John “Chick” Choka, age 93 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday August 28, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Chick was born and raised in Jersey City.  While growing up and attending Dickenson High School in Jersey City, Chick excelled in Baseball at the position of Catcher.  He went on to play for his college team at Jersey City State College.

Following his graduation from high school with the class of 1942, World War II was at its peak.  Chick enlisted into the United States Army in 1943.  He was assigned to the Harbor Craft Division of the Navy but he was officially Army personnel.  Chick served honorably with the United States Army from 1943 until 1946.  Subsequent to his honorable discharge from the Army, Chick took advantage of the GI Bill and went to college to further his education.  Chick attended Jersey City State College and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Education with the class of 1951.   Chick then received his Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration from Teacher’s College, Columbia University in June of 1954.

Chick’s first job was as a teacher at the Roosevelt School where he taught fifth grade.  He held that position for about two years then earned another position as a teacher in Cherry Hill School in River Edge.  Later in 1957, Chick took over the duties of Teaching Principal of Hollie M. Davis.  In 1959 Chick was appointed Principal of Cherry Hill School.  Chick would hold this position for the rest of his career until his retirement nearly thirty years ago.  Chick was never able to shake the “Baseball Bug” from his youth.  He went on to be president of the Wayne Little League, and was active President when they won the Little League World Series in 1970 at Williamsport, PA.  One of the fields next to the next to the Boys and Girls Club of Wayne was named after him in his honor, “John Chick Choka Field.”

Chick served as Explorer Advisor for Post 95 with the Explorer Scouts in River Edge.  Chick was greatly involved with the Wayne Department of Parks and Recreation for many years.  He was a longtime member of the Wayne Elks #2181 as well as a member of the Jersey City AM Vets where he was also past Commander.  Chick was a longtime member of Packanack Community Church where he also served on the Christian Education Committee.

As a teenager, Chick could often be found down by the local “swimming hole” near the Hudson River where he grew up.  There were many young girls who were attracted to Chick because of his funny and witty personality, and later even more so because he owned a car (a yellow convertible to boot!).  But of all the girls that had their eyes on him, Chick asked out an attractive young girl by the name of Luby Halaska.  He asked her to go for a ride in his yellow convertible, as fate would have it they fell in love and following Chick’s honorable discharge from the military they were married at St Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church in Jersey City.  After getting married, John and Luby settled and stayed in Jersey City and started to raise a family.  Their first two children were born there, and in 1959 they family moved to Wayne where their next two children were born.  They would call Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together.  John and Luby would cherish over 70 years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Chick enjoyed sports, was a New York Yankee fan and had a knack for gardening.  Chick was a teacher at heart and loved to participate and volunteer for anything that benefited children.  Although, Chick’s greatest passion was for his family, nothing meant more to Chick than providing for and spending time with his family.  He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  Between his volunteer work and his profession, Chick touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone who knew him.

Chick is survived by his wife Luby (nee Halaska), three sons; Gary and his wife Eileen of Wayne, Wayne and his wife Ann of Andover, and Christopher and his wife Liz of Charlotte, NC, one daughter Claudia Kelly and her husband Kevin of Bradenton, FL, nine grandchildren; Autumn, Christopher, Justin, Shawn, Ryan, Connor, Chasen, Gary, and Melissa.  He was predeceased by his brother George Choka and his sister Ann Ellerson.

In lieu of flowers donations in Chick’s name can be made to Wayne Little League, 11 Copley Ct. Wayne, NJ 07470.

Anthony “Buddy” Martone age 87 formerly of Wayne passed away peacefully at home on Monday August 27, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Anthony was born and raised in Passaic, NJ.  He remained there with his family until the late 1980’s when he and his wife Kathleen moved to Packanack Lake in Wayne.

After graduating Passaic High School, Anthony went on to William Paterson State University where he earned his Master’s Degree in Education, and continued his education until leaving college just nine credits shy of his doctorate degree.  Following his graduation, Anthony earned a position in the city of Newark as a School Teacher in a local high school.  He taught there for more than 10 years.  Anthony also started a small business named after his daughters called Darlyn Announcements, where he would sell door to door printed invitations for weddings, baptisms, etc.  Concurrent to his teaching career, Anthony earned his Real Estate License.  During the summers Anthony would sell Real Estate as a means to make extra money for his family.  Business got to be so good that Anthony left behind his teaching career and focused solely on Real Estate, eventually getting his Real Estate Broker’s License where he would buy and sell commercial properties.  He then started another company named Automated Agency Associates located in the city of Clifton, selling insurance.  Anthony would buy and sell property and insurance until his retirement in the late 1980’s.

As a young man in Passaic High School, Anthony met a young beautiful girl, Kathleen Massaro.  They dated all throughout high school and on June 22, 1952 they were married in Mt Carmel Church in Passaic.  They remained in Passaic and would raise their three daughters there until moving to Packanack Lake in Wayne.

Anthony was a big sports fan throughout his life, playing high school football at Passaic High School. He was also an avid skier, diver, and taught all of his children to ice skate and swim.  He enjoyed traveling and riding his Honda Goldwing Motorcycle.  He would take his family on many cross country trips throughout the years, also visiting the 1965 World’s Fair in New York.  Aside from all of Anthony’s talents and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  Nothing meant more to Anthony than providing for and spending time with his children and grandchildren.  Kathleen and Anthony cherished more than sixty-six years of loving marriage.  Anthony never lost the love of teaching, he was a teacher at heart.  He was also a wonderful caregiver to his entire family.  Anthony touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew him.

Anthony is survived by his wife Kathleen Massaro of Riverdale, three daughters; Debralyn Terranova and her husband Michael of Wayne, Darlene Moskal and her late husband Walter of Mahwah, and Kimberly Savvides and her husband Mario of Parrish, FL, one sister Carol DeBlasi and her husband Richard of Wylie, TX, seven grandchildren; Christopher and his wife Lauren, Lyndsay and her husband David, Jamie, Allie, Kelly, Tyler, and Eric, and two great grandchildren Madison and Jayden.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Anthony’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068.

Edith Kueppers, age 91, of Wayne, passed on Sunday, August 26, 2018. She was born and raised in Paterson having graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1945. Edith has lived in Wayne for over sixty years.

Edith Kueppers, age 91, of Wayne, passed on Sunday, August 26, 2018. She was born and raised in Paterson having graduated from Eastside High School with the Class of 1945. Edith has lived in Wayne for over sixty years.

While driving in Paterson with the roof down in a convertible Bob spotted a classmate from high school named Edith Warren. They waved to each other and as fate would have it they fell in love. Bob and Edith married on May 8, 1948 at Saint Brendan’s RC Church in Clifton and honeymooned in Florida. They have enjoyed sixty-nine years of a loving and caring marriage until Bob’s passing on August 25, 2017.

Edith was the devoted mother of Lorrain Kueppers of Beachwood and the late Robert Kueppers; the beloved grandmother of Jeffrey and Jennifer Kueppers and cherished great-grandmother of Adrianna Kueppers.

Jacqueline A. Trombetta Aukamp, age 84 of West Milford and formerly of Henderson, NV, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 25, 2018.

Jackie was born and raised in Brooklyn where she attended the Fort Hamilton High School, graduating with the Class of 1951.

A couple of years after school, Jackie married and, with the blessed arrival of two sons and a daughter, she assumed her role as mother and homemaker at their home in Massapequa, Long Island. When the marriage ended, Jackie and her children moved to a log cabin in Lake Lenape in Andover, NJ. With grit and a whole bunch of determination, Jackie returned to the workplace and carved a path where she could provide for her kids while continuing to maintain her beautiful, God-given sense of humor and be the fun-loving, stabling presence in their young lives. She started as a waitress, eventually getting a job as a secretary for the Andover Sand and Gravel Company while simultaneously pursuing a license in real estate. She later settled into a position as a payroll administrator in Parsippany where she worked for many years.

When her sons and daughter were grown, Jackie found love again but it certainly wasn’t love at first sight. Set up on a blind date by mutual friends, Mr. Leroy “Sonny” Aukamp showed up in an outfit complete with white sneakers and black socks. Now Jackie fancied herself a fashionable woman which she was indeed! So Sonny’s choice of socks and shoes put doubts into her mind from the get-go. In spite of that bumpy start, Jackie and Sonny eventually realized that their personalities, strengths and weaknesses actually complimented each other quite nicely. They decided to make their relationship permanent and so they married before the justice of the peace at the Budd Lake Fire House where Sonny was a fire fighter. After the wedding, the newly married Mrs. Jacqueline Aukamp joined Sonny in his home in Budd Lake.

After they both retired, Jackie and Sonny moved to Henderson, Nevada, near Las Vegas. With so much to do in Vegas, they had a great retirement. Jackie loved playing cards and bingo at the local casinos and her house had an abundance of free gifts which the casinos offered to entice you to come play. She and Sonny also loved the casino’s plethora of shows with headline entertainers. Jackie was an avid traveler who enjoyed trips all over the U.S. including destinations like Hawaii and Italy, and she also vacationed in Bermuda with her sister Joan and daughter Susan.  

Good times were plenty in Jackie’s life. You could say that her fun disposition was like a good-times magnet and friends and family just loved to be in her company. She especially enjoyed trips to the beach, playing golf with Sonny and her son Michael in the Poconos, taking the camping trailer to the Poconos with Sonny and her grandchildren, and visiting with her son Stephen and his family in Colorado.

After Jackie’s beloved husband Sonny passed away in 1998, she decided to stay in Nevada where she enjoyed a large circle of friends and also found great satisfaction volunteering with the Catholic Charities organization, teaching many children of Spanish descent to read in the English language. Jackie would also visit Colorado and New Jersey where she enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. While her role was that of being their grandmother, Jackie was more like a great friend. She loved teasing them in a good-natured way and she gave those grandkids complete license to tease her right back. Being an avid reader of the National Inquirer and the Star and always enjoying watching the latest musical entertainment shows on television, Jackie was just as current on her grandkids generation of music and entertainment as they were – sometimes even more current!. Those kids really adored their grandma and each of them had unique nicknames for her.

Above all else in Jackie’s life, her family was what she valued the most. Before moving to Nevada, Christmas Eve was always traditionally spent at Jackie’s house. When she moved, her kids continued the tradition and Jackie’s surprise visits at Christmas time were always a welcome treat. In 2013, she returned home to New Jersey to live for the rest of her life. Her children and grandchildren will always cherish great memories of a mother and grandmother who was just so darn funny. She leaves behind wonderful memories of crazy times like the pudding fight in the log cabin on Lenape Lake, but she also leaves behind a host of lessons for life that inspire. For example, when times were a little tough and money was not in great supply, Jackie taught her family that, just because money was tight, didn’t mean you had to show it. Consequently, she believed in dressing with class and always making sure that her hair looks stylish. Even recently, while living in the Milford Manor these past few years, the caregivers were so impressed by Jackie’s sharp looking clothes – especially her leather outfit. An avid movie watcher, Jackie gave each of her kids an appreciation for great cinema. She was a wonderful inspiration to all, to enjoy the good things of life, like a nice cocktail, a great movie, and the joys of seeing all that there is to offer in this great big world.

Jacqueline was the beloved wife of Leroy “Sonny” Aukamp, blessed in marriage until his passing in 1998. She was the loving mother of Stephen and wife Jana Trombetta of Edwards, CO, Michael Trombetta of Budd Lake, and Susan and husband Walter Siubis of Kinnelon; adored grandmother of: Samantha Askey, Matthew Siubis, Marissa Safer, Anthony Trombetta, Tyler Trombetta, Zach Trombetta, and Ana Trombetta; cherished great-grandmother of Julien and Beckham Siubis; dear sister of the late Joan Rulka; and dear aunt of Scott and Keith Rulka.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Jacqueline’s name are asked to consider the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or online at www.alz.org

Rita Laubscher, age 90 of Wayne, passed away Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

She was born to Hugo and Henriette Raunecker in Patchogue, New York and raised in the Jamaica section of Queens, New York. She graduated from Jamaica High School in Queens, New York with the Class of 1946.

Rita met a handsome young man named George Robert Laubscher, Jr. as he was a friend of her brother Dick. Their first date was to a Broadway show in New York City. They married on May12, 1951 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Hollis, NY and honeymooned in Virginia Beach, Virginia. When they married they lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, New Orleans, Louisiana, the Fayson Lakes section of Kinnelon, New Jersey and settled in Wayne, New Jersey in 1964. Rita and George enjoyed fifty-eight years of a loving and devoted marriage before his passing in 2009.

Rita entered the working world as a secretary with NBC in Rockefeller Center during the launch of color TV. She later spent several years as a reading tutor at Mt. View Elementary School in Wayne. For over 50 years, she was an active committee member / volunteer at her church: St. Timothy Lutheran Church in Wayne.

She will be lovingly remembered for being outgoing, personable, meticulous and for always having a positive outlook on life She always enjoyed sewing, quilting, crocheting, and picked up Counted Cross Stitch embroidery while the family lived in The Hague, Netherlands. She lived by the motto “do it right or don’t do it at all.” Her attention to detail was exemplified by the fact that her Counted Cross Stitch creations looked as good in the back as the front. Rita also was known for her green thumb with many various house plants but especially her collection of orchids.

Rita was the loving wife of the late George Robert Laubscher, Jr. (2009); devoted mother of Paul Laubscher and his wife Esme of South Salem, NY, Gail L. Laubscher-Summer of Hickory, NC, and David A. Laubscher and his wife Linda of Chapel Hill, NC; she was the cherished grandmother of Luke Laubscher, Mark Laubscher, Jessica Summer and her husband John Szewczyk, Melissa and her husband Robert Wells, Kevin Laubscher, and Kristen and her husband Alex Bellows; she was the loved sister of the late Richard Raunecker; dearly loved aunt of Sarah Raunecker and her husband Rob Alberts.

Dr. Michael Utidjian, age 87, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Wednesday August 22, 2018 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Michael was born in London, England in 1931. From an early age he was known for his inquisitive nature and love of science, particularly chemistry. A graduate of the Highgate School in London, his time there was notable for his evacuation with a group of his classmates to the English countryside at Hartland Abbey during the London Blitz. Like his father before him, he chose to pursue a career in medicine and earned his medical degree at University College London Medical School.

