Joanne Jansen, age 66, of Wayne, passed unexpectedly on Friday, June 17, 2016.

Born in Passaic, she moved to the Packanack Lake section of Wayne where she graduated from Wayne Hills High School, Class of 1968. Her class enjoyed the notoriety of being the first class to graduate from Wayne Hills.

Right after graduation, Joanne began employment as a cafeteria worker with the Wayne Board of Education. Her career spanned over thirty years in which she worked at Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, George Washington Middle School, and Wayne Hills High School, retiring in 2010.

It was in the Wayne School system where Joanne met her beloved husband Bill. They married on May 4, 1985 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. They were blessed with a loving marriage that spanned 31 years. Joanne adored Bill with all her heart and they would often dine out together at some of their favorite spots in town. Joanne liked to watch Bill bowl at Holiday Bowl in Oakland and they also enjoyed going to the former Gabriel’s in the Mountain View section of Wayne to see different bands playing their favorite music from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Already as a young girl, Joanne had a love for football. Her father was a former football coach in the Clifton schools and she would often be present to root for her father’s team. That love of football never faded and on most Sundays, you could find Joanne in front of the television rooting for either the Giants or the Jets.

A parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne, Joanne was a member of their church’s women’s group.

Joanne is survived by her beloved husband Bill; dear brother Emil and wife Kimberly Chaky of Jarrettsville, MD; dear mother-in-law Margaret Jansen of Wayne and sister-in-law Franceen Jansen Govatos of North Bergen; and nephew Wyatt and niece Jenna.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joanne’s name are asked to consider Little Sisters of the Poor 140 Shepard's Lane Totowa NJ 07512 or at www.littlesistersofthepoortotowa.org

Joanne “Jody” Muller (nee Slayback) of Pompton Plains, passed away peacefully at her home on March 5, while in the loving presence of her family. She was 88 years old.

Born on June 18, 1927 to David and Ruth Slayback, Jody was raised in Caldwell. After graduating from Caldwell High School, she earned an associate’s degree in retailing from Endicott Junior College and soon after became a buyer at Haynes Department Store.

On September 10, 1949 she married the love of her life, Gilbert Muller. They decided to move to Pompton Plains in 1954 where they raised their two children, Barbara and Andrew. They enjoyed over 50 years of loyal, loving marriage before his passing in 2003.

Jody was a patient, loving, intelligent, strong woman who committed her life to her children and her family. She was extremely selfless and always put the needs of others before her own.

As a dedicated advocate for not only her son, but for all special need individuals, she served on the Board of Directors of Willing Hands for over 20 years. She also donated much of her time to countless organizations for both children and adults with special needs. In addition she was a Scout Leader for both the Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts.                                                                  

Jody was a strong and dedicated member of the Christian Science Church in Pompton Lakes. She helped keep the organization running smoothly and was very dependable. She also taught Sunday School there for many years.

In addition to being a devoted wife and mother, she was a loving grandmother and great-grandmother of 7. She loved having her family together for birthdays and holidays, and for carrying on special family traditions. Jody was an extraordinary, admirable woman who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.                                                            

She is survived by one daughter, Barbara Stickle and her husband, Andrew, of Pompton Plains; one son, Andrew, of Kinnelon; three grandchildren, Karen Ramsay and her husband, Brad, of East Fallowfield, PA, Kim Carbone and her husband, Demetro, of Pompton Plains, and Becky Sole and her husband, PJ, of Pequannock; and seven great-grandchildren: Josh, Luke, Cameron, Demetro, Darien, Ryan, and Samantha. She is predeceased by her husband Gil and her brother David Slayback.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Zabota Foundation, 24-20 Broadway, Fairlawn, NJ, 07410.

Joann Dattolo, 87 of Wanaque and formerly of Wayne, entered into eternal life Saturday, April 16, 2016. She lived a long, full life defined by family, friends, love and faith.

Born Marie Josephine DelGuidice, she grew up in Union City, NJ. In her teenage years, she fell in love with her one and only love; Ralph Dattolo. They married in 1951, had four sons and settled in Wayne, NJ. In recent years, she enjoyed spending the winter months in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

An active parishioner of Holy Cross RC Church in Wayne for many years, she actively volunteered at Holy Cross School. Her life was dedicated to her husband and children and their activities.

Joann was predeceased by her husband Ralph in 1999, and by her son Ralph in 1999. She leaves her memories to her 3 surviving sons; Toby Dattolo, Robert Dattolo, MD (Julia), Jeffrey Dattolo (Laura) and her beautiful grandchildren; Toby, Francine, Robby, Maria, Ralphie, Michael & Nico, several nieces, nephews, & cousins.

Joan-Ann Finneran, age 85, died on Thursday, August 4, 2016. She had lived in Brooklyn most of her life before moving to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains in 2003.

Joan-Ann worked for The Hartford during her entire career. She was in their William St. office in Manhattan and worked in the Ocean Marine Division, retiring in the late 1980’s.

She was an amazing knitter and very talented at crafting beautiful sweaters for her family and friends. Everyone in the family has their own knitted specialty from Joan-Ann. She was also a devoted daughter – never leaving her widowed mother, even after getting married. She cared for her mother in her own home until the day her mother died. Joan-Ann was also the family historian, keeping track of the family tree, and she knew who all the relatives were. She enjoyed traveling to Europe as well, with her cousins Maureen and Pat. They made many good memories on those trips. She was a devoted sister to her late brother Raymond and had many nice times together before his passing in 2007.

Joan-Ann met her husband Henry in New York. They spent many summers at their vacation home in Cutchogue, on Long Island by Peconic Bay, and were very happy together. Sadly, Henry passed away in 1976, at a young age, after just ten years of marriage.

Joan-Ann is survived by her only nephew; Raymond C Austin and his wife Linda of Wayne, by her great-niece; Lauren Austin of Wayne, and by a great-nephew; Raymond Austin of Wayne.

Joan Frances Klinger (nee Allen), age 73, of Wayne, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her own home on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

Born in Long Beach, NY, Joan was the younger of George and Mary Allen’s (nee Fitzpatrick) two children. She was raised in the Bronx where she attended St Simon Stock Grammar School and graduated from Aquinas High School.

She married her beloved husband James Stephen Klinger on Sunday, January 23, 1965 at Saint Simon Stock Church in the Bronx. Soon after marriage, they moved to Wayne. Compared to the Bronx, it definitely felt like living in the country but they got used to country living pretty quickly. Joan and Jim were blessed with over 36 years of marriage until his passing in 1991.

Joan was a loving mother who poured herself into the care of her two dear children Stephen and Lisa during their formative years. Her home was a welcome place for them to bring their friends and everyone that came over was sure to be treated to some of Joan’s home-made baked goods like orange bread, pecan tassies and assorted cookies. Joan eventually returned to the workplace and enjoyed a twenty-five year career as a census taker with the U.S. Census Bureau until retiring in 2000.

Joan was a huge Elvis Presley fan. She grew up with his music and even got to see him in concert once. Her husband Jim was a big fan too and they would often dance to Elvis’ classics. Joan also loved to attend the New York theatre with Jim and friends. She liked musicals but a good drama was her favorite.

Joan and Jim enjoyed some special times during their retirement years traveling to see the beauty of this great big world. They enjoyed trips with their family out west where they especially enjoyed the Grand Canyon. They also purchased a timeshare in Aruba and a house on the Jersey Shore in Barnegat. Like their home in Wayne, the shore house was a place where family and friends were not only welcomed but encouraged to visit.

Joan was a fun-loving, funny lady. She was blessed with a great sense of humor and a hearty laugh that could be heard all the way down the block in her neighborhood. She adored her two grandsons and often attended their hockey games to see them compete. She was also second grandma to many of the children that lived in her neighborhood of 49 years by buying them candy and taking them to Burger King for a treat. Joan gave respect to all and was a great example to many.

Joan is survived by her son Stephen Klinger of Wayne and her daughter Lisa Bilancione of Monmouth Beach; two grandsons: Michael, and Jack.

Jody T. Giampietro, age 60 of Poinciana, FL and a former long-time resident of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, passed away suddenly early on Sunday morning, December 18, 2016.

Born in Newark, she was raised in Lyndhurst where she attended and graduated from Lyndhurst High School with the Class of 1974.

While it wasn’t love at first sight, at the time, Jody didn’t realize how blessed she would someday be to marry the man who would be her faithful and loving husband for 38 years. As you read on, you’ll understand why it wasn’t love at first sight but why it turned out to be one of the greatest blessings of her entire life.

It all started one day when Jody was just sixteen years old. She and her girlfriend were walking down Ridge Road in Lyndhurst when, all of a sudden, this 1970 green Plymouth Barracuda pulls over to the curb and this guy steps out of the car, walks up to her and her girlfriend, looks Jody in the eye, and introduces himself as Wayne Giampietro. He then proceeds to tell her that she’s the girl he’s going to marry. Wayne then “naturally” asked Jody for her number so that he could call her to take her out. While Jody was flattered, she laughed and went on to explain to Wayne that her father was very strict and wouldn’t allow Jody to give out her number. Not giving up so easily, Wayne countered by asking Jody if he could give her his phone number. She said yes but when Wayne drove off in his hot car, Jody just threw the piece of paper with the scribbled phone number away. And who wouldn’t? This stranger walks up to her and the first words out of his mouth are, “You’re the girl I’m going to marry? Wow! That’s crazy! Jody didn’t realize how sincere Wayne was though, and for the next three months, he rode up and down Ridge Road looking to find her again. Day and night he searched until, one Friday, he spotted Jody walking out of Sacred Heart Church. She was just coming out of the rectory where she held a part-time job. He ended up leaving his car in front of the church so he could walk Jody home – two miles from the church. Impressed by his determination Jody invited Wayne to her house the following Sunday for a family picnic so he could meet her parents. Two days later, Wayne showed up for the picnic and, upon asking her father for permission to take Jody out, her father, who owned Lyndhurst Moving Vans, told Wayne he had to come to work at his company the following Saturday before he would give permission. Wayne showed up for work, impressed her father, and the next day they had their first date – taking a Sunday ride with Jody’s parents out to the Delaware Water Gap. A loving relationship started to develop but would it withstand what was right around the corner?

Three years later when Jody turned nineteen, her life hit some really rough waters. She was diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma. Unable to help her in any of the local metropolitan hospitals, her doctors recommended that she be admitted to the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. Despite receiving the best care possible, the doctors gave Jody six months to live and they even pulled her boyfriend Wayne aside and suggested he move on because, even if a miracle did occur and Jody survived, she would never be able to conceive a child because of all the chemo treatments her body had been subjected to. Those doctors didn’t realize how much Wayne loved Jody or how committed he was to her. To make a long story just a little bit longer, Jody officially went into remission two years later at age twenty-one. She left the hospital weighing in at a paltry sixty pounds and with no hair other than the wig she wore. The next year, on Saturday, July 8, 1978, Jody and Wayne exchanged their wedding vows before God, family and friends at Sacred Heart Church in Lyndhurst. Afterwards, they had a great reception at The Fiesta Banquet Hall in Woodridge, then spent the next two weeks as man and wife on their honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their first home together was an apartment in Belleville on Washington Ave.

1980 was an incredible year for Jody and Wayne. They moved into their first home together on 19 Seneca Trail in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, but even more incredible than that, they welcomed the birth of a baby girl – an event those doctors said would never happen. Jody and Wayne named their little miracle Danielle and she was followed by two more miracles – Danielle’s sisters, Gabrielle in 1983 and Janielle in 1985! Jody was already a professional homemaker. With the arrival of the girls, she added the title of Professional Mom to her resume. She poured her whole being into her daughters, serving as a Girl Scout leader by leading her own troop and being the PTO President at the Randall Carter School where her girls attended. She was also all three girls class mom and her servant heart, knowing no boundaries, was also put to good use as a member of the Packanack Lake Fire Company #5 Ladies Auxiliary.

In December, 2006, after raising her family, Jody and Wayne moved to Poinciana, FL. She always looked forward to having her daughters and grandchildren visit and she visited them a lot too.

Jody was so thankful for the second chance of life that God granted! Her mantra became, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” She lived everyday as if it were going to be her last and she had a lot of fun in the process. She loved having her family actively involved in her life so when the girls were young, she and Wayne took them annually for many years to Disney World in Florida. The trip always took place in November and they made it a real learning experience by engaging in lots of educational activities on the way to Disney. They’d stop at museums, Indian reservations and even at an alligator refuge one time. In the summer, the family would always spend a week down the shore at Wildwood Crest where they always stayed at the Shalimar because that’s where Jody stayed when she was growing up. There was also a family trip to Puerto Vallarda, Mexico where they hiked up the mountain and returned by horseback because they were so tired.

Jody loved to entertain so the pool in the back yard in Packanack Lake was a favorite gathering place for family and friends, especially for the annual “Christmas in July” party and once, she and Wayne turned their whole house into a haunted house for Halloween. It seemed like they whole neighborhood came to tour their attraction that year. Jody also loved to sew and one year she made some incredible Halloween costumes for her girls. She dressed them up as Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Lion from the Wizard of Oz. Playing games was another one of Jody’s pastimes. Whether it was board games like Scrutineyes or Scattergories or Mahjong, or electronic games like Wii games, Jody was always up to play either with family, including her adoring grandchildren, or with friends in the Florida Game Club that she and Wayne belonged to.

Jody’s interests seemed endless! An avid bowler, she was a regular at T-Bowl where she was involved in a women’s league, mixed league with Wayne, and even a family league. She could crochet anything including blankets, pillows, scarves, and hats, and one time she crocheted a 20-foot long American flag blanket which she donated to the veterans. If anything could be made into a ceramic figure, you could bet that Jody had made it. She especially loved making piggy banks for her grandchildren and Wayne often joked that one day he was going to wake up to a full-size ceramic car in the driveway.

Jody loved her three dogs – all boxers – first Touchie Boy and later Buddy and Rocky at the same time. She’d take them on walks or play with them in the back yard, and at night, they would join her on the couch when it was time to relax.

Jody’s faith in God was very instrumental in defining who she was. When she and Wayne were living in Wayne and raising their daughters they were regular parishioners at Our Lady of the Valley Church. When they moved to Florida, they found fellowship at St. Rosa Lima Church in Poinciana. When Wayne was young, growing up in Newark where life could sometimes be a little rough, he longed to meet a good girl from a good family with a strong moral upbringing. Jody was that girl and her church life played a large role in blessing her with those virtues. She and Wayne were blessed to be married long enough to have the chance to renew their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary with their daughters gathered around at the Elvis Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wayne’s bride was a loving and devoted Mom and Nana who lived fully for her family and friends. She always smiled as she looked on the bright side and she always gave thanks for each day that God blessed her with. Though there is true sadness in their hearts, her family takes great comfort in knowing that she is now with the Lord and look forward to being reunited with her at the appointed hour.

Surviving are Jody’s beloved husband of 38 years, Wayne: three daughters: Danielle and husband Chris Romeo of Hardyston, Gabrielle and husband Jonathan Peralta of Chantilly, VA, and Janielle Giampietro of Orlando, FL; four grandchildren: Adrianna, Alanna, and Brandon Romeo, and Logan Peralta; her sisters: Sharon Denise and brother-in-law Charles Lacinski of North Arlington and Sandra Rossini of North Carolina; and her mother-in-law: Gloria Giampietro of Poinciana, FL.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Jody’s name are asked to consider the American Cancer Society, NJ Chapter, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601.

Jeannette (nee Moavero) McBride, age 89 of Wayne, passed away peacefully on August 9, 2016.

Jeannette was born in Stamford, Connecticut, the daughter of Alphonso and Blanche (Cesareo) Moavero. She graduated from Stamford High School with the Class of 1945 and then came to Jersey City, New Jersey to attend St. Francis School of Nursing.

During the height of World War II, the U.S. Army (Army Corps of Engineers) was sponsoring young women to attend nursing school and Jeannette was awarded a scholarship. The Army was anticipating a great need for nurses as the war continued on and the invasion of Japan seemed imminent. These student nurses were known as “Nurse-Cadets.” She completed her nursing education at St. Francis, earning her R.N., but by that time the war was over and the Army sent Jeannette home.

While a student nurse at St. Francis she met a recently discharged soldier, Bill McBride, from Hoboken. They were married on April 30, 1949. They lived in Clifton and then Wayne for many years, where they raised their four children, Peggy, Barbara, Janice and Billy, before moving to Boynton Beach, Florida in 1975. They were married for fifty-five years before Bill passed away in 2004.

Jeannette was a natural caregiver and practiced as a nurse for her entire working career. She worked at many area hospitals in Northern New Jersey, as well as with the Visiting Nurse Service of Little Falls, before moving to Florida. She then worked at the John F. Kennedy Hospital in Lantana, Florida. After retirement, she continued lending a hand to the residents of her community with the simple day-to-day medical chores that come about. She became known as their own “Florence Nightingale.”

She found much joy in the retirement community of “Leisureville” in Boynton Beach, FL where she and Bill settled and participated in the many activities they offered. There was hardly a day that went by that you didn’t find her at the clubhouse.

She remained in Florida until 2007 before moving back to New Jersey to be closer to her daughters.

Jeannette was predeceased by her husband William (2004) and son William, Jr. (1973). She is survived by her three daughters: Peggy Camisa (Ernie) of Clifton, Barbara Schlachter (John) of Wayne, Janice Kramer (Jon) of Wayne; and five grandchildren: Laurie and Jessica Schlachter of Wayne, Amy Gnida (Christopher) of Pompton Plains and James and Alec Kramer of Wayne; one sister, Florence Corrente of RI. She was also predeceased by a sister, Barbara Lupinacci (2001) of CT and brother, Vincent Moavero (2015) of FL.

Jennie Rafanello, age 94 of Wayne, passed on Monday, February 22, 2016, with her loving family by her side.

Jennie was predeceased by her parents, Giovanni and Alberiga Biondi; her beloved husband Victor, who was the love of her life and favorite dancing partner; her brothers: Joseph, Anthony, Dominic, and John, and her sisters: Mary, Dorothy, Frances, and Ida.

She met and fell in love with the man of her dreams and they were inseparable throughout their 62 years of marriage. They had two loving daughters, Mary Ann and Lorraine.

During World War II, Jennie served her country taping seams of European-bound Thunderjets at Newark Airport. She was featured in an article in the Star Ledger which she displayed proudly to all relatives and friends.

Jen resided with her daughter Lorraine and family in Wayne for 36 years. She loved taking walks admiring this beautiful lake area. She looked forward to her frequent outings with her great grandchildren to almost every diner in New Jersey. To Jen, purchasing lottery tickets was a MUST and it became a weekly chore for her daughters.

Jennie dedicated her adult life baby-sitting her two grandchildren, Deanna and Michael. Her favorite saying was “The kids keep me young.” She enjoyed taking care of them and was instrumental in teaching them life lessons and she was so proud of their accomplishments. In addition to her role as a grandmother, she was a caring aunt who influenced the lives of her many nieces and nephews, especially Marilyn and Victor who thought the world of her.

Her family will remember with a smile all the funny stories she and her sister Frances shared nightly on the telephone. They always compared notes on the time schedules of their favorite shows namely, “The Midtown Men.” Her sister, Ida, will always have a special place in her heart. Jennie often reminisced about the fun times shared together with her family. Weekly trips to the hair salon, driven by their “chauffeur,” Vic, filled their lives with pleasure.

Jennie is survived by her loving daughters: Mary Ann and husband Richard Lalicata, and Lorraine and beloved son-in-law Frank Jacobs (2008) who brought immense joy to her life. She had two devoted grandchildren: Deanna and husband Vic Galante, and Michael Jacobs and fiancée Caroline Kao. She had three precious great grandchildren: Gia, Jack and Nicholas. They always had her laughing and was fondly known as “Umma Jen.”

Jennie will be surely missed but not forgotten by those who she has touched and loved over the years. Her family is extremely grateful that God put us into the same corner of His beautiful world with this beautiful woman.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 (www.stjude.org), would be appreciated.

Jean Bonadies, age 87, a twenty-year resident of Wayne, passed peacefully on Saturday, December 17, 2016.

She was born to Mary and Joseph Stumboli and raised in Paterson. She attended Central High School with the Class of 1947, but had to leave to help her parents support her family of ten. Jean worked at the Curtiss-Wright aircraft engine manufacturing facility in Paterson, where she met her future husband, Albert Bonadies. They married at Saint Anne’s Melkite Catholic church in Paterson on

July 24, 1954 and they honeymooned in Florida.

Jean and Al initially lived in a cold water flat apartment on 4th Avenue in Paterson, and eventually moved into the three family home Al’s parents owned, on East 17th Street. Soon after, Albert and Jean built a two family home next door on East 17th Street, where they raised their children and lived until they moved to Wayne in 1997. They enjoyed fifty-two years of a loving and devoted marriage, before Albert’s passing in September 2006.

They enjoyed annual family trips to Wildwood Crest. These trips were vacations for all, but, Jean’s love of cooking shown through as she cooked all but a few meals, when they dined at some of the family’s favorite spots: Urie’s Fish Fry or Asselta’s Restaurant. Jean also enjoyed her time spent with girlfriends in Ocean Grove; a special trip with her sisters, Alice and Sara, to New Orleans, to visit Jeanne and her growing family; as well as the family’s big trip to DisneyWorld in 1974.

She was a fastidious housekeeper, and will be remembered as an excellent cook and baker. Although she came from a Syrian background, she specialized in all types of Italian dishes. She was known for her Sunday macaroni, when friends would often join the family for dinner. Her sausage & peppers, Pizzagaina, tomato gravy (not sauce), rice pudding, and cheesecake were always front and center at graduations, holidays, and just about any family celebration she hosted, and there were many. After their Italian Sunday dinner, they would go to Jean’s parents’ home and meet up with the rest of her large family.

Jean was the loving wife of fifty-two years to the late Albert (2006); devoted mother of Ralph Bonadies of Holland, PA, Jean Bonadies-Jurik of Allentown, NJ, and Kathleen Cipoletti and her husband Robert of Pompton Plains; she was the cherished grandmother of nine grandchildren: Nicole, Jeremy, Kyle, Colette, Joshua, Cynthia, Kailyn, Joseph, and Steven; and dearly loved sister of Raymond Stumboli and his wife Lois, Joseph Stumboli and his wife Bonnie, and the late Albert, Sarah, Edward, Alice, and Louis. Jean will also be greatly missed by her extended family members: Vince, Ralph and Betty, and Lorraine, as well as her many nieces and nephews, and lifelong friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorials Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105-9959 would be greatly appreciated.

Jean P. Makl (nee Loiacona), age 83 of Bethesda, MD, died on June 10, 2016, with her family at her bedside. She had lived in Newtown, CT, Ridgewood, NJ and Bethesda, MD.

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Jean grew up in Connecticut and after attending Western Connecticut Teacher’s College, she became a Special Education teacher’s aid at the Middle Gate School in Newtown, CT. She taught there during the early 1970’s before moving to Ridgewood, NJ with her family. She retired to the Bethesda, Maryland area in 2001. She found great pleasure in recent years as an active member of the Red Hat Society, and ‘growing older playfully’ certainly suited her.

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Throughout her entire life, Jean had been very active and playful – a “June Cleaver” type mom, who was truly involved in her children’s lives. Raising her own children meant riding bikes, playing ball, and lots of arts & crafts. As a grandmother, she always had some sort of arts & crafts project going with the kids. She somehow also managed to attend virtually every show, school play, dance recital, and birthday party for her grandchildren. She was just an amazing grandmother by any measure, very loving and devoted to her family.

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Jean enjoyed traveling and spent many summer vacations on Cape Cod and also at Wildwood, NJ. She had visited Disney World on more than a few occasions, and wintered at Lady Lake, Florida, with her cousins for a few years. She loved to read and enjoyed being in the book club. She was a wonderful gardener, tending to both flowers and her veggies. Jean was a great cook, and baking was her specialty. Cookies and pies were clearly her forte. On Christmas, for example, she would often surprise her family with a fresh batch of her candy cane cookies that were simply irresistible.

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Jean is survived by her two children; Janet Sciacchetano-Cammarata and her husband Jim Cammarata of Pompton Lakes, her son; Glenn Makl and his wife Joy Langford of Betheda, MD, nine grandchildren; Joe Sciacchetano, Mary Sciacchetano Michaels and her husband Garrette,

Michael Sciacchetano, Rob Sciacchetano, Laura Makl, Paul Makl, Jackson Makl, Sarah Makl, and Sawyer Makl, as well as one great-grandson; Gavin Michaels, and one brother; John Loiacona of Florida. She was predeceased by her brother Phillip of Alexandria, VA. 

In lieu of flowers memorial donations (please click on link to make a donation) to the Make-A-Wish Foundation or the Compass Rose Theater would be greatly appreciated; two organizations that were very special to Jean's grandchildren.  

Age 58 of Wayne passed on October 2, 2016.

Inez grew up in Clifton and went to the Clifton High School. She later moved to Pompton Plains before settling in Wayne in 1988.

During her younger years, Inez worked at a deli in the South End Market in Paterson. One day a handsome young man, named Joseph Peia, strolled in to order some sandwiches. Not too long after they married.

Joseph and Inez have shared a wonderful, loving and caring marriage for 37 years. They would take many cruises together, which she loved, along with traveling everywhere around the world, including going to Italy three times.

Inez was an upbeat, positive person. Every night she couldn’t wait to fall asleep because she believed that tomorrow was going to be so great. She was the type of person that would do anything for you. She was a very selfless person who always worried about others more than herself. She was a loving mother and loved her son unconditionally.

Helping people came second nature to Inez. She loved helping in any way she could whether it be by donating blood or clothes, it didn’t matter so long as she was helping.

To quote Ralph Waldo Emerson, “To laugh often and much: To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To leave the world a better place…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.” This was Inez’s goal in life and she did it graciously and generously.

For Many years Inez worked beside her husband and son at Encore Motor Cars in Pine Brook as an Office Manager. She ran that office meticulously and kept it in perfect order. She was very proud of the work she did there.

Inez liked to cook and was a great mom. She loved to feed and watch the birds. They spent many summers at Toms Lake in Wayne. She loved to read, especially novels, the classics. She could read a novel in two days.

Inez is survived by her loving husband Joseph of Wayne, her son Joseph Peia, Jr. of Wayne, her mother Inez Agostino of Clifton, sister, Virginia Fillare of Franklin, brothers, Elio and Rocco Agostino of Clifton, and many loving nieces and nephews.

Joan Verchinski, age 84, of Wayne passed Saturday, June 11, 2016. She was born in Olyphant, PA and graduated from the Scott High School in Olyphant with the Class of 1949. After high school, she worked at the Daystrom Company in Archbald, PA. Joan met her first husband, Myron Potash, while she was picketing out in front of Daystrom. One of Myron’s friends told him there was a cute girl working there so he drove by the picket line to take a look. They eventually married in July of 1952 and were gifted with four children. After just fifteen years of marriage, Myron passed away from complications he developed after surgery. Joan found herself as a widow but was determined to stay at home to raise and provide for her children. As a result, Joan became extremely organized, thrifty, and was renowned for giving her children specific chores before they could go out to play. Under Joan’s house rules, there were no chores that were specific to a boy or a girl, rather every child was expected to participate in mopping, sweeping, doing the dishes, cleaning the bathrooms, etc… Only after every chore was completed and received Joan’s approval, could the children go out to play. Sometimes, other kids in the neighborhood would even come over to help with the chores just to help speed things along.

Joan’s life as a stay at home mom and widow took a turn when Adam Verchinski came onto the scene. Adam casually knew Joan as several years back he had dated her sister, Yvonne for a brief period of time. When Adam would come by to take Yvonne out, Joan would always make him something to eat. If you take the old adage, “the best way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, you will understand how the love story between Joan and Adam developed. When Adam heard Joan was widowed, he drove by the house to offer his condolences. Adam continued to visit Joan on a regular basis to help her with anything around the house. After a short period of time, Adam had his heart set on asking Joan out on a date. On one particular visit, he drove by Joan’s house only to see a man mowing the lawn and initially figured he had missed his chance. As fate would have it, Adam turned the car around and went back only to find out that the man mowing the lawn wasn’t a suitor, but her oldest son, Ron. Adam began dating Joan and on their first date, went to a comedy club where they found the comedian’s jokes to be highly inappropriate. He and Joan got up to leave and would find themselves as the target of some of the comedian’s jokes as they were departing. After dating for approximately one year, Adam eventually asked Joan’s father for her hand in marriage. Shortly thereafter, Adam proposed to Joan in the driveway of the family house while sitting in a 1969 maroon Chevy Impala. As the story goes, Adam and Joan always joked that in fact Joan had proposed to Adam first, but that was not the case. They married on August 29, 1970 at the Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church in Jessup, PA and after a very long ceremony, the priest turned to the couple and said: “after that service, there is no doubt you are married!”. After the ceremony, the newlyweds went outside to see Adam’s new, gold Chevy Impala decorated with shoe polish on the exterior, cans tied to the back bumper and rice in the visors and ashtray. Always to be reminded of their special day, they would find rice in the car for years to come, scratches on the paint of the trunk and bumper from the cans and ghost images in the paint that would never come off from the shoe polish. They had a reception for 150 people at the Montdale Country Club in Montdale, PA that Adam proudly paid $800 for including a full five piece band and a completely catered meal. Adam and Joan celebrated their honeymoon at Cove Haven in the Poconos. Joan truly felt she had a great catch in Adam. He accepted and loved her four children as his own and moved to Wayne, NJ in 1971. Eventually their marriage was blessed with a son as well. They have enjoyed forty-five years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Joan will be remembered as a loving, giving and strong person who would only give her opinion when asked. She was a devoted mother and wife who instilled the core values of religion and family unity. She insisted that the family be home for dinner every night and celebrated Sunday afternoon meals together as a family tradition for many years. Joan also had a great love for reading. Joan was known to extended friends and family as someone they could always turn to and many called her “Mom”.

Joan was dedicated to her Catholic faith and had an unwavering belief in the angels and Saint Christopher and Saint Therese. She was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne. She sang in the church choir for many years and volunteered in the school’s kitchen while her kids were attending the church’s school.

Joan was the loving wife of Adam L. Verchinski; devoted mother of Ron Potash and his wife Lynn of Diamond Point, NY, Jim Potash and his wife Wynne of Columbia, SC, Cathy Potash of Hamilton, NJ, Janet Gmyrek and her husband David of Middlefield, CT and Adam C. Verchinski and his wife Cheryl of Cedar Knolls, NJ. She was the cherished grandmother of Heather, Keith, Sara, Anna, Caroline, Alex, Cecilia, Adam James, and great grandson, Brandyn.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Foundation Fighting Blindness, 7168 Columbia Gateway Drive, Suite 100, Columbia, MD 20146, www.blindness.org.

James Parolie of Mendham and Spring Lake, passed from life on December 10 enveloped in the love and respect of his adoring family. He leaves to mourn him his son; Dr. James Parolie and his wife, Donna; his daughters; Janis O’Brien and her husband Vincent; Lori Stampfli and her husband Tom; Ellen Reggiani and her husband Greg; nine grandchildren; Courtney, James, Christopher, Jennifer, Lauren, Matthew, Jeffrey, Alexandra, and Casandra, five great-grandchildren; Griffin, Cameron, Brody, Ryan, and Harper, nieces and nephews, his nephew and cherished friend; Roy Carbone and his loyal and invaluable caregiver; Bing.

Born on August 22, 1922, Jim “Pop” was one of seven children of Guiseppi and Mary, all of whom are deceased.

A veteran of WWII, Pop was a paratrooper and medic with the 101st Airborne and was in combat in the Battle of the Bulge. Upon his return from serving his country, he married his sweetheart, Anna Skurla. They raised four children in East Rutherford and then Wayne and were married 62 years when Anna passed away in 2007.

Pop volunteered with the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad for 30 years. He loved the Yankees, the Giants, bowling, sitting on the porch in Spring Lake, and spending time with his family. A quiet, humble and truly decent man, Pop will remain in our hearts forever.

James A. DePoe, age 71, of Wayne, passed peacefully with loving family by his side on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

Born and raised in Newark, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1961 at the still wet behind the ears age of seventeen. He bravely and proudly served on the USS Chowanoc (ATF100) with tours of duty in the Philippines and Japan. In 1965 he returned to civilian life living in Parsippany and Union.

After his return home Jim served various jobs including as a taxi drive before finding his calling in the U.S. Postal Service. He started as a clerk in the Livingston office and stayed at that location for sixteen years, working his way up to Carrier Supervisor before being transferred to the Hopatcong, Mount Freedom and Chester offices. He ultimately became the Postmaster at the Ironia office until retiring in 2006 after a forty-two-year career. Jim was a dedicated, hard-worker. He typically worked eleven to twelve hours a day starting at 5:00 AM. One of his regular customers knew how hard Jim worked and one day surprised him with a recliner chair for his office so that he could take naps during his lunch-hour. He earned a wonderful reputation for being kind and good and fair with his coworkers and customers with whom he had a great rapport. Even after retiring he’d often stop by to offer any help he could to the guys that maintained and fixed the postal trucks.

