly was for every hug, gift and act of kindness bestowed to her.

In 1971, Peggy met a young man named George Eng. He and some other friends had been invited to her house by Peggy’s roommate at the time. While it was by no means “love at first sight” the next day Peggy saw George singing in the choir at First Baptist Church in Bloomfield and it was definitely love at second sight! She wasn’t sure where they went for their first date – maybe because she was love-struck – but the feeling was mutual. Peggy and George married on Saturday, November 4, 1972 at that same church they met in. George sang for many years in the church’s choir and Peggy joined them from time to time. Their marriage of almost thirty-five years was a beautiful love song until God called George home in 2007. After George passed away, Peggy continued to attend First Baptist Church but as time went on, the wonderful memories of George in the church were too much for her to bear so she began attending Hawthorne Gospel Church in Hawthorne. There she made new friends, especially finding meaningful fellowship in a wonderful Ladies Bible Study at her friend Rita’s house.

Peggy’s favorite pastime activity was simply being with her husband George. She liked to do whatever he liked to do so they played a lot of golf and caught a lot of fish – both fresh and saltwater. Her philosophy was that if George was happy, then she was happy! They enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, like road trips to Maine, the shore, or to Saratoga Springs, NY - just to enjoy lunch at The Weather Vane, one of their favorite restaurants. They sang together in First Baptist Church’s choir and while Peggy generally enjoyed music with a beat, she also enjoyed singing many of the great hymns of the faith. When it came to volunteering and helping, Peggy was a willing worker who derived the greatest joy getting her hands dirty behind the scenes and leaving the planning and coordination to others. She loved working with children and was involved in Sunday School, VBS, and making scenery for Patty Miller productions ;-)

“My ‘girls night out’ and “let’s do dinner” buddies - you know who you are ;-) You were the best! Yummy food and always a time to bond, chat, and tell stories, always made me happy!”

When asked what she was most thankful for in her life, the word that she kept repeating was “Jesus”, her best friend and lover of her soul. She would say, “I am amazed how Jesus has shown His love for me. From my first memories until today, He has proven Himself faithful and loving. I don’t know how I would have lived this life without Him. Then He gave me the earthly love of my life, George. George’s love for Jesus and people made you love him more and more. He loved to make you laugh and was always so much fun. I was truly blessed with both of the men in my life.”

Now they are reunited and with Jesus, singing “Thank You” to the Lord. “Not only for His wonderful presence in our life but for all of you who have shared this life with me and blessed me in more ways than I can count. I Love You So… I Love You All!!!”

Peggy was predeceased by her beloved husband George in October, 2007, her dear brother Gilbert Storms in December, 2007, her wonderful parents Martha Beattie Storms & Gilbert Storms and sweet mother-in-law Mary Eng. She is survived by her dear sister-in-law Helen Eng Moy and her husband Danny Moy of West Caldwell, her dear sister-in-law Susan Storms Terrano and husband John Terrano of Mahwah, her nephew Jordan and wife Jennifer and son Jonah Storms of Montclair, and her two nieces: Kimberly and Jennifer Moy, both of New York City.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Margaret’s name are asked to consider a donation to First Baptist Church, 1 Washington Street, Bloomfield NJ 07003, or Hawthorne Gospel Church, 2000 Rt. 208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.

Frank J. Mendez passed away peacefully on January 17, 2017 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. He was born and raised in Wayne with four sisters and had lived there his entire life. He recently moved to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware to be near his daughters.

Frank was a small business owner prior to working at Ford Motor Company and later with the Township of Wayne.

Frank is survived by his two daughters; Lauren Rauch of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, and Rhonda Lerner and her husband Edward, also of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, one brother-in-law; Greg Oarsley and his wife Florence of Kinnelon. He was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth in 2014.

August “Augie” DeFalco, age 86, of Lincoln Park, passed Sunday, January 15, 2017.

He was born in Passaic and raised in Lodi having graduated from Lodi High School with the Class of 1948. He continued his education at Nyack College in Nyack, NY.

Augie was a machinist for the Shulton Corporation, and later the American Cyanamid Corporation in Clifton for over thirty years before retiring.

He will be remembered for his love of gardening growing all sorts of vegetables in his backyard garden. He grew tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, zucchini, corn, beans, string beans, pumpkins, and even sun flowers. He would spend hours tending his garden always wearing his big brimmed farmer’s hat. He was also meticulous about keeping records about what and when he planted, and the crop yield for each year’s planting. Family, friends, and acquaintances all looked forward to Augie sharing what he grew.

Augie also enjoyed cooking and had just about every cookbook you could imagine. He also collected recipes from any and everywhere he could get his hands on them. He was at home in the kitchen always trying new recipes, but most of all his shrimp scampi will be greatly missed. In his down time he also enjoyed reading about history.

Augie is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Alice (Hagmann) DeFalco; David DeFalco and his wife Debbie and their three daughters, Melissa Mozingo, Candace Mozingo, and Jessica Rychlik; the late Timothy DeFalco(2014) and his surviving wife Barbara and their children, Matt Dade and Sarah DeFalco; Philip DeFalco and his wife Sharon and their children, Nic Hesler, Brianna Dupont, Jessica and Jennifer DeFalco; Jonathan and his wife Kimberly and their children, Elizabeth Gray, Nathaniel DeFalco, Angela DeFalco, Laura Guyle and Hannah DeFalco; Rebecca Greenspan and her son, Charles DeFalco. Augie was the step-father of Donna Bower of Pompton Plains; Helen Wilson and her husband Dean of Lincoln Park; Robert Bower of Lincoln Park; Daniel Bower of Wayne; Pop-Pop of Bryan Wilson and Destani Bower. Great-Grandfather to Dakota and Atreyu DeFalco, and Madison and Lillian Rychlik. Brother to the late Anthony DeFalco and his surviving wife Rita; and Peter DeFalco and his wife Alexandra; and 4 nieces and nephews.

For those inclined to make a memorial donation in Augie’s memory please consider the Lincoln Park First Aid Squad, 34 Chapel Hill Rd., Lincoln Park, NJ 07035.

Ruth I. Walker, age 95, of Pompton Plains, and a former long-time resident of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 14, 2017.

Ruth was born in the Ridgewood section of Brooklyn, NY and moved as a young girl with her parents and her older sister Mildred to Belleville, NJ, where she spent her childhood and graduated from Belleville High School in the class of 1938. While in high school Ruth was an enthusiastic member of the French Club, the Riding Club and the Debate Club and was Editor-in-Chief of the school’s yearbook. She received a scholarship to Upsala College in East Orange and graduated in 1942 having studied to be an English teacher. She quickly concluded during practice-teaching that a teaching career was not for her!

Ruth joined the American Red Cross in 1944 but was told she was too young to work in a hospital (her notes read “never again too young!”). After training in Washington, D.C., she went overseas in 1945 first to Naples and Como in Italy and then to Tehran to support the Persian Gulf Command (a service command of 30,000 men that supplied the Russian army). In Iran she learned that camels spit! She worked in a recreation center at the headquarters in Tehran before being assigned to a hospital in Khorramshahr (you’re not too young to work in the hospital if they need you). Her notes indicate that she wrote letters for hospital patients, arranged picnics and dances and was the disk jockey for the post radio station. She simply fell in love with this job! When the war was over Ruth returned home to Belleville and fell in love again – this time to a young man named Alfred Walker. They met on a blind date and exchanged vows on Saturday, November 4, 1950 in an intimate wedding ceremony at the manse of Fewsmith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Belleville, NJ. The service was officiated by the Reverend Dr. James K. Morse and Ruth wore a royal blue velvet dress with matching hat. A celebratory reception followed at the Marlboro Inn in Montclair.

The newly married Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Walker lived with his parents in Belleville while they worked on weekends and in their spare time to build a new house at 72 Lake Drive East in Packanack Lake. Meanwhile, Ruth continued to work at DeWitt Savings and Loan in Belleville while Al worked at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It took a few years but the exciting day came in 1953 when they moved into their new home. There, they raised two dear daughters and built a lifetime of married memories together which included a myriad of community activities. In the early 1970s, Ruth returned to banking and worked at Columbia Savings & Loan in Pompton Lakes and Wayne until 1986. After Al passed from Alzheimer’s in 1981, Ruth remained in the home they’d built until 2001, when she moved to the newly-opened Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains. She loved living at Cedar Crest and recommended it to all her friends! While there, she learned to tap dance with the Cedar Crest tappers and performed in several talent shows. She also served on several Cedar Crest committees over the years.

The consummate loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister, Ruth was a dedicated homemaker and a born volunteer who, in addition to the American Red Cross, dedicated thousands of loving hours to many organizations of mercy including the Packanack Community Church, Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital in Parsippany Troy Hills, and Healing the Children. In recognition of her efforts, in 2006 she was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation.