His clinical career saw him practice medicine in England as well as far flung locales such as Iraq and Trinidad before ultimately immigrating to the United States. As a foreign medical graduate, Michael was initially prevented from obtaining his medical license in the States for ten years. Undeterred, he embarked on a career in public health and occupational medicine, working first in academia and then the pharmaceutical industry, publishing dozens of papers and guidelines on the safety standards for occupational exposures. His final position as corporate medical director at American Cyanamid saw him overseeing the safety of the company’s workers across the country and internationally.

During his retirement, Michael continued to travel the world. He often spent his summers in England visiting his brother and sister, Leon and Rosemary, and reconnecting with lifelong friends. For many years he would join his high school classmates for reunions at Hartland Abbey, reminiscing about their school boy adventures in the countryside.

A beloved father, grandfather and friend, Michael will be remembered by those who knew him for his gregarious nature, his keen wit, and his endless curiosity about the world and its cultures.

He is survived by his five children, Dikran, David, Araxi, Lynn and Levon, and four grandsons, Austin, Colton, Parker and Connor. He is also survived by his sister, Rosemary. He was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Haigouni Dikran Absalom Utidjian and Edith Utidjian.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Michael’s name are asked to consider donations in memory or honor of Dr. Michael Utidjian to two charities:

The Children of Armenia Fund, https://www.coafkids.org/

Doctors without Borders, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/.

Saundra “Sandi” (Storms) Putnam, formerly of Wanaque/West Milford, NJ (recently of Warsaw/Geneseo, NY), died peacefully of a brief illness on Monday, August 20, 2018, with her family near her side, in a Rochester (NY) hospital. She was 71.

Sandi is predeceased by her husband of 20 years, James E. Putnam, whom she wed in 1983. She is also predeceased by her parents, Bernard and Phyllis Storms.

Sandi was born in Paterson and lived in Pompton Lakes before moving at a young age to Haskell (Wanaque Borough). Sandi remained in the area most of her life.

She graduated from Lakeland Regional High School, Wanaque, in 1965. Sandi worked at A&P (Haskell) and Gelman’s (Pompton Lakes) while attending Paterson State Teachers College. She accepted a position right out of college teaching US History and Sociology at her high school alma mater, Lakeland, where she would spend the next 33 years. Mid-career, Sandi obtained a Master’s in Psychology by attending night classes at Montclair State College. This enabled her to teach Behavioral Studies for Lakeland.

Sandi was a dedicated teacher and, despite a perception of being strict, was beloved by many students. She gave freely of her own time to supervise many extracurricular activities, including co-founding of the highly successful and nationally recognized ERASE (End Racism and Sexism Everywhere) program. She was also a repeat Class Advisor, who chaperoned Proms and trips; coached Girls’ Basketball; announced Varsity Football; and helped found the Beautification Project that positively impacted both the school and the community (Addice Park). Sandi also spearheaded student conference days regarding Alcoholism and initially led the Students Against Driving Drunk (SADD) movement at Lakeland. Sandi felt strongly about this topic and fostered open discussions about it with her students.

Apart from teaching, Sandi helped raise her husband’s two daughters as teenagers, retained a strong interest in politics and current events, and was a devoted daughter, sister, and aunt.

In her salad days, her friends saw her fun-loving side, during bowling league; weekends up to Hunter Mountain or summers at The Jersey Shore or in The Hamptons; and on memorable trips, including Hawaii and Myrtle Beach. Sandi also had fond memories of family reunions, trips, and picnics. Trips to Memphis and Florida with her husband as well as her one international trip to Toronto for ERASE figured prominently in her memories.

In addition, Sandi had creative flair, with an excellent eye for color and style. She was known among her friends and family as having exceptional taste in clothing and home décor. She enjoyed making special napkin rings and floral arrangements for family events. Also, she was known as an accomplished shopper who was generous with others to a fault.

Sandi was a very giving person and eventually became caregiver for her parents and husband, in spite of her own serious and chronic health conditions. After her “early” retirement from teaching and the family’s relocation to Western New York, Sandi continued to work tirelessly and selflessly for her parents and husband until their subsequent deaths.

Sandi is survived by two younger brothers, Stephen (Lee) Storms, of Warsaw, NY, and Jeffrey (Michele) Storms of Caldwell, ID; a younger sister, Stacy (Christopher) Dorland, of Rochester, NY; a step-daughter, Terry (David) Futcher of Highland Lakes, NJ; and two grown grandsons, David James and Corey Futcher, also of Highland Lakes. She leaves behind many bereaved nieces and nephews as well as many old and new friends.

Sandi loved flowers, but she was also very civic-minded. Honor her memory as you wish and as befits her legacy of generosity.

Lois Alicia Epper, age 83, of Paterson, passed into eternal rest and into the presence of God’s glory on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Lois was born in Paterson and raised in Hackensack and Hillsdale. She was a graduate of Paterson’s Central High School, Class of 1954 and, after graduation, she went to work as a secretary for the Lotte Chemical Company in Paterson.

Lois met her husband Charles at a baseball game. After a happy time of courtship, they decided that love should lead to marriage and so on Saturday, August 21, 1954, they exchanged their wedding vows before God, family and friends at the Paterson Avenue United Methodist Church. After their honeymoon, in Washington DC, they made their first home together in Paterson where, a couple of years later, they welcomed the blessing of a baby boy and Lois quickly settled into the role of mother and homemaker. Sadly, in 1961, Lois’ husband Charles passed away after only seven years of marriage.

Lois had to return to the workplace and, knowing that she would need a job of a primary bread winner, she attended nursing school at Passaic County Tech. After graduating as a licensed practical nurse, she took her first position at Barnert Hospital in Paterson working the day shift so she could get Jack off to school and making sure to be home when his classes were over. After some time at Barnert, she joined the staff of Dr. Charles Gold, Podiatrist in Fairlawn until ovarian cancer necessitated a leave of absence. By God’s grace, after a complete recovery, Lois went to work for NJ Carbonator Service – a soft drink distributor, until retirement in 1997.

Despite having to work full-time, Lois put as much love and passion as any great mom would into her God-given role as mother. She considered it to be the most important calling in her life and she was a top-notch mom. After a long day at work and school, she and her son Jack would spend quality time together going over his homework and in their spare time and summers, she shared her love of travel. Lois loved road trips and she and Jack took many of them – sometimes twice a summer up to Maine as well as trips to see family in West Virginia, Georgia and South Carolina. There were also trips in the car to Florida and flights to California to see San Francisco and Yosemite National Park.

Lois enjoyed spending time in her kitchen where a family favorite was her chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes and string beans. She considered cooking to be a hobby and even took classes at Adventures in Cooking in Wayne. A long-time member of the Wayne Presbyterian Church, she had a real heart of service and was always happy to offer a hand if she could. If you needed a meal or a ride to a doctor’s appointment, Lois was there, and when her son Jack was growing up and his friends would come over, Lois was always available to lend an ear and offer some sage advice. At church she served as a deacon and she enjoyed rolling up her sleeves to help out at church functions.

Lois was like a ray of warm sunshine on a chilly day. She was typically upbeat, cheerful and very outgoing. Her son Jack would say that his mom was like a mayor because she was always up to date on current events and loved to talk about them, she liked to fix situations, and she loved to engage in conversation and offer wise counsel. Lois touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by her family and friends alike.

Lois was the beloved wife of Charles, blessed in marriage for seven years until his untimely passing in 1961. She was the loving mother of John “Jack” Epper of Paterson; and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews. Lois was also predeceased by her dear brother Alfred Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Lois’ name are asked to consider the Wayne Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 1200 Alps Road, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Edith M. Restaino (nee Noce), age 98 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, August 15, 2018.  She had lived in Wayne since 1966.

Edith grew up in Newark, on Hartford St., in the heart of the city.  Her family owned several businesses there, including Noce Ice, Noce Fuel Oil, and the C&I Coal Company.  Edith was always good with numbers and served as the bookkeeper for all their businesses, and at the Newman Tannery in Newark, Bally’s Fitness in Wayne, and the Lakeland Healthcare Center in Wanaque, just to name a few.  Her children recall the neighborhood fondly, and they have many good memories of growing up there.  In 1966, she moved with her beloved husband, Nicholas and her family, to Wayne and she’s lived here ever since.

Edith was a devout Catholic who attended mass every day at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne.  Next to her faith in God was her loved for her family.  Everything seemed to revolve around family for her; she was like the hub of their family wheel.  Of course, her cooking was also responsible for drawing people to her home.  She was an absolutely incredible cook who made everything from scratch.  Her fresh pasta and homemade gnocchi were to die for, as was her pickled eggplant and roasted peppers.  Her ricotta cheesecake was second to none.  Anyone who broke bread in her home knows how she brought joy to everyone she met, and left them with a full stomach as well.

Edith is survived by her two children; Patricia Restaino of Wayne, and James Restaino and his wife Eileen of Wanaque, three grandchildren; Maryssa Geist of Wayne, Jesse and Tyler Restaino of Wanaque, and one sister; Fran LaSala.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband Nicholas in 2013, by her granddaughter; Nicole Geist in 1996, and by her five brothers and a sister.

Max A. Huber, age 88, long-time resident of Wayne, died on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.  He had been the owner of Max’s Deli in Wayne from 1981-1998.

Max was born and raised in Munich, Germany.  His childhood was defined by the events of World War II, and he experienced things that kids of today could hardly understand.  For example; there was an 88 mm gun emplacement outside of his home in Munich where Max and his young friends would lay on the ground.  Each time the gun fired, their bodies would bounce up into the air from the shockwave!  It was so much fun, they could hardly wait for the next blast!  After the war ended, the local airport was full of abandoned war planes, and no soldiers to guard them.  Max and his buddies would climb into the planes and play with the controls, pretending to be pilots!  His uncle towed one of the planes home with a horse and wagon, stashing it in his barn.  There was also an abandoned armory nearby Max’s home, full of unsecured weapons.  Max and his friends collected all sorts of “toys” from there, most of which no young boy should play with…but they did.  He brought home a sack full of hand grenades on one occasion, and they turned out to be rather useful for fishing.  In the post-war atmosphere that existed in Germany, there was simply no one around to stop them.  Eventually, Max apprenticed in a small restaurant in Munich, and became a cook for U.S. Army officers stationed there during the occupation.  He made a reputation for himself as being an excellent cook.  He went on to culinary school in Munich and worked at several different venues, including the Moulin Rouge in Paris, where he cooked a meal for Charles De Gaulle.

At twenty-seven years old, Max was able to secure a sponsor and he immigrated to the United States.  Settling in Port Jervis, he began cooking at a German restaurant there.  The location was a little too isolated for him, so he moved to Pequannock and began cooking at the Triangle Hofbrau Restaurant on Rt. 23.  He also worked at The Bethwood Restaurant where he was the executive chef for many years before opening Max’s Deli in 1981, at the Packanack Lake shopping center on Rt. 23.  He was such a personable guy and all the customers loved him.  He ran the deli for seventeen years before selling it and retiring in 1998.

In his leisure time, Max enjoyed the outdoors; hunting, fishing, and deep-sea fishing.  He had a home up in the Catskills where he loved to take care of the lawn and property.  He also had a place in Long Key, Florida for many years where he spent as much time as he could fishing.  He has visited every one of the contiguous United States, traveling around with his slide-on pickup camper.  It wasn’t exactly spacious, but he covered many, many miles with that rig.

Max is survived by his two children; Max J. Huber and his wife Carolle of Morristown, NJ, and his daughter; Christina Huber and her husband Darryl Eason of Valley Cottage, New York, and one granddaughter; Ruby Linden Huber of Los Angeles, California.

Martha D. Cook, age 93, of Wayne, passed away at her home with her loving family by her side, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Born and raised in Vandling, PA, Martha was the eighth-born of Ignatz and Emma Grum’s nine children. After graduating high school, Martha and two of her sisters moved to Brooklyn, NY in search of work.  Jobs in small town Vandling were scarce.  Her first job was an administrative position for E.R. Squibb & Sons Pharmaceuticals.  No one was happier that Martha came to work at Squibb than a young gentleman named, Albert Cook.  Al took one glance at Martha and he was smitten!  Their dates ultimately led to marriage on August 12, 1950.

The happy couple purchased their first home in Nanuet, NY where they started their family.  In 1963, Al was transferred by American Cyanamid and they moved into their newly built home in Wayne.  Martha continued her role of full-time mom and homemaker.  Life in the Cook home mirrored that popular TV series of the 1950’s and 60’s; “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriett”.  

The Cook’s were some of the first parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation Church.  Sunday mass was always followed by 2:00 PM family dinner. It was a predictable lifestyle but had the positive effect of bringing major stability to life that often lacks in our society today. Martha was the most loving and supportive mom any kid could ask for.

In 1973, Martha returned to the work place taking a job at the local Stern’s Department Store in Wayne’s Preakness Mall. She worked there until retirement in 1991.

One of Martha’s favorite pastimes was working in her yard. Thanks to Miracle Grow, her flowers & plants resembled the Botanical Gardens!  Later in life, after her husband Al passed away, Martha took Tai Chi classes at Chilton Hospital’s Collins Pavilion with her lady friends along with bus trips offered through Wayne’s Dept. of Parks & Recreation.  Above all, the most important part of life for Martha was always her family – close and extended.  In more recent years, she felt blessed to have many special times with her two grandchildren.

Faith, family, and friends were the cornerstones of Martha’s life – a life filled with blessings and certainly well-lived.  Martha touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by her family and friends alike.

Martha was the beloved wife of Albert Cook, blessed in marriage for 42 years until his passing in 1993. She was the loving mother of Donna Cook of Hawley, PA., Nancy & husband Robert Schultz of Wayne, and Gordon of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Allison and Gregory Schultz; dear sister of Vida Laurich of Edison, and dear aunt of numerous nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind her precious Pomeranian companion, Cookie. Martha was also predeceased by seven dear siblings: Ignatz Grum, Jr., Frank Grum, Henry Grum, Agnes Warchol, Emma Femc, Victor Grum and Mary Grum.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Martha’s name are asked to consider the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA. 02241-7005

Adeline “Addy” Pescatore (nee Cali) of Wayne passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

Please Note: Visitation hours have changed to 2 - 6 PM.