In 1991, while at a dance, Jim met a vivacious and fun-loving lady named Marilyn Gossinger. A postal carrier herself, Marilyn was dating another postal worker at the time named Guy. Undeterred, Jimmy asked Guy if he could dance with Marilyn. Guy’s reply was “only if you dance fast with her.” So Jimmy and Marilyn danced fast and Marilyn fell fast for Jimmy’s blue eyes, humble and shy demeanor, and friendly sense of humor. That night was the beginning of a wonderful companionship of twenty-five years. Their relationship worked well because they respected and stayed true to each other through the good times when they were both blessed with health and the tough times when they supported each other through illness.

As a young man Jim was always at his sons’ baseball games, cheering them on. He also liked to relax at the Livingston Elks Club playing cards and pool and volunteering his time cooking corned beef and cabbage for the annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration and burgers for the summer picnic.

Marilyn’s family became Jimmy’s and together they enjoyed some great vacations in Wildwood, up north at Lake George, NY, down south to Disney World and way down south when they took a cruise out of Miami to Cancun. Jimmy loved sitting by the inlet in Point Pleasant with his cup of 7-11 coffee in his hand. He could sit there for hours, just watching the seagulls and fishing boats come and go while soaking in the sun and the surf.

Jimmy and Marilyn also liked to test their luck at the casinos. Over time they pretty-much hit every new casino from Atlantic City to Mount Airy Lodge, Foxwoods Resorts, Monticello, and Las Vegas. They loved the casinos but when they couldn’t get away, they equally enjoyed a simple tradition of taking a weekday 2:00 PM run to the Dunkin Donuts in Wayne near Packanack Lake. After grabbing a cup of coffee to go, Jimmy and Marilyn would go next door to the Minny Mart, purchase some scratch-off lottery tickets, then go sit in the car, sip coffee and scratch tickets to see if they were winners.

He loved manicuring his lawn and tending to his flowers. Like Bill Murray playing the role of Karl Spackler in that famous 1980 movie Caddy Shack, for four straight years he engaged in battle with a gopher that lived under his shed. Jimmy finally prevailed when the gopher went out one day to the next-door neighbor and Jimmy quickly put a rock in the way so the gopher couldn’t get back under his shed.

Jimmy enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. A good night out was enjoying a Victoria Steak from Outback Steak House in Butler, washed down with a cold refreshing Heineken beer. A big sports fan, he especially enjoyed cheering for the New York Yankees and New York Giants, but he also loved watching golf and tennis matches and action thrillers like James Bond or war movies. He watched so much television that his family nicknamed him “Mr. Clicker.” Jim also enjoyed helping others, including Marilyn’s Aunt Jennie. He’d take her to her doctor and hair style appointments as well as her errands at CVS and Stop&Shop. Jennie always expressed her appreciation by making Jimmy delicious Pierogis.

His loved ones will miss Jimmy’s companionship and quiet, humble-minded, simple approach to life that helped them all to feel so loved. In the midst of their grief, they find solace in knowing that Jimmy is at peace and pain free.

James is survived by his two sons: Marc DePoe of West New York, NJ, and Daniel DePoe of Toms River; two grandchildren: Maya and Ryan; his brother Leonard and wife Jean DePoe of Verona; his nephews and nieces; his beloved companion Marilyn Gossinger of Wayne: Marilyn’s daughter and son: Melissa and husband Joe Purdie of Vernon and Mykell and wife Christine Gossinger of Bloomfield; and Marilyn’s grandchildren: Michael and Joey Gubich, Jarrett Purdie, and Jaxon Gossinger.  James was predeceased by his parents George & Frances DePoe and his brother George.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in James’ memory, are asked to consider Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, PO Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028 (mskcc.org)

James "Bones" McManus, age 80, of Palisades Park, passed peacefully on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.

He was born in Brooklyn, New York and at a young age he moved to Hopper Avenue in Fair Lawn where he was raised by his grandparents Jane and Samuel McManus.

He graduated from Fair Lawn High School and enlisted in the United States Navy on October 21, 1953. On December 2, 1954 he was transferred into the United States Army and served during the Korean War. For his service he received citations for his skill as a Marksman and Expert with a rifle as well as the Good Conduct Medal.

After his service in the military James returned to Fair Lawn and worked in the printing industry, first for his great-uncle Desmond McManus at the Dixon Press in Passaic, and later for Ideal Press on 21st Avenue in Paterson. James later worked as a tractor trailer driver for Liberty Fast Freight, Gene Adams Transport, Filigree Foods, JC Penny, and Great Bear Water Company before retiring in 2001.

Bones will be remembered as a giving, funny, outgoing person who was always ready to tease you or bust your chops about something. You could always count on him to arrive 365 days a year, with open-toed sandals , shorts, also known as bathing suit bottoms, Hawaiian shirt, a bandanna tied around his neck, and his tanning salon tan along with his tanning goggles. He loved to go to the beach, especially Sandy Hook where he could peek at the nude sunbathing girls. Bones loved to ride motorcycles and even raced them on a dirt track in his younger years.

He was the loving father of James and his wife Lori McManus of Wayne, Ronald and his wife Valerie McManus of Haledon, Jill and her husband Robert Colella of Pompton Plains, and the late Jacqueline McManus (1996); cherished grandfather of Ronald, Jr., Dana, Evan, Andrea, Alyssa, Bobby, Nicholas, Jaclyn, and Hanna; much loved great-grandfather of little Ronnie; dear former husband of Marie "Mother Cabrini" Acocella of Haledon; brother of Margie Alexander and her husband Bill of Falls Church, VA, and Marci McManus of Ocala, FL.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Jude Children's Research Hospital,  PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 would be appreciated.

James M. Plucinsky, age 57 of West Milford died on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 after a year-long battle with cancer.

Jimmy was the owner of Jimmy’s Service Center at the corner of River Rd. and Lanza Ave. in Garfield for thirty-five years. He opened there in 1980, right next door to his father’s auto body shop; Garfield Auto Refinishers. They worked side by side for decades. Jimmy was a skilled mechanic and was self-taught for the most part. From the time he was six years old, he would go to work with his dad on Saturdays to learn the ropes. While going to Wayne Valley High School, he entered the ‘work release’ program, which allowed him to take early dismissal from school so that he could go to work with his dad. He just loved cars, motorcycles, engines, and anything mechanical – and he could fix all of them. He recently sold his service station to Dunkin Donuts and had planned to retire when, sadly, he was diagnosed with cancer.

Jimmy enjoyed living in the rural Stockholm area of West Milford. Surrounded by woods and wildlife, he enjoyed hunting within walking distance to his home, fishing nearby, and he certainly enjoyed all the fresh air. As a young boy, his mother recalls how he was a very active boy – always on the go and never sat still. Jimmy used to look forward to going to work with his dad on Saturdays. As early as six years old, Jimmy would get up early in the morning on Saturday, get himself dressed and ready to go to work! Of course, he couldn’t do much other than push a broom back then, but he learned quickly and became a very skilled mechanic.

Jimmy is survived by his mother; Helen Plucinsky of Haledon, and two sisters; Patricia Gray and her husband Bob of Hoboken, and Nancy Christ of Haledon, as well as many cousins. He was predeceased by his father, William Plucinsky in 2001.

Janet Felipe, age 66, of Lakewood and Lecanto, FL, formerly of Clifton and Neptune, passed peacefully in Ocala, Fl.

She was the only child of Arnold Sala of Clifton, NJ and the former Gloria Del Favero of Clifton, NJ. Janet grew up on Manila Street in Clifton and attended Clifton public schools. She graduated from Clifton High School in 1967. Janet graduated from Katharine Gibbs College in New York City.

Upon graduating from Katharine Gibbs, she entered the banking business as a secretary to a stock broker. Janet showed an interest in stock trading and attended courses to obtain stock trading certifications. After obtaining her trading licenses, she spent the majority of her career at Summit Bank as a stock advisor and trader. Janet retired from Fleet Bank in 2001, to take care of her ailing father.

Janet loved family get-togethers. She enjoyed traveling throughout the world during her retirement years. She is survived by her loving companion, Phillip Vella, her aunt, Beatrice Gersie, and her cousin, Michael Gersie.

James De Lisa, Sr., age 89 of Wayne, died Thursday, October 27, 2016.

Jim grew up on Staten Island where he was raised by his grandmother. Growing up in the aftermath of the Great Depression made for some hard times and as if that wasn’t enough, Jim lost his father when he was just four years old, followed by the loss of his brother at age twelve. He was certainly no stranger to heartache, but along with his sister Catherine, they persevered through all those desperate times and he developed a positive attitude that not only allowed him to survive those challenges, but he went on to thrive.

He founded MSO Furniture and North Carolina Direct, which eventually had stores in Fairfield and Wayne. Jim built the business up from the bottom and ran it for more than twenty five years. He taught his sons to treat every customer right because they are all friends and neighbors in the community. This attitude towards his customers helped him to succeed. He also had a charismatic manner that endeared him to many. He made everyone around him feel special, was generous to a fault, and helped anyone who asked.

Although his dedication to his business kept him at the office day and night, he always found time to visit the ponies at the Meadowlands Pegasus race track, always bringing friends and family. He enjoyed celebrity status and everyone knew him well. He liked being the center of attention, wherever he went. He had a humorous personality, and was also good hearted, which all added up to make for a very likable guy. Lucy Cannon sure thought so, and they married on August 19, 1962 and have enjoyed fifty four years together, with rarely a dull moment. On just two occasions, Jim took a vacation! Of course, they were not ordinary vacations. He loved his family so much that he took them all with him! And flying was not an option for him either, so he rented a luxury bus to Virginia Beach in 1999, and then to Disney World in 2002. These trips made for some of the most wonderful memories with Jim that his family will cherish for years and years.

Jim is survived by his loving wife Lucy (Cannon) of Wayne, six children; Michele Sotelo and her husband Tim of Brick, NJ, James De Lisa, Jr. of Wayne, NJ, Christopher De Lisa and his wife Fiorella of Wayne, NJ, John De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Valentina De Lisa of Staten Island, NY, Kathryn Medinets her husband David of Virginia, seventeen grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He was predeceased by two daughters; Diane D’Aries and Christina Duess, as well as his sister Catherine Iosue.

Donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.com

Jacqueline “Jackie” Farley (nee Dortch) age 90, formerly of Clifton, passed away peacefully on Tuesday December 27, 2016 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Jackie was born in Chester, Virginia to Milliard and Minnie Dortch. Tragedy struck Jackie’s life when she was just a small child. By the age of nine, Jackie had lost both her mother and her father. She was placed in an orphanage in Newark, NJ and lived there for the next five years where she received solid biblical truth. When Jackie was about fourteen years old, her sister Doris was able to become her legal guardian. Jackie then went to live with her sister Doris and lived in various places throughout Essex County. Sometime in 1945 Jackie met a handsome young man by the name of Thomas Farley, and after a romantic and wonderful courtship they were married in January of 1946.

Soon after they were married they moved to the City of Clifton. This is where they would call home, spend their next forty-eight years together, and raise their two daughters. Tom and Jackie cherished forty-eight years of loving and loyal marriage together until Tom’s passing in 1994. Jackie was a homemaker for many years, and a good one at that. She then, as her children got older, took a job as a payroll clerk for ADP in Clifton. She worked there full time for ten years and then five years part time afterwards until her retirement. Jackie decided to work only part time to help with her grandchildren. About five years ago Jackie moved from her life-long residence in Clifton to Wayne where she had been under the loving care of her daughter Gail and son-in-law Randy.

Jackie was a professional-like seamstress and a great cook. She hosted countless Sunday dinners for her whole family throughout her life. Her family recalls her outstanding Rice Pudding and Potato Salad in particular. She loved the endless conversations with her grandson Ian. She enjoyed solving crossword puzzles up until her passing and was a “Bingo Fanatic”. Jackie also spent many vacations in Florida where her children owned homes. Her family remembers her as being feisty yet loving and extremely devoted to her family. Jaqueline was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Jackie is survived by her two daughters; Gail Klein and her husband Randy of Wayne, and Joan Swatt and her husband Kenneth of Bloomfield, one sister; Colleen Maulbeck and her husband Bernie of Sarasota, FL, and two brothers; Jimmy and Richard Dortch both of Texas, two grandsons; Ian and his wife Raquel and Christopher and his wife Meghan, and two great grandchildren; Oliver and Tessa. She is also survived by her niece Pat Visser and many nieces and nephews. She was pre-deceased by her husband Thomas Farley in 1994, as well as her sister Doris Ryder and her husband Frank, her brothers Honey, Wesley and Steve Dortch and her nephew John Ryder.

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations in Jackie's name to Alzheimer's New Jersey, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834.

James (Jim) Craig, age 81, of Wayne, formerly of Ridgewood, passed peacefully on Monday, February 1, 2016.

James was born in Paterson to the loving Douglas and Doris Craig. He was raised on Hamilton Drive in Ridgewood where he graduated from Ridgewood High School with the class of 1952. While in high school Jim was active with the Tennis Team, and enjoyed playing squash as well. He spent five years at Dartmouth College graduating with a MBA with the class of 1956. While at Dartmouth he enjoyed tennis, squash, and being a brother of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.

Jim’s first job was with the J&L Steel Mill in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It is while he lived in the Pittsburgh area that he started his family and was blessed with three loving sons. He worked at Westinghouse in Pittsburgh before accepting a position at the Union Camp Corporation’s Wayne, New Jersey location in 1987. He lived in the Pines Lake Section of Wayne Township for over twenty-five years with his wife of 45 years Christa.

He will be remembered as a patient man who was reserved, thrifty, a Civil War buff, and enjoyed playing Bridge. His extreme patience was evidenced with his teaching the boys to snow ski, even pulling them around the yard in Pittsburgh, so they could get a feel for it. Again this patience is evidenced by his hours of teaching his sons how to fish and camp in the Pittsburgh area parks. Many fond childhood memories with the family were made during these times. The annual house summer rental at Deep Creek, Maryland was another source of lifelong memories as were winter trips to Vermont for family ski trips.

Jim was the loving father of Douglas Craig and his wife Kim of Naples, Fl, Steven Craig and his wife Ronna of West Bloomfield, MI, and Michael Craig and his wife Janice of Wayne; he was the cherished grandfather of Jack, Cameron, Andrew, Jimmy, Jeremy, and Daniel; he was the loving brother of Roberta “Bobbi” Jameson of Exeter, NH, and the late Carol Bateman.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 would be appreciated.

Jacob “Jack” Kuiphoff passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, October 21, 2016 in Tucson, AZ. His smile, stories and big personality will be missed by many.

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Born in Prospect Park, NJ, in 1932, he lived in Paterson, Haskell and Wayne, NJ, before moving to Tucson, AZ, in 2014.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 22 years, Kaye Kuiphoff and 5 children, Jack Kuiphoff (Almeda) of Port Orchard, WA; David Kuiphoff (Lynn) of Riverdale, NJ; Bill Kuiphoff (Mary) of Haskell, NJ; John Kuiphoff (Laurie) of Edgewater, FL and Cynthia Garafano (Mark) of Wayne, NJ. He will also be missed by his 15 grandchildren, Jake Kuiphoff (Lindsay), Adrienne Kuiphoff, Michael Kuiphoff, Chris Kuiphoff, Jessica Smith (John), Heather Kuiphoff, David Kuiphoff (Tiziana), Kelly Kuiphoff, Traci Kuiphoff Calendrillo (Brian), Michelle Michel (Jeff), Bill Kuiphoff, Kevin Kuiphoff, John Kuiphoff (Tiffany Worden), Lori Long (Bill) and Paul Garafano.

Jack was a true family man and was thrilled to be additionally blessed with 10 great grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Kuiphoff and Anna Heerschap Kuiphoff, his brother, John Kuiphoff and his sister Susan Reiser.

His passions included motorcycles, convertibles, traveling, cooking, story telling and family. Travel highlights include Holland in 1999 to meet very distant Kuiphoff relatives, Henk and Tina Kuiphof, an Alaskan Cruise in 2010 with a dog sled ride on a glacier, Italy, England, Yellowstone, Glacier and Teton National Parks, multiple cross country car trips and repeated visits to the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts to enjoy Tanglewood and Jacob’s Pillow.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Jack’s name are asked to consider FOWA (Friends of Wayne Animals), PO Box 3701, Wayne, NJ 07474 or at www.fowarescue.com.

Helmut “Hal” Bieser, age 78 of Kresgeville, PA and formerly of Pompton Lakes, died on Sunday, October 16, 2016.

Hal was born in Wiesbaden, Germany and immigrated to the United States in 1954 with his family, settling in Flushing, NY. Hal quickly learned he had a skill for fixing things and became a true “fix-it” kind of guy in all aspects of his life…it seemed there wasn’t anything he couldn’t fix or at least try! He worked in the automotive service industry for many years up until the mid 1990’s, and then he established three successful laundromats before moving to Texas with his wife for their retirement. Although they enjoyed Texas, the lure of their grandchildren proved too great, so they moved back east in 2002 and settled in Kresgeville, PA. He always had a home improvement project in the works and as soon as one was completed, he started the next. Most recently, he was a school bus driver for the Carbon-Lehigh Intermediate Unit where he drove the bus for children with special needs--a group of kids with which he developed a unique ability to communicate and work with successfully.

Hal was a loving and caring grandfather. He was an excellent baker, who was best known for his ‘famous’ cheesecakes. His grandsons always looked forward to the enormous “Grandpa cake” that he would make for their birthdays and other occasions. And, anyone who visited his home would be greeted with a treat, usually fresh from the oven, before they had a chance to even take off their coat! He always tried to sneak extra cookies to his grandsons when they visited and they’ll never forget that.

Hal was a devoted and loving husband to his wife Frances. They met as teenagers, living in the same apartment building in Flushing, NY. They dated in secret and once Frances turned eighteen years old, they eloped. Some said their relationship wouldn’t last because of their differing backgrounds, but their bond stayed strong for nearly 58 years! Hal was a wonderful husband and his love for her never waned. His devotion was exemplified most recently as he cared for Frances through her prolonged illness, even sleeping in her hospital room for months on end, never leaving her side. No one could have cared for her better and his heart was irreparably broken when she passed in March of 2016. He missed her terribly.

Helmut is survived by his son; Richard Bieser and his wife Suzanne of Wayne, NJ, two grandsons; Alec and Josh Bieser of Wayne, NJ, and by four sisters; Helga Hulse and her husband Robert of Texas, Gertrude Drabant and her husband Alex of Texas, Christa Hulse of Texas, and Gretchen Allhenn of Florida. He was predeceased by his wife Frances in March of 2016, and by all five of his brothers.

Ida Martin, age 86, a resident of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne since 1961, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on Wednesday, May 18, 2016.

Born in Paterson, she lived for several years in Midland Park before returning to Paterson where she attended Paterson elementary schools. Ida went on to graduate high school from Eastern Academy in Prospect Park where she also played on the school’s basketball team. It was there that she met her husband-to-be, Honorable Superior Court Judge Ralph Martin. Of course he wasn’t a judge yet, but Ida saw something special in him. They made their marriage vows before God, family and friends on Friday, June 23, 1950 at the Epworth Methodist Church in the Riverside section of Paterson. After honeymooning in Cape Cod, they traveled for a few years because of Ralph’s military service. During those years, they welcomed their first-born – a baby boy which they named Gregg.

Ida settled into a very satisfying and fulfilling career as a homemaker bringing much love and stability to her home and growing family. Over the ensuing years, eldest son Gregg was joined by three younger brothers: Brian, Jonathan, and Lance. This brought a noticeable degree of activity into Ida’s life, but in-between she carved out time for some personal pursuits. In 1964, Ida began taking classes at Paterson State College. For the next six years she persevered and in 1970 she graduated with a B.A. degree in Education. She quickly put this knowledge to work serving as a substitute teacher in Wayne elementary schools and in the Eastern Christian schools as a remedial teacher.

Ida loved reading books of all genres and solving crossword puzzles published in the local newspaper or given to her in books by her sons. She and her husband Ralph traveled a lot, especially to the British Isles and Germany. She would plan each trips itinerary with meticulous detail.

Ida was a former member of the Preakness Christian Reformed Church of Wayne. She had a real loving heart for the church’s elderly members and so she made it a practice to visit them on a regular basis. She enjoyed using her gifts as a pianist accompanying worship services at local nursing homes through the church’s nursing home ministry. Ida also participated in the church’s Ladies Missionary Union where she served one year as president. No doubt, her contribution in promoting awareness and raising monetary support for the missionaries sent out by her church, blessed them greatly. In recent years Ida had been attending the Pompton Plains Reformed Bible Church. Throughout her entire life, she was a faithful follower of Christ Jesus. She enjoyed her daily quiet-times with God, reading from her bible and serving as a prayer warrior for countless souls.

Surviving are her beloved husband of 65 years - Ralph; three sons: Reverend Gregg Martin of Toronto, Canada, Captain Jonathan and wife Adrienne Martin of Branchburg, NJ, and Lance and wife Katherine Martin of Whitehouse Station, NJ; daughter-in-law Nancy Martin of Alexandria, VA; five grandchildren; Hannah, Ruth, Elizabeth, Martha, and Daniel; and her sister Wilma Philips of Pompton Plains. Ida was predeceased by her son Brian in 2012.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ida’s name are asked to consider Bethany Christian Services, Attn: Donor Records, 901 Eastern Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 or at www.bethany.org

Irwin L. Nordhausen, age 88, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 4, 2016.

Born and raised in Belleville, NJ, he was a graduate of Belleville High School. Shortly after graduation, Irwin got a job with NJ Bell and went on to enjoy a forty-two year career with the company as a technician. By the time he retired in 1989, NJ Bell had become Bell Atlantic. Always ready to help others in times of need, he also proudly served for many years as a member of the U.S. National Guard.

Irwin was the proud and loving father of two children. His daughter Barbara was born in 1959 and, during her childhood Irwin took great interest in her involvement in the 4-H Club, supporting her in the care of her horses and being present for all of her riding competitions. His son Mark entered into Irwin’s life in 1960. When he was old enough, Irwin introduced him to the world of hunting – a sport he himself loved so very much. He also encouraged young Mark to join the PAL rifle team and was always there to cheer him on at Mark’s competitive shoots. To this day, Mark has a keen interest in hunting and the shooting sports instilled in him by his father Irwin’s influence.

After his first marriage ended Irwin found love one evening at an after-work get-together attended by other NJ Bell employees. Her name was Phyllis DePalma and this first encounter took place on St. Patrick’s Day. Drawn in by Irwin’s engaging personality and wonderful sense of humor, a beautiful relationship was born and it ultimately led to marriage on Saturday, June 19, 1976 at the United Methodist Church in Wayne followed by a honeymoon cruise. To commemorate that they met on St. Patrick’s Day, from that time forward, whenever Irwin gave Phyllis flowers, he always made sure there was at least one green flower in the bouquet. As a further example of his romantic nature, Irwin always made sure that for each wedding anniversary, he gave Phyllis one red rose for each year married. Of course the rose or roses always included one green flower and her latest bouquet included forty red roses and a green flower. Irwin and Phyllis were blest with a warm and special married life. One of the ways they expressed their love was by poking fun at each other a lot but, as Phyllis said, “Irwin loved me like nobody else could!” They got to travel all over the world including to destinations such as Europe, South America, on many cruises and, at least one month every winter to Florida where Irwin always made sure to book a place with an ocean view. No one could ever really understand why though because he always seemed to take a lot of naps, and it’s hard to see the ocean when your eyes are always closed.

Irwin was also a man drawn to the world of art and particularly to the expression of art through the genres of music and dance. Already as a young teen in high school, he loved to dance. His taste in music was wide and varied from the love of Frank Sinatra to Luciano Pavarotti but he also enjoyed country songs as well as different ethnic forms like Spanish and German music. One of his favorite places to dance was at the German clubs and Irwin was a member of two different ones; Deutscher Club of Clark, NJ where he had recently received his pin commemorating 25 years of faithful and loyal membership. At the Deutscher Club Irwin was always ready to roll up his sleeves and help wherever help was needed. There he enjoyed weekly dinners and dancing with Phyllis as well as annual Sommerfest and Octoberfest events. He was also a long-time member of the Germania Park Club of Dover, or the “Deutscher Shul-und Gesangverein” as they called it - the German School and Singing Society. It was a German-American cultural club that was established in 1895. At these clubs he could combine the things that gave him the most enjoyment in life – being with other people and dancing at events like Biergartenfests, Oktoberfests, Schlachtfests, and German Christmas shows to name a few.

Irwin enjoyed hunting and found the best challenge in hunting small birds called grouse. Grouse are not the easiest prey but Irwin was a skilled hunter. In fact, one year he took down 22 grouse – an unheard of number! He was a member of the Waughaw Valley Sportsman’s Club where he also enjoyed pheasant hunting. He raised his own beagles for hunting rabbit and field trials. When he wasn’t hunting or dancing, Irwin loved to read, especially books about the Civil War. He was a real buff on that subject. His family used to poke fun at him describing how he could go into great detail about Civil War accounts but he couldn’t remember what Phyliss said to him five minutes ago.

As you can see, Irwin was blessed with a great life. He loved life and he loved people. His wide array of interests, warm engaging demeanor, and wonderful sense of humor enabled him to make friends with perfect strangers and he also learned a lot from those countless encounters. Rest in Peace Irwin! You will be forever cherished in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known you.

Irwin is survived by his beloved wife of forty years – Phyllis; his daughter Barbara and husband Thomas Anthony Pfeffer of Mooresville, NC; his son Mark Nordhausen of Butler; three dear grandchildren: Tommy James, Jade Alexa, and Luke Anthony; twin brother William and wife Dolores Nordhausen of Bluffton, SC; sister Jane Saarloos of Anderson, SC; nieces and nephews: Alexis Laguer, Genaro Laguer, Dr. Artemio Perez, Jr., Dr. Sergio Perez; sister-in-law Alberta Perez; and brother-in-law Artemio Perez.

Irma Neumann (nee Balko), age 89 of Wayne, died on Thursday, July 14, 2016 with her family at her side.

Irma was born in Poland and attended nursing school in Switzerland. She became a Governess for a wealthy Swiss family, caring for their young daughter while living in the Swiss Alps. After World War II, she met Heinrich Neumann in Germany and the two of them dated for five years before marrying on April 5, 1953 in Lebenstadt, Germany. They came to America, with their two young daughters, in 1957 to start a new life and settled in Wayne in 1963.

Irma was a wonderful seamstress and made many different garments for her family. Her daughters recall working in their basement for hours, cutting fabric and helping their mother. Irma was also very good at knitting and made most of her husband’s socks. She was also a devoted gardener and toiled endlessly with her crops – even teaching her granddaughters to harvest potatoes! “Oma,” as they all called her, was a terrific cook and baker. She made everything well and had a tendency to go through cooking ‘phases’ such as her “eggroll” phase, and her “sausage and peppers” phase. Her homemade bread and potato pancakes were her trademark specialties. She also enjoyed taking her granddaughters to the lake in Lincoln Park and to the beach at Sandy Hook where they made many fond memories. The girls will miss her dearly.

Irma and Henry were blessed with a very happy marriage. They traveled extensively, including two trips to Hawaii, a few visits to Germany, and even Portugal, Aruba, Cancun, Alaska, and even a few cruises. They stood by each other’s side for fifty five years before Henry passed in 2008.

Irma is survived by her two daughters; Hannelore Grieder and her husband John of Oak Ridge, NJ and Ute Mowry of Morris Plains, NJ, four granddaughters; Erin Neglio and her husband Thomas of Denville, NJ Megan Grieder and her fiancé Daniel Lyons of El Paso, TX, Kenna Mowry of Morris Plains, and Kara Mowry and her fiancé Steven Gilchrist of Scotch Plains.

In Lieu of flowers, donations in Irma's memory would be greatly appreciated to St. Timothy Lutheran Church, 395 Valley Rd., Wayne, NJ 07470.

Jack L. Zwerver, age 52, of Pequannock, passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016.

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Gloria June Morris, “June” age 78, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 27, 2016.

June was a southern girl, born and raised on a farm in Rose Hill, Mississippi. She loved to tell stories about her childhood and how they typically only left remote Rose Hill once or twice a year. After graduation from high school, she pursued further education – first two years at Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi, then two more years at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg where, in 1960, she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in education.

June began her teaching career at Biloxi Junior High School in Biloxi, Mississippi. Soon after, while attending a church meeting, she met a strapping young U.S. Air Force serviceman named George Morris. After a couple of years of dating, they married on Sunday, July 12, 1964 at Kessler Air Force Base Chapel in Biloxi, Mississippi. They honeymooned in New Jersey, then June resumed her teaching at Biloxi Jr. High School and George continued his service in the Air Force. They had to move once as a result of George being transferred to Great Falls, Montana but, after his honorable discharge from the service in 1965, they moved to Nutley, NJ. June took a job in the West Orange Schools where she taught mathematics and gym classes.

In 1968, June gave birth to a son George “Mark” Markley Morris, III and, from that point on, she settled into a new role as mother and homemaker. The family eventually moved to Wayne where June resided to the present time.

June was a skilled seamstress who made much of her own clothing. She also enjoyed helping others by volunteering as the cheerful person with the welcoming smile who greeted you when you came to visit your loved one at Wayne General Hospital. When George retired, he and June joined the Wayne Adult Community Center where they took computer classes and volunteered to mail out the center’s newsletter. They also took occasional trips to Mississippi to visit June’s brothers and they loved the time that retirement afforded them to vacation for several years in beautiful Boothbay Harbor, Maine at the Linekin Bay Resort. There, they enjoyed sailing, swimming and making friends.

June is survived by her beloved husband of 52 blessed years – George M. Morris; her dear brothers: Claude Eugene Chatham “Gene” and wife Suzanne of Jackson, MS, and Dennis Chatham and wife Leah of Rose Hill, MS; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her dear son George “Mark” Morris, III in 2012.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gloria’s name are asked to consider Green Valley Cemetery, care of Rita Davis, 417 57th Court, Meridian, MS 39305.

Hubert “Hubie” Van Ginneken, age 77, of North Haledon, NJ, passed on Saturday, May 7, 2016 surrounded by family and friends.

Hubie was born in Paterson, NJ and lived there for many years before proudly serving in the United States Army from 1963-1965. Hubert later resided in Wayne, NJ finally settling in North Haledon. He was the owner of Hubie’s Auto Repair in Paterson, and had a passion for fixing cars and going to the car races. Prior to opening his own shop in 1979, he was employed by Zabriskie Chevrolet.

Hubert is survived by his daughter Dana Tinajero and her husband Omar; son, Damen Van Ginneken; sisters Anita Hancock and husband Dick, and Lorraine Strnad and husband Frank; brother, Hank Van Ginneken and his wife Mary; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Henry and Sally Van Ginneken.

Donations can be made in Hubie’s honor to The Nascar Foundation which provides support to children in need. You may donate online ( http://www.nascarfoundation.org/ ) or mail directly to The NASCAR Foundation, One Daytona Blvd., 6th Floor, Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Kindly be sure to include Hubie’s name in your donation,

“I was car racing wild…you win some, you lose some. We’d hang out at the drive-ins and go cruising.”

—Hubert Van Ginneken, 1939-2016

Hazel A. Jordan, age 96, of Montville, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ early in the morning of Saturday, November 5, 2016.

Born in Brooklyn, Hazel lived in Jersey City before moving to Millers Lane in Montville where she spent the majority of her adult life. Most recently she had been a resident of Dover receiving the loving care of the nurses and caretakers of Regency Grande Nursing Center.

Hazel’s most identifying quality was her love for God and her walk through this life with Him. Her Christian faith defined the essence of who she was and it shaped the way she conducted every aspect of her life.

As a secretary with telecommunications giant AT&T for many years, there was no one in her office that didn’t know that Hazel was a Christian. She would testify to His goodness anytime she felt called to do so and she led a bible study at work which was attended by fellow employees.

Hazel met Theodore Jordan, the man she would go on to marry in 1942, and was blessed for the next 68 years in a marriage that she described as “excellent.” Together, she and Ted co-pastored the Mount Zion Chapel on Dayton Street in Elizabeth for 60 years. They were a great team and were also supportive of churches in White Plains, NY and as far away as Jamaica. Hazel also conducted Christian services in her own home and when people needed a prayer regarding some challenge or obstacle in their life, many came to her because she had a special anointing from the Lord to intercede on their behalf. This quality was not something that Hazel boasted about, she just walked very close to God and He spoke clearly to her through His word the Bible regarding all aspect of her life and gave her wisdom to help others in their own lives. A gifted pianist, Hazel also took great joy ministering musically to the elderly residents of the Morris Hills Nursing Home for many years.

In retirement, Hazel and Theodore enjoyed traveling. They took vacations to Florida and even to the Holy Land in Israel.