The Greystone Park Association was founded in 1948, dedicated to augmenting services provided by the State of New Jersey for the hospital patients. They provided admission packets, clothing, grooming items, games and books to patients throughout the year and a personal gift for each patient during the holiday season. An annual Fall Festival was their most ambitious fundraising project. Ruth volunteered with the Association for many years and served as President from 1971-1973.

Ruth volunteered with Healing the Children, Midlantic Chapter, for approximately 20 years, primarily focusing her efforts on working with the organization’s team that provided critical medical care to children from third-world countries by flying them into the U.S. and providing much-needed operations by surgeons and others who donated their services. Ruth coordinated a vast network of flight attendants to accompany the children while flying home after recuperating with foster families. When she moved to Cedar Crest Village in 2001, it didn’t take long for Ruth to make many dear friends and to encourage those friends to roll up their sleeves to sew hospital gowns and make lap desks for Healing the Children patients. At a banquet dinner in 2007, Healing the Children awarded her a citation in recognition of her outstanding service to children in need. In 2012 she was named an Honorary Trustee of the Healing the Children Board of Trustees. That year, at the age of 91, she finally recruited friends to take over her day-to-day responsibilities. A longtime member of Packanack Community Church of Wayne, she was active in the Women’s Guild and served on various committees. Always looking to help, when the Wayne area was devastated by floods, Ruth helped found the Wayne Interfaith Network (WIN) to collect and distribute food for those in need. At Cedar Crest, she set up collection baskets in several buildings to collect donated food for the Pequannock Township Food Pantry.

Ruth was always busy doing something fun or productive and helpful. She was a proud member of the American Association of University Women – a non-profit organization which advances equality for women and girls through advocacy, education and research. In her younger years, she enjoyed horseback riding and she always loved classical music. For many years she had season tickets to both the New York Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. She loved the theatre and attended many plays both before and during her time at Cedar Crest. She also belonged to the League of Women Voters. An avid world traveler, Ruth enjoyed many trips to destinations near and far including Bermuda, Greece (where she sailed on a tall ship) and the fjords of Norway. She meandered through Turkey, Denmark, and Finland, hiked in Ireland, took seven Art Lovers trips to France, toured Australia and New Zealand, India, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile (including Patagonia), Italy and Russia, and visited the Dominican Republic on a medical mission with Healing the Children. Closer to home she traveled throughout the Northeast, Midwest, California and Canada. For many years she made annual visits to Florida to spend time with her sister Mildred and daughter Karen. Each year, Karen took her on a trip. Their destinations ranged from St. Augustine to Key West to Eglin Air Force Base in the Florida panhandle, and many places in between. They sailed and explored historic sites, mangrove swamps, wildlife refuges and the Everglades.

Gifted with a great personality and a heart for those in need, Ruth was a genuinely caring person who no doubt blessed the lives of countless fellow human beings. As a Cedar Crest resident, she was always one of the first to reach out to newcomers to invite them to dinner and help them feel comfortable and welcomed. As stated in God’s holy word in the Gospel of Matthew, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Ruth is survived by her two dear daughters: Nancy J. Walker (Stephen Jacobs) of NYC and Karen J. Heald of Wayne; and her cherished granddaughter Michele A. Jacobs. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Alfred in 1981 and her dear sister Mildred Abend in 1993.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Packanack Community Church.

Betty Wigfield, (nee Smith) age 89, formerly of Wayne passed away peacefully while surrounded by her family.

Betty was born in Paterson and grew up in Prospect Park. She graduated from Central High School in Paterson with the class of 1945. Immediately after graduating, she landed a job as a teller with the Prospect Park National Bank. She worked there for five years. During that time, she was also a parishioner of the Sixth Reformed Church in Paterson. Betty met a fellow member of the church named Charles Wigfield in 1947. Charles had just returned from his service in the Philippines with the United States Navy. They got to know each other, started dating and eventually fell in love. Charles and Betty were married in February of 1949. Very shortly after they were married, Betty took on the daunting but rewarding task of a full-time homemaker. In 1955 they moved to Wayne where they would spend the rest of their lives together and raise their 3 children until moving back to Prospect Park after their children were grown. Charles and Betty cherished 58 years of loving and loyal marriage.

Betty and Charles owned a house in Ocean Grove for over forty years where they would spend their summers with their family. At the Sixth Reformed Church in Paterson, Betty was an active member, she taught Sunday School and also sang in the choir. She was extremely devoted to her Christian Faith which never diminished throughout her life. Aside from being a dedicated member of her church, Betty was also a member of the Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary of the Auditorium Ushers, and a proud member of the Prospect Park Republicans Club. After many years of being a homemaker, Betty (in her fifties) decided that she would go back to school. She took several classes at William Paterson University. This was something that she was very proud of for the rest of her life. Betty also loved to travel with her husband and family and also enjoyed socializing with her friends. She was an avid reader of novels, could knit and sew quite well, and above all she loved spending time with her grandchildren. Betty was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.

Betty is survived by her husband Charles of Wyckoff, one son, David and his wife Kathleene of Wayne, two daughters: Pamela Hess and her husband Christian of Kinnelon, and Allison Cantilina and her husband John of Milford, and six grandchildren. She was predeceased by her sisters Margaret Simmons, Barbara Prince and Ruth Booth.

Those planning to make donations in Betty’s name are asked to consider Living Word Reformed Church, 21 Pleasant View Drive, North Haledon, NJ 07508 or The Ocean Grove Ladies Auxiliary Now and Forever Fund, www.oceangrove.org/take-action

Francesca Ortisi, age 88, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 10, 2017.

Born and raised in the Sicilian city of Siracusa, Italy, she was a resident of Wayne since 1986.

Francesca emigrated to the USA at age 28 with her sister Lidia. They both came here thanks to a work visa for seamstresses through a program affiliated with the U.S. government and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson. At the time Paterson was nicknamed “The Silk City” because of the many garment and textile factories that were established there. Francesca and Lidia’s first jobs were as seamstresses in one of those factories and their first home was in the church’s monastery with other Italian immigrants who came before them.

In the summer times, the silk factories got to be too hot to work in, so they customarily closed for three months. Francesca and Lidia took advantage of this forced time off by returning to Italy to be reunited with family. During those short ninety days Francesca not only managed to find the love of her life in the likes of a handsome man named Gaetano Ortisi, she also married him on November 13, 1958. At the end of those three months, she returned by herself to her work in America, not only married but also pregnant with her firstborn. A year later, when her husband Gaetano was able to get his immigration paperwork in order, he joined his beautiful bride and had the pleasure of meeting his newborn son Salvatore for the first time. Her family has always looked up to Francesca and her sister Lidia for their role in providing a gateway to America for their parents and siblings who were able to come here too, due to their courage and perseverance in getting established in this new country.

Francesca loved to cook and family favorite recipes included her home-made lasagna and other pasta dishes. She was also an amazing baker so you could always count on the ‘biscotti’ jar in the house being full. Her kid’s favorites were her delicious lady fingers and various holiday desserts. She loved being a homemaker and her house was so impeccably clean, you literally could eat off the floor – a high standard of cleanliness and order that she maintained right on up until the time of her passing.

When her kids were young, Francesca and Gaetano would traditionally join with their siblings and their cousins for a vacation altogether down the Jersey Shore in Wildwood Crest. They would all rent adjoining rooms at the Bel Air Motel on Ocean Avenue and just have a great time together. Francesca’s children have fond memories of playing with their cousins, recalling how all the men stayed in one room and all the ladies in another, how all the men went to the fish market and how the women would prepare these great seafood feasts that they’d all enjoy for several nights during that vacation week. On a grander scale, she also enjoyed trips back to Italy as well as the Grand Canyon, California and a couple of vacations to Florida’s Disney World with her daughter Cettina and her two boys. A highlight while visiting California occurred when Francesca’s husband Guy was unexpectedly invited up on stage by famous actor Ray Romano during a taping of that late 1990’s, mid 2000’s sitcom “Everyone Loves Raymond”. While it didn’t completely mirror their own lives, they used to love that show because they could relate to the whole premise of an Italian family doing life together. Francesca was also a huge fan of the original I Love Lucy and Carol Burnett variety show.

Francesca was a woman of great faith. She faithfully prayed the rosary every day and always did her best to make it to church until older age would no longer allow. She was a faithful parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Lincoln Park during her and Gaetano’s years living there from 1977 to 1986. Then when the family moved to Wayne, she joined the fellowship of the parish community at Annunciation Church. Her faith was a true blessing to her when her beloved husband Gaetano passed away unexpectedly in 1998 at the age of 66.

Francesca’s family give thanks for her life. They will miss her dearly but will always cherish heartfelt memories of her genuine loving care and devotion.