Adeline “Addy” Pescatore (nee Cali) of Wayne passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.

She was born and raised in the Carol Gardens section of Brooklyn, New York and graduated from the New York Needles and Trade High School in New York City.  She worked as an office manager for the New York City Board of Education for twenty-five years before retiring in 1995.

Adeline married her childhood sweetheart Emilio "Googy" Pescatore on September 7, 1947 at Saint Mary Star of the Sea Church in Brooklyn. They lived, worked and retired while living in Brooklyn.  After their retirement they moved to the Packanack Lake section of Wayne. Addy and Emilio were all about being with their family.  They loved family trips to the Jersey Shore but in reality anywhere they could be with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  To Addy, her children were the center of her life.

She will be remembered for her huge loving heart, being full of energy, and always being there when you needed her. When it came to playing Rummikub she was the undisputed champion.  She was an excellent cook specializing in all types of Italian specialties.  The love she cooked into her meatballs, eggplant parmigiana and lasagna will never be forgotten.  Addy was very active in the senior Wayne community.  She was still driving, always on the go, and willing to help wherever she could. She enjoyed all kinds of trips with the seniors of Wayne, was active with the Golden Age Circle of Wayne and was the Secretary at the Golden Key and treasured the friends she made there.

She was predeceased by her husband of fifty-eight years Emilio Pescatore (2005); she was the devoted mother of Toni Ann Sileno and her husband Robert of Wayne, Louis Pescatore and his wife Maryanne of Manhasset, Long Island, and Steven Pescatore and his wife Lorraine of Wayne; she was the cherished grandmother of eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren; dearly loved sister of Josephine D’Amico of Marathon, NY and the late Antoinette Rega, Fortunata Scotto, and Rocco Cali.

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

Edna May Hughes, 91, of Vernon and formerly of Paterson, NJ, passed peacefully at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff on Monday, August 13, 2018.

Edna was a registered nurse who worked at Clara Maas and Barnert hospitals and at the Daughters of Miriam. But she was always first and foremost a loving wife, and dedicated and tireless mother of 7, grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 13 children who all adored her.

She’ll be remembered as the first on the dance floor, a voracious reader, an avid puzzle solver, and a warm lap for all her babies over the years. Edna had a can-do attitude, which served her well raising 7 kids while her husband Tom was away for days at a time as a Paterson fire fighter. Edna was always that perfect combination of strength and softness. No broken arm or near catastrophe could shake her and she was the one neighbors always ran to for help, which she gave with a smile.

She raised her children to be a strong family unit, bound together with unfailing love and loyalty—perhaps the greatest gift possible. To this day, they still believe that they together are all that’s needed for a party! And along with her husband Tom, she showed her children that a loving marriage could be fun and playful, as well as hard work.

For her girls, she was a role model of strong femininity and she applauded their independence. She was also their role model for all a mother should be and all a child could want.

She leaves behind endless happy memories and enduring life lessons shared with her sons: Thomas and his wife Betty Hughes of Wyckoff, James Hughes of Vernon, Brian Hughes of Scottsdale AZ, and son-in-law Manuel Ortega and her daughters: Deborah Hughes of Boonton Township, Sharon Hughes of Wayne, and Teresa Rusciano of Garfield. Her beloved daughter Colleen Ortega passed away in June, 2016 and is welcoming Edna in heaven, as is her devoted husband Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Colleen’s Corner, a non-profit set up in memory of Edna’s deceased daughter to increase childhood literacy by providing books to the underserved. (www.Colleenscorner.net).  Donations can also be sent to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org), which Edna always supported.

Dale A. Hanenberg, age 75 of West Milford passed Monday, August 13, 2018.

He was born in Passaic and raised in Wayne.  Dale attended Wayne Valley High School in Wayne.  As a young man of just ten years old his father passed away from cancer.  Dale was fortunate that his uncle Marty took him under his wing and was a father figure to him through the years. Uncle Marty’s son Adrian, was close in age to Dale and always treated him like a brother.

Just out of high school Dale worked at Magnetic Engineering in Paterson where he learned to repair magnetic recording equipment.  This job led to a lifelong career in the magnetic recording repair industry where he worked for the Ampex Corporation in Hackensack for many years before retiring in 2002.

Dale will be lovingly remembered as a quiet and shy man who had a huge heart.  He had a very mechanical mind, could fix just about anything and was always there to help anyone. He enjoyed following auto racing and was a devote New York Mets fan for many years.

Dale met Susan Plante through friends at work and had their first date at Chan’s Chinese Restaurant in Mahwah. They soon fell in love and he proposed marriage to Susan in her driveway. They were married on September 4, 1976 at Saint Johns Episcopal Church in Ramsey by Susan’s father Rev. Leon Plante.  They honeymooned at Niagara Falls, New York and have had a loving marriage of forty-two years.

Dale is the devoted father of Sharon Hanenberg; loved brother of Madeline Crooks and her children Joan Beck and Thomas Crooks; loved great-uncle of Janice Harris and Jaclyn Beck.

James “Jim”  Pugliese, age 38 of Wayne, passed suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, August 10, 2018.

He was born in Ridgewood to the late James and Carol Pugliese.  He was raised in Wayne and graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 1998 and continued his education at Berkley College where he earned an Associates Degree in Business.

Jim always had an entrepreneurial spirit.  He owned businesses in the telecom industry and then founded Pugliese Wholesale Kitchen & Bath in Totowa which he operated for the past ten years.

He will be lovingly remembered for his kind heart, lively spirit, and funny way.  He was always the life of the party.  When it came to the kitchen he loved to cook. He would make pasta, sausage bread, peperoni bread, fettuccini carbonara, and pizzas.  His daughter Juliana learned a love of cooking while by her father’s side and his son J.T. learned a love of eating whatever dad made.

Jim was the loving husband of Erica; devoted father of his son J.T. and daughter Juliana; his was the much loved brother of Carol Bryan, Darlene Pugliese, Michele Fiorillo, and Frank Pugliese; he will deeply missed by nieces, nephews, family and friends.

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

Dr. Stephen A. Moros, age 90, of White Plains, NY and formerly of Pine Brook, NJ, and Ft. Myers, FL, passed away on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Stephen was born in New York City. His childhood was spent there and later in the Bronx. A graduate of Stuyvesant High School, he earned his bachelor’s degree from Brooklyn Polytechnic University, master’s degree from Cornell University and Ph.D. from Brooklyn Polytechnic, all in the field of chemistry.

Stephen was drafted into the U.S. Army and served stateside during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955. For his honorable service, he was the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

After the war, Stephen returned to work and went on to enjoy a thirty-year career in the chemistry and pharmaceutical fields in New Jerseywith American Cyanamid in Bound Brook, Hoffmann-La Roche in Nutley and later with Johnson & Johnson in Raritan, retiring in 1992.

Stephen was a well-studied man who could fix literally anything and who enjoyed a wide array of interests including, classical music, fishing, camping, photography, travel and tending to his vegetable garden. He was devoted to God’s service and was very active in Holy Resurrection Church, Wayne, where he served as junior and senior wardens on the parish council and also a faithful volunteer for the church’s fundraisers and picnics.

Stephen was the beloved husband of Vera (nee Kardash), blessed in marriage for 40 years until her passing in 1997. He was the loving father of Michael Moros of Brooklin, Maine, and Jennifer Moros of Elmsford, NY and her late husband Dag Aaman (2018); loving grandfather of Aksel and Anton Aaman; dear brother of Julia Pikulik of Trumbull, CT; dear uncle of the late Gregory Pikulik and his brother Mark Pikulik and his wife Janet Pikulik, all of Trubull, CT; and dear great-uncle of Katherine Pikulik.

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

Josephine Giurintano, age 96, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, she was a resident of Elmwood Park before moving to Wayne in 1993.

Josephine was a seamstress with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) until retirement in 1982. For many years, she enjoyed trips to Atlantic City, wintering in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and meeting once a month with her girlfriends for good fun and fellowship in a group that they called the Jolly Girls.

Josephine was the devoted wife of Liborio “Ben” for 42 years until his passing in 1985. She is survived by her loving son and daughter: Philip and wife Teri Giurintano of Lebanon, PA, and Rosanne and husband Ron Gregilovich of Wayne; cherished grandchildren: Jason, Dana, Alison, Ashley and Jake; dear great-grandchildren: Jason, Jr., Augustus and Vinny; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her two sisters: Mary Sciortino and Millie Bellomo; and her nephew Matthew Sciortino.

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

John Chiocca, age 97 of Wayne, passed peacefully at the Christian Health Care Center, Wyckoff with the comfort of family by his side, on Thursday, August 9, 2018.

John was born and raised in Union City where he attended Emerson High School and graduated at the top of his class in 1939. He continued his education at Montclair State Teachers College, graduating in 1943 with his bachelor’s degree in chemistry. While there, he excelled as a member of the debate society and served as president of his class.

Shortly after graduating from college, John enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps where he entered officer’s training school, which included further educational course work at both Yale and Columbia Universities. With special training in communications and aeronautical navigation, John was ultimately able to put his training to good use when he was stationed in India where he oversaw the transport of cargo “Over the Hump” from India into China to resupply the Chinese war effort and the United States Army Air Forces.  At the conclusion of the War, John was fortunate to spend three months in Italy (at the expense of the military!) where he reconnected with many of his Italian relatives, for whom he harbored deep fondness.  Even in his final days, John was privileged to receive a visit from one of his young Italian cousins, Elisabetta Zerbo who came to NYC on business.   An active duty officer from 1944 to 1947, he remained in the Air Force Reserves until 1967, retiring as Lieutenant Colonel.  His last reserve position was serving as the Executive Officer of the Air Reserve Squadron based in Newark, N.J.  For his service to his country John was the recipient of the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Upon return from active duty service, John commenced a career as a sales representative first with National Cash Register (NCR), and then with Oneida Packaging Products, which years later evolved into Pacquet Oneida, Inc., a flexible packaging converter which primarily served the potato chip and snack food industry.   He had a successful and fulfilling career at Pacquet Oneida, retiring as its vice president of sales and marketing after 35 years.

John met his beloved wife Doris at an American Legion Hall in West Hoboken.  Doris, too, had served in the military during World War II.  This shared experience of service forever defined their mutual love of the armed forces and our great Country.  After John and Doris married, they bought a home in North Bergen, where they soon had their first two children (girls).  Shortly thereafter they began looking for a home in the area of Wayne and Oakland where Doris’ family had often spent weekends at the areas’ lakes. In 1955 they settled into the Pines Lake section of Wayne where they would raise their family, which subsequently included two boys, and live amongst their many cherished friends for almost sixty years.

John quickly embraced life in Pines Lake where he enthusiastically enjoyed teaching his daughters and sons the finer skills of fishing and boating. When his sons were young and involved in scouting, John served as a volunteer with the Cub Scouts.  He and Doris were of one accord in taking a keen interest in the development of their children. Knowing that it would benefit their family and other children, they were instrumental in helping to found the Wayne Hills Patriots Club, which helped raise money for Wayne Hills High School athletics programs. They spent their money wisely, saw little value in material things, and felt it was better to give the kids life experiences that they believed would help shape the lives of their children as they grew older. Those experiences were often in the form of travel to various parts of the world. Their trips included Bermuda, Mexico, the Canary Islands, and many European and Scandinavian countries including Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Holland, Luxembourg, and Belgium.  Even in their later years John and Doris traveled extensively, including a number of Elderhostels, enjoying all they could learn about this great world.

John never had trouble finding ways to serve or endeavors to explore. When the Pompton Reformed Church needed a person to undertake the time consuming task of serving as chairman of its building expansion project, they called on John and he was glad to assist. At home, he was an excellent gardener who could propagate new trees and shrubs from the cuttings of established ones. He transformed his own yard into a wooded paradise, which he and his family enjoyed for many years. Both John and Doris enjoyed working outside and enjoying beautiful woodland gardens, which led them to volunteer their time, well into their late eighties, at the Laurelwood Arboretum – a 30 acre botanical paradise with beautiful gardens, ponds and trails located in Wayne. In later years, John and Doris were active in the Pines Lake Seniors Club where John served as president.

John’s greatest devotion was to his family.  His grandchildren brought tremendous joy to him, particularly in recent years when he was so fortunate to see each of them achieve sought after goals.  From his woodworking shop in the basement of his home, he would make beautiful wooden keepsake Christmas presents for his sons and daughters.  These treasures will forever serve as a reminder of their father’s talents and love.

John was the loving husband of Doris who passed away in 2015. He was the devoted father of Lynne Chiocca and her husband Ron Riccardo of Poinciana, FL, Barbara Chiocca and her husband Henry Merriman of North Granby, CT, the Honorable Randal Chiocca and his wife Deborah of Wayne, and Douglas Chiocca and his wife Diane of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Kaitlin Prieto and her husband Mikhail Prieto, Nathaniel Merriman, Daniel Chiocca, Parker Merriman, Nicholas Chiocca, and Gianna Chiocca; dear brother of the late Elso Chiocca and his late wife Helen; loved uncle of Richard Chiocca and his wife Susan of Bedford, NH; loved brother-in-law of Kathleen Niziol and her husband Edward of West Milford; and dear brother-in-law of the late Adele Trenz and her late husband John of Westtown, NY.

Those inclined to send flowers are asked to instead consider a donation to a military charity of their choice.

Carmella “Millie” Burt (nee Frezzo), age 94, of Wayne passed away peacefully in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Millie was born and raised in the Little Italy section of New York City. She was the youngest of three children to Joseph and Mary Frezzo.  While Millie was growing up she took an early interest in the Arts particularly the Theater. She attended Our lady of Pompeii High School in New York City and landed a few of the lead roles in her school theater and musical productions.