Hazel’s passing saddens the hearts of those that knew and cherished this woman as a friend but they are grateful for her life and her testimony and look forward to the time when they will be reunited with her in heaven.

Hazel is survived by her much-loved son Theodore Daniel Jordan and her dearest long-time friends and caregivers of recent years Salvatore and Mary Ann Atanasio. She was predeceased by her beloved and adored husband Theodore who went home to be with the Lord in 2009.

Harvey Cohen, age 73, of Wayne, passed suddenly on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, while on vacation in Italy.

Memorial Service: A memorial service will be held on Sunday, October 30th at 11:45 AM.

The memorial will be held at:

Temple Emanu-el of Closter, NJ

180 Piermont Road

Closter, NJ 07624

SHIVA:

Shiva will be at the home of Paul and Marsha Cohen

102 Aspen Court, Norwood, NJ 07648

Wednesday, October 26th from 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM Thursday, October 27th  from 1:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday, October 28th from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Harvey Cohen, age 73, of Wayne, passed suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 5, 2016, while vacationing in Italy.

He was born and spent his early years in the Bronx, New York. When Harvey was about ten years old his family moved to New Hyde Park, Long Island. Harvey graduated from Herricks High School and went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Pratt Institute, followed by a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from NYU.

While a sophomore at Pratt, Harvey was a tour guide for incoming freshman. He arranged it so he would be giving the tour to the group that had the only three freshman girls being admitted that year. During his tour he noticed a girl named Joan. Joan and Harvey fell in love and married six years later on August 6, 1967 at Leonard’s of Great Neck. They honeymooned for two weeks traveling to the Grand Canyon and working their way to Disneyland in California. They enjoyed a caring marriage of forty-nine years and were in the planning stages of a fiftieth anniversary party when Harvey passed.

Harvey worked for the Warner Lambert Corporation in Long Island City, New York and Morris Plains, New Jersey for over 30 years. He formed many lasting friendships and often went to dinner and vacationed with his old co-workers and their spouses. As a matter of fact, Harvey and Joan were with several of these close friends in Italy when he passed.

Harvey, in his retirement, dedicated much of his time to volunteering at Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson. Just as he did during his working career, he made new friends with the staff as well as with the other volunteers.

Harvey will be dearly missed by his many friends and family members. He was the loving husband of Joan Cohen; much loved brother of Paul Cohen and his wife Marsha, and the late Shelley Goldberg (2009) and her surviving husband Morton; dear nephew of Joseph Gordon; cherished uncle of Karen Bemis and her husband Mark, Alison Zwerling and her husband Craig, Baruch Goldberg and his wife Rivkah, Chana and Meira Goldberg; and loving great-uncle of Kaitlyn Bemis.

Many know that Harvey volunteered many hours at the Saint Josephs Medical Center in Paterson. To honor his memory, and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Saint Josephs Hospital Foundation, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503 would be greatly appreciated.

Helen George of Pembroke Pines, Florida died on Saturday, January 16, 2016 surrounded by loved ones. She was 99.

Helen Irene Kelly George was born on January 11, 1917. Her early years were spent in the East Orange area with her mother Madaline and her sister Ethel. In 1938 she married Karl George. Together they had seven children and settled in Pequannock Township. Charter members of the Pequannock Reformed Church Couples’ Club, both Helen and Karl enjoyed their church and local events with their family and friends. As the family grew, Helen became a Nurses’ Aide and worked in Chilton Memorial Hospital’s emergency room for many years.

When the Georges relocated to Florida, she continued her hospital work, proud that she was able to provide help and comfort to the injured and sick. She was again involved with her local church and began to welcome sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and eventually great-great-grandchildren into her world. Along with her growing family, Helen loved activity and could often be found in the midst of a card game or cooking for an impromptu party. An expert with yarn, Helen was constantly knitting gorgeous personalized items for her fortunate loved ones.

After retirement, Helen remained active and began travelling with her sister and their cousin Jeanne. Affectionately known as “The Silver Foxes,” the trio shared adventures across the United States and beyond. Daily walking or swimming provided exercise and contributed to continued good health throughout her days. Her strength of faith and love of life served as positive influences to everyone who knew her.

Helen was predeceased by her daughters Karlyn and Arlene, her son Ronald, her sister Ethel, and her husband Karl. She is survived by her daughters Helen, Cheryl and Karen, her son Kurt, 27 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Hedy Doran ( Haselman ) age 95 of Hawthorne passed peacefully on Monday, August 15, 2016 at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff.

She was born in the family home on Luddington Avenue in Clifton to Eugene and Mary Haselman. Hedy’s father had a small grocery store in Clifton and later in Paterson, and as with many family businesses, she was put to work at the young age of seven. She was raised in Clifton and as a little girl used to roller skate on what is now Route 46. She attended Clifton High School with the Class of 1939. When she was just seventeen years old she married the love of her life George Doran. They met through their siblings, John Doran and Louise Haselman, and were married on January 28, 1939. Hedy and George never had an official honeymoon but went to see the newly released Gone with the Wind in the early days of their marriage. Even in their autumn years together George would say: “isn’t she beautiful,” “I was so blessed,” “God gave her to me,” “my bride forever.” They shared a deep love for each other and were always holding hands and kissing. Hedy and George were married for seventy-three years before his passing on March 3, 2012.

Hedy loved to love people. She had a huge space in her heart for children. She was famous for making the neighborhood kids Spaghetti-O’s. Nana and Pop were very proud of their grandchildren and were fixtures at just about every performance, school event, ceremony and party. During her grandchildren’s teenage years, their friends all called her Nana.

Her door was always open to family and friends alike. If you were going through a tough time she would invite you to stay with her, and as if that wasn’t enough help, she would cook, clean, and even help with your laundry. If you didn’t come to her she would come to you. She often helped homebound relatives and others with their food shopping, laundry, and with just about anything else she could think to do for them. She did it all with a happy heart and expected nothing in return. She will also be remembered as a fabulous cook. Her off the top of her head recipes for roast beef, pork chops with sauerkraut, pies, cheesecake, and yum-yum cakes will be greatly missed. Many fond memories were made at the traditional Fourth of July Barbeque Nana and Pop would have at the house atop the hill in Hawthorne. The barbeque would be followed with a birds-eye view of fireworks from many surrounding towns and all the way to the New York City.

She was the loving mother of Joan Kuehm and her late husband Bruce of Estero, FL, Joy Van Blarcom and her husband Demarest III of Pompton Lakes; cherished grandmother of Gayle Byrne and her husband Joseph, June Kuehm-Jalbert and her husband Patrick, Joy Urdang and her husband Adam, and Meri Gupko and her husband Robert and great-grandmother of Jessica Chapwick, late Brandi Yuroshek, Hope Urdang, late Jolene Jalbert, Matthew Gupko and Juliette Jalbert. Hedy was the last surviving sibling of the thirteen children born to Eugene and Mary Haselman.

Nana's Eulogy

Thinking about Nana, three things come to mind: her love for her family, her generous heart, and her servant’s spirit which gave her a desire to care for everyone. These cornerstones of who Nana was all stemmed from one thing; her faith in and love for Jesus. Her living out her faith in love both to us and those around her, in so many ways, has shaped us into the people we are today. To know Nana was to love her. She was one of the most genuine people anyone could know.

From the beginning, Nana was our second mother. She was always there; you knew if you were involved in something, needed something or wanted to spend time with her, she would be there.

When we were young, and our parents were ill, Nana was there. She took care of our parents and us. As we grew, Nana was there. She took care of us, got us to and from school whenever needed, sat through countless plays, performances, recitals, ceremonies and so much more. She was immensely proud of all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and supported us through the ups and downs of life like none other.

Nana never just did something; she did it with her whole heart. Nothing was too small to be important. She would fill the kiddie pool with warm tap water, bucket by bucket, so the pool water wouldn’t be too cold for us. She fawned over mud pies and fresh picked daisies the way some women do over expensive jewelry, and she meant it, our treasures were her treasures. And in terms of treasures, it was never the value just sometimes the memory. The framed snoopy picture was given to her by Joy in elementary school after a school holiday sale. Nana didn’t actually like the picture and offered to give it back to Joy because she had spent her own money on it. It was then that Joy honestly told Nana that she gave it to her because she didn’t like it herself. Nana laughed then and for many years as she had that picture hanging on the wall and shared that story, it was the kind of memory that she enjoyed.

Nana loved children, and not just us her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their middle room, as we called it, was a playroom filled with toys, dolls, movies and games for anyone that went there. They wanted everyone to be at home and have fun. That also meant Nana would join you in whatever it was that you wanted to play. She played baby dolls and sipped tea at tea parties; she colored with us, read to us, and even rode the play tractors alongside us. It was always a treat when she would play store with us in their downstairs food pantry.

Jessica spent much of her first few years of life in the loving care of Nana and Pop while her Mom worked. When Hope came along, she did the same. It was a gift for her to watch them almost as much as it was to the girls themselves. And her dedication to the girls was a blessing to both of their moms. Nana loved everyone’s children and looked after many from neighbors to nieces and nephews to friends. Some even lived with her and Pop for an extended period. She delighted in each and every child and loved them like her own.

Adam and Joy were so blessed that Nana and Pop were able to watch Hope when she was little while they worked. Adam recalls during the winter, both Nana and Pop getting up at 4 or 5 am to shovel their driveway so it was clear by the time Adam got there in the morning to drop off Hope. Joy & Adam had hired someone to go plow the driveway, but by the time he got there Nana and Pop generally had it done.

Another time Adam went to their house right from work to pick-up Hope, when he got there, Nana wanted to know if he had eaten dinner. Of course, she proceeded to feed him because she knew Joy was working late. That was how she was. Always looking to take care of you, never mind the fact that she had been watching a two or three-year-old all day long and was 83 years old at the time! Never mind the fact that she had to clean up the toys or vacuum the house after they left. It was really just a part of her nature. A nuclear bomb could have gone off, but as long as there was food in her refrigerator or freezer, she would find a way feed you! Even if it was just half of the half gallon of ice cream!

As each of her grandchildren met someone they desired to share life with, she greeted them and welcomed them with open arms. For her there was no “in-law”; they were hers and treated with as much love as anyone. In fact, very early on when Bob and I were dating he needed a place to live for a little while and, without hesitation, Nana offered for him to move in with them.

Nana didn’t just show up at the standard events, she made time for us all of the time. We spent time during many wonderful summers with her and Pop. We would walk through the trails at the Wyckoff Wildlife Sanctuary, visit Van Saun Park, play in the yard, go to Action Park to play while Gayle and June worked there, and so much more.

Growing up, our friends began to know Nana and love her as well. Nana and Pop were at every party Mom and Dad hosted for us and our friends in high school and college, and that was often monthly. Many of our friends still call her Nana.

As we got older, we could spend time sitting with her and Pop over a weekday lunch or dinner and sharing our lives. For the first two years after college, Joy worked nearby and went there almost every weekday. Nana would have lunch ready for her to share with her, Pop and Jessica. I went every Tuesday during law school and there was a meal waiting for my arrival, also to enjoy with her, Pop and Jessica. It was special time then and a cherished time now. They knew us well, desired to remain connected, and always kept their door open for us to visit anytime we wanted.

The annual family trips to Lancaster were a highlight for Nana, Pop, Mom, Dad, Joy, and me; then along the years for Adam, Bob, Hope and Matthew too. Matthew didn’t get many trips but he still remembers them being there. Nana and Pop were not travelers and Lancaster was a home away from home, though most of all they always looked forward to the weekends of family time.

Our requests for her to do things with us sometimes took her to places she’d never been; still, she happily said yes. I remember her and Pop telling people about how they went with Joy and me to their first concert when they were well into their seventies (for which they drove 5 hours with us) and attended their first political rally, which obviously was at my request. Nana easily could have said no, but she didn’t, she was there.

Nana was brave. She would not hesitate to fight for what was right. She was strong both physically and in will. If you told her she couldn’t do something, you can bet she’d do it. Maybe it was a product of being the one of the younger of her 12 other siblings, or that she wouldn’t let her brothers one up her, but she could do anything. She could handle a car with a blown out tire while driving on the highway. She would move all of her furniture weekly as she cleaned her house well into her advanced age. And let’s face it, she took us for our driving exams and allowed us to use her car so she was clearly fearless.

For years, Nana served. And she served in the places where no one would look. She saw a need and met it. She never made a fuss or wanted people to know what she was doing; it was only about serving those around her however she could. Nana served her community on the PTA, she opened her home to the church youth group, and for many years at Bethlehem Lutheran church she faithfully set up communion and pressed the linens. She helped anyone in need – family, friends and even acquaintances. Besides taking care of children, Nana shopped for homebound relatives and others who for whatever reason could not get to the grocery store; she drove people to and from church on a regular basis when they could not on their own so that they would not miss a service.

Nana never complained, if she had a difficult situation to face, she faced it; if something created more work for her, she did the additional work. She broke her foot and just kept going. In summers when the four cousins slept over on the back porch, okay not actually sleeping more like chatting and wanting to come inside before the night was over. Nana didn’t complain, she just made the beds and let us move inside.

Nana was a great cook, but it wasn’t just because her food was delicious, it was about the love that she shared with every meal, dessert or candy she would provide you. You could not leave Nana’s house without eating something and if she came to you there would be some food in hand. Her food was plentiful and everyone was always welcome to her house, many times she would say just bring whoever along with us. Growing up we had a lot of Sunday dinners at her house and that time is something we cherish even now as adults. It was not about food, it was the being together that really mattered to her and us. For holidays, she would do all she could to make it special, from the lights and decorations that she would have Pop hang up to the baked treats, pies – apple, pumpkin, French apple, cheesecake, Yum Yum cake; she had something for everyone and no one was left out. In fact, you were more likely to have some to take home.

Adam recalled one of the first times he went to her house she cooked dinner and dessert. She kept asking him if he liked it because in her eyes he didn't eat much, despite two full plates of food, and then passed him the bowl of food to have more; then came freshly baked pies. Adam said he ate more at her house than at Miller's Smorgasbord in PA! I think we all may have!

She taught us all to cook and bake. She trusted us in the kitchen with her and more importantly she wanted to share time and her knowledge with us.

Nana could cook pretty much anything, but sometimes it wasn’t about the food she cooked because it was what her family or the neighborhood kids would want. That meant Spaghetti-Os or pork and beans with hot dogs or whatever she could prepare to satisfy their requests. And if a meal didn’t end with ice cream, it was jelly Krimpets or something else to give you a special finish.

Even when Nana was at Sunrise, Mom made sure she had treats to share with everyone because it was so important to her. I remember when Matthew was diagnosed with food allergies and he had to turn down her treats, it upset Nana not to have something for him. Mom fixed that so that she had something for him from then on.

Nana didn’t have the accolades that the world looks to for success, but she could not have been more successful. She poured her heart into everyone she could, showed them what it looked like to live like Jesus serving others without crowds, and lived a life of love for Pop, her family and others. Love was who she was and how she lived.

Nana thank you for always being there, thank you for showing us how to love others through service and food, thank you for your deep love for us, and living a life that set a model we can only strive to achieve. We love you, and will miss you!

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Children’s Specialized Hospital, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, NJ 07092 would be appreciated.

Helen D. “Diane” Gerris, age 80, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, October 20, 2016.

Born and raised in Kearny, she attended Kearny High School and graduated with the Class of 1951. One of her favorite pastimes in high school was cheering on the Kearny Kardinals football team. It was while in high school that Diane met the man she would someday marry. His name was Charles Gerris and he worked in the gas station that she passed everyday on the walk with her friends from their homes to school. What started out as friendly banter, grew to love that led to marriage on the day after Valentine’s Day - Saturday, February 15, 1958 at St. Stephen’s RC Church in Kearny. It was a snowy day to say the least as about two feet of the fluffy white stuff fell that day, but it didn’t stop Diane and Charlie from exchanging their vows before God, family and friends. After the ceremony, they celebrated with a reception at the Irvington House in Irvington. A couple of days later, when they were able to dig the car out, Diane and Charlie left for their honeymoon to Florida. More of the unexpected came when they stopped at a diner in Maryland. While sitting in their car in the parking lot, a snow plow backed into them. Although this was a scary development, the car was still able to make the trip to Florida and they gave thanks that no one was hurt.

The newlyweds first home was a second floor apartment in Kearny. They stayed there for one year, then moved to North Arlington where they were blessed with a son, Charles, Jr. In 1962, their new home in Wayne, built by Charlie himself, was ready. They moved into that house in October and soon after, a second son, Scott was born. From that time on, they have always remained residents of Wayne.

After high school, Diane worked as an insurance underwriter with General Accident Insurance in Newark. Shortly after marriage, she got a job with O’Connor Laffey Insurance Group in North Arlington. When she moved to Wayne, she got a job in the Medical Park on Ratzer Road as a medical receptionist with Dr. Leonard Lesniak. Diane was the perfect person for this job as she had such a sensitive heart for the patients that came for care. Consequently, the many years she worked there, never felt like going to work.

Anytime Diane could spend time down the Jersey shore was a good time to her. She loved the warmth of the sun and the feel of the sand and waves between her toes. When it was too cold for that, she would still manage to get down to Atlantic City to see if Lady Luck was on her side. She also enjoyed going out for dinner with Charlie. Diane was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church ever since she moved to Wayne. In recent years, her health would not allow her to attend mass but she always held God close in her heart.

As a member of the Women’s Auxiliary, anyone would be hard pressed to match Diane’s dedication to the Wayne PAL. If there was something going on, you could bet that Diane was involved. She began volunteering when her own sons, Charlie and Scott, began participating, but, long after they had grown up and moved on, Diane enthusiastically remained – helping out with fundraisers, selling concessions or doing whatever needed to be done to help the kids have a great childhood experience. Even right up to her passing, Diane was still helping out at PAL.

Diane was a truly tender-hearted human being. Nothing called her to compassion more than the suffering of a living creature whether four legged or two. She donated regularly to countless animal rescue shelters and any organization that ministered to those who were displaced by a disaster or who were just homeless and down on their good fortune. In her own quiet way, that’s what made her so dear and special. She was taken suddenly but her family finds comfort in knowing that she rests now in the arms of the Lord.

Surviving are Diane’s beloved husband of 58 years - Charles W.; two sons: Charles W., Jr. of Riverdale, and Scott of New York City; one sister: Arlene Kaisen of Nutley, her brother-in-law: Leo Gerris of Long Valley, NJ; two nieces: Janet Kaisen and Linda Malik; and one nephew: Jeff Gerris. She was predeceased by her sister Jacqueline Wason.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Diane’s name are asked to consider the Wayne PAL, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Harold A. “Mickey” McFadden, Jr., age 89, of Pompton Plains, owner of McFadden’s Pub, Haledon, passed Sunday, May 22, 2016 surrounded by his loving family.

He was born and raised in the family home at 182 DeMott Avenue in Clifton. He graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1944 and just after high school Mickey was drafted into the US Army. He attained the rank of Platoon Sergeant with the 351st Infantry Company A of the 88th Infantry Division. Upon his Honorable Discharge on December 28, 1946 he received the Army of Occupation Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. He was in touch with members of the 88th Infantry Division as recently as last year.

After his service Mickey went to Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford on the GI Bill. He would graduate with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing. During his college years he worked for Finkel Trucking in Clifton, and after college he worked for the American Management Association in New York City. He would organize marketing seminars and traveled extensively to places like Chicago, San Francisco, and Texas. For several years he was active with the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Wayne. He went on to State and National levels with the Chamber of Commerce and would even receive a letter from then President of the United States Richard Nixon for his efforts with the Chamber. Mickey later became a partner with Travel Time Bus Company that would take group trips to places like Pennsylvania Dutch Country and Bertrand’s Island in New Jersey. In 1980 he opened McFadden’s Pub on Church Street in Haledon. He with the help of his wife Joan and family would operate the pub for fifteen years before retiring in 1995. Upon retiring Mickey and Joan would move to the retirement village called “Whiting Station” in Manchester Township where they lived for seventeen years before moving to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains two years ago.

Mickey will be remembered as a loyal and devoted friend who could talk to just about anyone about anything. He was good hearted, easy to be friends with, could make just about anyone laugh, and always there to help. For years he was a member of an informal group of tavern owners, including Conrads, McKennas, the Old Forge Inn, McFaddens and others, who would get together at each other’s establishments to talk business and perhaps have a drink or two together. He was also a member of the Sag-O-Bit club which consisted of used-to-be-athletes from Clifton. Each year they would meet and Mickey would be the Master of Ceremonies.

Mickey met his wife Joan while in college. He was a senior selling tickets to a basketball game when Joan walked by. He asked her to buy a ticket to the game and she told him she couldn’t go because she had a date. Well Mickey rolled his eyes and announced to the guys “hey this girl has a date.” Well she was mortified and would never forget Mickey. On another occasion Mickey and a friend were going to double date but Mickey didn’t like the girl he was supposed to go with. His friend suggested they switch dates and Mickey was paired with Joan. Joan knew exactly who Mickey was and wasn’t keen on going out with him. Well as you can imagine they wound up falling in love. Their first real date was to a dance at The Orchard Rest in Clifton. Mickey waited for Joan to graduate from college and they married on August 28, 1954 at Saint Peters Episcopal Church in Clifton. They honeymooned in the Poconos and have enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage.

Mickey was the loving husband of sixty-two years to Joan (Crowley) McFadden; he was the devoted father of Harold A. “Mickey” McFadden III and his wife Linda of Wayne, David McFadden and his wife Cynthia of Wayne, and Jody Lyons and her husband Stephen of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Chase Lyons, Mallory McFadden, Natalie McFadden, Shannon Lyons, and McKenzie McFadden.

In lieu of flowers donations to the Resident Care Fund, 1 Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444 would be appreciated.

Gloria R. Lynch (nee Zeitler), age 94, of Wayne and formerly a long-time resident of Bloomfield, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Sunday, July 17, 2016.

Born in Newark, New Jersey in 1921 and later raised in Irvington, Gloria Zeitler was not your average young girl. At the age of eight, Gloria’s parents Edna and Henry felt she had a great gift of expressing herself. They quickly enrolled her in elocution lessons to not let her talent go to waste. As fate would have it, Gloria had the chance to audition for the “Children’s Story Hour” on WOR, hosted by John Sher in 1931 and quickly became a radio personality on Sunday evenings, until her early teens.

Gloria attended Irvington High School and would soon be the first in her family to graduate. At the age of sixteen, Gloria and a few close friends attended a mixer at the YMCA on the boarder of Newark and Irvington. As the young girls enjoyed their evening, Gloria could not help but notice a handsome young man admiring her from across the room. She felt her heart skip a beat as he began to approach her. This young man was George Lynch, a 19-year-old graduate of Barringer High School. She and George began dating and continued to do so throughout Gloria’s high school years. After graduation, she would go on to be a secretary at Weston’s a branch of the Westinghouse Company.

George was completely taken by Gloria and their romance knew no bounds. When Valentine’s day came, George walked from Newark to Irvington in a snow storm to bring Gloria a heart box of candy. Gloria’s father exclaimed “Wow this man must really love you”, and as fate would have it George and Gloria were married on September 27, 1941.

With World War II raging in Europe and the bombing in Pearl Harbor, George enlisted in the army. This left Gloria on her own, so she moved back home with her parents in Irvington. It was a difficult time being separated from George for months on end, but one of the happiest events occurred. In December of 1943, Gloria gave birth to their son who was named George J. Lynch Jr. A telegram was sent to George Sr. in Europe exclaiming the joyous news. He replied to Gloria saying “Now you have a little Buddy to take care of you.” The name Buddy stuck and the story became a beloved treasure in the family to be told for many years to come.

When George Sr. returned home from the war, he and Gloria settled in Irvington, New Jersey. George attended Newark College of Engineering at night, while working during the day. Over the next few years, the couple was blessed with a second son, Richard Daniel, named for his Great Grandfather Richard, and beloved cousin Daniel who was killed in WWII. Gloria enjoyed many days with her two sons, but longed for a home of her own.

In 1953, as model homes were being built, Gloria saw an ad in the paper for a home in Bloomfield. George and Gloria proudly put a deposit down on their new home. They moved in October of that year and settled into a comfortable life. After several years, the couple was surprised and happy to find that a new baby was on its way. In March of 1959, George and Gloria were delighted at the birth of their daughter, Denise Regina, who became known as the “dividend baby”.

Gloria was active with the PTA and a class mother for all of her children during their years at Demarest School in Bloomfield. George and Gloria were among the founding members of St. Thomas the Apostle Church where Gloria was an active parishioner with a deep devotion to God and the Blessed Mother.

Gloria was also very devoted to her family. In her younger days, there were constant happy family gatherings and holidays. These cheerful times continued as the family began to grow and grow. As George Sr. became more and more successful many wonderful travels took place to warm tropical places, especially Gloria’s beloved Bermuda.

In 1981 on the first day of his retirement, George Sr. was almost fatally injured in a swimming accident in Toms River. Everything changed from that day forward as Gloria worked tirelessly to bring George back. Her unwavering devotion and care allowed him to live until his death in November of 2007.

Gloria nearly died of a broken heart after George passed away. As a result, she had to leave her beloved home in Bloomfield to move to Wayne with her daughter Denise and her family where she remained until present.

Gloria had many remarkable times in her life. She leaves behind a legacy of great faith and love to her family and all those who loved her. Gloria was predeceased by her parents Henry and Edna Zeitler, her brother Howard R. Zeitler, and her husband George J. Lynch Sr. Surviving are her children George Jr. and his wife Gail of Montclair, Richard and his wife Onda of Milford, and Denise and her husband Arthur of Wayne, seven adored grandchildren, Kimberly, Tammy, Scott, Colleen, Sean, Sherrie, and Melanie, as well as eleven treasured great grandchildren, Lindsay, Lauren, Frankie, Caroline, Charlie, Christopher, Michael, Cayleigh, Mackenzie, Riley, and Natalie.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gloria’s name are asked to consider The Alzheimer's Association Greater New Jersey 3 Eves Drive, Suite 310, Marlton, NJ 08053 or online at alz.org

Grace Terranova (Basile) age 95 of Wayne passed, peacefully at home, on Thursday, March 10, 2016.

She lived in Passaic for sixty years before moving to Wayne to live with her daughter Carol.

As a young woman she worked in a sweat shop that she would have to ride two different buses to get to. She met a cute man named Vincent Teranova but often told her family she didn’t want to date a guy who didn’t have a car. Vincent and Grace had a loving and devoted marriage of fifty-one years before his passing in 2000. She was a former parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne and will be remembered as a great all around cook.

She was the loving wife of the late Vincent (2000); devoted mother of Patrick of West Long Branch, his late wife Karen, and his fiancé Marla, Vincent of Hollidaysburg, PA, Michael and his wife Debralyn of Wayne, Carol Parsons and her husband David of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Julie and Nick, Jamie and Matt, Christopher and Lauren, Kelly and Mike, Laura, and David; much loved great-grandmother of Olivia, Ryan, Charlotte, and Jax; dear sister of the late Anne, Dolly, and Michael.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.

Gregory Paul Massood, age 54, of Sea Bright and Franklin Lakes passed Thursday, December 15, 2016 after a battle with cancer.

Gregg was born in Paterson and at the age of six the family moved to Franklin Lakes where he was raised.  He graduated from Ramapo High School with the Class of 1980. During his high school years he worked in the warehouse of the family trucking company, MGM Transport, in Totowa.  After high school he continued working at MGM in Totowa as a manager. He also drove a tractor trailer for several years mostly transporting furniture from North Carolina.  Knowing the business for many years Greg went on to open his own transport company GPM Transport that was a nationwide carrier transporting general commodities.  In the 1990’s the company managed the logistics for the Sealy Mattress Company in Paterson.

He will be remembered as a hard worker that was well liked and got along with just about everyone.  One of his loves was architectural design. His mother told him to pursue a career in architecture but Gregg had diesel fuel in his veins. He loved anything and everything to do with trucks. He did get to try his hand at architectural design when he designed and built his Long Valley home. He drew the plans for the entire home including the custom cabinetry and closets. Those who knew Gregg will attest to the fact that he always had time for you. He could fix just about anything and at a moment’s notice would be by your side to lend a helping hand.  He enjoyed the beach, fishing, cooking, entertaining, and boating at the Jersey Shore and during the winter months he liked to go snowmobiling.

Greg was the loving son of Joseph and Virginia (nee Palazzone) Massood of Franklin Lakes; devoted brother of Joseph A. Massood, Esq. of Wayne, Dr. Stephen Massood of Franklin Lakes, and Debra Massood of Mahwah. He leaves two nephews Alec and Kyle Massood of Franklin Lakes; he will be dearly missed by many uncles, aunts, cousins and dear friends. He will be especially missed by his very dear friend Maureen Grogan.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Mary Help of Christians Academy, 659 Belmont Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508 or Saint Josephs Hospital Foundation, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503 would be appreciated.

Giuseppa Sabia, age 88 died peacefully on Friday, November 4, 2016. She was born in Serino, Italy and immigrated to the United States in 1963 settling in Paterson where she remained until moving to Wayne in 1991.

Giuseppa was born in Serino, Italy. She grew up and went to school with a handsome boy named Ciriaco Sabia. They married on August 13, 1950 in their hometown of Serino. Following marriage her husband Ciriaco moved to Venezuela and worked there for three years so he could save money to buy land in Italy. One can only imagine the joy of having him return home after those three years. Surely there was much celebration and soon Ciriaco and Giuseppa were blessed with a son they named Carmine and soon after his birth they were blessed with a daughter they named Laura. In 1963 they moved their family to the United States, settling in Paterson, New Jersey, to join Ciriaco’s parents and two brothers. Giuseppa worked in the Paterson textile industry, mainly in coat factories, for over fifteen years.

Giuseppa will be remembered as a loving and pleasant person. Just about anyone she came in contact with soon loved her. Her kind, soft, and giving personality will be cherished by her children and grandchildren. Her family will also hold dear to her tradition of never letting you leave her home hungry. The satisfaction she enjoyed of watching others enjoy her homemade pizza, homemade pasta, and the Taralli Italian cookies she would make from scratch will forever be lovingly remembered. Her grandchildren will always hold close to the memories of her making them warm fresh bread in the shape of dolls. All of her specialties will never be cooked quite the same, as the special ingredient of love she included in everything she made could never be duplicated.

Giuseppa was the loving mother of  Carmine Sabia and wife Joanne of Wayne, and Laura Simonelli also of Wayne; she was the cherished grandmother of four grandchildren: Michael, Robert, Jaclynn and Diana; she was the dear sister of Salvatore Rizzo and his wife Maria of Italy,  and two sisters Gioconda Rizzo of Paterson, and Donata Rizzo of Italy.

Giuseppa was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years - Ciriaco in 2013 and two brothers Mattia and Amodio Rizzo.

George S. Case, age 82 of Wayne, died Saturday, October 1, 2016. He had lived in Wayne since 1965.

George was raised in East Orange and graduated from East Orange High School. As a young boy, he survived Scarlet Fever and a ruptured Appendix. In fact, the story his mother used to tell about the time his appendix ruptured was that the first doctor to visit the house showed up drunk! After Mrs. Case threw him out, another doctor arrived and quickly diagnosed George’s dire condition. Recognizing that George was in imminent danger of dying, he threw the young boy over his shoulder and carried him to the hospital without hesitation. As if he hadn’t endured enough already, he lost his father when he was just sixteen years old. Needless to say, his early years were rugged.

After high school, George joined the U.S. Army and served from 1953-1955. Upon his discharge he returned home to discover that his house had been razed to make way for the Garden State Parkway! He went to Upsala College on the GI Bill and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology. He took a job with the Port Authority of NY & NJ and worked on many of their dredging projects, airport runways, and parking lots at the airports. While dredging the Raritan Bay, he was charged with cataloging artifacts and they often found Doubloons and cannon balls in the mud they were dredging. He retired at forty-six.

George enjoyed hunting and fishing throughout the years, and he passed that love on to his son. With his family, George also enjoyed summers at the Jersey Shore, at Ocean Beach II. His job with the Port Authority earned him eight weeks of vacation time each year and he enjoyed much of it at the shore with his family. They made countless good memories together.

George met his wife Jeanelmira (Sheppard) when she happened to be out celebrating her 21st birthday with some mutual friends. George called her a few days later for a date, but she was preparing to leave on a Florida vacation. George agreed to pick her up at the airport when she came back and he drove her home. They hit it off and were married on June 27, 1965 at St. Michaels Episcopal Church in Wayne, followed by a three-week honeymoon to Jamaica. They settled in Wayne after returning home and have lived there ever since. They have since enjoyed fifty-one years of marriage together.

George is survived by his wife Jeanelmira of Wayne, his son; Brandon Case of Huron, Ohio, two grandchildren; Olivia and Allison Case of Ohio, and two sisters; Constance King and her husband Richard of Marlboro, NJ, and Arden White of Manasquan, NJ.

Donations in George’s memory would be greatly appreciated to the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, PO Box 2004, Wayne, NJ 07474.