Surviving are Francesca’s two dear sons and one dear daughter: Salvatore Ortisi of Sweden, Concetta Ortisi of Wayne, and Frank and wife Lisa Ortisi of Wayne; four cherished grandchildren: Michael, Marc, Alexandra and Nicholas; and one brother and one sister: Anthony and wife Concetta D’Amico of Wayne, and Lidia and husband Orazio Cipriani of Maryland. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Gaetano in 1998, and two brothers: Giuseppe D’Amico and Sebastiano D’Amico.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Francesca’s name are asked to consider Annunciation RC Church, 45 Urban Club Road, Wayne, NJ 07470, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Donald C. Simmons, Sr., age 86, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 9, 2017.

Donald was born and raised in Paterson and had lived in Wayne for fifty-seven years.

Following graduation from Paterson’s Eastside High School with the Class of 1949, Donald felt it best to join the U.S. Army. His own father had passed away when Donald was just thirteen years of age and he felt that a salary from the Army might be a good way to help provide for his mother, two sisters, and brother. He proudly served from 1951 to 1953 during the Korean War, attaining the rank of Sergeant.

Upon his return to civilian life, Donald met his beloved wife to be – Harriet Brown one day at church. They soon fell in love and on Sunday, September 2, 1956, Donald and Harriet exchanged wedding vows before God, family and friends at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church in Paterson. Following a honeymoon in Bermuda – which coincidentally gave Don a chance to visit his family who lived in Bermuda – Don and his new bride Harriet settled into their first home together as husband and wife in a third-floor apartment on 12th Ave. in Paterson. Three years later, in 1959, they moved to Wayne and that move would prove to be their last. There, they raised their three beautiful daughters and one son.

After returning from service in the Army, Donald initially took a job with Marnick Shell Gas Station on Lafayette Street in Paterson. He worked there as a mechanic and, while he was quite skilled at working on engines, the most adrenaline-producing part of his job was using the station’s tow truck to repossess cars. Always a car enthusiast, some of the cars he helped the banks repossess were so nice, he ended up buying them. Don ultimately landed a job with the Grand Union grocery chain where he enjoyed a rewarding career spanning thirty years while working himself up through the company ranks to Regional Manager. He retired in 1995.

Donald was a real community-minded person. As a young man in the 1950’s he was a member of the Free and Accepted Masons Lodge 51 in Paterson, and when he moved to Wayne, he joined Community Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 on Parish Drive. During his 48 years as a volunteer with the department, he served three terms as Chief. Don would never forget the year 1975. That was the year of the big Cozy Cleaners fire in the Mountain View section of Wayne. It occurred just one month after he sworn in as chief for the first time. He was also appointed Chief in 1981 and 1983 and he served for many years as a Passaic County Committeeman in the New Jersey State Firemen’s Association, and ultimately as its’ Vice President. In his later years he took great pride in caring for his fire company’s antique 1930 Ahrens Fox Pumper. He loved to ride it in the local parades and sometimes he’d take his grandchildren down to the firehouse and take them for a spin.

Don really valued the institution of family. Whether it was his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters and brother, or the guys on the fire department who were like brothers to him, Don perceived such relationships to be one of life’s greatest gifts. His dear wife Harriet once nicknamed him “Big Daddy” and that’s who he was to his family and many friends. Don pursued these blessed relationships in various way and one of them was through his love of camping with his family at Panther Lake in Andover, NJ. Now Don’s idea of camping was not in a tent. He was more attracted to camping trailers. As the years went on, the trailers grew and morphed into RV’s which in turn got bigger and bigger. His last one was a 42 foot Holiday Rambler. As much as he loved his vehicles, it was really those simple times spent with family that he cherished most in his heart. In addition to Panther Lake, he loved taking his RV on regular summer trips to the Thousand Islands, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and even to the annual firemen’s convention down the Jersey shore in Wildwood.

At home Don enjoyed time in his big vegetable garden and displaying his culinary skills in the kitchen. With Harriet often working the 3-11 or 11-7 shift as a nurse’s aide, Big Daddy did most of the cooking in the household. Family favorites included his collard greens and his grilled beefsteak and chicken. He really was a good cook and he’d always say, “All I need is a little salt and pepper.” He also made a great potato and macaroni salad. For dessert, he was always up for a little vanilla ice cream or a piece of his daughter Brenda’s apple cake. A wonderful family tradition was gathering for Sunday dinners and Big Daddy enjoyed having his kids and grandchildren gathered for the big holidays.

As already mentioned, Don loved his cars. In fact, he pretty much loved anything that had four wheels. Whether it was his 1958 Chevy hardtop (that was his favorite car) or his RV’s or that 1930 Ahrens Fox Pumper down at the firehouse, he was regimental about keeping them well cared for and looking their best and he often- times included his grandchildren in cleaning and waxing these vehicles.

Although Don was generally a quiet man who kept his thoughts to himself, his dry sense of humor would always come out at the most perfect of moments. His family will miss seeing him, especially in recent years, sitting on his front porch – sometimes taking a little afternoon siesta and sometimes waving to you as you came to visit.

Donald is survived by his dear son: Donald Simmons, Jr. and wife Brenda of Wayne; two dear daughters: Barbara Simmons and Cynthia Simmons – both of Wayne; five cherished grandchildren: Stacey Simmons, Ashley Fasano and husband Mike, Brooke Simmons, Tyler and wife Jacklyn Simmons, and Donald Simmons, III; two adored great-grandsons: Derek Simmons and Sonny Fasano; two dear sisters: Barbara Isaac of Paterson, and Isabelle Hinton of Lakewood; and one dear sister-in-law: Ann Simmons of Paterson. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of forty-nine years – Harriet L. (Brown) in 2005; his dear daughter Beverly F. Davis in 1995; his brother Willis Simmons, and his two brother-in-laws: James Isaac, and Henry Hinton.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Donald, Senior’s name are asked to consider Community Volunteer Fire Company #1, 97 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Ida Thibert, age75, of Wayne and formerly of Clifton, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2017.

Born and raised in Paterson, Ida was a graduate of Eastside High School with the Class of 1959 where she starred on the school’s softball team. She lived for many years in Clifton before moving to Siena Village in Wayne in 2006.

Following high school, Ida went right to work for New Jersey Bell Telephone Company (“Ma Bell”). She was a supervisor and enjoyed a career that spanned more than 30 years.

Ida combined her dear love of her family with her hobby of photography. She took all the family pictures so consequently, you’d be hard pressed to find a picture of her. She loved to photograph the different places she would visit, sometimes to a fault. For example; once when on a helicopter tour over the majestic Grand Canyon in Arizona, everyone was looking out the window taking in all the real-life beauty while Ida’s experience was confined to looking through the little view-finder on her camera in her quest to capture it all on film. She always tried to take in the little details too and could be seen trying to get the perfect photo of things like the little geckos that were native to the desert southwest.

Although she never actually got to be a mother herself, Ida had a dear bond and affection with and considered her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews to be her children. If you asked anyone of them, they would surely express and equal love and affection right back at Aunt Ida. She has countless photo albums of pictures she took of special occasions spent with them.

After retirement, Ida got to travel a bit. She loved visiting her brother John and his family in Austin Texas during the summer, sometimes staying for two-to-three months, and she also enjoyed trips to Colorado as well as various cruises. She also loved to go to the casinos in Atlantic City and Pennsylvania where she always played the slot machines. Funny thing is, it always seemed that when she finally started to win, it was time to go.

Ida was an extremely outgoing and talkative person. Her family marveled at her ability to strike up conversations with perfect strangers that she’d encounter in the course of daily life such as running errands at Walmart or Walgreens. Sometimes they would even be a little embarrassed. When she moved to Siena Village in Wayne, she quickly became friends with the ladies there, often joining them for happy hour. She was very handy too and was often called upon by her Siena Village neighbors to grab her tool box to help them hang a picture, program their VCR, fix something, or even help them with a problem with their car.

Those that knew Ida will miss her warm, energetic spirit and willingness to always cheerfully answer a call for help or assistance from a friend in need. Among many other things, her family will miss her excellent baking skills including her holiday pies and uniquely-themed birthday cakes that she made for everyone’s special day.

Ida is survived by her dear sister Florence and husband Joseph Salleroli of Franklin Lakes; her brother John Thibert of Austin, Texas; her adored niece and nephews: Jan Salleroli of Oakland, Christopher and wife Julie Thibert of Austin, Texas, Brian Thibert of Austin, Texas; and her cherished great-nieces and great-nephews: Angela, Sofia, Joseph, Grayson, and Schoen. She was predeceased by her dear nephew Joseph Salleroli in 1989, and her dear sister-in-law Nancy Thibert in 2014.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ida’s name are asked to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org/donate).

Walter Auth, age 86 of Wayne died rather suddenly on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. He had been in Cape Coral, Florida for the winter months.

Walter was born in Mittlekalbach, Germany in 1930 and was raised in a small farming community in the countryside. He learned the usual farming skills and at twelve years old he began training as a cabinet maker. Of course, this was 1942 Germany and the demand for skilled cabinet makers was not that great, especially in the countryside. Times were tough, especially after the end of the war, and Walter set out to go to America. At first, the plan was to work for a short time, maybe one year, in America and then go back to Germany with his savings. But after arriving in 1954 at the age of twenty-four, he never looked back. He and his wife Elisabeth settled in Passaic, NJ where Walter had an uncle in the hardwood flooring business. Walter learned more of the building trade working with his uncle and soon decided to venture out and start his own construction company. He specialized in cabinetry and trim work and his handiwork is evident throughout countless homes in the area.