Millie was part of a group in our society that has become know of late as “The Greatest Generation.”  People of “The Greatest Generation” are people who grew up during the deprivation of the Great Depression and later as young adults, bore witness, fought and helped work the United States through the Second World War.  As a young adult, and after graduating from Our lady of Pompeii with the class of 1941, Millie did her part to help the country through these times.  She was hired as a Secretary for the Chemical Warfare Division in New York City.  She worked there during the entire duration of the war.  Following her employment at the Chemical Warfare Division, Millie went to work for the Children’s Aide Society also in New York, she was employed there as an Art Director.  She worked there for several years, and during that time she met a young man who was a student teacher there by the name of Charles Burt.  Charles and Millie only dated for a short time and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on December 26, 1950 at Our Lady of Pompeii Church where Millie had originally gone to school.  They honeymooned in upstate New York and afterwards settled in Pensacola, FL.  Charles was in the Naval Reserves following WWII, and was called to duty again for the Korean Conflict.  Charles was stationed in the Caribbean when he got word that his first child, his daughter, had been born.  After Millie’s husband Charles returned from service, they moved back to New York where their second child Charles Jr was born.  In October of 1963 the entire family moved to Wayne.  Millie and Charles would call Wayne their home for the rest of their lives together.

Millie was a devoted wife and mother but throughout her life she always worked.  In 1966 she was offered a position as an Executive Secretary with the Bell Telephone Company located in Pompton Lakes.  She remained there until her retirement in 1989.

Millie’s love of the theater and musicals never diminished, she was a parishioners of Our Lady of Consolation in Wayne for many years and was part of the Amity group there which performed various musicals and plays.  She also performed in various productions in local community theaters.  Millie was also an avid Bridge Player and traveler.  She started a Bridge Club with several of her friends that would meet once or twice a week and which became very competitive over the years.  Millie and her family traveled to many different and exotic destinations throughout the years including St Marten, London, Alaska, and various parts of the Caribbean.  In her spare time, Millie volunteered and donated to local animal shelters where she also headed several committees.  Throughout her life she owned several dogs which she loved dearly.  Millie was a dedicated mom and did anything for her children, her greatest passion was for her family.  Millie touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Millie is survived by her husband Charles Burt Sr. of Wayne, her daughter Carol Burt of Greenwood Lake, NY, her son Charles Burt Jr. of Hewitt, her nephew; Richard Peschieri and his wife Mary Katherine and their children Ryan Peschieri and Heather Ann Valeao, and her nephew Anthony Peschieri of Ballston, Spa, NY.  She was predeceased by her brother Jimmy Frezzo and her sister Anna Carey.

John Giannino, age 78 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at the Christian Healthcare Center, in Wyckoff, NJ.

John’s entire professional career had been with Pathmark Supermarkets.  He managed stores in Wayne, Kinnelon, Clifton, and Nyack, NY before retiring in 2001.

John grew up in Hackensack and Totowa, graduating from Passaic Valley High School with the class of 1957.  He enjoyed himself as a bachelor for many years, taking a month-long tour of Europe, buying new sports cars every couple of years, and cheering on the NY Yankees from his season-ticket seats!  He was a huge NY Yankees fan and Mickey Mantle was his all-time favorite player.  He really loved his cars and no one is certain of how many he owned through the years, but his convertible BMW was his favorite ride.  He was also devoted to his Catholic faith and attended Saturday evening mass at St. Mary’s in Pompton Lakes.  Sadly, he was stricken with Dementia several years ago, which slowly took him from his loved ones.  He was a truly good person with a kind heart.

John is survived by his only daughter, Cari-Ann Giannino, one sister; Fay Donato of Madison, NJ, and two nephews; Michael and Christopher Donato.

Donations in John’s memory would be appreciated.  Please consider St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959, www.stjude.org, or Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068, www.alznj.org.

Ray McNeal. Age 74 of Wayne passed away on Monday August 6, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Ray was born in Newark, then grew up and remained a lifelong resident of Wayne.  He was the oldest of three children to Henry and Regina McNeal.  While growing up in Wayne, his family would summer in Walpack, NJ.  He attended DePaul Catholic High School and graduated with the class of 1961.  While at DePaul Catholic High School, Ray played high School Football under the legendary coach Fred Kiel.  Ray remained a fan of Youth and High School Football throughout his entire life and could be often seen at DePaul High School home football games.  Ray also enjoyed and followed college football as well as professional football, particularly the New York Giants.  After graduating High School, Ray attended Siena College in Albany, NY where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.  Ray then got his Law Degree over time at Seton Hall University.

Subsequent to his graduation from Siena College, Ray was offered a position as an Underwriter for Prudential Insurance Company.  He worked his way up the corporate ladder and eventually earned the title of Vice President of Group Insurance. Ray had an extremely successful and storied career with Prudential until his retirement in 2003.

Ray met the love of his life in seventh grade, Kathleen Snyder.  They started dating when they were in high school.  Ray and Kathleen were married on August 26, 1965 at Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne, the summer after Ray had graduated from college.  Ray and Kathleen remained in Wayne for the rest of their lives together and would raise their three children there as well.  Ray was a certified Racing and Driving instructor.  He enjoyed racing his Porsche and was a member of the Porsche Club of America for many years.  Ray was also an avid fisherman and frequented the Jersey Shore in the summers throughout the years with his family.

Ray lived a wonderful life and made it a point to provide a wonderful life for his wife and his children.  He lived life the way he wanted and enjoyed it to the fullest.  His sharp wit and humor was what made him fun to be around and a person you would always remember.  Aside from all of Ray’s talents and interests, his greatest passion was for his family.  He was a proud father and nothing meant more to Ray than providing for and spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.  He and his wife Kathleen cherished fifty-three years of loving and loyal marriage.  Ray touched the lives of many people and wil be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.    

Ray is survived by his wife Kathleen Snyder of Wayne, two daughters; Yvette McNeal and her husband James Pruden, Jr of Pompton Lakes, and Kelly McNeal of Wayne, one son Ryan McNeal and his wife Wana of Wayne, one brother Ronald McNeal of Manchester, one sister Debbie McNeal of Ellsworth, ME, four grandchildren Sophie and Ellie McNeal, Julia Fusco, and Ethan McNeal, and many nieces nephews, and grandnieces and grandnephews.

In lieu of flowers, donation in Ray’s name can be made to DePaul Catholic Football, 1512 Alps Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470 or Wayne PAL, Attn. Football, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Nicholas J. Theobald, age 33 of Wayne, passed Monday, August 6, 2018 in his mother’s arms.

Nicholas was born and raised in Wayne.  He graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 2003.

After high school he attended Morris County Community College where he studied criminal justice and in 2006 he went to the Roman Academy of Beauty Culture in Hawthorne. For many years he worked as a laborer in the construction industry.

Nicholas was a caring, giving, loving and considerate person.  He had great blue eyes that seemed to convey a deep understanding.  He was fiercely loyal and protective of those he cared for and had a deep faith that those who passed away before him were always right by his side. He had a huge heart and was always trying to help others less fortunate than himself.  He would bring home people that were down and out and give them a warm meal and a safe bed for the night trying to give them a sense that there were still good people in this world. His heart was also opened to all types of animals that he would bring home. One of Nicholas’ goals in life was to open an animal rescue. He was unable to turn away anyone or anything in need. He had a very special soul and immense compassion. The world was a better place with Nicholas in it.

Nicholas was the loving son of Elizabeth Wells and her husband Roger of Wayne; cherished grandson of Martha C. Greyshock and the late Sergeant Walter J. Greyshock; Nick was the dearly loved fiancé of Samantha Barnes of Morristown; he was the much loved “almost brother” to the late Jessica Gelok (2008); his late high school sweetheart and girlfriend of many years Amanda Schwake (2011); much loved nephew of Paul Greyshock, Christopher Greyshock, and Victoria Greyshock; he was dearly loved by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Those considering a donation in lieu of flowers are asked to donate to the GoFundMe account established to help with funeral expenses.

Marie C. Liffers, age 90, of Wayne, died peacefully on Monday, August 6, 2018 .

Marie was born and raised in West Hoboken, known today as Union City. As a child, she was a parishioner of Holy Family R.C. Parish in Union City. She attended the church’s schools and graduated from Holy Family High School with the Class of 1945.

Marie went on for further education at Egan’s Business School in Union City. Her post-high school education prepared her for a career in the business world that began after graduation, with a position with the Great Atlantic Pacific Tea Company (A&P) working in their New York office. She eventually became a secretary with Weehawken Trust Bank. Through all of the bank’s acquisitions, takeovers, and name changes, Marie remained a gifted and talented employee, working for a career that spanned over forty years until retiring from First Jersey Bank in Union City in 1993.

As a long-time parishioner of Holy Family R.C. Church, Marie was a member of the Rosary Society. In 1963, she moved to Weehawken where she joined the St. Lawrence R.C. Church. Then in 2003, Marie moved again, this time to Siena Village in Wayne. Her Christian faith always being integral to her very being, Marie soon began regularly attending Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Parish where she often attended Monday night adoration.

In her free time, Marie invested herself into life’s most important pursuits, devotion to God and serving others who just needed a little help. No matter where she lived, she got involved in her parish by offering help or assistance to anyone who needed it. Many could testify to how Marie would take them shopping, to the doctor or to church. When she moved to Siena Village in 2003, she soon was making friends by offering assistance to the residents there too. She had a great gift for praying and could frequently be seen reciting the prayers on the back of prayer cards she had received from the funeral home when visiting a grieving family.

Marie was also a kind and loving aunt to her nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. When they were little, she was always willing to babysit them and as they got older, she enjoyed taking them out for the day or to Friendly’s for lunch or ice cream.

Though soft-spoken and humble, Marie touched many through the love she demonstrated.

Marie is survived by her dear sister Jane Picone of Wayne; her niece Patricia Picone and husband Andy of Divide, CO; two nephews: Michael R. Picone and wife Lynn of Scotch Plains, and Robert Picone and wife Eileen of Rivervale; and five great-nieces and nephews: Greg, Lauren, Katie, Matthew, and Andrew.

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

Irene Gayo, age 63, of Bayonne, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, August 6, 2018.

Irene was born in Havana, Cuba. She lived there until the age seven when, due to the rise of communism, her parents feared for her safety and helped her to escape to the home of her ancestors in Spain. That was 1962 and she stayed as a refugee and student in the care of the Catholic Church in Madrid. Five years later, in 1967, at the age of twelve, Irene was reunited with her parents in Madrid and soon after brought to Passaic, NJ where she was also reunited with her older brother Luis. There in the U.S.A., the family had found a new home and a fresh start on life.

Irene went on to graduate from Pope Pius, XII High School in Passaic. She pursued higher education at Montclair State College where she earned her bachelor’s degree in biology.

Irene’s first job out of college was in quality control with Best Foods in Bayonne. She quickly found that she liked Bayonne so she chose to move there, and remained a resident for the rest of her life. Irene’s career journey ultimately lead her to the position of inside sales representative, first for Fisher Scientific, and later with Lubrizol Corporation in Hoboken where she stayed for many years until the company closed the Hoboken office. Recently, Irene earned her certification in medical billing and was actively looking for employment in that field at the time of her passing.

As a little girl in Spain, Irene began to take piano lessons. Her natural talent was quickly apparent and playing piano became a source of pleasure which she continued to enjoy throughout her life. A piano was one of her first purchases when she moved to Bayonne. She also loved traveling and would take frequent bus tours with friend all over the U.S.

Irene was the dear sister of Luis Gayo and his wife Virginia of Doylestown, PA, aunt of Jennifer Parmenter and her husband Kevin of Clifton, and great aunt of Angelina and Gianna Parmenter.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Irene’s name are asked to consider JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Foundation for Type I Diabetes) 26 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004, or online at www.jdrf.org

John William Lohse, age 82, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2018.

Born in Hoboken, NJ and raised in Secaucus. John was the oldest of three children   He was a graduate of Wm. L. Dickinson High School Class of 1953.  John met Harriet Vaughn at a church event and were married on April 22, 1956 and settled in East Rutherford as John was starting his career as a machinist.  After a short time, they bought a house in Pompton Lakes to be closer to his job at Reaction Motors in Denville.  They stayed in Pompton Lakes for the next twenty-nine years and raised their two children.  During those years, John was very active in the community serving on the Pompton Lakes Planning Board and was President of the Pompton Lakes Little League to name a few.  John also started Lohse Manufacturing, his own Machine Shop.  In 1985 they moved to Montgomery Township and later moved to Canal Walk in Somerset, New Jersey.  John served on the Homeowner’s Association Board at Canal Walk and also at Century 1 Condominium, in Ocean City, Maryland, where he spent may vacations enjoying his beach front condo.  John and Harriet cherished fifty-nine and a half years of loving and loyal marriage until Harriet’s passing in 2015.

Following Harriet’s passing, John moved to Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains in April 2016.  John is survived by his daughter Nancy Schwartz and her husband Robert of Pompton Lakes and their children Eric of Denver, Colorado, Brett of Portland, Oregon and Timothy of Hammonton, New Jersey and his son John Lohse and his wife Sharon of Belle Mead and their children Amy Vallone and her husband David of Somerville, New Jersey, Brian Lohse of Chicago, Illinois and Eugen Szatkowski and his wife Jessica of Ashburn Virginia and their daughter Morgan.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in John’s name to Chilton Medical Center Foundation, Pompton Plains, NJ

Bertha Collins, age 76, of Paterson, New Jersey passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 4, 2018 in the presence of her loving and caring daughters.

Bertha was born on August 1, 1942 in Havana, Alabama to the late Levie Gray and Electra (Bessie) Blackburn.  She loved her parents and would often quote her dad.  She spent most of her primary years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where she was educated in the Tuscaloosa Public School System until relocating to Paterson in the early 1950’s.  She attended Paterson Public School #10 and continued on to received her diploma from Central High School in Paterson, now known as Eastside High School.  Immediately following her graduation from high school, Bertha attended Nursing School at St Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson.

Bertha married and from that union two daughters were born, Yvonne (Fay) and Charlene.  “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” (Psalm 127:3).  Paterson would remain her home for the rest of her life and it is where she raised her two daughters.  Bertha’s greatest love was her daughters, and nothing meant more to her than protecting them and providing for them.  Most people may not have known their names, but they easily recognized their faces and would often say, “Hello Bertha’s daughters”.

During difficult and challenging times, it was Bertha's faith in God that sustained her.  No matter what position Bertha held, or where she was employed, she always applied the outstanding work ethic she had.  This was something that she would instill in her daughters.  Bertha began her final assignment of service at the Paterson Public School System, where should would have the greatest impact and be remembered by many.  Bertha spent most of those years at Eastside High School.  Bertha loved the students at Eastside High School and when she wasn’t in the kitchen serving food; she was on the perimeter of the building supervising the Security Staff.