Grace Runz, age 81, an over fifty year resident of Wayne, passed Sunday, October 9, 2016.

She was born and raised in Paterson having graduated from Eastside High School. Grace worked for Markowitz Flowers in Totowa, Brogan Cadillac in Totowa, Hearst Publishing in Parsippany, and most recently Spiral Binding in Totowa before retiring ten years ago.

Grace will be remembered as a caring, loving, giving, fiercely protective mom, who loved gardening. She married the love of her life Donald O Runz on May 9, 1959 and had twenty-nine years of loving marriage before his passing in 1988. They were a loving and devoted couple who were often the life of a party. They enjoyed holidays, card games, and all kinds of parties that would last until the wee hours of the morning with family, friends, and neighbors. Their home was always a comfortable, welcoming place to be.

She was the loving wife of the late Donald O. Runz(1988); devoted mother of Michael Runz of Haledon, and Donald Runz of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Christine Fitzgerald and her husband Shaun and Rebecca Runz all of Vernon; dear sister of Joseph Santucci and his wife Nancy of Hawthorne.

Gertrude DeFranco, age 93 of Wayne, died Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

She was born in Paterson and had lived there before moving to Wayne fifty-eight years ago. She was a former secretary with the Diocese of Paterson. Gertrude had sixty-four years of “caring and devoted” marriage together with her husband Philip until his passing in 2007.

Surviving are her two sons Roy DeFranco and his wife Linda of West Milford and Philip DeFranco and his wife Randee of Wayne; grandchildren: Roy DeFranco Jr. and Melissa, Matthew DeFranco and Camille, Melissa DeFranco, and Brooke Mendel and Joseph; and seven great-grandchildren: Evangeline, Charlize, Addison, Caleb, Nathan, Lucia, and Amelia.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Gertrude’s memory are asked to consider making a donation to The Department of Persons with Disabilities, 1 Catholic Charities, Way, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438. (dpd.org\give)

Giovanni Cormio, age 86 of Bayonne, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 30, 2016.

Born and raised in Molfetta, Italy, Giovanni was the oldest of seven children.

As a young man, Giovanni proudly served in the Italian Navy from 1950 to 1951. Since jobs were scarce in Italy after WWII, Giovanni (always good with his hands), was able to find work in France as a construction worker from 1955 to 1962. Like so many of his contemporaries in Western Europe, he eventually decided to seek good fortune in the United States. In 1962, Giovanni emigrated to the U.S. where he initially settled in Hoboken, NJ.

Shortly after, he met his wife-to-be, Caterina Agresti through her former coworker. They fell in love and married on Friday, February 23, 1963 at Holy Rosary Church in the Hamilton Park section of Jersey City. They settled in Hoboken and remained there until 1975 when they bought their home in Bayonne, NJ.

Giovanni and Caterina were soon blessed with the birth of their daughter Marta in November of 1963. Giovanni settled into his work as a garment presser and later as a factory worker at Levolor before retiring.

Giovanni was gifted with a creative mind and a keen understanding of how things work. Consequently, he could often be found tinkering and modifying things to make them better than they were originally intended to be. He enjoyed doing work in his own house too and was very skilled at tiling, painting, basic carpentry and plumbing. After a day at work, he enjoyed a good meal, especially if pasta and seafood were on the menu. Although Caterina did most of the cooking, Giovanni was also a talented cook and contributed to preparing the fine cuisine that the Cormio house was famous for. No one ever left their house feeling hungry! True to his European roots, Giovanni’s favorite and only sport he enjoyed watching was professional soccer.

Giovanni was most happy spending time with family. When the gift of grandchildren came into his life, he was more than happy to help babysit whenever the need arose. Although his mother and the majority of his siblings remained in Italy, Giovanni didn’t let this fact keep him from speaking to them on a regular basis. Whenever the opportunity arose, he would return to his homeland to visit the family. He enjoyed traveling and when retirement allowed, you could often see him planning trips through various touring companies. He and Caterina enjoyed bus trips to far destinations including the Grand Canyon, Canada, Las Vegas, and Florida.

Giovanni lived a good life. Proud of his Italian heritage, he was also always grateful for the opportunity to be a citizen of the U.S.A. He was a dedicated provider who always tried to do the right thing and adhere to a strict moral code. Always willing to give of his time and talents, Giovanni will be missed by those who were blest to know him.

Giovanni is survived by his beloved wife Caterina to whom he was married for 53 years; his much-loved daughter Marta and husband Jeffrey Riotto of Pompton Lakes; two cherished grandchildren: Sarah and Matthew; and six dear siblings: Lorenzo and wife Isa Cormio of Weehawken, Antonio and wife Angela Cormio, Gina Sgherza and husband Mauro, Maria Andreula and husband Cosmo, Rosa

La Forgia and husband Michele – all of Molfetta, Italy, and, Elena Abbatista and husband Antonio of Alessandria, Italy.

Geraldine Ricciardelli, age 88 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. She had lived in Toms River since 1978 and moved to Wayne in 2012.

Geraldine was raised in Newark and lived on Summer Ave. She was one of nine children in her family, born right in the middle, with four younger siblings, and four older. She worked before becoming a full time mother, and later worked briefly for the Newark School System, doing clerical work. She enjoyed crafting and passed the time watching shopping channels on cable TV. She rarely bought anything, but she sure loved to see all that was available. She cooked every day and her favorite ingredient was garlic! Somehow she managed to cook everything with garlic, and she used it generously.

Geraldine met her husband Joseph in the early 1950’s and they were married on November 15, 1953 at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark. They settled right there in Newark, where they both worked, until retirement. In 1978, they moved to Toms River where they enjoyed a long and comfortable retirement. After fifty one years of marriage, Joe passed away in 2004 and Geraldine eventually decided to move to Wayne where she could be closer to her family. She had been a resident at Sisco Village since 2012.

George F. Kunzig age 81 of Wayne passed, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease, Sunday, May 29, 2016 with the comfort of his family by his side.

He was born and raised at 92 North 6th Street in Paterson having moved to Wayne in 1985.

George served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, and served on the USS Albany, a heavy cruiser. During George’s service years the USS Albany served as the flagship for the Commander, Battleship-Cruiser Force in the Atlantic. He served a total of three years and nine months with three years and four of those months served aboard the USS Albany. Upon his discharge on December 20, 1955 he received the National Defense Service Medal and the Navy Occupation Service Medal. Having their only child home for Christmas must have been a wonderful gift to his parents George and Wilma.

As a young man he worked as a laborer for Confrancesco Construction in Paterson doing road and utility installation work. He became a police officer for the City of Paterson in 1961, proudly serving the department, and working his way through the ranks and retiring as acting Lieutenant in 1989. After being at home for a few years he took on a civilian job as a clerk in the Auto Squad of the Paterson Police. He officially retired in May of 2010.

George loved three things in life: his family, his profession, and his country. He bled red, white, and blue and was a proud sailor and cop to the end. He was best known for his incredible sense of humor with a vulgar, down to earth, sarcastic, and funny wit that naturally drew people to him. His legacy will be that of an honorable man who enjoyed life, loved to laugh, socialize and make people smile. He was proud to have been the first three generation family to service in the Paterson Police Department (George 1961-1989), his son Michael Kunzig (Lieutenant 1984-2010), and his grandson Kevin Kunzig (2007-present). George loved being a Paterson Police Officer and served most of his career in the Detective Bureau where he was part of many investigations and intricate criminal cases. He was a proud member of PBA Local #1 and a former member of the Passaic Valley Elks Lodge 2111.

He met a cute girl named Dolores Dombrowski through his cousins Dena and Billy. Their first date was to the movies in Fair Lawn. George, while taking the bus into New York with Dolores, proposed marriage. They married on January 19, 1957 at Saint Stanislaw Church in Garfield and had their reception at a place called Yaroz (Polish for Pub) in Garfield. They honeymooned at their apartment at 92 North 6th Street in Paterson. The two truly had no money but they had a love that was impossible to hide.

George was the loving husband of fifty-nine years to Dolores; he was the devoted father of Michael Kunzig and his wife Linda of Wayne and a much cherished grandfather to Kevin Michael Kunzig and Erica Lynn Kunzig.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834 or you could lift a glass of wine, do a shot, or a simply drink and toast George’s name and memory – any of the aforementioned would be equally appreciated.

Giorgio Brancato, age 48 of Lodi, died unexpectedly on Thursday, September 29, 2016 at his home. He had lived in Wayne for many years prior to moving to Lodi in 2013.

Giorgio grew up in Paterson and graduated from John F. Kennedy High School with the class of 1986. One of his first jobs was as a corrections officer working in the Passaic County Jail. He later worked as a private security guard before working construction. He recently joined the Laborers International Union of North America and was working on his certification as a mason, taking classes during the day. He was a skilled tile installer and very handy in general.

As a kid, Giorgio was a prankster, always playing tricks and making people laugh. He reminded many people of Joe Pesce, with his mannerisms and sense of humor. He had a good heart, and a good soul; he was there for everyone when they needed help. He loved his family more than anything and they’ve all remained very close with one another. When Giorgio’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Giorgio took care of his mom day and night. He was a wonderful, loving son. His family will miss him dearly.

Giorgio is survived by his brother Frank Brancato and his fiancé Michele McCollum of Wayne, one sister; Marie Brancato Pelosi of Bloomingdale, three nephews; Jon Brancato of Wayne, Michael Pelosi of Chicago and his fiancé Olga, and Christopher Pelosi of West Milford, two nieces; Jennifer Pelosi of Wanaque and her fiancé Bret Utter, and Diana Scinto of Wayne and her husband Rob, and four grand-nieces and nephews; Arianna Scott, Rocco Scinto, Dante Scinto, and Bret Utter, Jr. He was predeceased by his mother Anita Brancato in 2015, and by his father, John Brancato, in 1974.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to The Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834-1365, www.alz.org/nj, or to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005.

George Lawrence Robbins, age 86, of Oak Ridge, NJ and formerly of the Packanack Lake section of Wayne, NJ, passed peacefully at home, on Saturday, July 23, 2016.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, George grew up in Branford, Connecticut. After graduating from Hill House High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Connecticut. George’s first job was as a sales representative with NCR Corporation, a cash register and point of sale manufacturer. After twenty years with NCR, George accepted a new challenge with Sweda International of Pine Brook, NJ where he advanced to the position of Vice President of Sales.

George and his wife Nancy met when he was just twelve years old and she was just eight. The path to Nancy’s heart was through her brother Bill who happened to also be one of George’s best friends. Eventually, he asked Nancy out and their first date was to the movies. Soon after Nancy’s graduation from high school they married. The wedding took place on Saturday, August 16, 1952 at St. Mary's Church in Branford, CT.

In the ensuing years George and Nancy moved around quite regularly. They initially settled in Branford, CT and during those early years of marriage, were blessed with four beautiful children; Pamela, Deborah, Jan and Thomas. After ten years in Branford, George’s company, NCR, transferred him to Ohio. The family spent only two years there but during that time their fifth child was added to the ranks when son William was born. When NCR transferred George back to the east coast, they purchased a home in the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne, NJ. This was home for nine years until 1973 when they packed their bags once more, this time to go live in Barrington, Illinois. After ten years in the Midwest, they moved to Kinnelon, NJ and finally ended up in Oak Ridge, NJ where George lived out the rest of his life. Altogether, George and Nancy celebrated 61 years, side-by-side in a loving marriage until Nancy’s passing in 2014. Throughout their years together, they made many friends, were very sociable, and were inseparable.

A man with many gifts, George actually built his and Nancy’s first home in Branford, CT from the foundation up. He always took great pride in home ownership, regularly making improvements to the homes he lived in throughout the years. He and Nancy tackled many of those home improvements together and they always seemed to have a lot of fun doing it. They were a team and when they worked together, George always playfully referred to Nancy as his sidekick “Rudi”. They were always proud to showcase the work they did and consequently, they hosted Christmas parties for numerous years and countless get-togethers with friends. They enjoyed light-hearted clean fun and George’s family will always cherish fond memories of George playing “The Tub” – a homemade instrument consisting of an upside-down galvanized wash tub with a musical string stretched between the middle of the base of the tub and the end of a broomstick. It was primitive but, when George strummed tunes like “Oh when the Saints Go Marching In” it actually sounded really good! They especially enjoyed each other’s company and the company of their five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For many years, George vacationed with his family in Lavallette, during the whole month of July.

George was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of many people and will be missed by all who knew him.

George is survived by his five dear children: Pamela and husband Michael Meeker of Riverdale, NJ, Deborah and husband Robert Westhouse of Amelia Island, FL, Jan Augustine of Wauconda, IL, Thomas and wife Michele Robbins of Lake Zurich, IL, and William and wife Sally Robbins of Wanaque, NJ; twelve cherished grandchildren: Sarah, Michael, Alison, Bobby, Betsey, Jeffrey, Martha, Michael, Bryan, Eric, Jarred, and Lindsey; and seven adored great-grandchildren; Emma, Erin, Quinn, Jake, Nancy, Greyson and Robert. He was predeceased by his loving wife Nancy in 2014, and his dear son George Michael Robbins in 1971.

George, J. Hering, Jr., age 58, of Wayne, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, January 12, 2016.

George was born in the Riverside section of Paterson. After spending the first four years of his life there, his family moved to Wayne in 1961 and George had been a Wayne resident ever since.

A graduate of Wayne Hills High School, Class of 1975, George was very active in school activities including Ecology Club, Spanish Club – with which he took two trips to Italy, Jazz Band – in which he played guitar, and the National Honors Society. George went on to study at William Paterson College where he earned his B.S. degree and certification in education. He taught history at his hometown DePaul High School and later worked as a sales associate at the former Sterns department store (now Macy’s) in Wayne’s Preakness Mall and for ADP as a district manager before settling into a twenty-plus year career as a real estate agent with various agencies – most recently with Century 21 of Wayne.

George’s greatest pastime love was reading. His mom said that, even as a little child, George was always walking around the house with a book under his arm. He loved to read about varied subjects but was especially passionate about writings regarding the Civil War, Greek history, past and present U.S. presidents, and the civil rights movement, to name a few. His veracious appetite for reading had the side-effect of giving him a heart for what seemed like almost every cause known to mankind.

Almost as passionate as his love for reading was George’s love of music. As a teenager, he enjoyed getting together with his buddies to jam on their instruments to the latest rock songs, but he also felt a real attraction to jazz music too. He especially loved music from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. As recently as this past December, George’s mom invited him to expand his musical pallet by joining her to see an instrumental concert at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, directed by Father Fonzo who happened to also be the former director of A Chorus Line on Broadway. This was George’s first live experience with instrumental music and he was truly impressed.

George was a much-loved uncle to his nieces and nephews and he derived great joy by spending time with them. When they were young Uncle George gladly offered to watch them and then he’d play games with them, hang out by the pool or take them to a NJ Jackals baseball game.

George enjoyed traveling with favorite destinations being New Orleans for its jazz music, Chicago for its great pizza, and San Francisco. He was also a big fan of the Clam Fest down the Jersey shore in LBI.

George felt so blessed to be part of a family that loved him so very much and he loved them right back. He was doubly blest to also have so many friends whose lives he was able to touch with his warm-hearted, care-free personality. He will be greatly missed!

George is survived by his loving mother Frances of Wayne; his two brothers: David and wife Nancy Hering of Highland Lakes, and Paul and wife Diane Hering of Wayne; and his five dear nieces and nephews: Danielle, David, Christopher, Katie, and Melissa. He was predeceased by his dear father George J. Hering, Sr. in 1998.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in George’s name are asked to consider the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 11454, Alexandria, VA 22312 (www.diabetes.org). Please indicate on the memo line of your check “Research Foundation”. This will insure that all of your donation will go towards research to find a cure and not overhead.

George Anthony Lill, age 89 of Wayne passed peacefully on Friday, February 5, 2016.

He was born and raised in Paterson and lived in Fair Lawn, Wyckoff, Mahwah, and Fairfield before moving to Wayne six years ago. He graduated from Saint Josephs High School in Paterson with the Class of 1944. He continued his education receiving his degree in Elementary Education from then Paterson State College and went on to achieve his Doctorate degree from NYU.

Most of his life George worked as an educator having been with public school districts in Fair Lawn, Northvale, Pompton Lakes, and Elmwood Park. Dr. Lill served as Principal of the Lenox School in Pompton Lakes, and as Curriculum Director for the Elmwood Park Board of Education before retiring in 1977.

George was a US Army Air Corps Veteran of WWII.

He will be remembered as a quiet man who enjoyed reading, and history.

When George was teaching at the Forrest School in Fair Lawn he met a coworker named Ruth Hutchison. They eventually fell in love and married on June 22, 1951 at the Broadway Baptist Church in Paterson and honeymooned at Niagara Falls, New York. They had a loving and devoted marriage of sixty years before Ruth’s passing on July 12, 2011.

George was the loving father of Kathi Mezzadri and her husband Ron of Wayne; proud grandfather of Amanda and Melissa Mezzadri; he was predeceased by his two sisters Rose Klein and May Van Savage.

Frances Jean Scozzaro (nee DeLise), age 97 of Wyckoff, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 18, 2016. She had lived in Wyckoff since 1960.

“Zizi Dolly,” as she was known to just about everyone, married her husband Pasquale “Pat” in 1945 and they enjoyed sixty-four years together. Among one of her favorite hobbies, besides reading celebrity tabloids, was crafting sequin and glitter-encrusted Christmas ball decorations. She must have more than 100 of them! Ironically, she almost lost her left hand to a childhood injury, but doctors were able to save her hand which, among other things, was a blessing for her life-long activities and hobbies – including her ability to make those Christmas balls! Zizi Dolly never had any of her own children, but she cherished her nieces and nephews as if they were her own children. Whether celebrating the holidays or just having a family get-together, she loved being surrounded by them all. To celebrate her 94th birthday, they had a big party for her, complete with a birthday-girl tiara and Zizi Dolly was in her glory. They will all miss her dearly.

Zizi Dolly was predeceased by her husband Pasquale “Pat” in 2009 and is survived by five nieces; Michele Papietro of Burbank, CA, Frances Monastiro of Brick, NJ, Patricia Monello of Wayne, NJ, Marlene Penzenick and husband Gary of Denville, NJ; and, Doreen Piscitelli and husband Frank of Totowa, NJ; three nephews; Nicholas Tonzillo, Jr. of HI, Frank DeLise, Jr. and wife Julie of Washington State; and, Dennis Costa and wife Marie of Aberdeen, NJ; and, generations of nieces and nephews. She was also predeceased by her siblings; Margaret Tonzillo, Ida Papietro, John DeLise, and Frank DeLise, and nephews; Raymond DeLise and Eugene Papietro.

Frances Ditullio, age 95, of Wayne, passed peacefully, with her family by her side, on Friday, August 26, 2016.

Shortly after birth in Bethlehem, PA, Frances’ family moved to Kearny. In that era, plenty of Kearny families raised chickens and grew their own produce. Frances’ family was no exception. Consequently, while her family eventually came to purchase their eggs from the grocery store, Frances developed a life-long appreciation of gardening and her family always enjoyed fresh vegetables.

As a young lady, Frances learned another valuable skill. Her mom was a seamstress and she taught Frances everything she knew about sewing and employed her in her home sewing business. Frances became very skilled with needle and thread. Making patterns from newspaper, she could sew anything and, throughout her life she sewed various prom, wedding dresses, school uniforms, curtains for her home, and alter garments for the Altar boys at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Kearny. When World War II came, Frances got a job as an electronics assembler with Western Electric.

Frances met her husband-to-be when she was quite young. After all, they only lived two doors down from each other growing up in Kearny. When she was twenty-two, she and Frank exchanged their wedding vows before their families and friends, on Sunday, August 29, 1943, at St. Cecilia R.C. Church - right near their homes in Kearny. After their wedding, they moved in with his parents at 281 Bergen Ave. in Kearny. They took the upstairs apartment and his parents lived downstairs. In the early years of their marriage, Frank had a photography business called Dee’s Studio. Frances helped him run the business, handling the books and coloring in the photos for those that wanted colorized portraits.

A lot of memories were made in that house on Bergen Ave over the span of forty-nine years that Frances lived there. It became the hub of many life activities that were typically within walking distance of home. Frances and Frank were blessed with children – five of them in all! Her children, and later in life, her grandchildren, were her greatest blessing. Frances’ sole motivation was to provide a welcoming home for her family and, along with some discipline and guidance, she mixed a little bit of love into everything she did. She was an excellent cook and baker. Her specialty was making delicious pies and, especially on holidays, the delectable “Frances-baked” fruit pies and cream pies would all be lined up, emitting the most delicious aroma throughout her home. Everyone couldn’t wait to eat!

In the summertime, as soon as her kids were finished with school, Frances would take them to the family summer home on Lake Winona in Jefferson Township where the whole family would spend the entire summer. Frances couldn’t swim but she spent plenty of time dipping her toes in the water, wading and talking with the other mothers. She was also instrumental in forming the Lake Winona Club of which she served as a trustee. They built this great clubhouse for the kids, and her own children recall movie nights at that clubhouse and being recruited by Mom to pop tons of popcorn in their own house which they would sell at movie night for five cents a bag. Of course the price of admission to the movie was always free.

When Frances and Frank’s oldest son Frank, started college, Frances returned to the workplace.

She worked for Economy Book Binding Company located, of course, within walking distance of the house. She worked there for ten years but decided to call it quits when the blessing of grandchildren came along. She was a good Grandma who made it fun for her grandchildren by

cooking with them, teaching them to sew, and walking them to Franklin School, which was almost right across the street from her house. At noontime, those grandchildren would always come home from school to Grandma Frances for a home-prepared lunch.

Frances was the consummate “greatest generation,” hard-working, industrious homemaker who believed that humans were better at hanging clothes on a clothesline and drying dishes with a towel than any clothes dryer or dishwasher could ever be at performing such tasks. And when it came to watching television she’d say, “Who needs remote controls? My kids can change the channels for me!” Kenmore, Whirlpool, and Zenith companies would have been out of business if everyone thought like Frances. When it was time to wax the linoleum floor in the kitchen, she’d pull out this industrial-sized buffer, big enough to wax the floor of a school cafeteria. Frances ran the show at home and took the role of general contractor when a former tenant moved out downstairs and a new one was moving in. She’d get Frank and all her kids involved in renovations and any improvements that she felt needed to be done.

Frances was always a dedicated parishioner of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Kearny. Shortly after Frank’s passing in late 1990, she moved to Wayne to live with her daughter Joyce and son-in-law Jim. From that time on, she joined them at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne.

Frances was the beloved wife for 49 blessed years of the late Frank Ditullio (1990); loving mother of Joyce and husband Jim Testa of Wayne, Kent and wife Joan Ditullio of East Stroudsburg, PA, Mark Ditullio, Esq. and wife Jessica of Bexley, OH; the late Joan Romanick and the late Frank Ditullio; cherished grandmother of: Father Brian, Matthew, Anthony, James, Michael, Jonathan, Kristine, Frank, and Harry; adored great-grandmother of Rocco, Bruno, Emilia, and Matthew; dear sister of Josephine McEwen of North Arlington, and Sam Bruzzi of Paramus.

Francisco “Frankie” Ortiz, age 58, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 27, 2016.

Frankie was born in Aibonito, Puerto Rico, the second of Calixto and Josefina Ortiz’ thirteen children. When he was just two years old, he moved to the Bronx, NY where he spent his childhood.

From the time he was just a little boy, Frankie had a fascination with the heavens. He loved studying the stars and other astronomical wonders so it’s no surprise that his lifework had to do with that which was in the sky. He grew up dreaming of becoming an astronaut or a rocket engineer. After graduating in 1974 from Aviation High School in Queens, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1976. He served proudly for twelve years including time as a gunner, then served another ten years in the Army Reserves. After his full-time Army service, Frankie moved to Paterson and worked as a mechanic working on Cobra and Black Hawk helicopters for Picatinny Arsenal in Dover.

While back visiting family in Puerto Rico, Frankie was introduced by his brother to a loving woman named Maria. They got married on June 11, 1988 at the Santa Maria Pentecostal Church in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. Frankie and his new wife made their first home together in Paterson where they soon were blest with a precious baby girl. Frankie loved the name Amaryllis – a gorgeous flower, so that became his little girls name. One of the first things he did was buy her a soft, fluffy, stuffed bunny rabbit. In 1999, the blessing of a baby boy came. Frankie and Maria named him Francisco Ortiz, Jr. and the name “Junior” soon became what every one called him. As Junior grew, Frankie loved running track with him. He wanted the best opportunities for his two children, so in 2000, he moved the family from Paterson to Wayne, so that Amaryllis and Junior could get the best education possible.

Frankie continued in his work with Picatinny Arsenal until 1994. He then joined Jet Aviation in Teterboro where he continued to work as a helicopter mechanic. He was such a gifted mechanic and very enterprising. On a couple of occasions, there just wasn’t a tool for what Frankie needed to do, so he invented one. He later had those tools patented. He stayed with Jet Aviation until 2008, then he joined Prudential Insurance Company where he shifted away from helicopters, working instead on the company’s fleet of private corporate jets. Frankie was working there to the present and he loved the opportunity to travel to many destinations including Alaska, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, China, England, and Malaysia, which his job afforded.

Frankie had a great lust for life and he perceived all the opportunities before him like a little boy in a candy store would perceive the candy. As a child growing up in the Bronx, he loved going to his karate lessons and he moved all the way up to the level of brown belt. As an adult, he wasn’t able to continue but in 2013 he resumed his karate sport and subsequently rose to the level of yellow belt. Being a jet engine mechanic, it’s no surprise that Frankie was really talented working with his hands. He loved old cars and his greatest pride was refurbishing a 1969 Chevy Camaro which he rebuilt from the ground up. When it was time to feed his mind, one of his favorite places to go was the History Channel. The knowledge he gained was great inspiration for conversations about government conspiracy theories and talk about the current events in politics.

Above all Frankie was the consummate family man - not just to his immediate family but to his whole extended family – Mom, his brothers and sisters, and nephews and nieces too. He knew everyone’s birthday and, with twelve brothers and sisters that was some great feat! Frankie parlayed his love of family with his love of cooking and he was always visiting different family members just so that he could bring them something good to eat that he lovingly made.

Frankie had a genuine servant heart. If you had a need, Frankie was there in a flash and he’d give you the shirt off his back if that’s what it took to help you. He was an encourager who was great at giving you the words that you needed to carry on. He actually felt a great sense of responsibility for his family and he had no problem challenging you to strive to be the best that you could be.

Frankie is survived by his loving daughter Amaryllis Ortiz of Camden and loving son Francisco, Jr. “Jr.” of Wayne; his dear mother Josefina Garcia of San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico; eleven brothers and sisters: Calixto Ortiz of the Bronx, NY, Sonia Ortiz of the Bronx, NY, Evelyn Ortiz of Puerto Rico, Millie Ortiz of Puerto Rico, Jose Ortiz of Atlanta, GA, Nancy Ortiz of Puerto Rico, Edwin Ortiz of Atlanta, GA, Ivette Ortiz of Puerto Rico, Lourdes Ortiz of Puerto Rico, David Ortiz of Puerto Rico, and William Ortiz of Puerto Rico; his former wife Maria of Wayne; and countless nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his dear father Calixto Ortiz, and his brother John Ortiz.

Frances V. (Scaturro) Menzo, née Bocina age 89 of Pompton Plains, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 14, 2016.

Born in East Orange, her family moved to Fayette Avenue in Wayne when Fran was just two years old. She grew up in that home and, because Wayne didn’t have its own high school at that time, she attended Pompton Lakes High School where she played basketball and graduated with the Class of 1944. After high school Fran worked for a time as a waitress at her brother Casper’s diner.

As a young lady, Fran’s dancing skills caught the eye of a young man named Samuel Scaturro one evening at a dance hall in East Orange. Not a bad dancer himself, they danced together and that night, a beautiful romance was born. They married a couple years later in 1946 at Holy Cross Church in the Mountainview section of Wayne.

Meanwhile, her parents had sold the house on Fayette Avenue and had since moved into the house next door. Then one day, that house Fran grew up in went up for sale again so she and Sam bought it back. Over the next seven years, from 1948 to 1955, Fran and Sam established a beautiful family welcoming three children: Ben, Ginny, and Stephen. Fran settled into the role of mom and homemaker and she served admirably! Her family held her cooking and baking talents up in high esteem and they especially loved her home-made manicotti and Italian wedding soup. Fran always made Christmas a special and memorable time for family and friends hosting dinner and lots of Italian cookies. She especially got a kick out of hosting non-Italian guests for Christmas because they’d always be full after the first course, never realizing that dinner was an all-day, take-a-nap-in-between, multi-course event.

When Stephen, Fran’s youngest, began attending high school, she rejoined the ranks of those who work outside the home. Her first job was with the Township of Wayne where she was a secretary in the tax department. She worked there for ten years, before taking a job as a secretary with Singer Kearfott where she worked for twenty more years, most recently in their West Paterson location, before retiring permanently.

Fran’s greatest pastimes included dancing and traveling. She and Sam spent many nights with friends at places like Donahue’s Dance Club as well as events at the American Legion Hall. Together, they also took some exciting trips to Italy and Hawaii. They were really enjoying the empty nest years but they came to a sudden and sad end when Sam passed away in 1982 after a loving marriage of thirty-six years.

In 1983 Fran said goodbye to the house on Fayette Ave., purchasing a home in Packanack Lake. A year later, when the big floods hit the north Jersey area, Fayette Ave. was not spared from the floods and Fran was all too thankful she had sold the year before. A parishioner of Holy Cross Church in the Mountainview section of Wayne for many years, when she moved to Packanack Lake, she found spiritual guidance and nourishment at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish where she remained a faithful parishioner until moving to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains in 2010.

Eventually, Fran found love again when she met John Menzo at a travel club. They dated for a time and ultimately decided to tie the knot in 1984. They had twenty five years of a “happy and fun” marriage together until John’s passing in 2009. John also shared Fran’s love of dancing so, whenever the occasion allowed, they would spend a pleasant evening dancing together with friends. They also shared a love for travel and together visited twenty-five countries including all of the United States.

One of Fran’s greatest joys was having her whole family gathered at the summer house down the Jersey shore in Belmar. The family always gathers on the same spot on the beach – right where 19th Ave. runs into the beach. For the past ten years, a tradition has developed as the whole Scaturro clan gathers annually for a family get-together on the weekend after Labor Day.

Fran will be dearly missed but her family gives thanks for her life and are grateful that she is at peace.

Surviving are Fran’s son Benjamin and wife Deborah Scaturro of Bloomingdale, daughter Virginia and husband Chester Zalusky of Wayne, and son Stephen and wife Nancy Scaturro of Greenwood Lake, NY; six grandchildren: Samuel, David, Benjamin, Jr., Regina, Michael and Andrew; ten great-grandchildren: Emma, Julian, Sophia, Aliyah, Arianna, Maréa, Matthew, Zachary, Ryan and Nathan; and two siblings: Rosalie Pitch of Tampa, FL, and Casper and wife Phyllis Bocina of Far Hills, NJ. She was predeceased by her first husband Samuel Scaturro in 1982, her second husband John Menzo in 2009, and her grandson Shawn Scaturro in 1992.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Frances’ name are asked to consider American Cancer Society, NJ Chapter, 20 Mercer Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 (www.cancer.org).

Eufrasia “Florence” Venturini (nee Rizzo), age 79 of Toms River and formerly of Wayne, died peacefully on Friday, November 11, 2016. Florence worked as a Medical Assistant for Dr. Wry in Carlstadt, and also for several doctors at the Medical Park on Ratzer Rd. in Wayne.

Florence was born and raised in Carlstadt, NJ and she graduated from St. Mary’s High School in East Rutherford. She met her husband, James Venturini, on a blind date and they hit it off from the start. Truth be told, on their first date Jim was unaware that Florence was deaf in one ear. He talked to her the whole night…on her deaf side! She didn’t think too much of his conversation skills that night, but he eventually figured out which ear to whisper in. They were soon married at St. Joseph’s Church in Carlstadt on August 29, 1964. Their wedding was officiated by Fr. Mychal Judge, a dear friend of the family throughout the years. Florence and Jim moved to Wayne in 1966 where they raised their family and made many memories. They had a camper and used to take the family to various destinations, usually ones with historic relevance, up and down the entire East Coast. Summer vacation with the camper at Lake George was among the most memorable for all the family, and they also spent quality time at a campground in Tuckerton for many summers.

She enjoyed league bowling at the lanes in Caldwell and had bowled a perfect game! She enjoyed reading and dining out, but she was also a great cook. Her mother-in-law was German and Florence was skilled at making several traditional German meals. Her sauerbraten was delicious, as were her signature stuffed artichokes, and lemon chicken. She was a hands-on mom with her two children and always involved with their activities, especially the school PTO.