As a young boy in Germany, he met Elisabeth Heil who lived in the same town. They went to elementary school together and formed a deep friendship that grew into a very strong and enduring marriage. They celebrated their honeymoon by moving to the United States and set out to build a wonderful life together. Walter worked tirelessly and Elisabeth was the family banker; she squirreled away every dollar that she could. Walter was never one to pass up a coin on the ground either, and he was always amazed at how Americans would just throw money away like that! Because of their resolve, they were able to buy a two family home in Passaic and they began to establish roots for their very own American Dream. Within a few years, Walter purchased a piece of property in Wayne and he set out to build his own home, complete with a cabinet shop in the basement. Years later he purchased a vacant lot in Long Beach Island and built his own summer home there as well. He and his wife pitched a tent in LBI and cleared the lot with chainsaws themselves and once the pilings were installed, they moved the tent under the house and stayed there for a few days at a time while they built the house. They truly enjoyed spending time at the beach and Walter especially loved going out on their boat. They would travel out onto one of the many sandbars in the bay and have lunch, or navigate out of Barnegat Inlet to the ocean and then ride back in shortly after. The boat was a means for Walter to get his family together and enjoy and afternoon on the water. He just loved his boat and spending time at on LBI. In more recent years, Walter and Elisabeth enjoyed winters in Cape Coral, FL where they have a condo.

Walter was truly a family man. He devoted his life to providing for and spending time with his family. When his children were young, he'd take them for car rides every Sunday, occasionally stopping for ice cream on the way home. As his children grew up, Walter found a trusted companion in his dog Skippy. For a time, Walter and Skippy were inseparable and went everywhere together. It wasn’t uncommon for Walter to be seen walking around a job site or a lumber yard with Skippy following close at his feet. As grandchildren came onto the scene, Walter again took on the role of family man along with his wife Elisabeth, who together cared for the grandchildren daily until they were in school.

Walter and Elisabeth had a very special marriage and she was always loving and supportive. Walter often referred to her as his “treasure.” Although the two of them had virtually nothing when they were first married, Walter often told Elisabeth that he had “married a rich woman” because she gave him everything he could have ever asked for. The two of them loved each other very dearly and when Elisabeth passed away in April of 2016, Walter’s heart was broken. He struggled to find joy ever since and his grief was just too much to bear. Sadly, Walter lost his daughter Sylvia Carey in November of 2016, just two months ago. That also weighed heavily on his heart.

Walter is survived by two children; Dorothy Auth and her husband Stephen Edgington of Montclair, and Ron Auth of Cedar Knolls, three grandchildren; Audrey, Henry and Grace Edgington of Montclair, and his sister; Maria Burhard and her husband Bernard in Mittelkalbach, Germany.  He was predeceased by one sister; Laura.

Joseph Alvino, 78 of Wayne, died on Wed., Jan. 4, 2017 in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He had been enjoying the winter months in Florida as he had for more than fifteen years.

Joe was raised in the Riverside section of Paterson and attended Central High School. At the young age of twelve he began working for a paving contractor and he learned the trade. He worked briefly for V. Ottilio & Sons and then formed a new partnership with his cousin in 1970, forming the A&A Paving Co. Eventually, he struck out on his own and started Alvino Paving Contractors with a loan from his father-in-law. The investment paid off and Joe built a business that has endured for more than twenty five years. With countless residential driveways and business parking lots to his credit, Alvino Paving has certainly left its mark on Wayne and the surrounding communities. For those who worked with Joe, and those that worked for him, they’ll tell you that he did things one way; his way. He was a strong-willed man, completely unwavering, and never to be questioned. That was his style and you had to respect him for it.

Besides being a very hard worker and determined man, Joe was a survivor of sorts. He pulled his way through adversity that would have crushed most other people. For the past thirty years he’s endured struggles with his health, including a heart attack at forty-five years old that the doctors told him he should not have been able to survive, as well as aortic aneurisms, cancer on several occasions, and a host of other ailments. But he battled through all of it and could amazingly muster the strength to get well again and defy his doctor’s prognosis. He was just a really tough guy.

Golf was something Joe picked up when he began wintering in Florida. He loved the game so much that if there was a way he could have played more often, he would have done it. Of course, nothing was more important to Joe than dinner. He often thought about his dinner all day long, even starting the day by asking at the breakfast table; “what’s for dinner?” He was picky when eating out and always ordered his food just the way he liked it, and if it wasn’t up to par, he wouldn’t eat it! Most of the area waiters and waitresses were afraid of him and he was usually served by the owners at his favorite restaurants. He simply wouldn’t tolerate a poor meal, but he was grateful when it was done well. He loved a good cigar, casinos, the horse track, and he had been able to travel to Italy and Aruba on some memorable vacations.

Joe and his wife Carol have been married for 57 years now. They met as teenagers in Paterson when Joe kindly gave Carol and her friend a ride home one rainy night. After dropping off Carol’s friend, Joe offered to buy Carol a cup of coffee and the rest is history. They were married two years later, on April 18, 1959 at St. Mary’s RC Church in Paterson, followed by a honeymoon to Niagara Falls. Together, they raised their four children in the Hillcrest section of Paterson before moving to Wayne in 1980. In 1986, they began visiting Florida each winter. They owned a home in Boca Raton initially before moving to Hillsboro Beach in 2002.

Joe is survived by his loving wife of fifty seven years; Carol (nee Watson) of Wayne, four children; Debra Firstbrook and her husband Craig of Wayne, Joseph C. Alvino and his wife Donna of Totowa, Gregg Alvino of Wayne, and Chris Alvino and his wife Elizabeth of Wayne, six grandchildren; Ashley, Kaitlin, Alexis, Alyssa, Alivia, and Anthony, and a sister-in-law; Marian Branthwaite of Pompton Lakes. He was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Scott Watson of Pompton Lakes just last month.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation. Donations can be made by mailing a check to 12902 Magnolia Drive, MBC-FOUND, Tampa, FL 33612, by calling 1-800-456-3434 ext. 1403 or online at www.moffitt.org/donate. Please make a note that the donation is in memory of Joseph Alvino.

Michael J. Dutko, age 88 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. He had been a Wayne resident for 60 years.

Born to John and Fannie Dutko in the Singac section of Little Falls, Mike grew up and graduated from Passaic Valley High School with the Class of 1945. His fond childhood memories include his 6 siblings, playing baseball in school and singing in the St. John's Russian Orthodox choir. Mike was very proud and thankful to be the first in his family to attend and graduate from college. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry from Seton Hall University in 1950. Immediately after graduating from college, he joined the U.S. Navy and served for four years as a medic before he began his career as a chemist in Totowa. He later joined Exeter Manufacturing Company of New York City as a Technical Sales Representative of glass fabrics. He married his sweetheart, Hope Kosachook, in 1955 and they settled in Wayne in 1957. In the late 60's, Mike joined the Industrial Fabrics Department of Uniglass Industries, a Division of United Merchants and Manufacturing, Inc. As a Fiberglass Sales Rep, he was involved in many pioneering projects with IBM. He retired in 1988 as a Sales Executive with Uniglass, supplying fiberglass products to various industries.

Mike was an avid golfer and truly loved the sport. He described watching the sunrise over a fairway as a spiritual experience that he simply would never tire of. He enjoyed membership at Bowling Green Golf Club, playing frequently with his brother Paul and childhood friends. He played many courses over the years. He was also a wonderful family man, always cooking breakfast for his kids on Sunday morning and grilling for the family cookouts. His daughter fondly recalls her father simply as “a wonderful man and father.”

Mike is survived by his daughter Barbara Jean Dutko of Milford, Massachusetts, one sister, Mary Durkos of Little Falls, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving wife Hope in 2013, by his daughter Mary Beth Dutko in 2007, and by his five siblings, Walter (Charlie), Peter, Steven, Paul and Justine (Sue) Jaworski.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations made in Mike’s honor would be appreciated to the 'general fund' at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1219 Ratzer Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470.

Joyce Knaus, age 81, a longtime resident of the Wayne, NJ area died peacefully at home on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 surrounded by her family.

Joyce B. Knaus CLU, CFP Obituary

Joyce Knaus, age 81, a longtime resident of the Wayne, NJ area died peacefully at home on Monday, January 2nd, 2017 surrounded by her family. Joyce was born on January 26, 1935 in Spring Bluff, Missouri on the family dairy farm. She attended a one room school house up to eighth grade and later graduated from Sullivan High School. As a young girl growing up on a farm, Joyce had many of your typical farm life chores such as milking and feeding the cows. She soon got a job working at Meramec Caverns where she met a a cute city boy named Roy. He asked for Joyce’s hand in marriage on Christmas Eve of 1955 at her parent’s home in Spring Bluff and they soon married at St. Anthony’s Church in Sullivan.