Upon retirement from Eastside High School, Bertha loved spending time with her “Grands”. “Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged” (Proverbs 17:6).  They kept her entertained and affectionately referred to her as “Granny”.  Her “Grands” knew Granny always had plenty of food and sarcasm ready for them daily.  They knew Granny always had their back and she was their chosen spokesperson and most valued “verbalist” when there was conflict.  She was an outspoken woman and you always knew where you stood with her because she wouldn’t hesitate to share her thoughts, and she often used “colorful language” to get her point across; she definitely was not afraid to let the “expletives fly.”  Her colloquialisms were always crafty, clever and memorable.  She mastered the art of talking about you directly to your face without you feeling insulted. Her “Grands” would often say, “Granny is too funny and needs her own show”.  They would spend hours just sitting in her bedroom or around the dining room table, talking and laughing with her.  

Bertha loved to watch Law and Order and she was a huge New York Knicks fan.  She and her dear friend Ronnie loudly cheered the Knicks on.  It didn’t matter if they were at Madison Square Garden or watching the Knicks on TV, the emotions were the same.

Bertha loved to gamble.  Years ago, she was easily located alongside her best friend Quelene at a weekly card game, talking trash or in a bingo hall giving the caller the business for calling the numbers too slow.  She often took bus rides to Atlantic City where she would try to conquer the “One Armed Bandits”, as she frequently referred to the slot machines. In recent years, her daughter would drive her to Empire Casino and Mount Airy Casino when her desire to feed the slot machines re-surfaced.  Bertha was very lucky at the casinos and lottery tickets.  It was quite common for her to say this winning box ticket is for you Fay, this winning box ticket is for you Charlene and I am going to keep this straight one for myself.  Her luck with scratch-offs and request for them never ceased.

Bertha was a proud Alabama woman and she loved Tuscaloosa.  Upon retirement, she enjoyed traveling to Alabama to spend time with her siblings and during those visits there were always trips to the Casino in Mississippi.  She loved all her siblings and would often talk about their younger years together, growing up in Tuscaloosa.

Bertha enjoyed good people and was happiest when serving others. She was a member of the Eastern Star Lady Alethia of Paterson, NJ.  It was no secret Bertha was an outstanding cook.  She enjoyed watching people delight in her cooking and she offered food to everyone.  She was well known throughout her neighborhood and many of the people affectionately referred to her as “Mama.”  Bertha could always be found sitting out on the front porch of her family home.  Bertha loved being out on her porch interacting with the people, and friends would frequently visit to say hello.  She spent so much time out on her front porch that she could be seen by one of the Google Earth Photos of her home.

Bertha was a generous, kind-hearted and lovable person and cared greatly for her family and friends; people in general.  Her greatest passion was for her family.  She was an extremely devoted mother and a wonderfully cherished “Granny.”  Bertha touched the lives of countless people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.  When Bertha heard the voice of God gently call her on Saturday, August 4, 2018, she didn't hesitate to respond.  She left peacefully knowing that she had completed her earthly tasks. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2)

Her story does not end there, for she is rejoicing in heaven and watching over her family and loved ones.  She leaves to cherish her memory two daughters; Yvonne Jackson and Charlene Collins; a son-in-law Orlando Jackson of Paterson, two brothers; Robert Gray of Alabama, and George Gray of South Carolina, four sisters; Theola Merriweather of Toledo, OH, Velma Ibik, Ola Mae Scott, Brenda Dunn and Celia Mae Scott of Alabama, four grandchildren; Raven Skye Jackson, Destin Star Jackson, Orlando Lamar Jackson, Jr, and Autumn Storm Jackson.  Remembering her smile are her three God-daughters; Denise Briggs of Rock Hill, SC, Latoya Harrison and Kashona Harrison of Paterson, NJ; one God-son Jamel Briggs of DE.  She leaves a host of cousins, nieces and nephews with whom she shared a special bond of love; a life-long friend; Anabelle Briggs of Rock Hill, SC and her dear close family friend Ronnie Williams of Pheonix City, AL and Errol Bryan of East Orange, NJ.

Welcoming her into Heaven is her parents, her best friend Quelene Albert, her sisters Iola Scott and Annie Hedgeman-Gibson; a brother Ronnie Gray.

Caroline Marzano (nee Ginex), 90, died on Thursday, August 2, 2018.  She had lived in Wayne since 1957.  Caroline had worked as a Mortgage Officer for Wayne Savings & Loan (currently Valley National Bank) before retiring.  Prior to raising her children, Caroline was the first female assistant buyer at Federal Electric and previously worked as an administrative assistant at Dumont Co.

Caroline grew up in Passaic and Clifton, one of six children to Charles and Catherine Ginex (nee Vacante).  In the late 1940’s, she met a handsome Navy veteran named Charlie Marzano and a love affair began.  Their wedding followed on October 15, 1950 at St. Nicholas RC Church in Passaic.  While they had planned to honeymoon in Florida, Hurricane King got there first and the newlyweds wisely changed their plans.  They went to Virginia Beach instead, and they had a great time!  Caroline would tell you that her honeymoon lasted nearly twenty years and was full of adventures!  The two of them traveled extensively, enjoyed Caribbean cruises, visited Mexico and Canada, and they even took a cross-country road trip to California and back in a convertible.  In 1957, they also built their own home in Lions Head Lake.  While many of their friends were having babies and settling down, they were having the time of their lives together.  After being married for twenty years, and nearly given up hope of having children, they received what they thought was the surpriseof their lives; they were having a baby.  Months later the real surprise arrived when the doctor announced they were having twins. They laughed and cried at the same time!  Caroline was naturally the most loving and attentive mom to her two girls.  She seemingly did everything with them, serving as “class mom” throughout their school years, chaperoning on all the school trips and participating in many Home School Association activities.  They also enjoyed traditional summer vacations to Wildwood Crest and a trip to Florida visiting Disney World.  In the years since Charlie died in 1998, Caroline has continued to share adventures with her daughters; touring the U.S. National Parks, visiting Las Vegas, and she even did two European tours through Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and Lichtenstein.  She truly enjoyed her ninety years and packed in many fond memories for her family and friends to cherish during the years to come.

As a founding member of Our Lady of Consolation RC Church in Wayne, she was devoted to her faith.  She was a past member of the Amity Club at O.L.C., and participated in the Prayer Shawl group.  She was an avid reader; enjoyed crossword puzzles, crocheting and knitting; and playing along with game shows.  She loved to sing, and sing loudly!  She had an easy-going, child-like spirit that allowed her to sing as if no one was listening, and she would sing so loudly around the house that she could be heard throughout the neighborhood!  She also laughed often and enjoyed jokes,  most of the time laughing so much she could barely get to the punch line.  A loving and kind-hearted soul, Caroline will be dearly missed.

Caroline is survived by her two daughters; Carla Lindemulder and her husband Richard of Pompton Plains, and Christine Marzano of Montville, one grandson; Daniel C. Lindemulder, her sister; Millie Leonardo of Wayne; many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Charles in 1998, and by her four siblings: Her brother, Joseph Ginex (Evelyn) of Wayne, sisters, Mary Ciaramella (Anthony) of Boca Raton, FL, Jean Sammarco (Tony) of Pompton Plains, and Stella LaFragola (Joe) of Clifton and brother-in-law, Tony Leonardo.

Donations in Caroline’s memory would be appreciated.  Please consider The Valley Hospital NICU and click here to donate online at the GoFundMe donation page for Caroline, or to Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 400 Morris Ave, Suite 251, Denville, NJ 07834, www.alznj.org.

Corinne Rose Forte, age 87, of Wayne passed away peacefully in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Corinne was born and raised in Bronx, NY.  She was one of four children and the oldest of three daughters to John and Carmela De Fabrizio.  Corinne graduated from Evander Childs High School in the Bronx with the class of 1949.  Immediately following her high school graduation she went to work as a buyer for B. Altman Clothing Company in Manhattan.  She worked there for about five years.  During that time, Corinne moved to Yonkers with her family.  She was married in 1955 and cherished the birth of her only child Ann.  Unfortunately, soon after her daughter was born, Corinne found herself as a single parent.  She then was offered a position as a bookkeeper at The Travelers Insurance Company in Yonkers.  She worked at Travel Insurance Co. for twenty-nine years until her retirement in 1992.  She also concurrently worked for the Bronxville Movie Theater for many years as well to help support her family.

Subsequent to her daughter growing up, Corinne proceeded to care for her mom who also still lived in Yonkers at the time.  After Corinne’s mom passed away, she moved to New Jersey in 2003 and eventually settled in Wayne to be closer to her grandchildren whom she also cherished greatly. Corinne was a parishioner of Holy Angels Church in Little Falls for many years.  When her health made it unable for her to attend mass, she would watch daily masses on television and remained devoted to her Catholic Faith for her entire life.  Corinne was an avid reader and was especially a fan of Romance Novels.   One of her favorite programs on television was House Hunters.  Corinne was a wonderful cook and was famous in her family particularly for her chicken cutlets.  Her family remembers her as being feisty, stubborn, generous and wise.  Aside from all of Corinne’s interests and talents, her family always remained her greatest passion.  She was fiercely protective of them and nothing in the world meant more to Corinne than providing, and spending time with her family.  Corinne was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of many people, she will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Corinne is survived by her daughter Ann Forte and her fiancé Philip Mirante of Wayne, two grandchildren; Michael Giordano of Columbus, OH and Nicholas Giordano of Wayne, two sisters; Phyllis Entner of Mahopac, NY and Melinda Munro of Blooming Grove, NY and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.  She was predeceased by her brother Edward De Fabrizio in 2007.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Corinne’s name are asked to consider St Jude’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

James E. Wagner, age 87 of Wayne for over sixty years, passed peacefully with the comfort of his family by his side, on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

He was born at 330 Elm Street, the family home, in Kearny and graduated from Kearny High School with the Class of 1949. While at Kearny High, he played on the football and basketball teams.  He would often speak of how he played football with Alex Webster, a former NY Giants player. In 1948 he won the NJ High School State Championship with the Kearny High Football Team.

While attending high school in Kearny, there were two ice cream shops in town.  The Crystal Palace where a pretty girl named Edie Adams and her friends hung out, and across the street was Doc’s where Jim and his friends would hang out.  Their separation didn’t last long and Jim would often say “I took her hand and that was it.”  Kearny was a small town where you could walk to just about anything and it could be said most of their courtship was spent walking about town.  They fell in love and married on November 3, 1951 at the First Baptist Church in Kearny. When they married Edie was twenty-one years old and because Jim was twenty he had to have a special permit signed by his parents in order to get married.  Her sister Ruth and her husband dropped the newlyweds off at the New Yorker Hotel in New York City for their honeymoon.  When Edie and Jim were standing in the street in front of the hotel Ruth thought they looked too young to follow through with the honeymoon. Ruth would tell the story of how it took all of her resolve not to grab her sister and bring her home.  Edie and Jim enjoyed a beautiful marriage of sixty-seven years with traditional middle class, American suburb, husband and wife roles.  They made being married look simple and couldn’t remember a thing they ever argued about.

Just after Edie and Jim married he was drafted into the Korean War where he served for two years in the US Army. He was awarded the United Nations Service Medal and the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars during his service.  Edie lived in Bloomfield with her sister Midge and her husband Ed for those two years. While he was away Jim’s mother who thought nothing should be in the driveway, sold his 1932 Chevrolet five window coupe. When he returned from the war he was devastated.

Before Jim was drafted into the service he worked as a draftsman for the Worthing Pump Company in Harrison.  After his service he worked as a draftsman for the Singer Kearfott Corporation first in Clifton and later in Wayne for over thirty years before retiring in 1987.

Jim will be lovingly remembered as a quiet, calm, easygoing, and devoted husband and father. He lived with the strong conviction of putting his family first. For years he visited his mother one night a week, planned his time off around making memories with his wife and children, and enjoyed restoring vintage trunks. Edie and the boys have many fond memories of vacations in New Hampshire at Lake Winnipesaukee where he taught the boys about boating and how to fish. Although he enjoyed fishing Jim never liked to eat fish and always threw back his catch; a tradition his sons follow to this day.

Jim was the loving husband of Edythe “Edie” Wagner; devoted father of Craig Wagner and his wife Jeanne Spinosi-Wagner of Haddonfield and William Wagner of Pompton Lakes; he was the cherished grandfather of Julie and Amy Wagner.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad would be appreciated.

Fort Meyers Police Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller, 29 years of age, formerly of Wayne, passed away on Saturday, July 28, 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida after being fatally wounded in the line of duty.

Adam was born March 3, 1989 in Jersey City, the son of Patricia and David Miller.

Adam joined the Fort Myers Police Department September 2015, where he was assigned to work as a road patrol officer.

Prior to his service with the Fort Myers Police Department, Adam was a Firefighter for Property Owners League (POL) Company #2 Wayne. Adam was also a member of the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad.

Adam graduated from Wayne Valley high school in 2007 located in Wayne. Adam was an avid adventurer and loved things like kayaking, skydiving, parasailing, skateboarding and target shooting, he had no inhibitions. There was nothing that he would not try. Adam had a huge zest for life.

Adam loved his family, fiancée Jamie, her son Anthony, being a Police Officer, his friends, his home, and the New Orleans Saints. Adam was not only a vital part of the Fort Myers Police Department, he was a vital part of his family, city and county in which he proudly loved and served.

Survivors include his mother and father, Patricia and David Miller of Punta Gorda Florida; his sister Nicole and fiancé Maurice, brother Keith and wife Courtney, sister Athena and husband Michael, his fiancée Jamie, his grandparents Edward and Marion Miller of Griswold, Connecticut, Grandmother Valerie Locascio of Glen Rock, New Jersey, his aunts and uncles, John, Debbi, Keith, Barry, Barbara, Wayne, James, Mike, Erin, Sean, Amy and Kelly. Nieces and nephews include; Ellie, Aidan, Aaron, Sebastian, Kasey, Kyle, Ryan, Mickey, Mallory, Logan and many cousins and family.