Florence is survived by her two children; Maria Pisani and her husband Glenn of New Egypt, NJ, and Jimmy Venturini of Hillsborough, NJ, two grandchildren; Nicholas and Jessica Pisani of New Egypt, NJ, one sister; Antoinette Rihlik and her husband Charles of Carlstadt, and one brother; Paul Rizzo and his wife Kathy of Carlstadt, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband James in 2003 and by her brother Michael earlier this year.

Flora Adams Martin, age 91, a resident of Moravian Manor in Lititz, PA, formerly of the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne passed away on August 30, 2016

age 91, a resident of Moravian Manor in Lititz, PA, passed away on August 30, 2016.  She was born on June 27, 1925 in Lancaster County, PA, daughter of the late Homer Zern & Alverta Cooper Adams and the stepdaughter of the late Catherine Fleischman Adams.  She was the beloved wife of Homer E. Martin for nearly 66 years.

In addition to her husband, Flora is survived by two daughters: Suzanne, wife of Robert Ward, of Burlington, NJ and Carol, wife of David Dickey, of Omaha, NE; three grandchildren: Steven Ward, Jennifer & Kevin Dickey.  She also is survived by a brother, Homer R. Adams, married to June Strohm Adams, also of Lititz.  She was preceded in death by a sister, Ruby Adams Hess.

Flora graduated from Lititz High School in 1943.  After high school graduation, she worked in the lab at the Armstrong Cork Company.  In 1948, she received her RN at the University Of Pennsylvania Hospital School Of Nursing.  She also earned her Public Health Nursing Certificate at the University of Pennsylvania in 1950.  From 1948 to 1951, Flora was a visiting nurse in Philadelphia.

Flora was an active member of the Packanack Community Church of Wayne, NJ, where she was very involved in the Agape Program and Benevolence Committee.  After retiring to Lititz, she joined the Lititz Moravian Congregation.  Flora enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, bird watching, helping others and being a mother and grandmother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Packanack Community Church, 120 Lake Drive East, Wayne, NJ 07470; or to Moravian Manor, 300 West Lemon Street, Lititz, PA 17543; or to the Book of Remembrance, Lititz Moravian Congregation, 8 Church Square, Lititz, PA 17543.

Elsie Scheidemann, (nee Domitrowitz), age 78, of Wayne, passed away in her home on Saturday, February 6, 2016.

Elsie was born in Passaic and raised in the city of Clifton. After graduating from Clifton High School, she quickly landed a job in the accounting department at the Bell Telephone Company. She worked there for several years until she met her husband Ernest Scheidemann, and they were married in 1958.

Elsie then took on the difficult and strenuous job of a homemaker. She spent the next thirty years of her life caring for and raising her seven children. She also went on to care for her grandchildren full time for several years as well. After being a stay-at-home mom, Elsie decided to re-enter the workforce. This was a decision that her family thought took great courage. She applied for a job as a teller at Wayne Savings Bank and spent the next twenty years working in the banking industry, eventually attaining the position of Assistant Branch Manager at Valley National Bank. She was very proud of this, especially after not being in the workforce for so many years.

Elsie was very artistic and enjoyed oil painting. She loved to paint all types of subjects including animals, beautiful outdoor scenes, and her favorite New York Yankees such as Derek Jeter, of whom she was a great fan. Her house was filled with her artwork, which her family will forever cherish. Most of all, Elsie had a true love for animals, especially dogs. She was happiest when surrounded by her furry friends and had as many as four dogs at one time. Her adored Puggles, Max and Maggie, will greatly miss her.

Elsie was devoted to her Catholic faith and her family. She was a very loving and proud mother and grandmother. Her family remembers her being compassionate, thoughtful, and always deeply concerned about everyone close to her. Elsie was a very special person who touched the lives of many people, and she will be missed by her friends and family alike.

Elsie is survived by her husband Ernest; five daughters: Annmarie Reidy and her husband Keith of Wayne, Susan Mulvihill and her husband Steve of Wayne, Barbara Sher of Tucson, AZ, Laura Pizzi and her husband Daniel of Moorestown, and Sara Condrey and her fiancé Mark Prout of Suwannee, GA; two sons: Ernest and his fiancé Christine Behm of Naples, FL, and James and his wife Lori of Wayne; and 15 grandchildren: Keith, Casey, Alyssa, Brittany, Bryant, Kyle, Andrew, Alex, Jake, Erin, Sarah, Rebecca, Hannah, Danny, and Jillian. She was predeceased by her grandson Michael Scheidemann in January 2014.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Elsie’s name may be made to the Wayne Animal Shelter, 201 Pompton Plains Crossroads, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Eugene E. Seifried, Jr., “Buddy,” age 61 of Wayne, died suddenly on Friday, January 22, 2016. Buddy had struggled with juvenile diabetes since he was twelve years old and just three years ago he received a kidney transplant that gave him a new lease on life. Buddy was eternally grateful to the donor who made it all possible.

It might seem strange to say, but Buddy’s final day couldn’t have been better. It began with morning mass at church, followed by a laughter-filled day with his brother and then, while preparing to watch some TV after dinner, the Lord called him home quietly, in one, swift moment.

Buddy had been the manager of Shop Rite Liquors in Oakland for thirty-one years before retiring five years ago. He had a heart of gold and was one of the most gracious people you could have ever met. He was kind and generous, almost to a fault. He was a talented conversationalist and an even better listener. His younger brothers recall during their childhood how Buddy was their trusted “protector” and the neighborhood bullies often ended up dealing with Buddy if they started any trouble. Buddy looked out for the underdog in any situation and he had a keen sense of right and wrong. Surely his strong faith in God and devotion to the Catholic Church served as his guiding light.

Buddy was a diehard fisherman who just couldn’t get enough. Living in Lions Head Lake provided him with plenty of local opportunities to fish, often dropping a line in the water up at the reservoir near his home, and he also enjoyed some epic fishing trips to remote lakes in Canada. He loved his music too; remaining true to the classics of his childhood. The classic rock of the 1960’s and 70’s made up the bulk of his collection. He had a great collection of music and he was just recently reminiscing with his brothers about the day he bought the first Led Zeppelin album upon its release in 1969.

Buddy is survived by his beloved mother; Margaret Seifried of Wayne, by his two brothers; Stephen C. Seifried and his wife Joyce of Wayne, and Charles H. Seifried and his wife Verica of Pompton Plains, and five beloved nieces and nephews: Stephen and Kasey Seifried of Wayne, Natasha and Alexander Seifried of Pompton Plains, and Michael Catalonello of Morris Plains. He was predeceased by his sister Mary Ellen Catalonello in 2013 and by his father; Eugene Seifried of Wayne in 1994.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 560 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 would be appreciated.

Flordelina Villanueva, age 81, of Wayne, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2016, with her family by her side.

Evelyn F. Atieh (nee: Makoujy), 91, a 55 year resident of Wayne, passed away peacefully at her home on February 21, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Phillipsburg NJ in 1924 to Naim and Anna Makoujy, Evelyn grew up in Paterson where she met and married Michael in 1950 who predeceased her in 1992. Evelyn worked with her husband at East End Market and The Greeting Place, two businesses they owned over the years. In her later life, she worked at Passaic County VoTech High School and was a beloved volunteer at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pompton Plains. She was a long time member of St. Ann Melkite Church in Woodland Park and the American Legion John Raad Post Ladies Auxiliary.

Evelyn was universally loved by everyone who met her. Her smile and personality could light up a room. Evelyn loved cooking for her family and friends, playing bingo and card games, spending summer weekends at the Jersey Shore with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Loving mother of Michael and his wife Leticia of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, Dennis and his wife Sandy of West Milford, Charles and his wife Tina of Wayne, Michelle DeBlasi and her husband Frank of Pompton Plains, Denise Quackenbush and her husband Dave of Pequannock, Evelyn Leenas and her husband Andrew of Ringwood. Beloved sister of Joseph Makoujy, his wife June of Paterson, dear sister-in-law of both Lee Makoujy of Totowa and Lorraine Asbaty and her husband Louis of Cedar Grove. Loving Grandma of 18 grandchildren, Melissa Hurley and her husband Seth, Jessica DeBlasi, Allison Lin and her husband Walt, Michael Atieh and his wife Marley, Steven Atieh, Kevin Atieh, Daniel Atieh and his wife Nicola, Amanda Atieh, Andrew Atieh, David Quackenbush and his wife Courtney, Dennis Quackenbush and his wife Melissa, Dana Volpe and her husband Jonathan, Matthew Atieh, Jenny Atieh, Samantha Leenas, Maggie Leenas, Molly Leenas and Kara Leenas. Cherished Great Grandma to 11 great grandchildren, Madison, Harrison, Aislynn, Ava, Gabriella, Tyler, Julianna, Rilynn, Nora, Dominic and Caroline and the 12th on the way!

In lieu of flowers, donations in Evelyn’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, would be greatly appreciated.

Florence Favreau (Shields) age 88 of West Milford passed peacefully on Monday, June 27, 2016.

She was born and raised in the Paterson area. She then lived and raised 3 children in Midland Park. She moved to the Florida Keys for a brief time and then returned to New Jersey residing in Toms River. For the last 5 years has lived in West Milford to be closer to family.

Florence worked as a legal secretary for Dan Kamp, Esq. in Midland Park and later worked as a home health care aid. It was during her work as a health care aid that she met Raymond Favreau while caring for his mother. Florence and Raymond fell in love and have been married for over thirty years.

Those who know Florence knew she was full of energy and generally the life of the party. She was always the one who started and ended just about every conversation. She was always attentive to having her hair and nails just so and when she heard her granddaughter Christine and daughter-in-law Teri got shamrock tattoos she went and got her own too when she was in her 70s. Her children fondly remember family camping vacations and only recently learned that Florence didn’t like to camp at all but did it for the love of her children. Florence loved being with her grandchildren and found great joy in all their accomplishments. She was also known as the cool grandma with her tattoo and toe ring.

Florence was the loving wife of over thirty years to Raymond Favreau; devoted mother of Bill Nichols and his wife Claire of Ringwood, Donald Nichols and his wife Teri of HoHoKus and Chris Nichols and his wife Mari of Maryland; cherished grandmother of Christine and Steven Nichols; dear sister of the late Robert Shields (June 13, 2016) and his surviving wife Linda, Lorraine Hopf of Florida, Marilyn Nichols of Midland Park, and Evelyn McCoid of Plainfield.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 would be appreciated.

Elizabeth F. Holmes (nee Schluth), age 93, of Wayne and formerly of Riverdale and a long-time resident of Montville, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 15, 2016.

Betty was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating from high school she worked in retail for several department stores in New Jersey.

During World War II, there were a few sailors on shore leave from the Naval Shipyard in Philadelphia. They followed Betty and her friends into one of the local movie theatres. One of those sailors was a man named Theodore Holmes - the man that Betty fell in love with and ultimately married in 1946. Soon after marriage, she became a homemaker and dedicated her life to her family including raising her two daughters. Through the years the family lived in Pompton Lakes, Wayne, and Montville

Betty was dedicated to her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While attending Pompton Reformed Church in Pompton Lakes, she enjoyed singing in the choir and was also a member of the women’s guild. Most recently, she was a member of the Hawthorne Gospel Church, attending there for many years. For over ten years Betty also volunteered her time at Chilton Memorial Hospital in Pequannock where she brought a little sunshine and happiness into the lives of the patients under her care.

After they both retired, Betty and Ted enjoyed special times traveling all over the world. They experienced wonderfully memorable vacations to places such as Israel, Hawaii, and other parts of Europe. Much of their travel time was spent with dear friends from church. Ted and Betty cherished 66 years of loving marriage before Ted’s passing in 2012.

Above all of Betty’s interests and talents, she was a dedicated mother and grandmother. She was an extraordinary person and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends.

Betty is survived by her two dear daughters Betsy Kelly and husband David of Pequannock, and Donna Powell of Sarasota, FL; and two adored grandchildren Matthew and Christopher. She was predeceased by her husband Ted in 2012 and by her son-in-law Mickey Powell in 2007.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Elizabeth’s name are asked to consider The Foundation for Eastern Christian School, 50 Oakwood Ave., North Haledon, NJ 07508-2449 or online at easternchristian.org.

Ethel Holder (nee Koegler) age 88, of Wayne, passed peacefully on Tuesday, February 16, 2016.

She was born in Passaic and raised in Clifton having moved to Wayne over sixty years ago.

As a young woman Ethel worked as a graphic artist and when her daughter Barbara was born she dedicated herself to being a full time mom. When her daughter Barbara reached her working years both Ethel and her husband Herman took care of her children establishing a deep grandparent bond with them. In 2003 Herman passed away and Ethel’s brother Bill stepped right in to help with Barbara’s children. Her children were very fortunate to have an “Uncle Bill” who was more like a grandfather than an uncle. Uncle Bill passed away just three weeks ago on January 26, 2016. Loosing their grandmother Ethel and Uncle Bill within a month of each other has been very hard on the whole family.

Ethel will be remembered as a loving, kind, gentle soul and caregiver. She was artistic, an animal lover, and in her younger years served as a caregiver during her mother’s twilight years. She truly enjoyed a trip to Canada in her younger years and, although she didn’t get to travel much, seeing the world beyond the horizon of her sight was something she yearned to do.

She was a devout Catholic and parishioner of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne for over sixty years.

Ethel was the loving wife of the late Herman J. Holder (2003); devoted mother of Barbara Lacey and her husband Jim of Boonton Township; cherished grandmother of Lauren and Leanne Lacey; much loved sister of Robert and his wife Betty of Mahomet, Il., Frederick and his wife Gladys of Hope, and the late William Koegler (January 2016); loving aunt to nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and a great-great-nephew.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad, PO Box 291, Wayne, NJ 07474 would be appreciated.

Ellen Lowell (Tillson) age 103 passed peacefully on January 19, 2016.

She was born in Passaic and raised in Paterson before moving to Wayne over fifty years ago.

Ellen lived with her daughter Edith and son-in-law Donald for many years.  She played an active role in the daily lives of her two grandchildren Dana and David.  She loved her family very much and they loved her back.

She was the loving grandmother of Dana Barone and her husband Jim of Wayne, and David Neglio and his wife Diane of Naples, Florida, and had five cherished great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her daughter Edith Neglio and her son-in-law Donald Neglio.

Eric Johnson, age 51 of Warwick, NY died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday, September 10, 2016. He was well known among the tower construction industry and owner of Tri National Services.

Eric grew up in Passaic, NJ and graduated from Passaic High School in 1983. He was so anxious to join the Marine Corps that he skipped the graduation ceremony and instead received his diploma in that mail while on Parris Island, at Marine Corps Boot Camp. After completing his service in the Marines, Eric tried a few different career paths. He worked as an exterminator for a little while, but after getting sprayed by a skunk he decided that just wasn’t for him. He eventually landed a job with Allen Tower, working on cell phone towers. The work thrilled him and he lacked any fear of heights. “Hoss,” as he was known by many of his coworkers, possessed incredible physical strength and he was one of the smartest problem solvers you could have ever known. He had the unique ability to visualize solutions far before anyone else could, and then he could plot out the course to resolve any issue. He was truly, and very naturally brilliant; simply a master at his trade and he earned the respect of his peers. Eric was also very charismatic and he could relate to and connect with just about anyone.

Eric was a loving father to his four children, and probably one of the most unique fathers, too. His daughter, Cheyenne, was of course ‘daddy’s little girl’ and she could do no wrong. His boys, on the other hand, were taught from the earliest age they can recall that they had to learn to either be smart, or tough. His idea of ‘positive reinforcement’ often involved a paintball gun, and welts were worn like a badge of honor. When his boys were old enough to start working with him, he wanted to test their fear of heights. Each recalls their father teasing them while at dizzying heights high up on a cellphone tower, and none of them were ever shaken. They each made him very proud and all refer to him as the greatest boss they could have worked for. Eric achieved a lot in his career, but nothing made him more proud than his children.

Eric was also known around Warwick as “Coach J.” or “Coach Johnson” to many of the local kids. He was such a huge guy that many of the kids were frightened by him at first, but they all came to respect and revere him as their beloved coach. Eric’s best friend, and partner in crime, saw yet another side of him; one who enjoyed having lots of fun either on a Caribbean cruise with his pals, or just a day at the spa getting a pedicure! Eric seemingly did it all in his brief fifty one years.

Eric was also blessed to have met Wendi Perez, his fiancé. They had been acquainted for several years as neighbors and had become very close during the past four years. To Wendi, Eric was an adorable, handsome, caring man. He knew how to push her buttons, but everyone knew that Eric was madly in love with her and she made him the happiest he's ever been. She describes Eric as tough, intelligent, loving, brave, generous and by far the most fun and exciting individual anyone could ask for in their lives. They both catered to each other and treasured every moment together. They enjoyed countless vacations all over the world and always had the best times together. Wendi was his "Ride or Die" woman and he respected her immensely for that. Wendi, as well as countless others, will miss Eric terribly. Wendi knows that he will be waiting for her with open arms and a strawberry margarita in Paradise.

Eric is survived by his four loving children; Cheyenne Johnson, Edward Johnson, and Gunner Johnson, all of Warwick, NY and Dustin Johnson of Tucson, Arizona, his fiancé; Wendi Perez of Warwick, his mother; Vivian Mitchell, his brother; Raymond Humphries, four sisters; Tina Johnson, Shellie Johnson, Bridgette Humphries, and Ruth Stewart. He was predeceased by his father, Edward, in 1970.

Eleanore Hoyt Vorgetts (nee: Morgan), age 100 of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia and formerly of Wayne, passed away peacefully in Berkeley Springs, WV on June 2, 2016. She was affectionately known to many as "Ellie" and frequently reminded many that she was "Eleanore with an extra 'E'."

Born in Wayne June 25, 1915 in a house on old Newark-Pompton Turnpike within walking distance of the DeMott and Ryerson General Store, she was blessed with a keen memory that retained vivid facts of Wayne life in an earlier era until shortly before her passing. Facts she gleaned much pleasure from by sharing vignettes with kith and kin like: riding horseback from the paddock near where the great thoroughbred, "Preakness" was foaled to Al Henn's Tavern near Hamburg Turnpike; watching from her schoolyard at the Mountain View School as barges drifted by on the Morris Canal; seeing an angry plume of black smoke rise above the duPont Powder Works following a tragic explosion; squeezing into a crowded seat on a horse-drawn sled for a ride up the Turnpike to church on a cold Sunday morning; sharing a breakfast at the home of Mrs. LeGrand Parish.

Eleanore lived most of her life in Wayne until moving to Fredon, NJ in 1990 and WV in 2008. She was a direct descendant of several generations of Wayne residents. She was married in 1947 to her late husband, Louis J. Vorgetts at Holy Cross RC Church, which was organized with the help of some of her ancestors. She, herself, was among the original parishioners that helped organize the parish of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church.

She was a 1934 graduate of Benedictine Academy in Paterson. Multi-talented, she was an accomplished pianist and worked in early life as a professional singer including six years with the Montclair Operetta Club. She was also a 20+ years dedicated volunteer with the International Red Cross and later, a volunteer working with Disabled American Veterans (DAV). She was a dedicated cat lover and an proponent of animal rights. She loved gardening and was an avid Mets fan.

Eleanore is survived by her son Joseph of Berkeley Springs, WV and three grand children, Michael Vorgetts, Meana Kasi and Amy Kasi.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Disabled American Veterans (DAV.org) are encouraged.

Elizabeth (Betty) Din, age 90, of Wayne, passed peacefully at home on Monday, July 18, 2016.

Betty was born and raised up through the age of eighteen in Manchester, England. One night when Betty’s mother’s friend was having people over there was this handsome young US Army Air Corps soldier named Charles Din, Jr. who spied her from across the room. He asked her to go out and she flatly said “no.” but Betty’s mom ruled with a bit of an iron hand and told her that she would go out with that nice young man. Betty listened to her mom and soon fell in love with Charles. They married at her mother’s home in Manchester, England. As newlyweds they lived in England where their first son Allan was born. Charles convinced Betty to move to the United States and soon they were calling 1929 Washington Street in the Bronx, New York home. Charles came first to establish a residence and his war bride Betty and son Allan soon followed. Betty was not impressed with Charles’ choice of a residence, and was mortified by the cockroaches she saw crawling about. She told Charles “I can’t live with those!” It was there that their first daughter Elizabeth (Betty) was born. The family moved to Saddle Brook, New Jersey where they were blessed with another daughter Patricia. After a move to the bustling town of Paterson, Betty had two more sons, Denis and Darren. After brief stays in Elmwood Park and Florida, the family moved to Pompton Lakes. Upon Charles’s passing in 1982, Betty and her daughter Elizabeth (Betty)and children were living in Bloomingdale, then back to Pompton Lakes for a brief stay before moving into the Edward Sisco Village in Wayne where they have lived for the past 22+ years.

Betty couldn’t hide the England flowing through her veins and was always calling others “love” and drinking her “spot of tea with milk - no sugar.” She will be remembered as a loyal, generous, happy person who was always willing to help others. She loved to sing and even recorded singing sessions on tape. Her home was always neat and tidy as everything had a place and there was a proper place for everything. Most of all Betty loved being a mom. She made the work of being a mom look effortless. The only time the kids got in the way was when she was watching her beloved Soap Opera’s on television. Often during the show the children would be told “go outside!”

Betty was devoted to her Catholic Faith. For many years she was a parishioner of Saint Stephen’s Church in Paterson. She even taught kindergarten there for a few years. Upon moving to Wayne she became a parishioner of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish in Wayne. For many years she was close personal friends with the founding priest Msgr. Stanley Schinski. She attended Mass here daily for over forty years and served as a Eucharistic Minister, sang in the choir, and was always making sure the sanctuary was clean, neat, and the alter cloths were pressed and displayed perfectly.

She was the beloved wife of 37 years to the late Charles Din, Jr. (1982); devoted mother of Allan Din and his wife Iris of Floral City, FL, Elizabeth (Betty) Benitez of Wayne, Patricia Din of Oak Ridge, the late Denis Din (March 2014), Darren Din and his wife Janet of Hardyston; cherished grandmother of Erik Din and his wife Jacole, William Benitez, Carolann Jaworski, Lori Benitez and her fiancé Andrew Derendal, David Benitez and his wife Jysseth, and the late Denis Din, Jr. (April 2014) and his surviving wife LaLaina; she was the loving great-grandmother of Kerri Abdallah, Joseph Benitez, Erik Abdallah, Benjamin Benitez, Gianna Benitez, Alyssa Benitez, Brian Benitez, Logan Din, Gavin Jaworksi, Braxton Din, and Icely Din; she is survived by her sister Patricia Britten of Manchester, England; her niece, Sandra and husband Michael Jones, and their children Ian and Michelle, and was predeceased by her siblings Denis, Jim, Thomas, and Mari.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.

Ellen M. Wiseman, age 100, a long-time resident of Paterson and recently of Bloomingdale, passed peacefully on Friday, July 1, 2016. Her loving family was present by her side at the time of her passing.

Ellen was born in Paterson and she lived there for 94 of her 100 years of life.

In 1916, the year that Ellen was born, a loaf of bread cost seven cents, a postage stamp was two cents, the light switch was invented, the average price of a car was $400, only 6% of Americans graduated high school and only 8% of American homes had a telephone. Ellen grew up in the great industrial city of Paterson and it had everything to offer that a young girl like her could want. She always cherished fine memories of growing up in Paterson, where she could see the latest picture show at the majestic Fabian Theatre, stop to get some just-roasted fresh Planters peanuts, then shop with her Mom and her sister at some of the city’s flagship stores of that time, like Kresges, Grants, Woolworths and Quackenbush’s. In her golden years she kept this tradition with her cousin Ruth only the town changed to Wayne with a movie and a bite to eat afterwards. She loved sunning at the beach in Atlantic City and she had a fascination with amusement parks going regularly to the former Palisades Amusement Park which opened in 1898 and closed for good in 1971.

Ellen attended Paterson’s Eastside High School where she was active on the swim team – one time taking second place in form diving, and active in the drama club. She had a part in 1933 in a play called Unseen and she still has the playbill from that night in which it’s printed “Cream-O-Pops will be sold at intermission.” After graduating in 1934, Ellen got her first job working in one of Paterson’s hosiery mills. From there, she took a job with Dumont Television and Tubes of Clifton, one of the first mass-producing television and TV parts manufacturers.

When Ellen was 23, she married the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Wiseman. They met while in high school together and, in 1939, they exchanged their wedding vows before God, family and friends at the church she had been a member of all of her life – St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on the corner of East 18th Street and Broadway in Paterson. Her church was only a mile from her house on 21st Street and as a young girl she loved to sing in the girls’ choir. Much to Ellen’s delight, they eventually allowed boys in the choir too. As a young woman, she also was active in the St. Paul’s Dramatic Society which suited her animated personality perfectly! She remained a faithful member of the church up until the last few years when it became too difficult for her to get there. Even so, she faithfully tithed to God’s work at St. Paul’s, right on up until the time the good Lord called her home.

After marriage Ellen took a position as a legal secretary with the Erie Railroad. She worked at its’ various locations including Hoboken, Paterson and New York City. She loved her job and stayed with the railroad for over twenty years until retiring in 1981.

In 1970, Ellen and Dick moved from Paterson to North Haledon. They were there for only four years when Dick passed away unexpectedly. She cherished many special memories of their 35-year marriage, attending plays together on New York City’s Broadway, traveling together all over the United States in their Airstream motor home as well as the trips they took to Hawaii and Canada. During the course of their marriage, they got involved in a venture purchasing two Christmas tree farms in Vermont. Eventually they sold them but they loved Vermont so much, they ended up building a summer home with a pond suitable for swimming on the property. Nothing made them happier than having their parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews visit for a few days on “the farm”. They had a big old tire swing that swung over the swimming pond and everyone had fun enjoying a relaxing time in the Vermont summer sun. When visiting Aunt Ellen and Uncle Dick’s you could always count on a good time and everyone enjoyed the day trips to the nearby Eisenhower Locks, one of seven canal locks on the St. Lawrence River leg of the St. Lawrence Seaway near Massena, NY.

A year after Dick’s passing, in 1975, Ellen moved in with her mom, back in the home she grew up in on 21st Street. There she continued traveling even across country with mom to visit relatives in California by bus and train and yes with a stop in Las Vegas. Mom would not fly. She remained there till she was 99, then moved in with her nephew Robert Klein in Bloomingdale.

Ellen was always up for a good time. In her younger years she was an excellent bowler, maintaining an average in the 160’s. As she got older, her love of amusement parks never waned. Palisades Park closed but there were many other parks with roller coasters to conquer. From Asbury Park, Seaside Heights, Wildwood, and Great Adventure, Ellen rode them all and she and Dick would take their nieces and nephews to them a couple of times every summer. She loved the Atlantic City beach as a girl and she loved the city’s casinos as an adult. With an insatiable thirst for fun and friendship, it seemed that there wasn’t a senior citizen club in Passaic County that Ellen wasn’t a member of. Those groups were always testing their luck at the casinos in Atlantic City as well as the ones like Mt. Airy Lodge and the Sands Casino in Pennsylvania and you could bet that Ellen would be on the bus with a pocket-book full of quarters. If the seniors weren’t taking an organized trip, it was no problem for Ellen. She would just call her friend Vera and a few others, or take a local bus tour to one. Of course there might even be overnight trip to Mohegan Sun or Foxwoods Casino with a side trip to Mystic Seaport.

Ellen always held a special place in her heart for her family, and since she loved them so much, she found it easy to pour herself into their lives. Whether it was shopping in Paterson with her mom, sister and nieces, or visiting her brother Jimmy and going for a ride on his family boat in Connecticut, or spoiling her niece and nephews or fawning over her great-nieces and nephew and great-great nieces and nephews, Ellen was consistent good company and a lot of fun to be with.

Always good with a joke, she could dish it out but she could take a good ribbing too. She had a heart of gold and would give the needy stranger on the street the coat off her back. Her youthful approach to life enabled her to ride on the back of a quad ATV when she was just one year shy of being a centenarian. Even in her attempt to get out of bed a couple of days before God called her home, Ellen was quoted as saying “I’ve got this!”

Ellen is survived by her older sister Florence Klein of Butler, her two nephews: Robert Klein, Sr. and wife Sandra of Bloomingdale, and James Goodridge of Stamford, CT; one niece: Beverly Risden of Butler; great-nieces and nephew: Sherri and husband Joseph Hahn, Christine and husband Alan Villano, and Robert Klein, Jr. and wife Marianna; and seven great-great nieces and nephews: Robert, Nicholas, Madison, Sophia, Zoey, Dallas, and Brody. In addition to her husband Dick, she was predeceased by her brother James Goodridge.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ellen’s name are asked to consider: Make-A-Wish Foundation - Samuel and Josephine Plumeri Wishing Place, 1347 Perrineville Road, Monroe Township, NJ 08831, or online at nj.wish.org

Elizabeth Auth, age 85 of Wayne, died peacefully at home on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 with her loving husband at her bedside. She was a resident of Wayne since 1970.

Elizabeth was born in Mittelkalbach, Germany, a small farming community outside Frankfurt. She was raised on her family’s farm and later became a trained seamstress. She was able to create beautiful clothing and she even crafted her own wedding gown.

Growing up in such a small town meant that Elizabeth knew everyone. Walter Auth was one of her childhood friends who she knew since the earliest of her elementary school days, when they were both just little kids. As they matured, their friendship transformed into courtship and they found themselves in love. When Elizabeth began hinting at marriage, Walter was a bit nervous about the whole idea and unsure if he could be a good provider. Somehow, Elizabeth knew Walter better than he knew himself and she persuaded him, ever so gently, to take the next step and get married. They were wed on May 31, 1955 in Mittelkalbach and sixty one years of a loving, devoted marriage have ensued since. Walter describes her as simply “the best,” a treasure without measure. Although they quite literally had nothing when they married, Walter said he married a rich woman because she gave him everything he could have ever dreamed of having.

Shortly after marrying, they moved to America, seeking a life better than they knew in post-war Germany. They came with little more than the clothes they were wearing, but Elizabeth was a frugal one and within a few years they were able to save enough to buy a small two family home in Passaic. Within a few more years they bought a vacant lot in Wayne and began to build their dream home together, where they have lived ever since. Elizabeth tended to the landscaping and was a master at it. She had strawberries and tomatoes, beautiful trees, and she planted flowers such that they sequentially bloomed to make the beds look lovely all season long. Her children recall her being simply a wonderful mom who was a passionate caregiver, who was always there for them. They each have fond memories of Terrace Lake, where she would take the kids every day during the summer, and several family trips back to Germany. Later, she became a full-time grandmother, helping to raise her three grandchildren, sharing her love and building a special bond with each of them. They will all miss her dearly.

Elizabeth is survived by her loving and devoted husband; Walter of Wayne, three children; Sylvia Carey of Wayne, Dorothy Auth and her husband Stephen Edgington of Montclair, and Ron Auth of Cedar Knolls, three grandchildren; Audry, Henry and Grace Edgington of Montclair.

Elizabeth Pace Appaluccio age 84 of Lionshead area of Wayne passed away peacefully at her home while receiving the loving care of her family. She was born in Dundee, Scotland and at age seventeen made a packed with her girlfriend that they would immigrate to the United States of America. Her girlfriend backed out but Betty stayed the course and went on her own. She arrived by a boat named the USS Marine Shark in New York Harbor where her aunt met her.

She settled in Paterson, NJ where she lived with her Father’s sister. Her first job was in a lampshade factory in Garfield and later at Haband Company in Paterson who were in clothing retailers. It is interesting to note that her days were spent as a homemaker and her nights outside working to generate income to support her family.

She raised six children with this schedule and never regretted a day of it. Like her husband Jim, she had a wonderful can-do attitude that prevailed in her life story.

Jim and Betty were wonderful providers to their family. They had an entrepreneurial ambition that was built into their work ethic. They both held many jobs simultaneously. Besides the Postal Service and being a Homemaker, they would keep themselves active don landscaping, lampshade making and any job they could find to generate income for their family.

A legacy is what we inherit and this family’s finest legacy is a super work ethic. They follow to this day their father’s and their mother’s “can do” ways as they carry out their own personal life journey. Thanks mom and dad for teaching us this ambitious work ethic way in our lives.

One evening, in her teens, she was at the Polish Home Dance Hall in Passaic and she met a handsome fellow named Jim. Her gift of personality included a Scottish twinkle in her eye that captured Jim’s heart and after a two year courtship a smitten Jim proposed to Betty. They cherished nearly years of loyal and loving marriage together.

Surviving are two sons; Mark Appaluccio of Pompton Lakes, David Appaluccio of Wayne, three daughters;, Lori Hon of Inverness, FL, Carol Albano and her husband Joseph of Wayne, Jaclyn Sexton of Wayne, one son in law Paul Blitzstein of New Foundland, nine grandchildren; Jared Blitzstein and his wife Kate, Justin Blitzstein and his wife Colleen, Billy Hon and his wife Noel, Alyxandra Albano, Nicholas Appaluccio, Nicolette Albano, Sydney Sexton, Riley Sexton, and Gavin Sexton, She was predeceased by her husband Jim Appaluccio (2011), and her daughter Jamie Blitzstein (2013).