Shortly before Roy’s graduation from Washington University, St. Louis, they were married and he was then commissioned in the US Air Force. During their first several years of marriage they lived in Corpus Christi, TX, San Antonio, TX, Topeka, KS, Boston, MA, then settling in Philadelphia, PA where their two sons, Mark and Brian were born. During that time Joyce graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas with a bachelor’s degree in business, majoring in marketing and retailing. They then spent 3 years in Baton Rouge, LA, where their daughter, Chris, was born. Eventually Roy took a job at American Cyanamid in Wayne, NJ, and in 1970 they moved to West Milford, NJ for 10 years. In 1980 they moved to Wayne, NJ where they have lived ever since.

Joyce began her career in insurance in 1978 as an agent for Mutual of New York (MONY), later AXA, where she remained until she retired in 2011. She prided herself in her professional persistence, determination, willingness to work hard, and a strong desire to excel. Throughout her career, she qualified for numerous company awards, including MONY’s Top 50, President’s Council, and Top Club, and was inducted into MONY’s Hall of Fame which was in recognition for her outstanding sales production and service to clients.

During her career she became a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT), serving on the procedures committee and as past chairman of the MDRT membership and By-Laws and Ethics Committee. She was also active in the insurance industry association of the National Association of Life Underwriters (NALU), New York City chapter, the Bergen County Estate Planning Committee, the New York City Estate Planning Council, and the International Association of Financial Planners (IAFP).

In addition to serving her profession, she also served in her community. She was active for many years in the Wayne A.M. Rotary, having served as past president and Rotary District Governor’s representative for the club. She was also a professional advisory board member of the Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation and fund raised for the Wayne Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Joyce loved spending time at their homes in Bethany Beach, DE and Lake Wallenpaupack, PA. She also loved traveling with Roy, having traveled to Thailand, Hong Kong, Paris, Monaco, Cancun, Costa Rica, Key West, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.

She is the daughter of the late Henry and Elizabeth (Daniken) Blesi. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brothers John and Paul, and her sisters Elda, Margaret, and Virginia. She is survived by her husband, Roy Knaus of Wayne, two sons, Mark Knaus and wife Julie of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and Brian Knaus and fiancée Bonita Rutigliano of Wayne, NJ and one daughter, Chris Black and husband John, of Hackettstown, NJ. She is also survived by four granddaughters, Elisabeth, Jenna, and Cydney Black and Violet Rae Knaus, and 19 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Joyce’s name to The International Advocate for Glycoprotein Storage Diseases, Make-A-Wish Foundation, or NJ Alzheimer’s Association. (note: you can click on the colored text of the organization and you will be brought to their online donation page.  Please notate that your donation is a memorial donation for Joyce Knaus)

Diane LoFrisco (nee Ingrassi) age 61 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Monday January 2, 2017 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Diane was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. As a child, her parents enrolled her in local Catholic Schools where she received a strong education in academics as well as religion. She graduated from St Edmunds Catholic High School with the class of 1973 and was then accepted to Brooklyn College where she studied Math as a major and education as a Minor. After graduating college, Diane earned a position with US Customs as an import specialist where she held this position for about five years.

While she was attending college, Diane’s mom, Fannie Ingrassi, got her a part time job at a stock brokerage and securities firm in New York City. It was during her temporary employment there in 1974 where she met a young man by the name of Frank LoFrisco. They started dating, and after a romantic and loving courtship, they were married in 1980 at St Catherine of Alexandria in Brooklyn.

After their marriage, Diane and Frank settled in Wayne where both of their sons Daniel and David were born. She then devoted the next sixteen years as a homemaker. Diane ran the household with love and care, as well as efficiency. Schooling was paramount and she always made time to mentor her children with homework, reports, and tests-across all subjects. All the while juggling soccer practices, wrestling matches, doctor’s appointments, and the like, with homemade dinner on the table at night. Always. This was her role as mother, and she wore the mantle well.

In the early 1990’s, the family relocated temporarily to Tampa, Florida before returning to Wayne five years later. They would call Wayne their home for the rest of their years together. During this time, Diane landed a job with Wayne Township in their Building Department. She worked there for approximately three years before becoming a full time Math Teacher at Wayne Valley High School. Diane was a dedicated teacher and took great pride working with her students. This would be the position she would hold for sixteen years until Diane’s illness forced her into an early retirement.

In 2008, Diane was initially diagnosed with breast cancer. She bravely battled the disease with an unwavering positive attitude in the years since. She was extremely smart and educated herself about her illness and treatment options. Through the years, Diane had the courage to face over 10 lines of cancer treatments, from conventional to experimental procedures, side effects and disappointments included. When others may have become disheartened, Diane’s spirit never broke. Her biggest concern rather, was worrying over the burden she was placing on the family.

Despite all that Diane was going through, she always made family the priority. A generous person, and also an animal lover, Diane adopted several rescue dogs over the years that she treated as one of her “boys”. She was a devoted wife, and a loving and dedicated mother. She and Frank cherished thirty-six years of loving and loyal marriage. Diane touched the lives of many people in her lifetime and she will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Diane is survived by her husband Frank LoFrisco of Wayne, two sons; Dan, and Dave, her mother Fannie Ingrassi, and sister Francine Lista of Staten Island.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Diane's name may be made to American Cancer Society,NJ Chapter, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 or FOWA Animal Shelter http://www.fowarescue.com

Wilhelmina “Winnie” Lauzon (nee Freund) age 88 of Pompton Plains passed away peacefully on Wednesday December 31, 2014 in the presence of, and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Wilhelmina was born in New York City. She was raised and lived throughout parts of Hudson and Bergen County including Hoboken and Fort Lee and Teaneck. She also was a long time resident of Dumont, NJ for 57 years until moving to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains three years ago.

Wilhelmina learned at an early age from her parents, the value of a good work ethic. She started helping her parents at the age of fourteen in the family owned delicatessen which relocated a few times in the Hudson and Bergen County area, and eventually settling in Teaneck. Shortly after graduating High School, she went to work for her Parents full time. Across the street from Wilhelmina’s family store was another family owned store, H Lauzon Furniture Company. The owners of that store had a son Francis Lauzon who served proudly in the US Navy during WWII. After the war ended, Francis went to work full time for his parents and would visit Wilhelmina’s family deli for lunch practically every day, hoping to get a chance to talk to the “pretty girl behind the counter.” They met in 1947 and after a courtship of about two years, they were married in 1949.

After they were married they moved to Englewood where they lived for about four years then Francis and Winnie moved to Dumont where they would spend the next 57 years and raise their three daughters.

Just after Francis and Winnie were married, Winnie went to work for Francis’ family furniture company as a bookkeeper and would hold this position until they both retired simultaneously in 2002 after the selling of the business.

Winnie and Francis cherished sixty-one years of loving marriage until Francis’ passing in August of 2010. During that time they were avid travelers, visiting many different places including Alaska which was one of their favorites. They traveled by car to many locations and also loved to cruise as well. Winnie was a devoted mother and grandmother. She was devoted to her Catholic Faith which she actually converted to when she married Francis. Winnie was an avid Bridge player, she loved Gardening and Embroidering. She was extremely kind-hearted and always opened up her home to anyone that needed anything. So it was no surprise that she made many friends in Cedar Crest Village where she was very active in social events and gaming. Winnie touched the lives of many people and she will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Winnie is survived by her 3 daughters; Patti Vaspol and her husband Reid of Highland Mills, NY, Charlene Haas and her Husband Ed of Maplewood, and Robyn Ferrentino and her husband Gary of Harrington Park, 7 grandchildren; Darin, Michael, Karen, Katie, Nicholas, Ali, and Tori, 2 nieces; Suzanne and Faith, and 1 nephew; Kenny, she was predeceased by her husband Francis Lauzon in August 2010.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to make a donation in Winnie’s name are asked to consider The American Cancer Society, 20 Mercer St, Hackensack, NJ 07601

Walter F. Hoffmann age 90, prominent New Jersey Democrat, acknowledged civil rights attorney and tireless advocate for world peace, died on Wednesday, December 31, 2014.

He was born in Newark, grew up in Glen Ridge and spent most of his adult life in Wayne NJ. Walter was an Eagle Scout, graduated from Glen Ridge High School in 1942 and served in the Marine Corp in the Pacific in WW II. Walt was stationed on Tinian Island as a member of the 18th Anti-Aircraft Battalion when the Enola Gay took off from Tinian for Hiroshima, August 6th, 1945.