He is preceded in death by his brother Matthew, his grandfather John and his grandmother Patricia.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations can be made to P.O.L. Fire Company 2, 970 Route 23 North, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Judith A. De Petro (née D’Annunzio), age 81 of Wayne, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday, July 26, 2018.

Judy grew up in Paterson and graduated from East Side High School.  Sadly, her father died when she was just thirteen years old.  Her mother later remarried, and the family moved to Ridgewood.  It was not long before her sister arranged for Judy to go on a blind date with a handsome young man named Roy De Petro.  Roy planned what he thought would be a romantic evening and invited Judy to a baseball game…which he soon learned was not a good idea.  Roy gave the baseball tickets away (likely the first and last time he ever did such a thing), and he took Judy out for a more traditional date.  When he arrived to pick her up for that first date, her mother Mae thought he looked like a wise guy and told Judy to “watch out.”  They were engaged just three months later and then married on October 25, 1958 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson by Fr. James Murray.  (By that time, Mae had grown to love Roy like a son.)  They honeymooned in Miami Beach, Florida and enjoyed fifty-nine years of marriage before Roy passed in 2017.

Judy devoted her life to raising their five children and logged countless miles shuffling them to and from their numerous activities.  She was their most dedicated fan at whatever they did.  She was a continuous source of comfort and compassion for her children, yet she doled out the discipline (aka the wooden spoon).

Judy was like ‘Martha Stewart’ before there was ‘Martha Stewart’ and entertaining in her home was the essence of her life.  She was always cooking, entertaining, or planning for her next culinary extravaganza.  Holidays at the De Petro house were legendary.  Nobody ever left Judy’s house feeling hungry, and, in fact, they usually came back the next day to enjoy the leftovers.  She also took great pride in decorating (and redecorating) her homes, reflecting her exquisite taste and signature flare.  In her later years, she liked to shop from home and was likely among the top buyers on the QVC Channel.  No one will be surprised if QVC revenues drop considerably now that she’s passed away.  She learned to use Facebook and the Internet to keep up with the busy lives of her grandchildren, and this almost became an obsession!  She followed every post, viewed every picture, and live-streamed their sporting events.  In other words, she was a ‘helicopter nana’.  It brought her so much joy to be able to see what they were all up to every day.  She loved them all dearly, and they will all miss their Nana J.

Judy and Roy traveled extensively- vacations to the Caribbean and Martha’s Vineyard, as well fantastic destinations across Europe and the US.  Of course, Judy was most relaxed at their home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, which they enjoyed for many years.  Roy and Judy also had a group of close friends with whom they went out to dinner often.  The “Knife and Fork Society,” as they called themselves, patronized all the fine restaurants in the Northern Jersey area. Each autumn they would take a trip together to celebrate their anniversaries- sampling the regional cuisines, shopping and enjoying each other’s company and laughter.  These friendships lasted for decades and made for wonderful memories.

Judy is survived by her five children:  Cindy Saypol and her husband Bob of Wayne; Lori Dhuyvetter and her husband Rick of Wayne; Steven De Petro and his wife Mona of Carlsbad, CA; Barbara Bricoli and her husband Stefano of Cedar Grove; and Kristen Livshin and her husband Michael “Nem” of Geneva, Switzerland.  She was the beloved grandmother of Alex Bricoli, Cristina Bricoli, Gabrielle De Petro, Christopher De Petro, Madison Saypol and Maximilian Livshin and step grandchildren Scott Saypol and Ariel Saypol.  She is also survived by her sisters, Lois Dunlap of Toms River and Michele Gray of Pittsboro, North Carolina.  She was predeceased by her beloved husband Roy in September 2017.  Adored aunt of many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Judy's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 -9959, or visit www.stjude.org.

Joan Grace Goetz, age 79, of Wayne, died at Wayne General Hospital on Thursday, July 26, 2018. After suffering from a long term illness, she passed away peacefully in her sleep.

Joan was born on April 26, 1939 to Ellsworth “Jack” Butler and Ruth (Nye) Butler in the Jackson Heights section of Queens in New York City. She graduated from Newtown High School with the Class of 1957.

After school, in the late 1950’s, Joan went to work as a typist for the Johns Manville Corporation in New York City. It was also soon after graduation that she had the pleasure of meeting a young man named Walter Goetz. Their acquaintance was first made at the Lutheran Church of The Atonement in Jackson Heights. Joan and Walter were married on June 1, 1963 and exchanged wedding vows at the same Lutheran church where they first met. Afterwards, a reception was held at the Queen’s Terrace in Queens, NY followed by their honeymoon in Bermuda.

Joan and Walter settled into their first home together – a small co-op in their hometown of Jackson Heights. They lived in the neighborhood for seven years until their two boys, Danny and Tommy, were born and like many young families, they moved to the suburbs and a bigger home in Wayne, New Jersey.  

Joan and Walter lived at their home on Woodstock Drive for 46 years. Joan loved spending time with family: spending many summer afternoons with the boys at the town’s lakes and pool; vacationing with her brother Kenny and Alma’s family at Seaside Heights; going out to Long Island to see her sister Maureen and husband George; and always looking forward to holiday gatherings back in Jackson Heights with their parents and the rest of the family. She also found a wonderful group of family friends in Wayne, and they would plan vacations in the Pocono’s, trips to Lake George, and apple picking in Warwick.  

While Joan loved her sons, she was happy to welcome daughter-in-law Laura into the family. Soon more blessings arrived with the addition of three grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew and Jacob. Joan loved spending time with them. Whether it was taking vacations, babysitting, or spending the holidays together, Joan adored her grandchildren and always held them near to her heart.

With a quiet confidence and iron will, Joan was loving, loyal, and a constant source of support for her loved ones.  She touched the lives of many people, and she will be deeply missed by those who knew her.

She is survived by husband Walter and their children:, Danny Goetz, wife Laura Goetz, and children, Jenny, Matt, and Jake; Tommy Goetz, sister-in-law Alma Butler, nephew Wayne Butler, his wife Sara, and their children: Alexis and Ian; niece Maria Lindstrom and her children: Arielle and Noah; brother-in-law George Villone and his son Giorgio. She was predeceased by her brother Kenneth Butler, sister Maureen Butler Villone, and nephew Gregory Butler.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joan’s name are asked to consider the Make a Wish Foundation. Please make check payable to Make-A-Wish and send it to Make-A-Wish America, Gift Processing, 1702 East Highland Ave., Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016. You can also donate online by clicking on the following link: Make A Wish Foundation

Simo Jovan Borovcanin, age 70 of Bloomingdale, passed Sunday, July 22, 2018.

He was born and raised in the Village of Zunovi in Sokolac, Republika Srpska, (Bosnia) Yugoslavia to Andjelko and Sava Borovcanin.  When he was seventeen years old he joined the military in Yugoslavia.  When he was nineteen years old he escaped the communist regime to Austria, where he believed he could make a better life for himself.  While in Austria, he visited a friend who was in Krankenhaus hospital and met a pretty nurse’s assistant named Marika.  They would walk in the beautiful area parks surrounding the hospital, and during those walks they made a plan to move to the United States of America.  They came to this country within six months of each other and settled in Paterson, New Jersey. Simo and Marika married in the Paterson Courthouse on December 19, 1970 and lived on Mill Street in Paterson, 103 3rd Street in Passaic, 157 Jasper Street and later 449 Kearny Street in Paterson, before settling in Bloomingdale thirty-one years ago. They have enjoyed a loving marriage of forty-eight years.

Upon immigrating to the United States, he found work in the textile industry, where he eventually specialized in printing on fabrics. He worked in the Paterson textile mills for forty years, before retiring in 2010 from Craft Textile on Beech Street in the city.

Simo was a member of Saint John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church in Paterson for many years.

He will be lovingly remembered for his strong demeanor, unique sense of humor where he would make a joke about anything. But most of all, he will be remembered for his love of family.  It can be said that he had no concerns except the wellbeing of his family. He loved his vegetable garden, where he grew all sorts of things including: tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, etc. Simo got great satisfaction when sharing the bounty of his labors in the garden with family and friends. He was also a great cook, whose scrambled eggs, soups, smoked meats from his smokehouse, and his amazing barbeque will be greatly missed.

Simo was the loving husband of Marika (Cernela) Borovcanin; beloved father of Zoran Borovcanin and his wife Kathleen of Kinnelon, Ljubica “Libby” Borovcanin of Lincoln Park, and Zorica Alcott and her husband Douglas of Butler; cherished grandfather of Dougie Alcott, Danijela Borovcanin, Nikola Borovcanin, Jason Alcott, Marko Borovcanin, and Juliana Borovcanin; he is also survived by his brother, Dobro Borovcanin and his wife Kovilka, and sister Novka Grujic, and sister-in-law Dushanka Borovcanin  all from Sokolac, Republika Srpska.  He leaves behind many nephews and nieces.  Last but not least, he leaves behind his favorite companion, Misko, his beloved cat.

Keith Dorrman, age 30, passed away on Saturday, July 21, 2018.

Keith was born in Pequannock and raised in Kinnelon where he attended Kinnelon High School and was a member of the class of 2006.

Keith ultimately settled into the electrical trade working as an electrician for his brother Doug at Dorrman Electric in Basking Ridge. Working there from 2010 to the present, he was a hard worker who frequently showed excellent insight in how to run a given job in an efficient and productive manner.

In his spare time, it seemed that Keith was never happier than when he was outdoors. He loved nature and was glad to be exposed to it from the time he was just a young kid. All throughout his upbringing, one of Keith’s favorite pastimes was spending summers down the Jersey shore in Chadwick Beach Island where his Grandpa Van Riper always rented a house for the whole family to gather. As a young boy, Saturdays were traditionally spent with his whole family, riding quad ATV’s in the woods near Keith’s home in Rockaway, Newfoundland and Kinnelon, sometimes with upwards of twenty different riders joining him in the woods. This practice continued into adulthood and Keith’s latest quad was a Honda 420 Rancher. Keith also loved to go fresh-water fishing and hiking throughout Rockaway, Newfoundland, and West Milford. He was usually accompanied on these hikes by his trusted companion Mae, a bull dog pit bull mix.

Keith had a real soft spot in his heart for all kinds of animals. This love was fostered also by his Grandpa Van Riper who worked as a science teacher at Bergen County Technical Institute. During the summers the animals, including all kinds of reptiles, piranhas, and tarantulas, couldn’t remain in the school so home they would come and Keith was all too happy to assist Grandpa with their care. Ironically, Keith was always afraid of spiders, even into his adult years. Of course, his family also enjoyed more traditional pets like cats and dogs.

Keith was typically loud and always outspoken. He had strong opinions and he had no problem letting you know what they were. But he could also be described as a real goofball and it always seemed that he lived life by looking for the humor in any given situation. This sense of humor, of course, was one of the primary qualities that made him so immensely endearing to his entire family including his niece and nephews who truly thought that Uncle Keith was a true super hero. Keith adored them and especially enjoyed good times swimming with them in his brother Doug’s pool. He’d also bring them gifts all the time – one of the most memorable being a real working mini leaf blower. He truly was a loving and caring person.

Keith was the loving son of Dolores Van Riper of Newfoundland and Eric Dorrman of Havelock, NC; dear brother of: Douglas and wife Jaclyn Dorrman of Basking Ridge, Kevin and wife Erika Dorrman of Virginia Beach, VA, and Michaela Mathis of Vernon; loved grandson of Viola Van Riper of Kinnelon; adored uncle of Dominic, Lucas, Ava, and Gage; and dear buddy of his loving and faithful pooch Mae.

In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe page has been established to help Keith’s family with funeral and related expenses. Your support would be greatly appreciated. Please follow this link to Keith’s GoFundMe page.

Florence M. Klein (nee Goodridge) age 104, of Butler passed away peacefully on Wednesday July 18, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Florence was born in Paterson to Jacob and Florence Goodridge.  When Florence was born she was one of twins at birth.  Her twin brother passed away at birth and Florence was born very premature and only weighed one and a half pounds.  She was not expected to live more than two weeks. She was one of three children and grew up in Paterson graduating from Eastside High School with the class of 1932.  Florence was a part of a group in our society that has become known of late as “The Greatest Generation.”  People of the Greatest Generation are people who grew up during the depravation of the Great Depression and later as young adults bore witness to the Second World War.

After graduating from Eastside High School, Florence went to work for a few different Hosiery Companies in Paterson over the next couple of years.  While working at one of those outfits, Florence met a handsome young man by the name of Alfred Klein.  The dated for a couple of years and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married in 1939 at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson.  Shortly after getting married, Alfred felt the call to serve our country and enlisted in the United States Army.  He was stationed in England during his service and subsequent to returning from Europe, Florence and Alfred settled in Clifton.  They lived there for a few years and then moved to Paterson.  It was in Paterson where they would live for many years and raise their two children.

Following her employment at the hosiery companies, Florence earned a position as an Administrative Assistant at Lackawanna Railroad, which later became Erie Lackawanna, and then finally Conrail.  She worked there for twenty-two years while raising her two children and retired in 1980.

Florence enjoyed shopping, going to the movies, and the occasional visit to a casino.  She enjoyed traveling with her sister Ellen and also with her husband and children.   They often took spontaneous vacations to Ocean City, MD and other locations.  For many years she was dedicated to her Episcopal Faith and was a long time member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Paterson where she was very active and participated in the Choir and Drama Club.  She was quite talented at crocheting, knitting, needlepoint, and embroidery.  She made countless gifts for her family which were often comparable to a professional’s skill and were often times framed.  She was also an avid bowler when she was younger and played in various local bowling leagues.  Her family remembers her as being quiet, easy going, and “taking everything with a grain of salt”.  She was often stern with her children and grandchildren but she was fair and loved them dearly.  Because Florence worked long days, often leaving before 6AM and coming home well after 6PM, her husband Alfred was the one who did the cooking for the family and Florence cleaned the house.  Florence and Alfred cherished over sixty-two years of loving and loyal marriage until Alfred’s passing in 1999.