In lieu of flowers donations in Betty’s name may be made to Valley Home Care, 15 Essex Rd, Paramus, NJ 07652.

Edith T. Giangiobbe (nee Cavalleri), age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on Sunday, January 24, 2016. She was a resident of Wayne since 1961.

Edith was born in Brooklyn, NY to Joseph and Nancy Cavalleri of Milan, Italy. Her father, Joseph, was a talented woodworker making fine Italian furniture in New York City. After high school, Edith was trained as a clothing designer and later designed women’s bathing suits and negligees for a company in New York City. She met Michael Giangiobbe in 1945 and they enjoyed their first date walking the Brooklyn waterfront along Shore Parkway, overlooking the Verrazano Narrows. They married on June 8, 1947 at St. Frances De Chantal RC Church in Brooklyn and honeymooned at Lake George. They lived in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn for fourteen years before moving to Wayne in 1961.

Edith is survived by her son John and his wife Mary of Haskell, NJ, and one sister; Ines DeVito of Lakewood, NJ. She was predeceased by her husband Michael in 2013.

Edward J. Blum, age 81 of Wanaque, passed away peacefully, on Monday, April 18, 2016.

Born and raised in Rutherford, he was a resident of Wayne for 52 years before moving to Wanaque in 2006.

Ed graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology with a B.S. and Master’s degree. He was a mechanical engineer for many years with Curtiss Wright Corporation and most recently with Rotary Power International Inc. of Wood Ridge.

Ed met his wife Rosemary at a church youth group fundraiser at St. Joseph’s R.C. in East Rutherford. After they helped raise all that money they gathered with their friends for a communion breakfast and sing-along. A beautiful romance was born that day which ultimately led to marriage at St. Mary’s Church in Rutherford. The newlyweds moved to Packanack Manor in Wayne where they raised their two boys and spent many wonderful years with friendships made in the neighborhood.

Ed loved to read, especially mystery and suspense stories. He loved the challenge of the New York Times crossword puzzle and more recently, he loved going on his computer to research his ancestry.

Surviving are his beloved wife of 53 years - Rosemary; two sons: Edward Jerome Blum and his wife Christina Calcote of Los Angeles, CA, and Stephen Blum of Dingmans Ferry, PA; and two grandsons: Jack and Dashiell. He was predeceased by his sister Joan Blum in 2008.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Edward’s name are asked to consider his high school alma mater – St. Benedict’s Preparatory School, 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Newark, NJ 07102 (www.sbp.org), or Compassionate Care Hospice 1373 Broad Street, Suite 309, Clifton, NJ 07013.

Dr. John G. Scarpa, age 77, of Fair Lawn, passed Saturday, April 23, 2016.

Dr. Scarpa was born in Passaic General Hospital and raised in East Paterson which is now known as Elmwood Park. He graduated from Pope Pius XII High School in Passaic with the Class of 1956. He continued his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Rutherford where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology with the Class of 1960. He went on to receive his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Dental School in Teaneck with the Class of 1964.

After his schooling Dr. Scarpa enlisted in the United States Army having completed the Medical Field Service School in Fort Sam, Houston, Texas in July of 1964. Most of his service was with the 34th General Hospital in Orleans France when, with just six months of service left, General Charles De Gaulle, the French President, ordered all United States Troops to leave France. Dr. Scarpa spent the last six months of his service with the US Dental Service Unit at Fort Dix, New Jersey. With the rank of Captain, he was honorably discharged and awarded the National Defense Service Medal on August 31, 1967.

Dr. Scarpa met the love of his life, Gerri, on the first day of high school. He was on the football team and she was a cheerleader for Pope Pius XII in Passaic. Their first date was to a high school dance and their high school sweetheart love blossomed. Dr. Scarpa asked Gerri to marry him after Christmas Mass at Saint George’s Church in Paterson. They married on November 19, 1960 followed by a reception at the Friar Tuck Inn in Cedar Grove. They honeymooned at the Montmartre Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida and have enjoyed a loving and “easy” marriage of fifty-six years.

When Dr. Scarpa left the US Army he and Gerri lived with her parents in Clifton for a short time and then bought a home in Wayne. After some flooding issues in Wayne they soon moved to Fair Lawn where they lived for over forty years. They moved to Clifton for a few years and returned to Fair Lawn just last year.

He operated his dental practice in Elmwood Park for over forty-seven years. He enjoyed his work and retired just two years ago on May 1, 2014.

Many will remember his easygoing personality, except those who knew him as a militaristic terror as handicap chairman at North Jersey Country Club. He was a member of the club for over forty years and served as their president from 1991-1992. An avid golfer, he was competitive, and often planned vacations around locations where he could golf with his wife Gerri and others. He has played courses all over the world including England, Ireland, and Scotland. He even won the Smirnoff International Pro Am in Bermuda with his good friends Ray Ferguson, Dr. Harry Rohrer, and Dr. Edward Chestnut. Although he loved the game of golf many will remember him as a fierce Gin player in his later years. He spent many an hour in the cardroom of North Jersey Country Club and cherished the friends he made there. The recent passing of Dominick J. Darpino and now Dr. Scarpa will forever change the atmosphere of the card room at the club. Another side of Dr. Scarpa many didn’t know was the he was an avid reader. If he liked an author he would buy any book they wrote. It was said he could spend days at the Barnes and Noble bookstore.

Dr. Scarpa was extremely proud of his children and grandchildren. He would attend every game and recital he could. Although they would sometimes catch him sleeping - his hand holding the side of his face and his glasses askew - you could always count on him to be there. He will also be remembered as a dedicated New York Giants fan that had season tickets for many years. He knew the general manager of the stadium and would always complain that they didn’t offer meatball sandwiches, one of his favorites. When walking through the concourse on their way to their seats at the stadium they once found a stand selling meatball sandwiches with a sign above that read “Scarpa’s Meatball Sandwiches.”

He was the loving husband of Gerri Scarpa; devoted father of Dr. Nathalie Lota and her husband Dr. Christopher Lota of Franklin Lakes, and Alison DiScola and her husband Emilio also of Franklin Lakes; he was the cherished grandfather of Nicholas DiScola, Morgan Lota, Rachel Lota, and Matthew DiScola; dear brother of Virginia Scalione and her husband Harry (Butch) of Virginia Beach, VA; much loved brother-in-law of Edward Gut and his wife Jane of Wayne; dearly loved uncle of Jennifer Gut, Jeffrey Gut, and Philip Scalione.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation, 3 Golf Drive, Suite 206, Kenilworth, NJ 07033 or the Fair Lawn Ambulance Corps, 1 Cooper’s Way, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 would be appreciated.

Wills, Edwin George, age 84, passed away at home on Monday, December 19, 2016.

Edwin George Wills, son of Edwin Harold Wills and his wife Frieda Wills of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Beloved husband of Dorothy Wills and father of Glenn and his wife Donna of Wanaque, NJ, Edwin and his wife Linda of Wayne, NJ, Marilynn and her husband Mark of Lake Hiawatha, NJ, Janice and her husband Santos of East Stroudsburg, PA, and David and his wife Kathy of Waterville, Me. Beloved grandfather of ten grandchildren: AJ, Christina, Teresa (deceased), Brianna, Erica, Alyssa, Scott, Vanessa, Michael, Justin and three great-grandchildren: Zachary, Jake and Rylee.

Ed worked 44 years for the Okonite Cable Company and was transferred from Wilkes Barre, Pa. to their plant in Passaic, NJ, where he met, courted and eventually married Dot on October 20, 1956. They enjoyed bowling together and singing in church choirs and Ed was an active member of the Clifton Songsters, a Barbershop group for many years. Ed enjoyed coaching his sons in baseball, basketball and football and watching his daughters compete in gymnastics. He relished the opportunities to watch his grandchildren compete in baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball. Ed was a godly man who taught Sunday school and was an elder and served on many committees while attending the First Presbyterian Church in Clifton, the Christian Reformed Church in Clifton and Preakness United Reformed Church in Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted in memory of Teresa Wills on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

For his many patients Dr. Irmiere gave a new meaning to caring and trust.

Victor Joseph Irmiere, MD, a family physician for 47 years in Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on September 5, 2016 with Eleanor, his devoted wife of 55 years, at his side. For his many patients Dr. Irmiere gave a new meaning to caring and trust.

Dr. Irmiere was a gifted family physician with a very special intellect that melded well with those around him. It could be said that he was a physician who could easily and kindly relate to just about anyone. As he once said: “It is interesting how things worked out…my Dad was once a shepherd. Before working as a weaver in Paterson, he tended his family’s sheep in the town of Cerreto in Italy. I, too, became a shepherd but not for sheep, I became a shepherd for people.” And shepherd he did as he guided thousands through a myriad of health issues over the years.

He received his formal education at PS #7 and Paterson Central High School then went on to graduate from Rutgers University and Hahnemann Medical School (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia. He received his Medical Doctor Degree in 1955.

Dr. Irmiere began his medical career in Paterson after completing his internship and residency at Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. He held the post of Captain and Family physician in the US Air Force at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring, Texas. In 1973 he came to Wayne General Hospital in Wayne and was affiliated with Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson. He served as the Medical Director of Passaic Valley Hospice and Llanfair House Nursing Home in Wayne and was a member of the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of New Jersey, and the Passaic County Medical Society. He was a founding member and parishioner of Our Lady of Consolation Church in Wayne.

While at St. Joseph’s he met the love of his life, Eleanor Anna Hudak Irmiere. They married in 1960 and had six children – Alice Marcy (Brian), Claudia Irmiere (Lorraine), Andrew Irmiere (Ann), Dorothy Levorse (Anthony), Victoria Randazzo (Thomas), and Maria Parry (James). Their family continued to grow with eleven grandchildren. Dr. Irmiere leaves behind many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Florence Vanacore of East Hanover, NJ, is his last surviving sibling.

He was pre-deceased by his father Nicholas of Cerreto Sannita, Italy and his mother Leonarda Agrusti of Alberobello, Italy, his brother Frank Irmiere, and his sister Grace Falco.

Dr. Irmiere was devoted to his family, cats, gardening, food, Italian opera, WQXR, and his Catholic faith. He was a good man with a good heart and gave of himself always even in death as he donated his body to a NJ medical school for anatomic study.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Passaic Valley Hospice, 783 Riverview Drive, Totowa, NJ 07511 or Our Lady of Consolation Church.

Edward G. Fattell, age 82 of Wayne, died on Sunday, May 1, 2016. He was a resident of Wayne since 1963.



Ed had been a Certified Public Accountant throughout his career, retiring as the Vice President of Finance at Jacobson Manufacturing in Kenilworth. He was gifted with numbers, could do complex mathematics in his head, and was always proud of being a CPA. He was a member of the NJ Society of CPAs, the Knights of Columbus, and the Elks.

Ed lived on Rockland St. in Paterson and was raised in the Stoney Road neighborhood. His family parishes were St. Ann’s Melkite and St. Bonaventure’s. Ed received his grammar and high school education at St. Bon’s. After high school, Ed attended Manhattan College and graduated with a BBA in Accounting. Upon graduation he was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving from 1956 – 1958 at the School for Colonels & Generals in Fort Belvoir, Virginia as an Accounting Specialist where he was able to further hone his skills as an accountant. He subsequently served as a reservist until 1963. After being discharged from the Army, Ed returned home to his high school sweetheart; Joan Diese. Knowing each other since they were children and falling in love they were now ready to take the next step. Ed & Joan married on September 12, 1959 at St. Ann Melkite Catholic Church on Marshall St. in Paterson and a honeymoon to Florida followed. They flew to Miami Beach, staying at the famous Fontainebleau Hotel. Upon their return, they settled in Clifton before moving to Wayne in 1963 where they raised their family.

Ed enjoyed going “Down the Shore” since he was a young kid. Summers at Point Pleasant Beach were a celebrated part of his life. Ed & Joan were fortunate to be able to buy a shore house nearly forty years ago next to the house his parents owned. This was a place where the whole family could be together and it enabled us to make countless memories. Ed wasn’t happy unless the little house on the row was overflowing with family and friends. He would cook on the grill, making sure there was plenty of food for everyone. He loved card games and each morning he and Joan would play a few hands of gin rummy as they ate their breakfast. He entertained us with countless stories, loved playing ‘pirates’ with his grandchildren, strolling up the boardwalk or just to watch the boats go in and out of the inlet. He was a big NY Yankees and NY GIANTS fan and liked to relax by watching the games on TV. Family was so important to him. He was a “wonderful” husband, a loving father, and a devoted grandfather. Hard work and education were important to him. He was so proud of all his family, especially his children and grandchildren. He loved to share his words of wisdom and to hear of all our accomplishments. His family will all miss him dearly, but are so grateful for the time we had together and all of the wonderful memories we have to treasure.

Ed is survived by his loving wife Joan of Wayne, NJ, his three children; Donna Beckum and her husband Todd of Eagle, CO, Karen Horey and her husband Kevin of Pittsford, NY, and Edward and his wife Marie of Wayne, NJ, seven grandchildren; Tyler, Bailey, and Carley Beckum of Eagle, CO, Ryan, Meaghan, and Colin Horey of Pittsford, NY, and Edward IV of Wayne, NJ. Ed was predeceased by his grandson Matthew James Beckum in 2000, by his father & mother Edward & Mary Fattell, his brother John in 1979, and by his two sisters; Janet Ged in 1986 and Myleen Fattell Ged in 1999. 



Eileen P. Anderson, age 79, of Montville, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

Born in a one-room log cabin in Vermillion Dam, MN, she was raised there on a small farm and attended a one room school that didn’t have electricity until she was eleven years old. Eileen was one of a total of twelve students spread out over eight grades that attended that school. As a little girl she enjoyed going with her father, Axel, to the logging camp where she would have pancakes with all the lumberjacks.

Eileen met her husband-to-be, Stuart Anderson, in 1962 at a coffee social after a church service in Chicago. They fell in love and married a year later and remained in Chicago for three years, later moving to Brooklyn, NY where she worked for the New York City Department of Air Pollution Control. After three years in Brooklyn, Eileen and Stuart moved once more, this time to Montville, NJ where they have remained since 1969. They enjoyed a loving marriage that spanned 52 years in which they cherished many great memories.

Primarily a stay-at-home mom while her two sons Erik and Kirk and her daughter Lisa were growing up, Eileen’s primary focus was caring for her family and maintaining a loving home for the children and her husband Stuart who worked long days in NYC. She was actively involved in her growing children’s lives volunteering as a grade school mom, serving as a volunteer in the school’s library, and in the Montville Little League. She did all this while also working for Rich’s Curtains in Parsippany. Of course, this was part-time work so she could insure being present when her kids returned from a day at school. She enjoyed that work as a seamstress, especially getting involved in the creative and custom design work. Her skills were so great that she once was asked to make the background tapestry for famous singer Erykah Badu for a performance at Radio City Music Hall.

Eileen was very dedicated to her faith and, as a member of St. Timothy Lutheran Church of Wayne for the past 45 years, she served actively on the Altar Guild, as a singer in the church choir, and treasurer of various women’s organizations.

Upon retirement, Eileen and Stuart greatly enjoyed seeing the world including extensive travel throughout the United States as well as abroad to countries including: Russia, France, Germany, England, Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Croatia, Serbia, the Baltic States, Spain Portugal, Peru, Uruguay, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, multiple Caribbean Islands, and many others. She loved having her family gathered and spending quality time with her two grandsons, Justin and Jacob. Always happy in the kitchen, she loved to cook and bake, especially during the Christmas holidays so it’s was no wonder that her Christmas bread was usually gone before the first present was open.

In addition to her beloved husband Stuart, Eileen is survived by two sons: Erik and wife Sharon Anderson of Stanhope, Kirk and wife Sandra Anderson of Big Lake, MN; one daughter: Lisa Anderson of Montville; two grandsons: Justin and Jacob; three siblings: Elva Williams, John and wife Mary Arvila, and Arvid and wife Greta Arvila; one sister-in-law: Maryanne Arvila; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased by two brothers: Ray Arvila and Leslie Arvila; and one sister-in-law: Arlis Arvila.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Eileen’s name are asked to consider either the St. Timothy Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 395 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ, or Eva’s Village, 393 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07501 (evasvillage.org).

Eleanor M. Hatala (nee Bundas), age 77 of Wayne, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, July 27, 2016. She had been a resident of Wayne since 1962.

Eleanor grew up in Bloomfield and became a Registered Nurse, working in the Mountainside Hospital Maternity Ward during the 1960’s. She met her husband, John Hatala, at a church social function and they really hit it off. Their wedding followed not long after that, with vows exchanged on May 6, 1961 – Eleanor’s twenty-second birthday! They purchased a home in Wayne and moved there in 1962. Together, they traveled extensively, went ‘antiquing’ throughout the Northeast (which her children will describe as being more like ‘junking’ based upon some of the things they came home with!), and many weekends away. They also enjoyed regular nights out for dinner with close friends, usually followed by playing cards late into the evening. Eleanor and John celebrated fifty-five years together this year and sadly both passed away within just a few months of each other.

Throughout the years, Eleanor enjoyed gardening around her home, both inside and outside. She could often be seen tending to the flowers outside, or transferring her precious flower bulbs in and out of the soil. Her gardens always look immaculate. She had a deep love of all animals, but was particularly fond of her beloved cats and German Shepherds. She was also a devoted grandmother to her six grandchildren. Each of them held a very special place in her heart and they will all miss her dearly.

Eleanor is survived by her three sons; John of Wayne, James and his wife Cheryl of Glen Cove, Long Island, and Mark and his wife Lisa of Morristown, six grandchildren; John, Alex, Catherine, Michael, Veronica and Nicholas, her sister and best friend; Esther Merten of Bloomfield, and her dear cousin Liz Weber of Florida. She was predeceased by her husband John just four months ago.

For those wishing to make a donation in Eleanor’s memory, please consider the Friends of Wayne Animals, “FOWA” and mail to PO Box 3701, Wayne, NJ 07474 or visit www.fowarescue.com for more information or to donate online.

Edna “Mema” Brown age 77 of Wayne passed Saturday, September 3, 2016.

Age 77 of Wayne passed Saturday, September 3, 2016.

She was born in Paterson and lived in Prospect Park, Hawthorne, Layton, and Milford, PA before moving to Wayne in 2014.

Edna was a beautician working in North Haledon, she also worked at the Sandyston-Walpack Elementary School in Layton and for twenty-one years she worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff before retiring in 2000.

Edna will be remembered as a quiet, reserved, person who had a front license plate frame that said “Happiness is Being a Grandma.” Family Christmas gathering at her home and annual visits to the Sussex County Farm and Horse show were something the family could always count on. She was also an avid flower gardener with a blossom filled yard.

She was the loving mother of Patty Brown of Wayne, and James Brown and his wife Donna of Layton; cherished grandmother of Valerie Panek and Jorge Padmore, Courtney Brown, Alyssa Liebeskind, and Jacob Brown; she was also the deeply loved great-grandmother of Jade Padmore.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 18148-0142 would be appreciated.

Dirk Uges, age 81 of Eastham, Massachusetts and formerly of Wayne, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 while visiting with his family in Wayne. He had lived in Wayne for decades before retiring to Cape Cod in 2000.

Dirk was raised in Maplewood, NJ and he graduated from Columbia High School. He joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the motor pool where he developed his love of all things mechanical. Dirk was a “motor head” at heart and loved working on cars, engines, and even his lawnmower. When his John Deere tractor developed a rough idle recently, he spent hours researching the problem and determined there was an issue in the carburetor. Maintaining his cars was a passion and each one looks like they just came out of the showroom. He wasn’t happy unless things were working flawlessly and he took “meticulous” to a whole new level.

He worked for 25 years as a truck driver for Anchor Motor Freight in Linden, NJ, and was a member of Teamsters Local 469 of Perth Amboy. Dirk earned several “Million Mile” awards for safe driving and he took his job very seriously. Even in retirement, he preferred to drive in the dead of the night so to avoid all the daytime traffic and nonsense on the road. When visiting his family and driving from Cape Cod to Wayne, he would leave the Cape around midnight and arrive to Wayne around 5 AM, having the road mostly to himself all along the way. Truth be told, Dirk enjoyed doing most things by himself and he wasn’t exactly the sociable type. The peace and quiet of Cape Cod was ideal but even he got a little lonely from time to time and would visit his family in Wayne. After a couple of weeks with his daughter and her family, he would decide he’d had enough and head back to the solitude of Cape Cod. That was perfect for him.

Dirk met his wife Joyce Bruisma in the 1950’s while she happened to be dating one of Dirk’s friends. Dirk convinced her that she would be better off dating him instead, and she obliged! They married on August 13, 1958 and enjoyed a truly unique connection. Joyce was often ill and Dirk was devoted to taking care of her. Although their daily interactions often resembled that of Edith and Archie Bunker, they loved each other deeply. They also shared a deep love for their Savior, Jesus Christ. Dirk was born again while living in California with Joyce in the early years of their marriage. Upon returning to Wayne, they made Calvary Temple their home church and really enjoyed taking an active part in the community there. Sadly, Joyce passed in 2000 and Dirk missed her dearly.

Dirk is survived by his two children; Joyce “Lynn” See and her husband Dan of Wayne, Lou Uges and his wife Patty of Pompano, FL, five grandchildren; Jessica and Christina Uges of Florida, and Daniel, Jared, and Renee See of Wayne, a brother; Ernest Uges and his wife Trudy of California, a sister, Jeanne Uges of Eastham, MA, a nephew; Michael Uges and niece; Barbara McGowan.

Donations in Dirk’s memory would be appreciated to the Calvary Temple, 1111 Preakness Ave., Wayne, NJ 07470.

A well-known drummer and active in the Northern New Jersey music scene for decades.

Donald G. Hellerman, age 78 of Pompton Lakes died on Friday, Nov. 25, 2016. He was a well-known drummer and active in the Northern New Jersey music scene for decades.

Don was a salesman working in the trucking industry and spent the bulk of his career with APA Trucking. Later, during the late 1990’s, he was the Superintendent at Brookside Heights Condo Association in Wanaque, and then he worked at the Pompton Lakes Recycle Center until retiring just three years ago. He was a very friendly guy and everyone who knew him loved him.

Truth be told, Don never enjoyed his ‘day job’ nearly as much as he loved playing the drums and his cars! He was always performing all around the area. For many years, Don was in the “house band” at venues such as the Friar Tuck, the Holster, Suzanna Jones, the Alpine House, Gaspar’s, Sorenson’s, and many more. It’s estimated that he played thousands of weddings in his time, sometimes two a day. He played drums just recently at Jigg’s Corner in Butler with Lou Pallo. Don had also been the Drum Corps Teacher for the Stardusters and the Hawthorne Caballeros. He also became the Coordinator for the Pompton Lakes High School Marching Band competitions, something he enjoyed thoroughly and did for many years. If there was something that had to do with music, drumming or his cars, Don was there and happy to be a part of. As a member of the Tri-County Cruisers car club, he was the DJ at many of the local car shows around Wayne. Don was also lifetime member of the Elks.

Don loved his family too, especially his three girls. Summer vacations were always memorable at the Jersey Shore, where Don rented the same house eighteen years running in Ortley Beach. He had few boats over the years and typically kept one at the Minisceongo Yacht Club in Stony Point, NY and previously on Greenwood Lake. They would cruise around on the Hudson often and one summer he took his family to the NJ shore on their boat. They lived on their cabin cruiser for the whole trip, which turned out to be quite the adventure! They all have wonderful memories of their dad to cherish throughout their lifetimes.

Don met his wife Sandra at the famous Old Barn Milk Bar in Wayne in the late 1950’s. They were married on January 22, 1961 at the First Reformed Church of Pompton Plains and they embarked on a honeymoon to Atlantic City. They lived in Pompton Plains briefly before settling to Pompton Lakes in 1964 where Don has lived ever since. They enjoyed forty nine years of marriage before Sandra passed in 2010.

Don is survived by his three daughters; Donna Boss of Pompton Lakes, Nancy Ficklin of Wanaque, and Susan Kozak-Manna and her husband Robert of Pompton Plains, three granddaughters; Deena Kozak, Jenna Manna, and Cassandra Ficklin, and by his beloved dog and best friend; Buddy.

Doris I Staada (formerly Threlfall), age 89, of Fairlawn, Paterson, and West Milford, passed peacefully on Wednesday, June 8, 2016.

She was born in the family home at 73 Henry Street in Paterson, to Bill and Anna Threlfall. Doris attended Eastside High School with the Class of 1944. She met a cute boy named George Staada while at a party in Fairlawn. The two fell in love and while George was on leave from the US Navy they married on August 4, 1945 at the Warren Point Presbyterian Church in Fairlawn. Doris and George honeymooned in Norfolk, Virginia where they ran out of money. George had to call his father to come pick them up, as George’s leave was over and he was being re-deployed.

As a young lady Doris worked as a telephone switchboard operator for New Jersey Bell Telephone in Paterson. After George’s service Doris dedicated herself to being a homemaker and raising her children. Doris was a member of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, where she was an active member in the Couples Club for many years. In addition, Doris was an involved leader in both the Brownies, and Girls Scouts of America. After her children grew up, Doris worked for the M&M Mars Company in Hackettstown; for a while she also worked for a watch company at the Mount Olive Trade Zone. Doris retired at the age of 60 to care for a special needs woman for several years.

Doris will be remembered as a friendly and cheerful woman who lit up any room she entered. She was a great dancer and singer, and loved a good party. She cherished her family and had an infectious laugh. Doris was also an accomplished seamstress. She made curtains, designed her own dresses, and even made the christening gown that has been used by generations of family members. Her love of travel brought her to Hawaii Florida, New Orleans, Vermont, and many trips to the Jersey Shore. Doris is the beloved sister in law of Bob Staada and Dorothy Staada as well as an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews who remained close throughout her life. She is remembered and cherished by everyone in the family. The family has many fond memories of summers at Sparta Lake and Lake Hopatcong, and the annual trips to the Hotel Elberon in Wildwood. Cooking was not Doris’ forte. George did most of the cooking but she claimed to make great lemon merengue pie and pineapple upside-down cake. The family swears that her husband George actually made them because after his passing in 1979 neither were ever made again. It all makes sense because George worshiped the ground Doris walked on; she was his princess, and they had a loving and devoted marriage of thirty-four years.

Doris was the loving mother of George A. Staada, Jr. and his wife Barbara of Cornelius, North Carolina (formerly of West Milford), Glenn A. Staada and his wife Evelyn of Long Valley, and Michele Hammell and her husband Jim of West Milford. She was the cherished grandmother of Tracey Cusick and her husband Chris, Jennifer Meisten and her husband Ken, Glenn Staada, Jr. and his wife JoEllen, Thomas Staada and his wife Karen, Kristin Doyal and her husband Matthew, and Jamie Hammell. Doris loved her nine great grandchildren Shannon Cusick, Jack Cusick, Lily Meisten, Isabella (Bella) Meisten, Nicholas (Nicky) Staada, Natalie Staada, Scott Doyal, Eviana (Evie) Doyal, and Tyler Doyal. She was predeceased by two brothers George and Bob Threlfall.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ 07860, the ALS Association, Gift Processing Center, PO Box 6051, Albert Lea, MN 56007, or the JDRF, 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, NY, NY 10004 would be appreciated.

Doris Rose Gallo, age 84, of Pompton Plains, passed away at home on Monday, December 19, 2016.

Doris was born and raised in Paterson. As a young lady she modeled a bit and she was known in school as the make-up guru who lots of other girls went to for advice on how to make themselves look pretty. Doris was very intelligent and, as a child, she dreamed of someday being a scientist but knew that her dream would probably never come true because there just wasn’t any money for that in those days.

Shortly after graduating from Eastside High School with the Class of 1949, she met a young man named Leo Gallo at a dance. When Leo first saw Doris he knew right then that she was the girl he would someday marry, the most beautiful girl in the world. On that evening, let’s just say that the feeling was not mutual. Leo tried to pursue a nice relationship with Doris but she was not interested. He went off and joined the U.S. Marines and they both ended up dating other people. Then one night while Leo was home on leave, he ran into Doris again at the Madison Plaza Diner in Paterson. The girl he was dating was with him but he got up anyway and went over to talk to Doris. Lord knows what they talked about but three months later, on May 24, 1952, they got married at St. Michael’s Church in Paterson. Doris was 20 and Leo was 22. They honeymooned in Niagara Falls, then settled into their first apartment together in Paterson, upstairs from her childhood friend, Betty.

Soon after marriage, Doris and Leo built their first home – a three-bedroom ranch at 346 Wabash Avenue in Paterson for a mere $10,000 on land that they bought from Doris’ grandfather. There they were blessed with three children between 1954 and 1962 – two girls and a boy. Doris settled into the primary role of wife, mother, and homemaker but also worked part time in Leo’s business – Ferraro’s Liquor Store on 21st Avenue in Paterson. Her primary role was that of bookkeeper but she’d also pitch in when needed to help in the daily operation of the business, and an occasional bottle of red wine was compensation enough for her.

In 1969, Doris and Leo moved the family into another new home they built in West Paterson on Mountain Ave. Doris loved this home so much as it was built right across from Garrett Mountain Park and since she was such a nature lover, this home was located in the most perfect setting! Fall was her favorite season because she loved taking rides to see the vibrant colors of the changing foliage all around her.

In 1978, Doris and Leo sold the liquor store and moved again, this time to Las Vegas, Nevada. They had been out there for vacation and they just loved it. When they moved there in the seventies, it wasn’t nearly as built up and commercialized at it is today. In fact, their house was located on the outskirts of town. Beyond their home was desert and mountains. While living there, they loved taking trips to beautiful Lake Mead and Red Rock, and of course, they loved seeing if they could meet up with their good friend “Lady Luck” at the Palace Station and Texas Station Casinos. Doris was the stereotypical casino lady. She’d take a puff of her Camel cigarette and pull the slot machine lever. Then another puff on the smoke and another pull of the lever. She was quite good at it and occasionally, she’d win! She and Leo made friends with a cast of characters that they met while gambling, and in the early days, when the casinos were offering “comped” meals, they always took advantage. Overall they enjoyed a great life in Las Vegas, and when Leo wasn't working as a cab driver, they took several trips to see the wonders of nature at Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, and for their 50th wedding anniversary, their children blew them away with a cruise to Alaska. Doris and Leo also loved their trip to Hawaii and took cruises to Coronado. After her beloved Leo passed away in 2007, Doris moved back to New Jersey in 2011, settling in and enjoying a wonderful community of friends at Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

No matter where she lived, Doris always cherished time spent with her grandchildren. When they were little, she’d read to them or teach them how to put puzzles together. As they got older, they loved going to Grandmas in Las Vegas and swimming in her pool. She was always bragging about them as they provided so much joy in her life.

Doris had a great zest for life and she enjoyed a wide array of different pastimes and experiences. As a child, she grew up near the train tracks in Paterson. She always loved the sound of a train. To Doris, her grandmother had the most beautiful flowers in all of Paterson. She embraced all that Grandma taught her about gardening and she always gave credit to her for her own green thumb. Doris was also an excellent seamstress who made a lot of her own beautiful clothes, along with matching dresses for her daughters. She was equally skilled in the art of knitting and crocheting and she made many beautiful baby blankets, afghans, sweaters, hats and mittens.

Like so many, Doris had a great love for the magnificence of the ocean. When her children were young, the family took regular trips down the Jersey shore to Wildwood Crest and, later in life, she especially liked to hit the beaches in North Carolina and in Hilton Head with Lesley, Jerry and her grandsons. Nothing could be better to Doris then a day on the beach, of course under her hat and umbrella because she burned in the shade, and taking in a good book. She was an avid reader and was especially attracted to Sci-Fi thrillers and murder mysteries, including anything written by Stephen King and Dean Koontz. She was also a wiz at crossword puzzles and word searches. In fact, she kept a little log of new words she learned while reading, including the definitions which she’d pull out for reference when she was doing one of those crossword puzzles. She also read the newspaper daily and, as a result of all her reading, she could speak well on almost any subject you could bring up.

Doris’ family will admit that sometimes she had a tough side to her. She didn’t cry that much but she definitely cried when her beloved dogs - Mikey, Nicky, and Sandy went to doggie heaven. Sometimes a bit stubborn, thick-headed and strong-willed, her family nevertheless will always be grateful for the good values she taught them like respect, the value of hard work, and love and affection for others.

Doris was the beloved wife of the late Leo Gallo (2007); loving mother of: Lesley Rubino and husband Germano of Wayne, Geoffrey Gallo of Las Vegas, NV, and Lisa Gallo-Gabbert and husband Steve of Las Vegas, NV; and four dear grandchildren: Robert Gallo, Justin Rubino, Michael Gallo, and Tyler Rubino. She was also predeceased by her dear sister Marlene Cobianchi.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Doris’ name are asked to consider the ASPCA, PO Box 96929, Washington DC 20090-6929 (www.aspca.org), or The Humane Society of the United States, Dept: Memorial Donations, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037 (www.humanesociety.org).