Walter graduated from the University of Michigan in 1948 and the University of Chicago Law School in 1951, where he was on the staff of Law Review. After law school, he was a bill drafter for the Illinois legislature, a trial attorney for the National Labor Relations Board and a staff attorney for the U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee investigating the administration of the IRS. He then returned to New Jersey and was a founding partner of Hoffmann, Humphreys & Lafer, which later became Hoffmann & Fiorello in Wayne. From his offices on Hamburg Turnpike and later Valley Road, Walter earned a reputation for honesty, hard work and loyalty to his clients.

Active in Wayne politics, Walt was elected as 2nd Ward Councilman in 1963 and served until 1971. His newsletters, open office hours and door to door campaigning made him popular with constituents in the 2nd Ward. In 1969, he was the Democratic Party candidate for Mayor and placed 2nd in a tight 3 way race. He was also a Democratic Ward Leader, Municipal Chair, candidate for NJ Assembly in 1972, Assistant County Counsel for Passaic County in 1975-76 and a Delegate to the 1980 Democratic Convention in New York.

Political courage never failed him. As a civil rights attorney in the 1960’s, Walter successfully challenged residential covenants in NJ communities that excluded home owners based on race and religion. He was Chair of the Legal Redress Committee of the Passaic County branch of the NAACP and in the face of strong opposition, represented a Wayne school teacher who was fired for not saying “Under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Passionate for U.N. reform, Walter was a member of World Peace Through Law, founder of the Campaign For U.N. Reform, Center for UN Reform Education and Executive Director of the World Federalists Association in Washington, D.C. In 1993, he was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to serve on The Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of the United Nations.

In his spare time, Walter was a Deacon at the Preakness Reformed Church, President of Wayne Kiwanis Club, Boy Scout Merit Badge Counselor and Adjunct College Professor at William Patterson and Ramapo Colleges, teaching courses in Government and Political science.

At the University of Michigan, Walter met his first wife, the former Lois Anne Johnson. They married in 1948 and had a good and loving marriage for 52 years until Lois’s passing in 2000. He remarried in 2003 to Nancy Cecere and enjoyed their 12 years together travelling and living in Cedar Crest Village.

No one who met Walter will forget him, not his family, not his friends or office staff, or fellow travelers anywhere. He genuinely wanted to know people and what was important in their lives. His integrity, wise counsel and joy in his family will be missed.

He is survived by his wife Nancy, daughters, Anne Hoffmann, Laura Calixte, son, Charles Walter Hoffmann (Susan), three grandchildren: Sylvianne Mulholland (Michael), Raymond Walter and Gregory Hoffmann; and two great-grandchildren, Jackson Walter and Kellen Mulholland.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making donations in Walter’s name to the World Federalist Movement 708 Third Avenue, #1705, NYC, NY 10017 or Citizens For Global Solutions 420 7th St SE Washington, D.C. 20003.

Kevin Patrick O’Riordan, of Barre, Vermont, passed away Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at his home.

Born on February 20, 1952 in Bronx, NY, he was the son of John Francis and Geraldine Veronica (Martin) O’Riordan. He attended St. Catherine Elementary School in Blauvelt, NY and the Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, NY in 1980 and a Master’s Degree in Education, Applied Behavioral Analysis from Johnson State College in Johnson, VT in 1985.

On July 10, 1976, Kevin married Helena Frances Roness in Brooklyn, NY. Following their marriage, they made their home in Brooklyn, NY and Cabot, VT before moving to Barre, VT.

Kevin taught Special Education for the Barre City School System, was the program director at Washington County Mental Health for many years, and was the executive director of human services at Sterling Area Services in Morrisville for 18 years. He was a tireless advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities to help insure their best possible quality of life. He and his wife, Helena, were foster parents and home providers for children with disabilities for over thirty years. They were the first to have their own biological children and their foster children in the same home.

Kevin was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church in Barre where he taught religious education for several years and of the Knights of Columbus of Barre. He was a former member of the Montpelier Elks Lodge 924.

His interests were gardening, reading, and travelling. He especially enjoyed time spent with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Helena O’Riordan of Barre; his children, Michael O’Riordan and his wife, Erin of Pomona, NY, Kristen O’Riordan and her partner, Michael Kelley, Elizabeth O’Riordan, Joseph O’Riordan, Skylar O’Riordan and his wife, Christi, Logan Merrill-O’Riordan and her partner, Curtis Sherman, all of Barre, and Heith O’Dell of Brookfield; five grandchildren, Colby, Brendan, Shea, Levi, and Briella; his sister, Ellen O’Riordan-Madeya and her husband, Ray of White Plains, NY; his brother, John Brian O’Riordan of Pomona, NY; brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

His parents predeceased him.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Kessler Foundation, 300 Executive Drive, Suite 70, West Orange, NJ 07052 (e-mail: give@kesslerfoundation.org) or to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 16 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington, VT 05401.

Sam Baten, age 73 of Old Bridge and Delray Beach, FL, died on Monday, December 29, 2014.

Sam was born and raised in Damascus, Syria. When his younger sister married an American, and moved to the U.S., he was quick to follow. When Sam was nineteen, he followed his sister’s lead, emigrating to the United States. His first job was at St. Ann Melkite Church. It was there that he met his wife Carol who was a parishioner. They fell in love and exchanged their wedding vows before family and friends on February 14, 1964 – St. Valentine’s Day! Following a reception at the Manor, they honeymooned in the Poconos, before settling in Oakland where they lived for about twenty-five years. During that time, Sam and Carol raised their two boys and Sam played a very active role in their upbringing, including serving as the boys’ soccer coach through the Oakland Rec. Program.

The family eventually moved to Pompton Plains and Sam enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the trucking industry with National Truck Protection and Dover Diesel Service, both of Moonachie. He loved his work so much; he really considered it to be a hobby. After retiring in 2005, Sam and Carol moved to Old Bridge and simultaneously purchased a home in Ormond Beach, FL. They enjoyed some great years of retirement together, traveling and spending time with family. In 2011, after a wonderful marriage of 47 years, Sam’s beloved Carol passed away. Sam eventually relocated to Delray Beach, FL.

Sam’s faith in God was a cornerstone of his life. During his years in New Jersey, he faithfully attended Sunday services at St. Ann Melkite Church, and he practiced his faith equally in Florida.

Sam was a people person. He was very outgoing and loved to make people smile and laugh. He came to love the finer things of life. He loved fine wines, and quality food. He was a sharp dresser, always taking pride in how he looked. But despite all of that, he will mostly be remembered for his generosity and acts of selfless service to his family and friends. He would do anything he could to help if you needed it.

Sam is survived by his two sons: Lewis of Freehold, and Mark of Pompton Plains; his three siblings: Elias Batinjane and wife Maha of Wyckoff, Sylvie Batinjane-Lombardo and husband Aldo of Delray Beach, FL, and Mire Khalaf and husband Elias of Paramus; and nine nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 47 years, Carol in 2011.

Robert L. Newton, age 87 of Pompton Plains, NJ died peacefully on Christmas day, 2014. Bob had lived in Packanack Lake, Wayne, for forty years before moving to Pompton Plains in 1996 and most recently resided at Cedar Crest Village.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Alma of Pompton Plains, his children; Peg Patten and her husband Chris of Scituate, MA, Russ Newton and his wife Kimberly of Falls Church, VA, and Audrey Newton, Alma’s children; Forrest DeVisser and his wife Jamie of Wayne, and Garrett DeVisser and his wife Marritta, five grandchildren; Jacob, Sami and Robert Newton of Falls Church, VA and Alyssa and Olivia DeVisser of Wayne, NJ, one sister-in-law; Dahlia Newton of TN and her children; Jessica Orvis and Roy Newton. Bob was predeceased by his brother Paul Newton of TN in 2010.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bob’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the NY-NJ Trail Conference, 156 Ramapo Valley Rd. (201-512-9348), Mahwah, NJ 07430, or to Spence-Chapin Adoption Services, 410 E. 92nd St., New York, NY 10128.

William Cirangle, age 89, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Wednesday, December 24, 2014.

Born and raised in Paterson, Bill spent all of his life there until moving to Wayne 4 years ago.

Bill served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943 to 1945. He was an expeditor with American Light Alloys, West Paterson and Singer Kearfott, Little Falls until retiring in 1988.

Surviving are his two brothers: George and wife Theresa Cirangle of Florham Park, and Louis and wife Mary Cirangle of Wayne. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill was predeceased by eight siblings: Rachel, Rose, Frank, Stella, Ernest, Lawrence, Julia, and John.

Rose Leitner (nee Pelonero), age 89 of Wayne, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at her home.

Rose was raised in Garfield during the Great Depression. She left high school early and began working in a shoe factory. Every little bit of income was helpful in those days and Rose wasn’t afraid to work. She became skilled running the machine that put the soles on shoes and boots. Throughout her career, she worked in many of the area shoe factories, running their sole machines. She retired in the 1970’s from a slipper factory in Passaic.