Aside from all of Florence’s hobbies, talents and interests, her greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing meant more to Florence than providing for and spending time with her family.  Florence was an extraordinary person who received the gift of a long, fruitful life and didn’t waste it.  She touched the lives of countless people and she will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Florence is survived by her daughter Beverly Risden of Butler, one son, Robert Klein and his wife Sandra of Bloomingdale, three grandchildren; Sherri Hahn and her husband Joe of West Milford, Christine Klein of West Milford, and Robert Klein, Jr. and his wife Marianna of Ogdensburg, seven great grandchildren; Robert, Nicholas, Madison, Sophia, Zoey, Brodie, and Dallas; Nephew; James Goodridge, Many nieces and nephews and Great nieces and nephews.  She was predeceased by her husband Alfred Klein in 1999, as well as her sister Ellen Wiseman (2016) and her brother James Goodridge.

Those planning to make a donation in Florence’s name are asked to consider Make-A-Wish Foundation New Jersey, Gift Processing Center, 1702 E. Highland Ave, Suite 400, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

Edward Menshon, Jr., age 81 of West Milford, passed away on Wednesday, July 18, 2018.  He had lived in North Haledon for many years before recently moving to West Milford.

Ed had been a plumber and worked for Continental Can Company for more than twenty-eight years.

Born and raised in Paterson, he graduated from Central High School with the class of 1955.  Expecting to be drafted into the service, he chose instead to enlist in the Marine Corps.  Fiercely patriotic, Ed was excited to serve and he has always been proud to be a United States Marine.  He has remained active with the Marine Corps League Lakeland Detachment 744 throughout the years.

Upon being discharged, he returned home to his high school sweetheart; Joan.  The two had grown up in the same Paterson neighborhood and Joan could see his house from her bedroom window.  Ed had taken her out on a first date cruising around in his car, and at some point, Joan realized that Ed had no money.  She lent him $5 and he took her to the drive-in movie.  Soon after, Ed was ready to propose, so he bought a ring.  Carrying it around in his pocket, waiting for the perfect moment, Ed became so afraid of losing the ring that he pulled into a gas station and proposed while the tank was being filled up!  They were married January 16, 1960 at St. Paul’s Church in Prospect Park, followed by a honeymoon to Miami Beach.  With just $500 in their pocket, they had a great time, doing everything they could, and seeing all the sights.  They made it back to New Jersey two weeks later with barely 50 cents left!  Their following sixty-three years were nothing less than a love story.  They were often holding hands— Extremely Affectionate—while making each other laugh.  Raising two daughters together, Ed proved to be a wonderful dad to his little girls.  He made everything special for them, and infused fun into all that they did.  He surprised them with baby chicks and ducklings, took them fishing, and dressed them up for Halloween.  Their summer vacations were always memorable, often to the Jersey Shore, Lake George, Virginia Beach, and they even took a trip to the World’s Fair in Canada.  The girls each have wonderful memories with their dad and there was no end to his love for them.  They will all miss him dearly.

Ed is survived by his devoted wife; Joan (Leckel) of W. Milford, two daugthers:  Susan Menshon-Spinelli and her husband Peter Spinelli of W. Milford, Linda Lee Menshon of Naples, FL; three grandchildren; Alexandria Varcadipane of W. Milford, Daniel Varcardipane of Pennsylvania, and Justin Cornetto of Hoboken, and one sister; Barbara Istvan and her husband John of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, Ed’s family would appreciate donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517 or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Anthony “Tony” B. Sabeh, age 84, of Wayne passed Tuesday, July 17, 2018

He was born in Paterson to Joseph and Clementine Sabeh.  He was raised in the family home on Atlantic Street in South Paterson and attended Central High School. His first job was working at his brother’s grocery store, Mainway Supermarket on Main Street in Paterson.  He later owned Terry’s Deli on East 2nd Street in Clifton, Viecalek’s Perogi on Passaic Avenue in Passaic, and later Hy-Grade Liquors on East 16th Street and 7th Avenue in Paterson.  After owning those businesses he worked for the Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority in Newark for over twenty years before retiring in 2007.

Tony was active in his local Wayne community having worked his way through the ranks of the Wayne Elks Lodge 2181 where he served as Exalted Ruler in the 1980’s. He was also a member of the Township of Wayne’s CERT (Citizens Emergency Response Team) in Wayne and the Aleppian Charity Society of Paterson.

He will be lovingly remembered for his quick wit, strong work ethic, great sense of humor, and as a great provider for his family. He was a baritone singer with a band in his younger years, the un-official Jeopardy champion, an avid reader, and loved doing the crossword puzzles in the several daily papers he subscribed to.

He met the love of his life Theresa Miller while at a dance at St Anne’s in Fair Lawn. Theresa remembers their first date was to the Bon Bons Ice Cream Shop in Montclair. They married at Saint Leos Church in East Paterson on July 3, 1955 and honeymooned in Bermuda.  They had the honeymoon suite at the hotel and found a large bug in the walk in closet.  Tony, armed with a hanger, took on the bug while Theresa stood yelling in fear.  After that rocky start they have enjoyed a loving marriage of sixty three years that was blessed with four children.

He was the devoted father of Mark A Sabeh and his wife Denise of Denville, Linda Fragomeni and her husband Anthony of Branchville, Steven P. Sabeh and his wife Dawn of Butler and the late David A. Sabeh (1993); cherished grandfather of Mark Sabeh, Jr., Grace Fragomeni, Gianna Sabeh, Clare Fragomeni, Steve Sabeh, Jr., Christian Fragomeni, Emily Sabeh, and adored great-grandfather of Aliyah Sabeh; he was the dear brother of Albert Sabeh and his wife Laurice of Clifton, Victor Sabeh and his wife Janet of Edison and was predeceased by six other siblings and his parents.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to St Judes Childrens Research Hospital would be appreciated.

Thomas F. McGloin, Jr., of Wayne, passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018 at the age of 74.

One of four children born to Thomas and Virginia McGloin, Tom grew up in West Hempstead, New York. Tom attended Chaminade High School where he was actively involved in sports, clubs and organizations, while also working for a local real estate company.

Tom attended Adelphi University, earning a B.S. in Business.  There, Tom joined a fraternity, worked for the campus police and was a member of various clubs and organizations.  During his freshman year, Tom began to pursue a beautiful, blonde nursing student named Ethel.  By the end of their second semester, the two started dating and subsequently married while still at Adelphi.  Tom and Ethel enjoyed fifty-three years of marriage which, to this day, Ethel describes as “pure love.”

After college, Tom found work in sales with the Texaco Corporation and later the Mobil Chemical Corporation.  Tom and his family relocated several times due to work, ultimately settling in Wayne, New Jersey when he accepted a position with the Majestic Corporation in Teterboro, New Jersey.  After a few years, Tom and his best friend started their own business, Paktech, Inc.  In the early years, the business was run out of Tom’s basement, but it as it grew and expanded, it found permanent residence in Wayne.   The company operated for nearly 30 years, until Tom and his partner decided to sell the business and embark on a new journey - retirement.

Upon retiring, Tom kept himself busy visiting with his family and grandchildren, weekly lunches with fellow retirees in the area, socializing with friends, cooking and puttering around the house.

Tom was a proud father and grandfather, always bragging about his children and grandchildren with his friends and customers.  He loved his family deeply and looked forward to large family gatherings when he could visit with his siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.  Tom was gregarious and engaging, and had an ease about him that always made people feel comfortable.

Tom was a compassionate man and devout Catholic and religion was an important part of his life.  Grateful for the blessings he received, Tom was always ready to extend a hand to those he could help and was a member of several local philanthropic organizations, serving a senior role on various committees.

Tom enjoyed traveling and was particularly fond of Ireland, returning there several times during his life. You could see the worries vanish as soon as his feet hit Irish soil.  He loved all things Irish, especially Irish music, Irish step-dancing, Irish history and Irish pubs.  He also enjoyed making an Irish fry on special occasions.  Tom was an excellent cook and a master of his grill.  When Tom cooked, there was always an abundance of food and good times to be had for all.

Tom was active throughout his life and loved the ocean.  He enjoyed the beach, swimming and, in particular, deep sea fishing.  Whether it was getting lost in the Atlantic with his best friend or watching coolers of the dead fish they caught leak across an airport carousel, there always seemed to be a story resulting from each and every fishing trip.

Tom will be lovingly remembered for his kindness and generosity towards everyone, his great sense of humor and good advice.  He was a great husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be missed by all.  

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Ethel; his son Bill and wife Linda; his son Kevin and wife Stacy; his daughter Jean; and five grandchildren Melissa, Billy, Jessica, Cailey and Madison.  He was predeceased by his son, Brian, who died in 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations made in Tom’s memory to Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Shriners Hospitals would be greatly appreciated.

Pavle “Paulie” Bijelonic age 46 of North Palm Beach, Florida passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on July 9, 2018 at his residence in Florida.

Paulie was born and raised in Paterson and was one of three sons to Novak and Milenka Bijelonic.  Paul spent his formative years with his family in Paterson, then as a teenager, his family moved to Wayne in 1988.  Paul was then enrolled at DePaul High School in Wayne and graduated with the class of 1990.  Immediately following his graduation from high school, Paul attended Pace University in Pleasantville, NY where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree and graduated with the class of 1995.  Later, Paul would again go back to school and further his education, receiving his Master’s Degree in Project Management at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken.

Paulie worked in Finance for a few years then went to work for his Brother Jerry Bijelonic for approximately five years in the construction business.  Subsequent to working with his brother Jerry, Paul became a Real Estate Agent and moved to North Palm Beach Florida in 2017.  Paulie was an avid sports fan particularly of the New York Yankees and the Dallas Cowboys.  He was devoted to his Orthodox Faith and was a parishioner of St Sava Church in New York City for many years.  Paulie was an extremely kind person, with a huge heart.  He was willing to help anyone in need, no questions asked.  His family remembers him as being an honorable man, with great integrity, and having a profound love for his family.  Paulie was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew him.

Paulie is survived by his parents Novak and Milenka Bijelonic of Wayne, Two brothers; Gordon Bijelonic of Beverly Hills, CA and Jerry Bijelonic and his wife Gina of Kinnelon, one niece Angelina Bijelonic of Kinnelon and one nephew Giorgio Bijelonic of Kinnelon, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Paul’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Mary R. Schulmeister (nee Giraldi), age 100, of Haledon passed away peacefully on Monday July 2, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Mary was born and raised in Paterson, NJ.  She was one of five children to Rosario and Quartina Giraldi.  Mary was a part of a group in our society that has become known as of late as “The Greatest Generation.”  These are people who were born and grew up during the depravation of the Great Depression and later as young adults bore witness to the Second World War.  She grew up in Paterson and graduated from Eastside High School.  After graduating she applied for a position at St Anthony’s Guild in Paterson.  More than fifty people applied for the position, but luckily Mary knew someone there and got her foot in the door.  She worked there for about six or seven years as a secretary.

While working at St Anthony’s Guild she attended a local dance and was asked to dance by a young man named John Schulmeister.  Mary said yes and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on November 3, 1940 at St Anthony’s RC Church in Paterson.  Mary and John first settled in Paterson after getting married and raised their two sons.  In 1970, John and Mary moved to Haledon and would spend the rest of their lives there together.  Immediately after getting married, Mary devoted herself to becoming a homemaker, nurturing and caring for her family.  After many years of the daunting but rewarding task, Mary went back to work.  This time earning a position at New Jersey Bank, now known as PNC Bank.  Mary worked there first as a temp in the mid 1960’s, and eventually became Head of Public Relations and kept this position until her retirement in 1988.

Mary was active in the Haledon AARP Chapter 2997 where she was part of the Publicity Committee.  She was part of the Haledon Seniors Group where she was a Recording Secretary for many years and was also a Mayor Appointee for the Haledon Library Board.  Mary was not only devoted to her family, but was also extremely devoted to her Catholic Faith.  She was a Parishioner of St. Paul’s RC Church in Prospect Park for many years and throughout her life, donated generously to numerous charities.  But Mary’s greatest passion was for her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Mary than caring and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  She and John cherished forty-two years of loving and loyal marriage until John’s passing in 1982.  Mary touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by everyone that knew her.

Mary is survived by her two sons Fr. John C. Schulmeister, O.F.M. of Baltimore, MD, and Joseph Schulmeister and his wife, Cynthia of Stockholm, one brother Adam Giraldi of VA, two grandchildren Sheri Schulmeister of Stockholm, and Loren Collura and her husband Kenneth of Wantage, and two great-grandchildren Brooke and Cody.  She was predeceased by her husband John Schulmeister and by her three brothers Michael, and Alfred Giraldi, as well as her sister Fina Messineo.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s name may be made to Eva’s Village Inc., 393 Main St, Paterson, NJ 07501.

Cynthia K. Wolos, age 64, of Caldwell, passed away peacefully with her loving family close by her side, on Saturday, June 30, 2018.

The youngest of three children of Miroslav and Jane Kuna, she was raised in Glen Rock where she graduated from Glen Rock High School with the Class of 1971 and, thanks to the love of music and the arts instilled in Cindy by her musician mom, she had many lead roles in the school’s musicals during those high school years.

As a little girl, Cindy loved going water skiing behind her parent’s boat on Greenwood Lake or at Croton on the Hudson River. By far, Cindy’s favorite activity growing up was summers with her family at the shore house in LBI that her parents purchased in the 1960’s. It was a passion that would stay with her all the days of her life. She enjoyed everything about the shore; the sun, the surf, going clamming, and enjoying any dinner that included fish on the menu. But above all those great attributes, the greatest blessing to Cindy was that times down the shore afforded her the chance to be with her family – her parents and brother and sister when she was young, and her husband and children in her adulthood. Her husband TJ’s family had a condo in Wildwood as well, so it was nothing unusual for Cindy to bounce back and forth between the two homes during the summer.