Dominick J. Darpino, Jr., often referred to as “Happy or Junior,” age 86, of Wayne passed peacefully at home with the comfort of family by his side.

He was born and raised in Newark, having lived at 485 North 11th Street in the city during his youth. He graduated from Barringer High School in Newark with the Class of 1947. The family moved out to the country in 1961 settling in Wayne.

As a young man in Newark Dominick met a cute girl named Nina Caliri. Nina was just eight years old and the two of them would walk down the street, holding hands, to get ice cream sodas. They were true childhood sweethearts.

Dominick proposed to Nina in 1950 just before he went into the Army. They were married in 1951 at St. Frances RC Church in Newark and honeymooned in California. Nina and Dom had enjoyed a loving, devoted, and caring marriage of sixty-six years.

After he was married he served in the United States Army during the Korean War. He attained the rank of Corporal before being honorably discharged in April of 1953. Nina recounts how she hardly recognized her husband when he returned from the service.

Dominick worked for his father, who was a builder, and learned the construction trade from his high school years forward. He founded Darmen Home Remodeling in 1962 which he ran for over forty years before turning the business over to his sons in 2002. Dom had a very strong work ethic and passed that on to his sons as well. Even during his retirement years Dom would show up on the job, get the guys coffee, and have to survey what was going on.

Dominick was always the life of the party. His smile and fun loving way endeared him to all. That is until he walked to the front of the line at parties to get his food. Dom was deeply loved and an amazing husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and boss that will be dearly missed. His home and office will never be the same without his yelling “let’s go and make it snappy!” Dom will also be remembered as the best boss anyone could ever ask for. In his younger years he spent a lot of time in Salisbury, Massachusetts where his dad owned an auction house. Dom’s children remember spending several summer vacations there as children. In more recent years Dom and Nina enjoyed spending the winter months at their condo in Hillsboro, Florida.

He was loved by the old guard as well as new members at North Jersey Country Club in Wayne which was his home away from home. For many years he was an avid golfer and was proud of the hole-in-one he got on hole number eight (now number two) back in September of 1983. It is said that he wouldn’t play golf with you unless there was at least a small wager on the game. The club’s card room will never be the same without his smiling face and easy going demeanor. He will also be missed by the fish in the lakes at the club. Dom would take bread from the club’s kitchen, grab a cart, and wander the grounds feeding the fish all while clinching a seemingly ever present cigar in his mouth.

He was the loving husband of 65 years to Nina (nee Caliri); devoted father of Christopher Darpino and his wife Lynda of Wayne, Robert Darpino and his wife Cindy of Wayne, and Dean Darpino and his wife Colleen of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Lisa Onnembo and her husband Giovanni, Tara Darpino and her fiancé Patrick McHugh, Melissa, Connor, Brynn, and Danielle Darpino; much loved great-grandfather of Giuliana and Nicholas Onnembo; dear brother of Gloria Ferrera of West Caldwell, Claire Tulino of Florida, Jeanette Mendola and Marino Darpino both of Fairfield; much loved brother in law of Gail Pisciotta.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 would be appreciated.

Dorothy (Dottie) Carlson (nee Parker), age 82, passed away peacefully on October 13th 2016 surrounded by her family at Merry Heart Health Care Center in Boonton, NJ. She was born on May 24th 1934 in Bainbridge, GA, daughter to the late Evelyn (nee Alday) and Benjamin Parker.

In high school in Paterson, NJ Dottie met a handsome blue eyed football player named Carl Carlson.  They fell in love and after high school Carl joined the Navy. They married on June 6, 1954. Carl was stationed in Norfolk, VA and Dottie lived in Paterson, N.J.  In 1957 when Carl came home from the Navy they moved to Wayne, NJ.  It was shortly after the move that Carl nicknamed Dottie “Molly” after the ever-talking character in Fibber McGee and Molly.  The nickname stuck for the duration of their 56 year marriage.  The license plate for their car read “Molly N Me”.  Molly was a “jack of all trades” and she became involved in many activities through the years.  To name a few:  Toy Buyer, Brownie Leader, Wayne Fire Company #1 Lady Auxiliary member, Avon Lady, Crossing Guard, Waitress, Demonstrator, Popular Club Distributor, Associate in the Transportation Department of GAF Corp., Counter Manager for cosmetic sales, newspaper article writer, local Democratic Association member, and Chair Lady for the Wayne Browse and Shop.  In addition, she was well recognized for her unique driving techniques.  Riding in the car with her was a nail-biting, stomach-churning experience.  Despite her driving challenges, she was able to navigate herself to almost anywhere from New Jersey to Virginia, Virginia to Pennsylvania, and back to New Jersey.  Family members would joke, and place bets on how far she would make it before getting lost or pulled-over. To their amazement she always reached her destination safe and sound.

Dottie and Carl resided in Wayne for 45 years before moving to be with family in Vernon, NJ. Dottie took incredible pride in raising her children and grandchildren. She was a long-term advocate for education of children, Native American reservations, and Humane Societies for animals. Dottie loved to read, and was well known by her friends and family for her expansive collection of classic novels and movies.  Throughout Dottie and Carl’s 56 year marriage they took many vacations and day trips.  Fort Myers, Florida was one of their favorite spots to visit.  Regardless of where they went, Carl would be behind the wheel of the car and “Molly” in the passenger seat.

In the years following Dottie’s retirement, she focused her attention on keeping a close and intimate family. Dottie looked for any excuse to host a party to see her whole family, and everybody remembers her at these events smiling and laughing.

Dottie is preceded in spirit by her husband Carl Carlson who passed in 2010. She is survived by her four loving children; Laura and her husband Peter Chianchiano, Ellen and her husband George (Sandy) Nimmo, Tom and his wife Helen Carlson and Jennifer Contino. She is also survived by her four grandchildren; Benjamin and Peter Chianchiano, and Carl and Julia Contino, and her brother Al Parker and his wife Phyllis, as well as several nieces and nephews.

She truly loved her blue eyed football player, her children, her grandchildren, close friends and butter pecan ice cream.

Contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org)

Doris Krisa (Okolski), age 88, of Wayne passed Saturday, September 17, 2016.

age 88, of Wayne, passed away quietly surrounded by her family on Saturday, September 17, 2016.

Daughter of the late Marie (Vladyka) Okolski and Louis Okloski. Dear sister of the late Louis Okolski Jr. She was born and raised in Garfield having graduated from Garfield High School with the Class of 1945.

Doris met a young man named Paul Krisa, Sr. while at a New Year’s Eve party and soon they fell in love. After three years of dating, they married on September 4, 1948 at Three Saints Church in Garfield and honeymooned in New England and Canada. They initially lived with Paul’s parents in Passaic and after a few years moved to their own home at 300 President Street in Saddle Brook. Out of their love came a bubbly, happy little boy, which they named Paul. Soon thereafter they bought a home at 20 Anderson Drive in Clifton where he spent his formative years. Doris and Paul maintained their home in Clifton until his passing in July 1982. Doris then moved to be closer to her son and his family. Her granddaughters were thrilled Grandma had moved closer.

Doris will be remembered as an outgoing, giving, trusting person who was very independent until just recently. She had a talent for arranging flowers and merged that into a hat making business. She ran a shop out of her home in Saddle Brook. For a time she also worked in the collections department of the Passaic National Bank. She loved to watch old movies, and enjoyed having her girlfriends over to play cards and Mahjong (she was very good at it).

Beyond being an amazing mother and grandmother, she was a terrific cook! She loved making cavatelli and broccoli and rice pudding for her granddaughters Lauren and Melissa. Her memorable dishes will be greatly missed.

Doris was the loving wife of 36 years to the late Paul Krisa, Sr. (1982) devoted mother of

Dr. Paul Krisa and his wife Maria; cherished grandmother of Lauren Hannan and her husband James, and Melissa Krisa and her fiancé Michael Madaio. Dear sister of the late Louis Okolski Jr.

Those contemplating a memorial donation are asked to consider St Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN, 38148-0142.

Dolores Macchiarelli (nee Panico) age 86 of Wayne passed away peacefully on November 12, 2016 with her family by her side.

Dolores was born and raised in Paterson, NJ. She lived there until moving to Wayne nearly thirty years ago. As a child, she grew up with a young boy by the name of Joseph Macchiarelli. After graduating from Eastside High School in Paterson with the class of 1947, she went to work for a Dye House in Paterson as a secretary. She worked there for about five or six years. during that time Joseph Machhiarelli had left to serve his country near the end of the Second World War. When Joseph returned from the Navy, he got reacquainted with Dolores. They started dating and after a short time, as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married in 1951. Immediately after they were married, Dolores left her job and took on the daunting but rewarding task of a full time homemaker. They stayed in Paterson and raised several of their children there. They then moved to Wayne in the mid 1980’s and called it their home for the rest their time together. Joseph and Dolores cherished 65 years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Dolores was very dedicated to her Catholic faith and was a parishioner of St Stephen’s RC Church in Paterson. She was extremely involved in the church and was President of the Ladies Auxiliary as well. She loved to read, crochet and especially cook. Dolores was happy to cook for her entire family and always made sure there was enough for everyone. Dolores also enjoyed traveling and vacationing with her family, whether it was to their house in Toms River or Upper Greenwood Lake, or to Miami and Disney, which was one of her favorite places to be. Aside and above all of Dolores’ interests and talents, her greatest passion and devotion was to her family. She was a loving wife and a dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Dolores was a very special lady who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Dolores is survived by her husband Joseph, four sons; John and his wife Alexis of Wayne, Richard and his wife Toni of Pompton Plains, Joseph Statuto of Hawthorne, and John Statuto and his wife Portia of Florence, two daughters Roseanne Macchiarelli of Beachwood, and Dena Macchiarelli of Pequannock, six grandchildren; Brian, Lauren, Alyson, Taylor, Kimberly, Madison, and Anthony, two great grandchildren Genevieve, and Margaux.

In lieu of flowers friends may make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 www.stjude.org

Christopher John Ruit, age 30, of Hardyston, passed Sunday, December 18, 2016.

He was born in Pequannock and lived in West Milford where he graduated from West Milford High School with the Class of 2005. He has lived in Sussex County for the past ten years.

Christopher’s first job was working at the Pathmark Supermarket in Kinnelon. He then worked for T M Brennan Contractors where he learned to be an HVAC mechanic. Most recently he worked for the Echelon Services in Newton. He will be remembered as a hard-working and dedicated employee.

Christopher was a fun loving guy with a quiet sense of humor. He was the guy who would always be snickering in the background. He loved bicycles ever since he got his first BMX bike when he was about twelve and still enjoyed riding. Another of Chris’ passions was hockey. He has played for many years. At the age of twelve he won the Quebec Tournament with the Pee Wee Division of the Hershey JR Bears. Chris also played on hockey travel teams through his high school years, was fortunate enough to practice and play in the Czech Republic, and more recently played in adult hockey leagues. He loved music and even taught himself to play the guitar. Chris will fondly be remembered for his loving ways. He was dedicated to his Miniature Dachshund Katie and treasured his time taking her on walks and hiking with her by his side. He was also dearly loved by his nieces and nephews.

Christopher was the loving son of Linda Stack and her husband John of West Milford and Charles Ruit and his wife Elba of Wyckoff; he was the devoted brother of Jill Klaasen and her husband Ryan of Newfoundland, Tim Ruit and his wife Jessica of Franklin, Justin Ruit of Fair Lawn, and Jordan Stack of West Milford; he was the cherished grandson of Barbara Meyer of Wayne and her late husband John, and Allen and Helen Ruit; he was also the much loved uncle of Kendall, Cameron, and Christian Klaasen, and Amelia and Jacob Ruit. He was dearly loved by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Jacksonville Chapel, 264 Jacksonville Rd, Lincoln Park, NJ 07035

Daniel J. McDermott, Sr., age 74, of Wayne for over fifty years, slipped away peacefully after a stroke, on Friday, May 6, 2016.

He was born in Paterson living the first four years of his life at 16 23rd Avenue then moving to 149 Trenton Avenue where he would live through his high school years. Dan graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1959. He worked as a fireman for the City of Paterson for several years and later worked for and eventually retired from the Wayne Police Department.

For many years Dan attended classes at William Paterson University in Wayne. He would declare a major, get real close to having the credits to receive the degree, and then change majors. Eventually he had so many college credits and no degree that he elicited a phone call from the Dean of the University. He told Dan he had to graduate and Dan responded “no I don’t - I’m here for an education not a degree.”

Dan will be remembered as a unique, humble, kind person who loved playing the stock market. Many will recall his seemingly endless recall of little sayings he always had at the ready: “All behavior is learned,” “It’s all a learning experience,” “Nothing is constant but change,” and many others. He was outwardly tough both emotionally and physically but had a warm heart that always put others needs before his own. He was a protector at heart. As a little girl his daughter Sheri was told “don’t worry, just ask your dad… he will always be there for you.” And he was. He loved to read and especially enjoyed psychology and philosophy books. His softer side was evidenced by his love of painting with water colors and oil as well as his love of woodworking and photography and gardening. As with many artists his works were never quite finished as they each needed just a little more time to make them perfect. His sensitive nature was also exposed with his love of animals. Although he was an avid hunter in his younger years, Dan said,” If I did it over again, I would just photograph the wildlife.” The family had several dogs through the years and most recently he loved his time with his cat Paige. Dan also enjoyed fishing & boating, with his son and grandson. The adventures of Daniel I, Dan II, and Danny III, are too many to share. But their memories of Bimini, Alaska, the Hudson, and Greenwood Lake will most likely be told for generations to come.

Most of all Dan loved his family! He was very proud of his two children Dan and Sheri and cherished time with his grandchildren. He loved to share his history with them and hear of all their accomplishments. He had an exceptional way of showing unconditional love to his entire family. Dan loved Jane very much. He was never in a rush when it came to spending time with her and always had an ear if she needed to be heard. After retiring Dan & Jane were stuck like glue 24/7 enjoying every moment life had to offer together. Dan & his brother Joe talked every day. It amazed Joe that he knew something about everything, but especially liked to reminisce with his brother whenever he had the chance. His family will all miss him dearly, but are thankful for the time they had together and all the memories and lessons Dan taught them.

Dan was the loving companion of Jane for the past thirty-three years; devoted father of Daniel McDermott II of Wayne, and Sheri Flandreau and her husband Matthew of Sturbridge, MA; cherished grandfather of Danny, Bianca, Madison and Liza and his brother Joe of Toms River.

Daryl Keith Neff, 54, passed away on October 14th, 2016. He was born in Nov. 1961 in Memphis, Tennessee, but grew up in Houston, Texas, where his family had resided for several generations. In fact, his great uncle, Pat Morris Neff, who was also an attorney like him, was the 28th Governor of Texas for two terms and the ninth president of Baylor University. Pat Neff and his mother, Daryl’s great grandmother, Isabella Neff, donated the land which would become the first state park in Texas, Mother Neff State Park. He grew up in Houston surrounded by his mother and father, two brothers, and sister, and many aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

Daryl graduated from Columbia University with honors with a BA in Archeology in 1984 and from Columbia University’s School of Engineering with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1986. He then graduated from Pace University School of Law, Magna Cum Laude and number 2 in his class in 1993. He practiced Intellectual Property and was hired by IBM as a patent attorney shortly after graduation. Later on, he became a partner with the law firm of Lerner, David, Littenberg, Krumholz & Mentlik where he worked for many years.

He met his wife, Lily Neff, while both students at Columbia University. They married shortly thereafter. Lily is also an Intellectual Property attorney, following in each other’s footsteps. Together they have two children: a son Ryan, 25, and a daughter Laura, 17. Daryl was a loving and devoted father and husband for many years, a role model for his children, and a cornerstone of the community. Their son Ryan followed in their parents’ footsteps at first and obtained a S.B. in Engineering from Harvard University. Currently, he is an MD/PhD student attending Icahn School of Medicine in New York, NY. Their daughter Laura is currently a high school student.

Besides his wife, son and daughter, Daryl survived by his mother Mrs. Alice Gayle Preston, two brothers Norman and David and a sister Sheila, nieces and nephews and many cousins.

We will miss Daryl very much.

David A. Hesson, 48 of Wayne, died on Thursday, December 22, 2016 with his loving family and friends at his bedside. Dave had fought valiantly with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and related complications, since 2003.

David grew up in Connellsville, Pennsylvania and graduated Geibel Catholic High School with the class of 1986. He proceeded to join the U.S. Air Force and served for six years in Tokyo. He loved it there very much, learned to speak Japanese, and continued to live in Tokyo for four more years while working for Deutsche Bank. He eventually moved to their New York City location and lived in Forest Hills, Queens for a few years. Dave was a wiz with computers and IT was his forte. He eventually started his own company; Valley IT Solutions in Wayne and offered various computer services and video surveillance installations. Dave installed all the video cameras at the Totowa Boro Hall and Our Lady of the Valley Church, among many other area installations. He was very good at what he did and proud of his work.

Dave was also a staunch Republican and wasn’t necessarily concerned about being ‘politically correct’ around anyone; he told it like it was. Being successful was important to him as well, and one of his favorite quips was “it’s all about winning.” He was proud to be a member of the NRA, a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, Penguins fan, NY Yankees fan, and he loved F1 racing, hunting and shooting sports. He even coached Little League baseball in Totowa for a number of years, despite not having any children of his own. Dave was a Mason belonging to the Boiling Springs Lodge 152 in Rutherford, NJ and an Associate Member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 46 in Rochelle Park, NJ. He was also a parishioner at Our Lady of the Valley Roman Catholic Church in Wayne for many years.

Dave met his wife Rosemary Rascionato when he was living in Queens. They exchanged phone numbers and Dave called Rosemary the next day. They ended up speaking for more than four hours that first call! Dave proposed on Christmas Eve in 2006 and they were married on May 11, 2008 followed by a fabulous honeymoon in Hawaii. They settled to Wayne and have enjoyed the last eight years together. Their marriage was full of fun and laughs, smiles and good memories. Rosemary will certainly miss him dearly, and so will their beloved dog; Stevie.

Dave is survived by his wife Rosemary Rascionato of Wayne, by his two brothers; Daryl and his wife Patricia of Palm Harbor, FL and Gary and his wife Teresa of Lewistown, PA, by his in-law parents; Emilia and Rinaldo Rascionato of Totowa, by his sister-in-law; Daniella Rascionato of Riverdale, by his brother-in-law; Emilio Rascionato and his wife Lana of Totowa, by his niece; Nicole Rascionato and nephew; Matthew Rascionato of Totowa, and by his loving dog Stevie. Dave was predeceased by his mother; Concetta Sgro in 2012 and by his father; Karl Hesson in 2001.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Dave’s memory would be appreciated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. www.stjude.org

Demarest “Demmy” “Van” Van Blarcom, III, age 76, of Pompton Lakes passed peacefully at home while holding his wife Joy’s hand on Sunday, November 6, 2016.

He was born in Orangetown, NY and raised in Palisades, NY having attended Nyack High School and graduated from the Tappan Zee High School with the Class of 1958. Demmy was an excellent baseball player in high school and held the longest home run record for the field at Nyack High School for years.

Just out of high school Van worked for Orange & Rockland Utilities as a Utility Clerk in their West Nyack office. A year later, he enlisted in the United States Army and was part of the 39th Artillery. At that time, he requested to serve in Germany as a mechanic and was granted both desires. For the next two and a half years, he served in Germany. He was renowned for being able to listen to trucks pass by (even in convoy) and determining what repairs the truck needed by the sound. As a result, he was promoted to sergeant after only one year of service; he also earned a sharpshooter award and mechanic’s badge. In 1963, he returned to work at Orange & Rockland Utilities. The next ten years he spent reading meters, later working as a collector out of the Monroe office and subsequently in the Blooming Grove office as a meter tester. Demarest worked for Orange & Rockland/Con Edison for fifty-five years before retiring in 2013. His picture hangs in the Con Edison Corporate offices in Manhattan. Additionally, he was a member of IBEW 503 and the ORRA.

Demmy knew how to do almost everything, generally teaching himself how to do it. He worked on fixing anything and everything he could whether around the house or on cars. In his younger years, Demmy enjoyed building and racing stock cars. He was an excellent mechanic, who not only handled his own stock cars but was sought out to by other teams to build their engines because of his skill. During that time, he was a certified NASCAR and NHRA mechanic as well as driver. He started driving stock cars in races on oval tracks and later straight track races were his forte. By the time he met Joy, he was racing exclusively on straight tracks and they spent many a weekend at the races.

Demarest met Joy Doran through mutual friends Bob and Sue Schaeffer, when they were in their wedding party. For a long time, they thought Joy and Demmy would be a good match in spite of the fact that they were both dating others. Ultimately, the other relationships dissolved, Bob and Sue sat them together at their wedding reception, and the rest was history. After a proposal that went something like this while driving around after a race, “oh I think the engine is gone in the car (in actuality that was not true)…so do you want to get married?” they married on June 6, 1965 at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ridgewood, NJ.

Ever the one to tinker with an engine, Demarest installed a new engine in their car just before their wedding so that the car would be more powerful for their planned cross country drive to Mexico. The car made it to the New Jersey Turnpike before it started continuously bucking. They made it as far as Fredericksburg, Virginia, stopping to add water to the radiator every chance they had, and gave up on the trip to Mexico. They returned back to her parents in Hawthorne, where Joy’s sister Joan had their station wagon ready for a joint honeymoon / second honeymoon to Niagara Falls with her sister Joan and brother-in-law Bruce taking them. When they returned home, Demarest figured out that the new engine he installed was bigger but he didn’t install a large enough cooling fan. He went to the junk yard, found a bigger fan, and they were soon off, alone, to Toms River for the last two days of their honeymoon as the first guests to stay in the just opened Howard Johnson’s Hotel. The hotel was so new that they didn’t even have towels in the room yet.

He loved to work on cars whether it was rebuilding an engine or completely repainting the exterior. And did so for a number of years even working on the weekends. In addition, Demmy also enjoyed using his hands to create artistic works. When living in Vernon he painted cartoon characters over the entire wall of the family room. When the new owners moved in and kept the wall just that way because they liked it so much. Later, he created stained glass works in what became a second weekend job. For several years, he and the family would spend the weekends at the Americana Hotel in Vernon where he would do demonstrations on how to make stained glass pieces as well as sell his works. His creations were purchased by people from all over the United States and even several other countries.

Demarest will be remembered as a loving family man who could make friends with great ease anywhere he went. While simply shopping, he met people and would have a long conversation with whomever and walked away somehow knowing their history. During this past year of going through chemotherapy he made friends of security staff, nurses and more. There was never a place that he went where he didn't get talking to people.

Demmy was also a great son-in-law who would take Joy and her mom and dad, Hedy and George Doran, shopping every weekend. In recent years, when his mother-in-law Hedy was in Sunrise and CHCC facilities, he and Joy visited her daily. Demmy had a knack for befriending the residents. He quickly became known and liked by everyone - making friends with staff, residents and visitors - there was always someone looking forward to his visit. When he wasn't up to going inside to visit, he would sit in the car and the residents would want to know where he was and if he was OK.

In his free time, Demmy enjoyed golfing for many years with the league at work (his friend Richie at O&R taught him), and then later at the Passaic County Golf Course. He liked to golf with his son-in-law Adam too. He injured his leg which slowed him down and eventually stopped him from golfing due to the pain. After retiring, Demmy enjoyed fishing whenever possible, and spent many memorable hours fishing with his granddaughter Hope and his son-in-law Bob and grandson Matthew.

For years he served as an usher with his daughter Meri at Cornerstone Chapel in Pompton Plains. Demmy made a stained glass sign which hung at the entrance of Cornerstone Chapel. Later, Demmy and his daughter Joy worked together to build decorations / backgrounds for Vacation Bible School at Cornerstone Christian Church in Wyckoff.

Demmy was a strong, brave man as he battled different cancers in his lifetime, but he always bounced back and was ready to take on something new. In the 1970s, Demmy's second cancer surgery held a true miracle. Demmy was supposed to be in a private room after surgery. When Joy went she was shocked he was in a twelve bed ward and she was very upset. They assured Joy he would be in private room in the morning. The next day Joy found out that God had planned it and gave them a miracle. Demmy had started to choke, and was unable to reach the cord for help. The gentleman next to Demmy could not speak English, but knew Demmy was in trouble and rang for nurse. After Demmy's third cancer surgery - with stitches straight down his whole chest, the doctor went into Demmy's room and said OK, you can do light exercise. The doctor was shocked when he went in the room to check on Demmy and found him doing pushups against the wall, apparently that isn't considered light exercise after surgery. Mostly recently when he went for a knee replacement, it was discovered that he had stage 4 lung cancer that metastasized to his liver and pelvis. With the knee replacement off, Demmy braved this battle valiantly, having endured several types of chemotherapy and immunotherapy treatments, with none working. Ever the fighter, when the doctor gave him the option of starting a fifth new treatment, Demmy immediately answered yes which didn't surprise his doctor one bit. Demmy felt there was still so much life to live and wanted to keep trying.

Demmy was extremely thankful for his daughters taking turns bringing him into Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and staying with him for hours for all his chemo treatments, as his wife Joy couldn't go to the 14th floor due to here severe claustrophobia. His grandkids even sometimes joined on the chemo days, which made those days brighter for Demmy. Joy was able to take him to all his doctor visits.

Demmy was the love of Joy's life. Joy took care of him 24/7 because he didn't want anyone else. Through ups and downs, they stuck together, prayed and made it through with God's help. In order to say his good-bye to Joy before the Lord called him home, he reached out, put his arm around her waist with a quick hug; then he grabbed her hand, held it tight, and squeezed it and went home.

An open letter to Demmy from his loving wife Joy...

I wanted to say something about the love of my life, my husband Demmy, but no words seemed right and I couldn't understand why. I have asked Pastor Rich to read this because I just can't. Funny, when I asked Demmy to do some little things recently, his answer was I can't. At the time, I was upset and felt he wasn't trying and was just giving up. Then he decided to go through a fifth type of chemotherapy and he showed me again he gave all he could plus, and the words “I can't” were so so real. I now realize what he meant as I just can't.

I woke up yesterday morning having some of my answers. Demmy and I never actually said goodbye – there were no words said or planned for. People might think that our goodbye was while he was gasping for air continually for hours, we held hands tightly not wanting to let go, and his reaching out to grab a quick half hug were it, but they’d be wrong. Or even as I kissed his hand over and over and told him how much I loved him, how he was the bravest man I knew and I was so proud, how I couldn't stand to see him so ill, that was our goodbye but again they’d be wrong. Or maybe even when I said over and over again in tears I don't want you to go, I'm going to miss you so, that was it --our goodbye --- but it wasn’t.

We had been together 24/7 since he retired, and before that every moment we could be. However, no words were mentioned about him dying or good bye. I asked if he thought he was going Home with the Lord, and even though unable to speak because of the gasping, I thought I would just get another shake of his head yes or no. However, clearly speaking without a gasp he said, I don't know. I told him I didn't either (as I had never been with someone during that actual moment God called them home). I know in my heart of hearts, the reason no actual good-bye was said was because we know that Jesus died so we could have eternal life. Being a selfish human being, I wanted Demmy to live on forever right beside me, but he will just have to live on forever in my heart. God heard my prayers but decided differently knowing that Demmy needed to be healed once again but this time completely. He will never get another cancer, never need another surgery, never again feel the horrible pain of his knee or his back, never have to struggle to get his breath or strength to get in and out of a car or up the stairs after each chemotherapy. He is now whole and pain free for eternity. God said you have fought a good fight, let me help you.

Right before Demmy passed, he grabbed at his eyes and rubbed them hard. A second later he did it again. I will likely never know, but maybe he was seeing a bright light, the Lord, something wonderful and beautiful in heaven or even my parents waiting there to greet him. Although my heart is breaking and will be every day of my life, as I am crying and feel such a terrible emptiness, I have had some clarity. I have realized that the struggles in our lifetime when we were both ill, when he was ill over and over, through tough financial struggles, and other tough times God brought us to our knees in prayer and brought us through it. We were blessed over and over with many miracles some of which even the doctors said just couldn't happen, but did. Now, as in my favorite poem Footprints, I need God to carry me through till we are together again. Although no one is perfect, nor any marriage perfect, Demmy and I made it through the good and bad with love and God's help. So again, I am calling on God. I was blessed to have over fifty one years with Demmy, now Heaven is blessed.

Eulogy read by Demmy's daughter Meri...

Daddy,

Thank you. Thank you for loving us all so deeply that you would do anything and everything to spend more time with us. We – Mom, Joy, Adam, Hope, Bob, Matthew and I (Nana and Pop too when they were alive) – always came first. We are grateful for the example you set for us and the time you spent with each of us to personally invest in our lives in very specific and different ways.

I’m not even sure you realized how special that is to us and how loved it made each of us feel. You are not just our Dad and Grandpa but also a friend to us, taking time to listen to and encourage each of us through the seasons of lives. Your simple, quiet responses often had a profound and deep meaning and yet like you, they were genuine as they come.

What we saw as we got older was your ability to connect with people. You had an amazing ability to strike up even a simple conversation and instantly make a new friend. Your down to earth personality enabled people to feel comfortable and started many a great conversation which often turned into a relationship. Growing up, our friends got to know and love you as well. As you and Mom hosted parties for us with our friends in high school and college, our friends got to know you and enjoyed talking with you. Most recently, the hospital staff became your new friends – from the security guard who called you buddy and chatted us about life, to the phlebotomist with whom you loved to talk politics and gave you fist pumps (even though your opinions differed), to the staff on the infusion floor who know you we never had to say your name to check in like everyone else, and the nurses that even when they were not the ones responsible for your care needed to stop by and say hello or check in on you. But it didn’t even have to be someone you spent a lot of time with. It could be someone on a bench in the store next to you or a golf partner in a foursome you just met, you loved learning about them. Everyone you met, not just us, enjoyed your company, because you Dad were simply the best company to be in.

Dad was a loyal and committed employee as well, having worked for Orange & Rockland Utilities for 55 year. He would not allow a retirement party for him because he had promised his co-worker and buddy over 40 years, Dougie, that they would retire together. Dougie could not be there for a party because he was dying of lung cancer. They are probably sharing coffee and jelly donuts together now.

He lived out his faith in how he treated his work and other people as well. Dad’s ability to talk to people definitely was a gift that helped him in the many different roles he had over the years there. Particularly, in the Hassidic Jewish communities in the territory he covered, while they were not welcoming to most outsiders, yet they welcomed Dad and considered him part of their community.

Politics, that’s a whole detour I could take for a long time. I can’t begin to imagine the total number of hours Dad and I spent talking about policies, politicians, and more. When I was in college we were faithful Rush Limbaugh listeners and he had a TV show at the time, which taped locally and had a College Week. Dad wore one of our Rutgers sweatshirts and joined my College Republican friends and me to be in the audience for the taping. We enjoyed going together so much.

Dad would talk with anyone about politics, taboos aside. He knew so much and loved to discuss it, and he’d try to persuade you if you were on the “wrong” side of things.

Dad knew how to do almost anything, and most of that was self-taught. He would read anything and try to teach himself by tinkering until he got it right as was the case with building engines and repairing cars. American History was another passion and he knew it well. But knowing something wasn’t enough, he took the time to share his knowledge and abilities whenever he could. He showed Adam how to change a headlight, Joy how to change the oil and rotate tires. He also taught Adam how to play golf, and was looking forward to teaching Hope the same. He taught Hope and Matthew how to fish. He was patient even when learning had its bumps in the road; and was encouraging when he saw development. He recently told Matthew that he looked forward to seeing Matthew as a Bassmaster one day because he has talent.

Dad loved fishing and, after he retired, went whenever he could. He was an early riser, and so was Matthew, so their pre-summer camp tradition was born where Dad would drive over, very early, every day it wasn’t raining, and take Matthew fishing brining him home just in time to leave for camp. Bob too loves to fish and so he would join the two of them on weekends when it worked for all 3 to go; and sometimes Bob would meet Dad so just the two of them could fish. It was a shared loved that created precious memories and a bond with Matthew.

Dad had a love for sports. He was an excellent baseball player in high school even setting a long-standing home run distance record. After high school, he really focused on his next love - auto racing. He built and raced stock cars. He was an excellent mechanic and that caused other teams to seek him out to build their engines. He was a certified NASCAR and NHRA mechanic and driver. He started on ovals but went to straight track with the hot rod racing. After marrying Mom, he no longer raced, but he loved to watch NASCAR on the weekend. He got me into NASCAR when a kid named Jeff Gordon came up from California. The #24 car and Jeff Gordon became his favorite driver. I caught the fever and now Matthew has too. Many times Adam would sit watching the race with Dad as he told him the facts about drivers, whether it was a car or truck race, it didn't matter. Dad knew a tremendous amount about it all. In fact, he knew so much it would make most people’s head spin. It didn't take Adam long to get hooked on NASCAR as well and Sundays were semi-dedicated to both football and then later on NASCAR races. We enjoyed talking about drivers, teams, chances for championships, rule changes and more. When not watching NASCAR, Sundays were “Golf Day”. Dad played golf almost every Sunday until his knee pain made it impossible. His passion for the game and the fact that he went most weekends were again contagious and it didn't take long for Adam to go with him and for Dad to teach him how to play. Once again, Dad kept encouraging Adam and telling him he would get better with practice. After many rounds and a lot of practice Adam was able to bring his score down to the upper 80s. Still not to where Dad was at but it didn’t matter, they had fun out there on the course - Dad would bring his radio and check on the race to see who was winning while they golfed - they would laugh and joke and enjoy the time spent.