Since she was a young girl, Rose enjoyed dancing and on any given Saturday night, you could find her on a dance floor at one of the area ballrooms. On one particular Saturday evening in 1944, Rose was dancing to the Duke Collins Orchestra at the President Palace Ballroom when she met Bill Leitner. Bill’s nickname was “Billy the whip” because of how he could spin his partner on the dance floor. Rose, who was just nineteen years old at the time, turned out to be a perfect dance partner and the two of them fell in love. They began dating and were married on December 7, 1947 at the Mount Virgin RC Church in Garfield. They traveled to Niagara Falls for their honeymoon and have since enjoyed sixty seven years of a devoted and very loving marriage. Rose was so special to Bill and she had a wonderfully vibrant personality. She could play the piano, was an excellent cook and, of course, she was Bill’s greatest dance partner. Over the years, they traveled extensively including Hawaii and Las Vegas. Their favorite summer getaway was to Wildwood, NJ where they enjoyed the beach. She was also instrumental in starting the “Prime-Timers” social group at her church; Annunciation RC Church in Wayne. She was a very social person and was blessed with many dear friends who will all miss her dearly.

Rose is survived by her sweetheart; William Leitner of Wayne, three sisters; Sally Albano of Elmwood Park, Mary Scrittorale of Delray Beach, Florida, and Anne Paternostro of Las Vegas, NV, two brothers; Peter Pelonero of Santa Anna, California and Bob Pelonero of Las Vegas.

Ruth Glasser, age 83, of Bloomingdale, died unexpectedly on Monday, December 22, 2014.

Ruth was born and raised in Paterson and she graduated from Paterson’s Eastside High School with the Class of 1948.

She quickly got a job working for Bograd’s Furniture Store which, at that time, was located in the downtown Paterson shopping district. She later went on to become an assistant for Doctor Joseph Gorych in his practice in Wayne. She loved to meet and assist the doctor with the care of the patients and she enjoyed a career that spanned twenty-five years, retiring in 1993.

Ruth met her husband Frederick when they were in high school. They married four years after graduating, on July 31, 1952. The wedding took place while Fred was on leave from his service in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After the wedding, Fred returned to the Navy and Ruth moved in with her new mother-in-law so that money could be saved for the purchase of a home. Eventually Ruth and Fred bought a home in Bloomingdale and they stayed in that same house for over fifty years. Through those early years of marriage, Ruth and Fred were blessed with three beautiful girls and Ruth devoted herself to them, balancing their care with her own schedule at Dr. Gorych’s practice.

Ruth and Fred enjoyed some wonderful times and gave thanks to God for the fifty-one years they were blessed to be married. They traveled together to Hawaii, New Orleans, New England, and Florida. When Fred passed away in 2003, Ruth took one more trip – this time on a tour to Alaska with her oldest daughter Diane.

A self-confessed shopaholic, Ruth was always up for a good sale, especially at Macy’s and Kohls. At home she loved to watch the QVC shopping channel and consequently, that big brown UPS truck was always delivering packages to her front door. Ruth was young and heart and always said that she was “too young” to join the senior citizens group in town. She found it much more stimulating and fun to hang out with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved to get together with them and play Barbie’s, Legos or make puzzles.

Ruth was very devoted in her faith in God and was very active in the Butler United Methodist Church, both as a volunteer in the Gleaners Thrift Shop and as a member of the church’s Naomi Circle – a church work team that volunteered wherever help was needed.

Ruth was a very sweet person who was extremely generous and self-sacrificing towards her family and the many friends she met throughout her life. While she will be dearly missed by all, including her dear pet Pomeranian Cody, her family gives thanks for the life that God blest her with.

Ruth is survived by her three loving daughters: Diane and husband Gordon Johnson of Bloomingdale, Donna and husband James Hollenback of Barnegat, and Carole and husband Andy Byra of Pompton Lakes; three dear grandchildren: Amanda, James, and Courtney; and four cherished great-grandchildren: Matthew, Emma, and twins Abegail and Evan. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Frederick in 2003.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ruth’s name are asked to consider the Butler United Methodist Church, 5 Bartholdi Avenue, Butler, NJ 07405.

Patricia Dorothy Fox (nee Frazer) age 79 of Wayne passed Monday, December 22, 2014.

She was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in East Paterson having graduated from Lodi High School with the Class of 1953. She also lived in Clifton, Paterson, Oakland, and Fullerton, California before moving to Wayne in 1975.

She met her husband on a blind date. When Bill showed up at the house Pat was cutting the lawn. She was wearing red shorts and a white top and Bill was wearing Levi jeans. Pat thought Bill looked goofy in his jeans. Their first date was a drive to Fort Lee and a walk across the George Washington Bridge. They eventually fell in love with Bill proposing marriage in his 1952 Kaiser-Frazer Henry J parked in front of her family home on Augusta Street in East Paterson. They married on May 26, 1956 at Saint Leo’s Church in East Paterson, had a reception at the Koenig’s Hoffbrau in Westwood and a honeymoon in Bermuda. Pat and Bill have enjoyed fifty-eight years of loving and devoted marriage.

Pat worked in the cafeteria at the DePaul High School in Wayne for the past thirty-six years.

She was a roll up your sleeves and get to it worker. She raised six children and was very involved with her children’s schools while they were attending them. She enjoyed crocheting afghans, reading, and cooking for a gang. Family picnics and holiday gatherings were always a two meal occasion. The family will greatly miss her special touch on mashed potatoes and Swedish meatballs. After hearing about the passing of his grandmother one of her grandsons asked “who's going to make the mashed potatoes?”

Pat was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Pequannock for over thirty years.

Pat's husband Bill is a member of the Barbershop Harmony Society and Pat supported his hobby by volunteering to perform many of the functions required to operate such organizations. For example, Pat gladly spent her weekends during the Christmas Season at the South Street Seaport in New York City as the Big Apple Barbershop Chorus sang its annual Christmas Tree performance where they were known as the South Street Seaport Christmas Tree. With the Montclair Chapter of the Society she participated with the Dapper Dans Chorus at its many functions throughout the year including shows, sing-outs and other events. She was the beloved wife of William Fox; devoted mother of William Fox, Jr. and his wife Sandra of Piscataway, Andrew Fox and his companion Cary of North Bergen, Thomas Fox and his wife Lynn of Monmouth Junction, Nancy Meyer and her husband Robert of Oakland, Mary Sabo and her husband Michael of Kinnelon, and Timothy Fox and his wife Elizabeth of Coplay, PA; cherished grandmother of Matthew, Michelle, John, Daniel, Dana, Drew, Michael, Christoffer, and the late Derek; loved sister of Barbara Feist of Florida and George Frazer of Texas.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to DePaul Catholic High School, 1512 Alps Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 would be appreciated-please be sure to include “In memory of Pat Fox” in your memo.

Joseph C. Delaney age 88 of Wayne passed Monday, December 22, 2014.

He was born and raised in Paterson having attended Central High School with the Class of 1944.

He was a US Navy Veteran of WWII having served on the USS Saint Paul a Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser. The USS Saint Paul fired the last hostile salvo from a major ship on Tokyo Bay then entered the Bay for the formal surrender ceremony the next day. The ship is also known for firing the last round shot at sea during the Korean War.

Joe was a quiet man who loved sports. He was a gifted shortstop having played at the Polo Ground in New York City. He was talented enough to get an invite to try out for the Saint Louis Cardinals. This never came to be as he felt the call to serve his country outweighed his desire to play baseball. He enjoyed making models of military ships and planes and could often be heard saying “believe me when I tell ya.”

Joe met his wife Josephine “Sophie” Rusciano through an introduction by a close friend of hers. They fell in love and married on June 28, 1952 at St. Michaels RC Church, Paterson. Their honeymoon in Atlantic City was followed by years in Paterson, Clifton, and Hawthorne before moving to Wayne. They have enjoyed fifty nine years of loving and dedicated marriage before Josephine’s passing in June of 2011.

He was the beloved husband of the late Josephine “Sophie” Delaney (2011); devoted father of Joseph Delaney and his wife Gale of Wayne, Anthony Delaney and his wife Nancy of Warwick, NY, and Renee Weinstein and her husband Scott of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Lisa King and her husband Michael, Michael Delaney, John Delaney and his wife Fallon, Cara and her husband Jonathan DellaMonica, Thomas Delaney, and Ryan Weinstein; much loved great-grandfather of Julia King, Jax King, and Hailey DellaMonica.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474 would be appreciated.

Tillie Breda, age 83 of Wayne, died peacefully on Sunday, December 21, 2014 after a battle with dementia.

Born and raised in Garfield, Tillie graduated from Garfield High School in 1949. She moved to Wayne with her husband in 1956. She was a devoted wife and mother. She became active in the local community and was an avid athlete. She played for the Wayne Tennis League, Wayne Paddle Tennis League and she enjoyed golfing at the Passaic County course.

Tillie is survived by her husband of sixty-one years; Leo, of Wayne, two children; Linda Neely and her husband Dean of Rye, NY, and Jeffrey Breda and his wife Melissa of Boonton Twp., three grandchildren; Michael and Jennifer Breda of Boonton Twp., and Catherine Neely of Rye, NY, as well as one sister; Jessie Longo of Little Falls. She was predeceased by two sisters; Kathy Yuppa (2006) and Anastasia Zangara (2014).

In lieu of flowers, donations in Tillie’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834, (973)586-4300 or visit; www.alz.org/nj

Mary “Mae” Karnas, age 96, of New Brunswick and formerly of Bloomfield, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 20, 2014.

Born and raised in Newark, she attended Saint Casimir Elementary School and Eastside High School. Growing up in a big family during the depression made life challenging, so Mae quit high school and got a job at RCA making television tubes on a production line. She was thankful for that job as it enabled her to help her parents make ends meet. Later on in life, she returned to school and received her high school equivalency diploma.

Mae was just a young girl when she met the man she would one day marry. His name was Bronislaus “Ben”, and he grew up right in her neighborhood. One day, as a very young child, she saw him standing across the street and his tall stature caught Mae’s attention. Later they re-met at a wedding. Mae was with her cousin who, upon seeing Ben, excitedly said to Mae, “See that fellow...I'd like to go out with him!” Mae thought, “I don't think so...he’s for me!” Mae and Ben ended up dancing and talking that night. They continued dating and ultimately married on Sunday, February 28, 1943 at Saint Casimir R.C. Church. They moved into a cold-water flat in Bloomfield. Later on they bought a home in Bellville where they remained until 1955. During those years, Mae was blessed with four sons: Anthony, Stephen, Kenneth, and Michael.

The family moved again, this time back to Bloomfield where they purchased their own grocery business. They called it Ben’s Hilltop Market and it became the center of the Karnas family life. The whole family lived above the store. It was tight living quarters, and it got a little tighter when they were blessed with one more child in 1959, a baby girl whom they named Mary. As tight as it was, it worked because there was always lots of love to go around. The business was open seven days a week and Mae worked side-by-side in loving devotion to her beloved Ben. The kids helped out in the store too and it was closed every Sunday from two to four PM so that Mae and Ben could take some time for family or to relax a bit.

Across the street from the store was St. Valentine’s Church. This was a big part of Mae’s life as she had a deep faith and devotion to the Blessed Mother. She was a member of the "Mom's Club." Mae was also proud of her Polish heritage and joined with many other women in the church’s Polish Women’s Association. At home, Mae also carried on many of the Polish traditions. She loved big family gatherings where she prepared hallmark, not-to-be-rivaled family recipes. Favorites included her pierogis and mushroom barszcz. Every year, Mae was thrilled to host the Polish Christmas Eve which was referred to as Wigilia. In 1968, the family moved out of that apartment above the store to a home in the Brookdale section of Bloomfield. Then, in 1978, Ben and Mae retired from the business. They enjoyed a wonderful tour through Poland and lived out their retirement years in simple fashion – enjoying walks together to Brookdale Park, spending time with their children, visiting Mae and Ben's brothers and sisters, and looking forward to time spent with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In 1993, right around the time that Mae and Ben celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, Ben’s health began to fail. Mae completely devoted herself to caring for him and stood by his side until his passing in 2003. A few years later she moved to New Brunswick where she remained to the present time.

Mary was a hard worker. She was a sweet woman who never had a bad word to say about anyone. She leaves behind a legacy of devotion to her family and her faith in God. Rest in peace, Mae.

Surviving are her five dear children: Anthony and wife Claire Karnas of South Carolina, Stephen and wife Barbara Karnas of Florida, Kenneth Karnas of Wantage, Michael and wife Kathleen Karnas of New York, and Mary and husband Peter DiTore of Wayne; twelve adored grandchildren: Stephen, Joy, Scott, Matthew, Colleen, Ryan, Katie, Kenneth, Stephanie, Glen, Michael and Teresa; fifteen cherished great-grandchildren: Jared, Logan, Kathlyn, Quinn, Chloe, Reid, Eliza, Madelyn, Aniela, Juliet, Merjeme, Juniper, Gabriel, Sailor and Zoe; and her dear brother John Zarych of Pompton Plains.

Mae was predeceased by her beloved husband Bronislaus “Ben” in 2003; her adored great-granddaughter Niko Jill in 2010; her two brothers: Walter and Thaddeus Zarych; and her two sisters: Helen and Albina Zarych.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Mary’s name are asked to donate to a charity of your choice.

Age 93 of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2014.

Thelma D. Beissel, age 93 of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, December 19, 2014.

Thelma was raised in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, right in the heart of ‘coal-country.’ She used to reminisce about her early childhood when she would help her father mine for coal on Saturdays. Thelma and her dad would drive their Model T Ford out to the mine and her father would go down to the bottom and dig. They would remove the back wheel of the Model T and use a rope and pulley system around the truck axle to raise and lower their coal bucket from the mine. Once their truck was full of coal, they would put the wheel back on and drive home with their supply. Her family home had an outhouse and no indoor plumbing during much of her childhood. It was a very hard existence, but Thelma persevered. She took her first ‘real’ job as a teenager, working at the newly opened Weis Market in Shamokin. After getting married, Thelma moved to Illinois, living on an Army base, while her husband learned to fly B-29 bombers. At the end of the war, they lived in Shamokin, Pa. until 1956 when they moved to Clifton, NJ where they raised their four children.

Thelma was a wonderful loving mother and proudly served as honorary nurse on their block in Clifton. She bandaged up more injured kids than anyone can count and was always willing to help others. She was a Girl Scout leader with her daughters, volunteered for an untold number of causes, and donated blood often. At fifty two years old, she became a school bus driver in Clifton, raising a little extra money to put her son through college. She was simply a very kind and compassionate soul.

Thelma is survived by her four children; Barbara Orban and her husband Michael of Wayne, Kathy Beissel and her husband Bruce Bernard of Wayne, Howard Beissel and his wife Bridget of Basking Ridge, and James G. Beissel and his wife Margaret of Clifton, six grandchildren; Michael Orban and his wife Sue, Timothy Orban and his wife Beth, Jeff Orban, Conor Beissel, James Bernard and Jarret Bernard, six great-grandchildren, as well as a sister, Joan Waugh of North Carolina. She was predeceased by her husband Howard on February 8, 2009.

Margaret Plavier of Whiting, NJ, and formerly of Paterson, died peacefully at home on Friday, December 19, 2014. She was 93 years old.

Margaret was born and raised in Paterson. She graduated from Paterson Central High School in 1939 and later from Sherwood Secretarial School in Paterson. She was a secretary in the insurance field for many years.

Margaret married the love of her life, Earl H. Plavier, on February 13, 1949. They enjoyed over sixty years of a wonderful and caring marriage until his passing in 2009. Her late husband was a Captain on the Paterson Fire Dept., serving for more than thirty one years.

Margaret and Earl resided in Paterson until 1978 when they both retired and moved to Crestwood Village in Ocean County, where she has resided ever since.

Margaret is survived by her daughter; Marilyn Gundry and her husband Gerald of Palm Coast, Florida, and one nephew; Robert W. Plavier of Wayne. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Earl in 2009 and by her parents; Samuel and Hattie Foster.

Josephine Mazza (nee Mignone) age 88 of Wayne passed on Thursday, December 18, 2014.

She was born in Paterson and lived in Totowa before moving to Wayne fifty two years ago.

Josephine worked at a shoe store on Market Street in Paterson and eventually found work with the Wayne Hills High School cafeteria where she worked for twenty years from 6AM to 10 AM. She retired in March of 1988 and said she loved her work there serving breakfast to the students and teachers.

She was a very nurturing person and loved having her family gather at her home for Sunday dinner. She was always making gravy for the macaroni and was famous for her homemade stuffed shells. Josephine was a selfless person and always willing to step in and help whenever needed. She would typically be the first to arrive and last to leave all their family get-togethers. Josephine was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah Witnesses.

She met a cute boy named Joseph Mazza almost by chance. Joe just happened to be with an Army buddy who had stopped off to visit a girlfriend. Josephine was there as well, and she caught Joe’s eye. They hit it off right from the start. Their first date was to the Regent Theatre in Paterson, which didn’t go so well. Josephine broke out in hives and Joe rushed her home! Nevertheless, they fell in love and Joe proposed marriage at Lake Atrium in Suffern, New York. They were married on February 28, 1948 by the Honorable Judge Milton Shamuck in Paterson, during a pretty severe snow storm. They have since enjoyed sixty-seven years of a loving and devoted marriage. They were always together and they complimented each other perfectly.

Josephine was the loving wife of Joseph Mazza; devoted mother of Debra Mastrogiovanni and her husband Robert of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Jennifer Piro and her husband Marc of Wayne, Laura Mauriello and her husband Al of Wayne; much loved great-grandmother of Madison and Samantha Piro, and Daniel and Andrew Mauriello, and two furry granddogs; Chloe and Charlie; dear sister of the late Raymond Mignone (1980).