Adam and Dad got to a Yankees World Series game together. It was a joy for both of them.

For a number of years Dad and I went to the NFL/PGA golf tournament in Clifton. We enjoyed our day together walking the course, watching and talking about the players there. We’d get autographs on golf hats - Dad used to talk to the PGA players and get their autographs; then hand me the hat for the NFL guys joking they’d sign for me before they would him. It didn’t matter that I never fully understood golf, despite his efforts to explain it to me; it was just a fun day the two of us looked forward to.

Daddy had quiet faith. Until recently, he went to Church every Sunday. Adam said that afterwards when they would have lunch he would ask Dad how the sermon was, inevitably he would tell me what it was about -his version -then Mom would chime in and say Demmy that is not what Pastor said - which always gave him a chuckle!

Another Van Blarcom tradition, which is now an Urdang and Gupko tradition as well, has been the annual summer family vacation to Amish Dutch Country in Lancaster Pennsylvania. Adam thought okay this a bit weird to do this every year - why not try somewhere different, but now he gets it - the familiarity, the relaxed and comfortable feeling you get being there, the fun and good times spent. But also the reunion with dear friends made on those trips. It all makes sense and feels right. We all enjoy the time out there and family fun - swimming, horse and buggy rides, shopping and eating (Miller's Smorgasbord, Ice Cream at Lapps Farm). This past summer my parents made a second trip with Joy, Adam and Hope. They encouraged Dad to pick elsewhere, but when faced with the option he chose where he loved, Pennsylvania.

Dad would do anything for us, his family. He was a family man and that meant that no matter what was going on, his family was most important. Before Joy and Adam were married, Dad and mom fixed up the family room, and that meant countless hours of work - at night after work and on weekends. They were able to live there for about a year and it allowed them to save for a down payment on their townhouse. Adam said it also allowed them to become a bit closer - as if that was possible! Bob and I moved in to that same room almost two months after they left and enjoyed our years living there so we too could save up. Joy and Adam, Bob and I are so appreciative and thankful!

Dad was not a theater guy, or one to go to shows. But when Hope started singing, acting and performing, Dad and Mom were eagerly there at every performance they could attend. And he enjoyed it, because he got joy from seeing Hope perform so happily.

Being there for his beloved grandkids was something he did every chance he could. He didn’t miss a grandparents day at their school, went to every special chapel they were in and anything else that allowed him to be there. If we needed someone to look after Matthew for some time, Dad would happily come over watching Speed TV, talking racing and fishing and get Matthew to read to him (which he wouldn’t do for anyone else). And in the rough times with the chemo, he only looked forward talking about seeing Hope and Matthew doing stuff in the future, like looking forward to seeing Matthew playing soccer for the school team next year.

Adam recalls many fond memories of Dad – they did so much together over the 25 years that Dad met and welcomed Adam. When he started dating Joy and would come to the house, part of the night was spent hanging out with Dad too with shooting pool in the basement was one way. Dad was very good and so was Adam because as a teenager he’d spent countless hours shooting pool, so the rivalry was born. Dad had a bit of an advantage and was a competitor - he had a desire and drive to win so he practiced and over time it was apparent to Adam that even though Dad was the better player, there was a few times when he knew Dad took it easy on him. The friendly competition continued at basketball hoop in the back yard, Adam feeling he may have been slightly better in a game of horse, but says Joy actually was the best out of all of us! The important thing was everyone had a lot of fun and it taught Adam how to lose gracefully as well as learning that it was only a game and not to get so upset about losing.

Daddy would thank us for taking him for his chemotherapy always saying he appreciated all we did for him. Joy and I actually looked forward to each of those days, because it was a special day to spend lots of time with Dad. It wasn’t us doing him a favor; it was a blessing to enjoy time with him that we never otherwise would have had. Dad made the best of it joking with the staff, and just enjoying the time with family, especially on the days Hope or Matthew came along. In fact Dad happily learned all about Pokémon Go on a chemo day as we wheeled around with him looking for Poke Stops around the hospital, Matthew explaining it along the way; afterward Dad and I would smile pointing out all of the Poke Stops we remembered on days Matthew wasn’t with us.

He was strong and brave on many levels so it was no surprise that time and time again when he got sick he never showed anything but fight. A diagnosis came and he just said what do we need to do and moved through it. Thyroid cancer when we were kids, later it was prostate cancer, skin cancer and so this last bought with Stage 4 lung cancer Dad once again said what do we do and did it, time and time again. He battled in a way that left us, the doctor and others amazed – if treatment one didn’t work, then on to the next and so it went, even to treatment 5 starting only days before his passing. He was so weak, we didn’t think they’d even clear him to go forward, but he did it anyway. He wanted to fight, to be there for Mommy, us and the grandkids. His toughness was incredible, he was so much weaker and in more pain than he ever let on and just kept going. He was not giving up, and he never did, cancer didn’t beat him, God beat cancer taking Daddy to his eternal home with a body that can move and is pain free; as Matthew told me he has a new body and if it isn’t the body of a kid he has the energy of a kid now.

Daddy didn’t know how inspiring his courage was, but when I was diagnosed with breast cancer years ago, my first reaction was fear but then I thought no just like Dad what do I need to do let’s get it done and move on. He could do it, so could I.

Dad and Mom have been inseparable and their connection a testament of long lasting love in the good and the bad. When Dad retired, he had plans for fishing, which he did as much of as he could, but his number one plan was spending time with mom. It didn’t matter where they went or what they did, as long as they were together, they were happy. They never got to take big vacations, and spent many hours simply visiting Nana in assisted living or the nursing home for the past six years, but it was all good. In his final days, as in life, he only wanted mom to be there so it makes sense that he would leave this earth with her by his side holding hands.

Daddy, we love you more than these words could ever describe and there could never be enough time to share “you” and all the things you mean to us. We are so thankful that you are completely healed and with Jesus but at the same time heartbroken that we have to wait to see you again. We will love you always!

Demarest was the loving husband of fifty-one years to Joy (Doran) Van Blarcom; devoted father of Joy Urdang and her husband Adam of Wayne, Meri Gupko and her husband Bob of Riverdale; cherished grandfather of Hope Urdang and Matthew Gupko; and brother of Al and his wife Jan Van Blarcom of Catskill, New York, and Sandy Cotthaus of Montgomery, New York.

Dale L. Froehner (nee Wielenga) age 63 of Pompton Lakes passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, April 14, 2016.

Dale was born in Paterson and raised in North Haledon until moving to Pompton Lakes 30 years ago. After graduating from Manchester Regional High School in North Haledon, Dale earned an Associate’s Degree. She worked a short time for a local law firm, and then secured a job as a legal secretary with Kenneth Petrie, Esq., for whom she worked for the next 33 years. Following Mr. Petrie’s retirement in 2011, Dale went to work part-time for the Hawthorne Gospel Church where she also taught Sunday School and attended Bible study.

During the 1960’s, Dale had met, for the first time, a young man by the name of Kenneth A. Froehner. He was a member of the Preakness Volunteer Fire Company No. 4 in Wayne. At the time, Dale was dating someone else in the Fire Department. More than twenty years passed when Kenneth and Dale got reacquainted and started dating in 1984. After a couple of years dating they were married in 1986 and cherished the next thirty years together in a loving and loyal marriage. Almost immediately after they were married, they moved to Pompton Lakes, and this is where they would spend the rest of their lives together and raise their 2 sons.

Dale enjoyed cooking, her family would call her “Paula Dean”, the American celebrity chef and cooking show television host. She was not afraid to try new recipes and experiment in the realms of cooking. She was always tough on herself and was her own worst critic. But everyone in Dale’s family found everything she made to be delicious and asked her to make it again. She also loved to vacation at the beach, not any particular beach, but anywhere there was a beach. Be it the Jersey shore, Florida, or the Caribbean, just being on a beach made Dale extremely happy and content. Dale was also a woman who was devoted to her Christian faith, she was very active in the Hawthorne Gospel Church for many years. Aside and above all of her talents and hobbies, Dale was extremely devoted to her family, she was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved to spoil her children and grandchildren. Her family remembers her as being loving, caring and always trying to please everyone. They also remember her constantly trying to do “the right thing” in every situation she was in. Dale was an extraordinary person who was taken from the world too soon. She touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Dale is survived by her Husband of Kenneth A. Froehner of Pompton Lakes, two sons Kenneth W. Froehner and his wife Kristen, and Kyle Froehner both of Pompton Lakes, two brothers; Bob Wielenga and his wife Ruth of Laguna Hills, CA, and Jim Wielenga and his wife BJ of Palm Harbor, FL, one grandson K.J. of Pompton Lakes, she was predeceased by her father Claude Wielenga (1995) and her mother Nellie Wielenga (2008).

In lieu of flowers donations in Dale’s name may be made to the Hawthorne Gospel Church, 2000 NJ-208, Hawthorne, NJ 07506.

Daniel J. Eddeh, age 40 of Pequannock, died suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, November 2, 2016.

Dan grew up in Pequannock and graduated from Pequannock High School with the class of 1995, where he also played on the baseball team. He went on to graduate from NJIT with a degree in electrical engineering. Dan was designing high-end audio and video systems and home automation systems for both homes and businesses. The highlight of his career included designing and working on a several celebrity projects and visiting the installations which were located in the NJ metro area. It was fun and exciting work, and something he was dedicated to. Dan had always had a penchant for technology and even as a teenager, he became “the guy” who could install car stereo systems and accessories. He also knew his way around a computer and he became the local tech support guy for his family and friends. He even learned to compose music on his computer and family admits; “it was really good!” Dan often lamented that he should have pursued digital music as a career because he enjoyed it so much.

Dan was selfless to a fault. His brother recalls how Dan would drop everything and be there to help if you called him. If you called him about anything electrical or computer related, Dan was there to help you before you knew it. He also has a loyal group of close friends, many of them since grammar school, who have been streaming to his home to comfort his parents during these past few days. It’s all a testament to how loved Dan was and just how much he’ll truly be missed.

Dan is survived by his parents; Jess and Lois Eddeh of Pequannock, his brother; Michael Eddeh and his wife Kathleen of Pompton Plains, his niece and nephews; Andie, Mitchell, and Russell Eddeh of Pompton Plains, his aunts; Ellen Barbera of Middlebury, VT,  Claire Nammour of Paterson, Renee Sahar of Maywood, Yvonne Rai of Philadelphia, Josephine Nimry and her husband Eid of Amman, Jordan, and uncles; Steve Barbera and his wife Louanne of Wayne, Joseph Eddeh of Clifton and Tom Barbera and his girlfriend Kim Goerg of Wayne, as well as many loving cousins.

Flowers are welcomed, however if anyone desires to make a donation in Dan’s memory, you may choose a charity of your liking.

Cosmo “Gus” R. LaForgia, age 77, of Pompton Lakes passed away peacefully on Friday, November 11, 2016 with his family by his side.

Gus was born and raised in Queens, NY. After graduating high school, Gus attended St. John’s University in New York City where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. Immediately following his graduation from St John’s, Gus landed a job as an Assistant Buyer at a company called Allied Stores in New York City. He eventually changed companies and worked his way up to the position of Sales Executive at another company called Emblem Health Care Company also located in New York City. He worked there for more than fifteen years until he retired in 2009. Gus had an outstanding work ethic, he practically never called in sick even though he commuted to New York City every day until he was seventy years old.

While Gus was working for Allied Stores, he would pass the desk of a young lady named Margaret Glynn who was a Statistical Operator. He would pass by her desk several times a day trying to look busy, but was really trying to get her attention. They started to get to know each other, and after a while rode the train home from work together. Although fraternizing was forbidden in their workplace at the time, Gus eventually asked Margaret out on a date and they went to a nightclub for some dinner and drinks. Gus ordered a “screwdriver” and Margaret, wanting to impress Gus but never having a drink before, ordered a Hammer at which they both laughed. From there fate would have them fall in love and in October of 1964 they were married and honeymooned on the island of Bermuda.

Margaret and Gus settled in Queens, where their first two children were born, then in 1972 they moved to Wayne there their third child was born. Wayne would be the place they would call home and raise their family. Gus didn’t have many hobbies and wasn’t involved in many clubs or organizations, he devoted all of his time to his wife, children and later in his life to his grandchildren as well. He was an avid sports fan, he like the New York Giants, but his passion was baseball and the New York Yankees. Gus preferred watching the ballgames at home with his favorite snacks sitting in his favorite chair. Wherever he went, he could always be seen with his transistor radio listening to the Yanks. He could quote statistics of many players off the top of his head. One of his great memories was seeing Derek Jeter’s 3000th hit with his grandson Matthew. Aside from listening or watching his favorite sports teams, Gus’ greatest love and dedication was for his family. He always made sure that he divided his time equally for all of his grandchildren and never missed one of their sporting events. And when he attend their games everyone knew he had arrived, he was known by many as Wayne’s #1 Fan. Gus had a smile on his face no matter what was happening or how he was feeling. Wherever he went and whoever he was with, he was always the life of the party and could bring a smile to everyone else’s face. Although Gus’ life was taken from him a bit too early, the life he lived was extremely fulfilling and he fulfilled the lives of others around him. Gus was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by his friends and family alike.

Gus was the beloved husband of Margaret LaForgia (nee Glynn) of Pompton Lakes, devoted father of Denise Brush of Pompton Lakes, Deborah Murino of West Milford, and Peter LaForgia and his wife Dana of Pompton Lakes, cherished grandfather to Marissa, Matthew, Megan, Bryan, Olivia, and Peter, loving brother to Louis LaForgia and his wife Kathy of Huntington, NY, and uncle to Danny and Kristine.

Christopher M. Dziubek, age 32, of Clifton and formerly of Wayne, died on Sunday, January 3, 2016.

Chris was raised in Wayne and graduated from Wayne Hills High School with the Class of 2001. He loved music and played the clarinet in the Wayne Hills High School Marching Band all four of his high school years. During his senior year he was the Drum Major leading the band on the field. He loved sports and was on the Wayne Hills Varsity Fencing Team and Varsity Tennis team.

After high school he attended the University of Pennsylvania where he earned his B.S. degree studying biology and psychology. While at college he became a brother at the Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity.

He enjoyed a great childhood going down the shore every summer to Wildwood Crest. He enjoyed an especially close relationship with his fraternal grandparents – Chester and Irene Dziubek who lived close by in Clifton. It seemed like Chris and his brother Kevin were over their house at least once a week or for the weekend. Grandma and Grandpa Dziubek would take the boys out for dinner or to church and on day trips to places like state parks. Chris was also fortunate to have a very close relationship with his maternal grandparents – Chester and Christine Wilczewski and had wonderful memories of summer times with them in the Poconos.

Chris saw a great deal in his younger years. His mother, Doris (Wilczewski) Dziubek passed unexpectedly in 2003 and in 2006 he stood close by his father’s side through his diagnosis and treatment of cancer, faithfully spending time with him in the hospital and taking him to his doctor appointments. Chris’ father, Lawrence Dziubek, passed away in 2010.

In his spare time Chris enjoyed reading. He continued to self-teach himself about biology and science in general. Also, in keeping with his love of music, he taught himself how to rock-out playing the bass guitar. He loved participating in activities that were intellectually stimulating – like playing poker. He had an uncanny sense of being able to predict the outcome of a game and what his odds of winning were, based on what cards his opponents would put down. He had a great, outgoing personality and a sarcastic sense of humor that will be dearly missed.

Chris is survived by his brother Kevin Dziubek and fiancé Ipek Akinci of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He was predeceased by his mother Doris Dziubek (nee Wilczewski) in 2003 and his father Lawrence Dziubek in 2010.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Christopher’s name are asked to consider Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary RC Church, or the Wayne Hills High School Band, c/o Wayne Hills High School, 272 Berdan Ave., Wayne, NJ 07470.

Clifford S. Zoppo, age 63 of Lincoln Park, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Thursday, June 9, 2016. He had been a teacher in the Paterson schools since 2004.

Cliff was raised in Waldwick, NJ and graduated from Waldwick High School with the class of 1970. He earned the nickname “Woodstock” in high school after his “by chance” appearance in the original “Woodstock” movie. His brother gave him tickets to the famous concert for his 17th birthday. By the time they arrived to Bethel, NY for the show, the fences were down and they didn’t need the tickets to get in. Cliff saved them as a memento and they are in their original condition today. Cliff went on to graduate from William Paterson College and enjoy a lengthy career as a salesman in the bearing and linear rail industry. But something was calling him to become a teacher and in 2004 he answered that call. He began teaching technology in the Paterson public schools and was currently teaching computers at school 26. He was a natural teacher who loved kids and it became obvious that he should have been teaching his whole life. Surely his students and fellow faculty will miss him dearly.

Cliff was simply a great guy. He was jovial, compassionate, and quite gregarious. If you met him, you loved him, and he took a genuine interest in getting to know you. He made friends everywhere he went and he was never short on conversation – he loved to talk! He was one of those people who knew about everything, and not just a little - he knew a lot about everything. He was very positive-minded and often behaved like a big kid which made him even more fun to be around.

Cliff was a great dad. He loved his son and daughter dearly and he was always there for them. He coached baseball, soccer, basketball, and showed them what it meant to be selfless. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for them. He was very proud of his kids and reveled in their successes. He also taught them what it meant to be a wonderful spouse by the example he set in his own marriage.

Cliff met his wife Joanne (nee McCarrick) when they were both students at William Paterson College. Joanne was sitting with some friends at the student center when Cliff came along and took her seat. When she returned and protested for her seat back, Cliff offered her his lap – and the rest is history. They fell in love after their first date to Hardee’s and were married on October 9, 1977 at the Shepard Lake Park chapel in Ringwood. After a honeymoon to the Mohonk Mountain House, they settled in West Milford where they lived for nearly forty years before moving to Lincoln Park just two years ago. Cliff and Joanne were true soulmates, best friends, and inseparable. They did everything together and especially enjoyed taking day trips to wineries, sculpture gardens, and other local attractions. Cliff never stopped being the romantic and just yesterday he brought flowers home for Joanne. He never stopped declaring his love for her, and he showed it often and in so many ways. She feels lost without him, and his family and friends are grieving the loss of a very special husband, dad and friend. He will be greatly missed.

Cliff is survived by his loving wife of thirty nine years; Joanne of Lincoln Park, by his son; David Zoppo and his girlfriend Laura Jeppesen of Montclair, by his daughter; Dianna Zoppo of Lincoln Park, by his mother; Eloise Marks of Lake Stockholm, by his sister; Jennifer Downing and her husband Brian of Lake Stockholm, and by his brother Darien Zoppo, his wife Marcie and son John of S. Salem, NY. He was predeceased by his father Jerome Zoppo in 1986.

Charles E. Norris, Jr., age 93, of the Packanack Section of Wayne, died peacefully on Thursday, June 16, 2016.

Born in Jersey City, the oldest of Charles and Virginia Norris’ four children, Charlie grew up during the depression. With work in short supply, it was hard for his father to secure and retain employment. Consequently, Charlie’s family moved eleven times in the first thirteen years of his life. He was attending Kearny High School but had to quit before graduating because his father got sick. Instead Charlie was thrust into the role of breadwinner for his family.

At age twenty, Charlie’s sole desire was to join the U.S. Marine Corps but his parents refused. In those days you had to volunteer. The Marines did not accept draftees. When a draft letter from the Army arrived in Charlie’s mailbox, his parents figured he had to go anyway so they gave in and let him volunteer for the Marines. He served from 1942 to 1945 in the South Pacific. His unit was dubbed the Devil Dogs and he took part in the invasion on Lella Lavella Island and Bougainville Island. A corporal, Charlie was part of a machine gun company responsible for gun emplacement on the beaches. He sustained a concussion at the invasion of Bougainville and was ultimately hospitalized in New Zealand. For his bravery, Charlie was awarded the Certificate of Satisfactory Service, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal,

World War II Victory Medal and Marine Corps Marksman Rifle Badge.

After returning from Marine service, Charlie’s first order of business was earning his high school diploma. He did very well in school and like his father before him, he worked for Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G). He was a relay technician and he must have enjoyed that job a lot because he spent his whole career there. In total Charlie worked there for forty-one-and-a-half years, retiring in 1987.

Charlie met his beloved wife Dorothy Wreesman on a blind date. Dorothy, who went by the name Dottie, owned her own beauty shop and one of her clients was Mrs. Rabino. One day, Mrs. Rabino came in the shop and began asking Dottie lots of questions about herself. After much questioning and answering, Mrs. Rabino told Dottie that her son had a friend that she was convinced the stars indicated Dottie should date. Dottie was already casually dating someone else but she took Mrs. Rabino’s recommendation. When Charlie came knocking, Dottie opened the door and her first thought was “Wow! What an attractive man with wavy blond hair.” Her second thought was “Hmmm….. He’s so handsome, he should have been snatched up by a girl long ago – there must be something wrong with him.” Since Dottie loved to go bowling, their first date was to the bowling alley. The rest of the story is history. They married on Saturday, February 17, 1951 at the First Presbyterian Church on Kearny Ave. in Kearny. After the ceremony they celebrated with friends at a grand reception at O’Hara’s in Kearny, then they headed to Florida by car for their enchanted honeymoon. Their first apartment was supposed to be in Lyndhurst but when they got home from the honeymoon, the landlord told them to wait to move in because his family was all sick and he didn’t want them to get sick too. A few days later, the landlord told them that his daughter was going to live in the apartment instead. Now what should they do? Apartments were in short supply in those days so this was not a great start to their marriage. As the saying goes though, they had each other, and with love, any other hurdle could be overcome – even this one. Charlie and Dottie ended up moving in with Charlie’s parents on Chestnut Drive in Packanack Lake. They stayed there for the first ten months of their married life, then they found a house for themselves on the same street! They’ve lived there the past sixty-five years.

One of Charlie’s favorite activities was taking his wife and children camping. It combined two of his favorite things – seeing the great U.S.A. and being with his family. He started out with a pop-up camper and slowly graduated to a 16-footer, then a 22-footer and finally to the king of the road – a motor home! They traveled all over the country and into Canada including a cross country trip to California and a few trips down the east coast to visit Florida’s Disney World. One of his family’s favorite memories was Charlie’s penchant for driving down dead-end streets with the trailer in tow. The only way out was to back up and that’s no small feat with a twenty-two-foot trailer behind you! He also got to return to New Zealand where he was hospitalized during the war. Charlie loved that country so much, he said he could have easily lived there.

Charlie was an avid reader who especially loved to read books covering U.S History, including World War II and also historical fiction. A man with a love for the arts, music truly spoke to him and he loved a good Gilbert and Sullivan operetta or a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. As a young kid, he was a talented boy chorister at Trinity Church in Newark. He’d take the bus from Kearny to Newark for five-cents and get paid a quarter to sing. The trip back to Kearny would cost another nickel and that netted him a fifteen-cent profit - enough money for three large chocolate bars. An armchair intellect, Charlie was always up for a good conversation about the events of the world or whatever you wished to talk about and one of his most loved places for conversing was at one of the Spanish or Portuguese restaurants in the Ironbound section of Newark.

Charlie always cherished his Marine Corps service. Around 1991 he was invited to join the West Hudson Marine Corps League in Kearny. There he became reacquainted with veterans he had served with during the war. He ultimately became the group’s chaplain and he loved the camaraderie and good work that took place. Along with his fellow Marines he’d help veterans who lived in the Menlo Park Veterans Home by visiting and playing bingo to bring some happiness into their lives. They hosted carnivals and raised money to buy toys for needy children at Christmas and helped raise money for scholarships offered to high school seniors from Kearny families who had members in the league. To win the scholarship, an applicant would simply have to write a short essay about what it meant to them to be an American. Charlie was so proud when his granddaughter, Allison won the league’s scholarship. That essay was so well written that it went on to win the regional, state and national scholarships. Another great part of the league was being able to participate in it with his wife Dottie who was an active member in the league’s auxiliary. Together they marched in various parades on St. Patrick’s Day, Memorial Day, Veterans Day and Fourth of July, and Charlie was still marching until he turned 90. On the Sunday after Memorial Day, they went to the cemetery in North Arlington and set American flags on veteran’s graves. Of course there were also many social activities that the league offered like pig roasts and the annual Marine ball in Menlo Park complete with carved Marine emblem ice sculpture and bag pipe honor guard. One of the greatest honors of Charlie’s life was being one of the few selected from his Marine Corps detachment to ride the battleship USS New Jersey BB-62 as it travelled through the Panama Canal enroute to its final birth in Camden, NJ in 1999.

Charlie and Dottie joined the Packanack Community Church soon after moving to Packanack Lake. Initially it was the potluck suppers that enticed him to go. One day the minister told him and Dottie that it was time for them to step up their commitment and become members. They did, and over the last six decades, Charlie served as an usher, a counter and on the music committee.

Charlie had a lot to be thankful for in his life and indeed he was! A warm-hearted guy, he was always upbeat and friendly. Because his name was so close to the famous martial artist and actor Chuck Norris, people he encountered would often ask, “Are you THE Chuck Norris?” His reply was always, “The original!” He had a great sense of humor and was even joking with the nurses on the last day of this his life on earth. Everyone will be looking forward to seeing Charlie in heaven!

Charlie is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years – Dorothy; his three beautiful daughters: Debbie and husband Joseph Mello of Newton, Susan Norris-Schrodt of Branson, Missouri, and Kim Ellen and husband James Welsh of Kissimmee, Florida; seven adored grandchildren: Scott, Jennifer, Corey, Kyle, Allison, Cameron, and Alexandria; one precious great-grandson: Eli; and two dear siblings: Bill and wife Lois Norris of Colts Neck, NJ, and Nancy Blakely of Ledgewood, NJ. He was predeceased by his dear brother Francis Norris and dear son-in-law Frederick Schrodt.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Charlie’s name are asked to consider Packanack Community Church.

Christine Ann Ciarlo (nee Miele), age 85 of Wayne, died peacefully on Saturday, June 4, 2016. She had been a resident of Wayne since 1964 and was well known due to her many years as a ‘lunch lady’ at Anthony Wayne and Schuyler Colfax middle schools.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, she moved to Passaic with her family as a young girl. She graduated from Passaic High School and soon thereafter met Carmine Ciarlo, a handsome Navy veteran, on a blind date. They dated for a few years before marrying on April 26, 1954 at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Passaic, followed by a car ride down to Miami Beach, Florida for their honeymoon. They settled in Bloomfield for a brief while, and then moved to Wayne in 1964. They had a “great” marriage that included ‘date night’ every Saturday, summers at Seaside Park, NJ, and many traditional Italian dinners on Sunday night at their house. They enjoyed more than thirty two years together before Carmine’s untimely passing in 1986.

Family was a priority to Christine and Sunday was always a special day where she would make homemade gravy and everyone would gather for dinner. She also enjoyed watching her favorite soap operas on TV, tending to her flower garden, and, of course, shopping! Shopping was among one of her favorite pastimes and walking was her favorite form of exercise – so enjoying long walks throughout all the stores in the mall made for a perfect day in her book! She loved talking too and often had friends over just to talk. Her sister Terry was her best friend and they seemed inseparable. Sadly, when Terry passed in 2009, Christine’s grief weighed heavy on her heart and she has missed her sister terribly ever since.

Several years after Carmine’s passing, Christine met Jim Boncore at a widower’s group and the two of them were blessed with a very close companionship for nearly ten years before Jim passed. Jim was a good man who brought happiness back to Christine’s heart. She devoted herself to being a fulltime grandmother after Jim died, and she loved every minute spent with her grandchildren. Naturally, time spent shopping for them was high on her list, or taking them to her favorite restaurant, China Paradise in Wayne, where she invariably ordered the pu-pu platter. Her family will surely cherish those special times with her forever, and they will miss her dearly.

Christine is survived by her three children; Patricia Allegretto of Wayne, Robert Ciarlo and his wife Krista of Little Falls, and Kim Petty and her husband Guy of Morganville, five grandchildren; Daniel, Christina, Alicia, Matthew, and Sophia, her brother; James Miele and his wife Linda of Irvine, CA, and nieces and nephews; David, Suzanne, James, Jason, PJ, Barbara, and Ralph. She was predeceased by her husband Carmine in 1986 and by her sister Theresa “Terry” Orrico in 2009.

Charles Tucker taught at Wayne Valley High School for 35 years. Teaching was not a job for him but a calling from which he found immense joy and in which he reveled. Possessing a prodigious memory, Mr. Tucker could recite passage-, no pages,- from many of his favorite authors. He could repeat from memory a passage appropriate for any occasion. All of his students remember his enthusiastic recitals from Moby Dick and from his favorite poets such as Walt Whitman and Hart Crane. Mr. Tucker loved Charles Dickens and every two years he reread each novel and relished in them as if it were the first time he’d read them. The years never tarnished his joy in teaching Shakespeare whether it was MacBeth or Hamlet or Julius Caesar.

Serving the teachers of Wayne as President and chief negotiator, Mr. Tucker, along with his friend and colleague Fred Roth, worked for the best conditions, medical benefits and salaries for his fellow teachers. He could be a fierce opponent whether in negotiations or in defense of a co-worker through a grievance.

Born in New York City, ‘Tuck’, as he was known, was raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Upon graduation from Catholic High School, he served his country as a paratrooper. Again, the risk and the excitement of a “jump” was something he anticipated and loved. (The hazardous duty pay was nice too). After his basic training, he was stationed in Germany where he developed a love of the land and language. (The food was good too). Perhaps it was at this time that he fell in love with Wagner and particularly Siegfried’s Journey to the Rhine, a piece of music he shared with his three sons at every opportunity. (Wagner never repeats a theme) One of the extra dividends was that Pop would sing along with the music - loudly. Locked in the car with Pop and Wagner was a treat for him and a treatment for us. After his service in the Army, Tuck joined the Pennsylvania National Guard for three years.

Now “at six and seven,” he was drifting until a neighbor teacher took him and registered him at Millersville State College from which he graduated with a B.S. in English and History. Upon graduation, Tuck came to Wayne looking for a job which he received and, of course, was to take great pleasure in the position. Simultaneously, he went to Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned a M.A. in English. Over the course of years, Tuck continued his education at William Paterson and Montclair Universities.

At Wayne Valley, he volunteered to be class adviser on several occasions. He organized the chess club, a game which he loved, and was thrilled at the victories and learning of his students. Finally, he became Student Council Advisor for a period of time. In all of these activities, Mr. Tucker took pride in the organization and skills the students learned and achieved.

While Tuck may have left Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania was never far from his heart. Frequent visits to his sisters Betsy and Bill and Rosemary and Dan, kept the family close. His sisters, who can make you feel loved simply by saying hello, made Thanksgiving the best holiday of the year. The trips to the Green Dragon farmer’s market with the guys and to Lititz with the ladies made the 13 cousins feel more like brothers and sisters.

Tuck was known to enjoy the occasional horse race, (there should be a plaque dedicated to him at the Meadowlands). He thought every well-educated man should be able to read a racing form and so instructed his sons and grandchildren in the Sport of Kings. Thus, all of his sons know that one should never bet a long-shot to show or ever bet on any horse that ever ran at Yonkers. Although he loved Bridge and had legendary games of pinochle with his parents at the kitchen table, Tuck thought his sons should know the gentlemanly games of craps, blackjack and that roulette is for amateurs. Slots were only to be played while waiting for the buffet to open. With his friend, Ed McCran, they fought bad traffic, bad cards and bad luck to emerge victorious…sometimes.

Tuck truly believed that one would never die if he experienced laughter, good humor and love. He was blessed with all three in a life that he lived completely and with a family that gave him unspeakable joy. With his “Flower,” his wife Joan, and three sons, Charlie, Edward and Michael, he had many wonderful and delightful moments, not matched until the births of each of his nine grandchildren: Bobby, Andrew, Emma, Faith, Caleb, Nathaniel, Michael, Isabelle and Hannah. These kids are the denominator to his happiness and contentment.

Finally, Tuck fought nobly against pancreatic cancer. He lost this struggle on September 26, 2016 with his Flower and family by his side. Saddened though his family and friends are, they take comfort in a man who choose a purposeful life and lived it fully. Surely, Mr. Tucker, Tuck, Pop, Dad, Grandpop, had a blessed life and we all were blessed to be in it.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you send donations to the St. Labre Indian School, P.O. Box 216, Ashland, Montana 59003-9989.