Cindy met her husband Teddy “TJ” Wolos in 1983 at a wedding where she was the maid of honor and the groom happened to be TJ’s friend. Her first date with TJ was on the back of his motorcycle taking a ride up to Warwick, NY to the onion fields and, while there, grabbing a bite to eat at an old Warwick favorite called the Jolly Onion. TJ recalls how much Cindy loved the restaurant’s French onion soup. They dated about a year, then decided to commit their lives to each other. They pledged their wedding vows on August 18, 1984 at the VFW Hall on Washington Ave. in Nutley. This was immediately followed by a “good time was had by all” reception in the VFW Hall, then a honeymoon in Wildwood, NJ where the newlyweds stayed at a resort called the Hawaii Kai. After all the celebratory events, Cindy and TJ made their first home together in Wayne with TJ’s parents with their first born son Terry. Shortly after, they purchased their own home in Little Falls in 1986. The blessing of another child soon arrived – their daughter Maggie in 1988. Cindy happily settled into a life as homemaker and mother. In her heart, that was the role she embraced the most and she was darn good at it! She poured all the love she had into her family and took an active part in Terry’s and Maggie’s lives as they grew. What other mother can say that the year they volunteered to be head coach of their son’s Little Falls soccer team, that the team would go on to win the championship? Because she was female, no one wanted to be her assistant coach so Cindy did it all by herself and walked away with three firsts……the first female coach of the league, the first coach to win the championship in their first year of coaching, and the first coach to do it single-handedly – without the help of an assistant coach! Cindy’s daughter Maggie also liked to play soccer. Cindy never missed her games and, as her mother had done for her, Cindy inspired a love of music and the arts in Maggie too, leading to Maggie’s involvement in her schools musical productions and taking her to see some of the greatest Broadway shows ever.

When her children moved on to the age of independence, Cindy took a job with the Home Depot. She started as a general cashier when the store on Riverview Drive and Route 46 in Totowa had their grand opening. She eventually moved to the store in Montville where she became the building contractor’s cashier. Many of the contractors that shopped at the store on a daily basis would pick Cindy’s cashier line because they really liked her pleasant disposition and helpful attitude. Cindy was the helpful cashier in the orange vest from 1995 until 2009 when she suffered a stroke which forced her to stop working. Because of these health issues, she and TJ felt that it would be best to sell the house in Little Falls and move to St. Augustine, Florida where they could downsize and recuperate. By 2015, Cindy and TJ moved back to New Jersey to be closer to their children, where they have lived ever since.

Cindy’s love of singing continued throughout her life. In the church choir, she was always one of the strongest and most accomplished altos, in fact, when she sang in the choir at Grace United Presbyterian Church in Wayne, she was the only alto the choir had, but she was able to carry the whole section by herself. A huge Pittsburgh Steelers fan, she got to see them play live at Giants Stadium and she always wore her Steelers jersey and waived her terrible towel when she watched the games at home on television. Speaking of television, Cindy regularly tuned in to be challenged by the categories Alex Trebek presented on Jeopardy. Usually, Zoey, her trusted Australian Cattle Dog, sat faithfully by her side while she watched. Zoey was very dear to Cindy, and she was a great source of protection after Cindy got sick.    

Above all else, nothing was more important to Cindy, or more cherished by her, than her family. Cindy and TJ were also blessed with some wonderful times in their 33 years of marriage. They got to take an awesome motorcycle ride together to Lake George in New York State where they stayed at the luxurious and historical lakeshore Sagamore Hotel, and they also got to see all the great attractions in Florida including Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios and the Florida Keys.

Cindy had a special bond with her sister Nadine, aka “Dee” and, for many years, one of their favorite activities was being teammates on the Wednesday night ladies bowling league at Fair Lawn Lanes. Their team was called GNO which stood for “Girls Night Out” and it was always a good time! Dee will also have great memories of the trips she and Cindy took including but not limited to visiting their brother Stephen out in Evergreen Colorado or their trip to Maine with Dee’s late husband Rick.

Cindy will always be remembered for her light-hearted, vivacious, fun loving personality, great sense of humor and really contagious laugh. Despite the setbacks to her health, she remained strong, caring more about the needs of her family and friends than herself. She always had a song in her heart. Even in her final nights in the hospital with family gathered around, a conversation would remind Cindy of the lines from a song and she’d start singing. The rambunctious group was even told to quiet down by the nursing staff.

Cindy was the beloved wife of Teddy “TJ” Wolos; much-loved mother of Terrence “Terry” Wolos of Totowa and Margaret “Maggie” Wolos of Caldwell; dearest sister of Nadine Schuck of Hawthorne, and Stephen and wife Ellen Kuna of Beach Haven; sister-in-law to Kathleen and husband Salvatore Anzalone of Myrtle Beach and Darlene and husband Charles Serecka of St. Augustine; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving parents, Miroslav and Jane Kuna, her parents-in-law, Cora and Thaddeus Wolos and her dear brother-in-law Rick Schuck.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Cynthia’s memory to:

Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), 1608 Spring Hill Road, Suite 110, Vienna, VA 22182, or online at https://www.biausa.org

Rinaldo Rascionato, 89 of Totowa, died peacefully at home on Thursday, June 28, 2018, surrounded by his loving family.  He had lived in Totowa since 1981.

Rinaldo was the youngest of ten children, raised in Montella, Naples, Italy, and endured the hardships of World War II during the better part of his teenage years.  He served his obligatory time in the Italian Army during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  Steady employment was difficult to come by in Italy at that time, but Rinaldo was able to find work in Corsica doing construction, and he later worked in a manufacturing plant in Switzerland.  During that same time, he was writing letters to his childhood sweetheart; Emilia Garofalo.  She had moved to America and was living in Paterson.  After some time, she accepted his proposal and traveled back to Italy where they were married on August 2, 1965.  Even then, he wasn’t able to come to America with Emilia and it took several months for him to secure all the necessary documentation.  He arrived to America in 1966 and they started their wonderful life together, first living on Ryerson Ave in Paterson before moving to Totowa in 1981.  Rinaldo worked at the Moire Corporation of Fair Lawn.  He was a wonderful provider and did all he could to take great care of his wife and children.  He and Emilia are just one month shy of their fifty-third anniversary.

Rinaldo always had many friends and was generous to a fault with all of them.  There were some people that he seemed to do everything for, and he simply loved to help others.  He volunteered often at their church; St. Mary’s on Union Ave in Paterson.  He was an usher there, and also sang in the Italian Choir.  He loved to sing and in Italy, as a young man, he was often hired to serenade.  He also loved soccer and Juventus was his favorite team.  He enjoyed reading the Italian newspaper, doing word searches, and of course; scratch-off lottery tickets.  He leaves many family and wonderful friends who will miss him dearly.

Rinaldo is survived by his beloved wife; Emilia of Totowa, three children; Rosemary of Totowa, Emilio and his wife Lana of Totowa, and Daniella of Riverdale, two grandchildren; Nicole and Matthew of Totowa, as well as many nieces and nephews spread around the world.  He was predeceased by all nine of his siblings, and by his son-in-law; David Hesson in 2016.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Rinaldo’s memory to the Eternal World Television Network, “EWTN” and mail your donations to; 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35210 or donate online at www.ewtn.com

Evelyn Marie Pringle (nee Karross), of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 28, 2018.

Raised in Clifton, after high school, Evelyn attended business school then took her first job with the Curtis-Wright Corporation in Fairfield.

It was at a Civil Defense Committee meeting that Evelyn was encountered by a young gentleman named Robert “Bob” Pringle. As the story goes, it was at the end of the meeting which Bob had attended as a representative of the local fire department and, as he so wonderfully described, he kept an eye on the nicely-dressed young secretary who was still sitting at her desk going over her meeting minute notes. Bob knew he had to find some excuse to speak to Evelyn. Refreshments had been brought to the rear of the room and committee members were helping themselves. Perhaps, Bob thought, he could get something for Evelyn since she was still working. And then it hit him. He went over to ask her if she needed the spelling of his name - for the minutes of course. Little did either of them realize at that moment that one day, his name would be her name. That day came on September 22, 1957, when Evelyn and Bob exchanged their wedding promises before God, family and friends at the St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Pompton Lakes.

After the wedding, Evelyn and Bob initially settled into a temporary living situation in Packanack Lake while their new home was being built. They moved into that new home – a beautiful sugar-maple split level on Garvey Road in Wayne on August 29, 1959.

Prior to marriage, while still employed in purchasing at Curtis Wright, Evelyn also took a part-time job as secretary for the Wayne Township Board of Health. This involved a couple of meetings a month and, it was at one of those meetings that she met an official of a company that was building a new pharmaceutical company building in town – The Chemway Corporation on Fairfield Road. The official came before the board to discuss plans, obtain permits, and arrange other related business with the Health Department. He was impressed with Evelyn and ended up hiring her as Assistant Purchasing Director. It was a significant move-up in her career from both a prestige and salary standpoint. She remained there for several years which she very much enjoyed until the blessing of two boys called her to her new role of motherhood. After her sons were in their teens, Evelyn returned to the workplace, this time as office manager for Dr. Roger Laauwe, an eye doctor in Wayne. It proved to be a place where she would work for many years until retirement in 1994.

Evelyn poured herself into raising their two sons – Robert “Rob” and Scott. She volunteered at Our Lady of Consolation School when they were attending and she taught CCD classes at the church too. Rob and Scott will always have good memories of Mom spending hot summer days with them at the Robert Rowe Swimming Pool in town. The boys would splash around in the water while Evelyn enjoyed talking for hours with the other mothers. Anyone who knew Evelyn knew that she was extremely sociable, so conversing for hours, whether at the pool or at home on the phone with a friend, was nothing unusual for her. She just loved people of all ages!

In the early 1980’s, Evelyn and Bob purchased a home down the shore in Barnegat Township. Summer weekends and vacations were enjoyed there and in the winter, they loved spending free time in Naples Florida. While in Naples they’d explore a bit, and those explorations led them to Bonita Springs. Falling in love with the area, they purchased their own condo there in 1992. Three years later, when Bob retired from his job as Chief of Police in Wayne, Bonita Springs became the place where you could find Evelyn and Bob, wintering there for the next fifteen years. Nothing made them happier than when their sons and grandchildren would come visit. Evelyn simply adored her grandchildren always fondly recalling that, when they were little, they’d be so excited about coming over Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a “sleep-oh-va.”  

Evelyn was the beloved wife of Robert; loving mother of Robert C. and wife Elizabeth Pringle, and Scott and wife Robin Pringle; cherished grandmother of Robbie, Marie, Aaron, Heather, and Evan; dear sister of the late Charles Karross; dear aunt of Jack and wife Mary Ellen Joynson of Spotsylvania, VA, and Diane and husband Richard Thompson of Lake Ariel, PA.

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

Sarah C. Antonucci of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, formerly of Wayne, passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Sarah was born in Paterson to her loving parents, the late Louis and Jennie Coiro and was proud of her upbringing in the Stoney Road section of Paterson. Because of the effects of the Great Depression, Sarah, like so many of her generation, needed to leave school to find a job. She found work at the Jersey Coat Factory, sewing heavy woolen coats for the Military.

At a friendly neighborhood dance, the young, beautiful Sarah would meet the young, handsome Thomas Antonucci and after a courtship of enjoying the pleasures of a simpler day, were married on September 7, 1941 just three months to the day before the attack on Pearl Harbor. The newly married couple moved into a quaint over-the-garage apartment in West Paterson, where their first son Thomas was born. Then, after a World War and a few minor moves in between, they moved to Wills Avenue in Wayne in 1948, Ratzer Road in 1953, and finally settled into what was to become, the family homestead on Sears Place in Wayne in 1964. Along the way, they “furnished” these new homes with not only new appliances but four new sons, Louis, John, Jeff and Ron. The past three homes were built by the skilled, prideful hands of her husband who was a carpenter by trade.

As Thomas built his houses and factories out of lumber, concrete and steel, by the sweat of his brow and the strength of his back, Sarah built those houses into ‘homes” with foundations of love and trusses of compassion and generosity with her golden heart and kind, benevolent smile.

While growing up, Jeff recalls how his mother Sarah never took the easy way out by tossing one of those out-of-the-box dryer sheets into the dryer to give her sheets that “fresh as a day in spring” aroma. Sarah’s sheets came to smell that way because she labored hard and hung those sheets out on the clothes line on an actual fresh day in spring. And if she wanted that ‘summer fresh smell” the same effort was applied in the summer. Autumn, autumn, etc., etc. Jeff says, crawling into bed on a warm summer night and wrapping those cool, crisp, aromatic sheets around you induced the most sound and peaceful sleep. That was Sarah’s goal and no matter how labor intensive or challenging, Sarah always accomplished her goal!

The same held true for the amazing meals Sarah would cook. Her preparations began early in the day, shopping at the various markets that sold only the finest of ingredients. “Nothing but the best for my family,” she would say. And the results of these efforts were amazing. Everything from her homemade tomato sauce cast over steaming, succulent homemade pasta, to her Roast Leg of Lamb, cooked to perfection with oven roasted potatoes and broccoli rabe, with an ample slice of fresh baked apple pie to top it all off, were beyond description delicious. Jeff says, his mom’s meals not only nourished her family’s bodies, they nurtured our very souls.

To some, all this would be work and a burden. To Sarah, it was all a labor of love and the unbounded giving of that love was what defined her. It was what made Sarah LIVE! And anyone and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing our glorious Sarah are all the beneficiaries. How fortunate we all are!

In September of 2008 Sarah moved to live at the Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

Sarah was the loving wife of 54 years to the late Thomas Antonucci (1995); devoted mother of Thomas and his late wife Rosa of Wayne, Louis and his wife Donna of Bonita Springs, FL, John and his wife Rina of Oro Valley, AZ, Jeffrey and his wife Kathleen of Wayne, and Ronald, his girlfriend Beth and his ex-wife Cathy of Hampstead, NC; Sarah was the cherished grandmother of Rosanne and her boyfriend Tony, Gina and her husband Christopher, and the late Paula Jean, Tara, Louis and his fiancé Tara, Albert and his wife Diane, Thomas and his wife Heather, and Anthony, Nicole and her husband Justin, John and his wife Jocelyn,  Jeffrey, Jr., Ashley, Ronald, Sarah and Thomas; she was the dearly loved great-grandmother of Justin, Olivia, Christopher, Victoria, Michael, Louis, Luca, Florencia, Vincent, Matthew, Alayna, Giuliana, Sabrina, Simone, Violette, Madison, and Talon; Sarah was the dear sister of the late Catherine, Jennie and Grace.

Our Dear Beloved Sarah,

From your entire family, and all who knew you, we say, thank you for all the love you so generously gave us over all these many years. And we make you a promise that for eternity, we will love you back! We thank you God Almighty for the perfect creation that is Your daughter Sarah, and for giving that perfect creation of Your love as a very special gift to us.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Alzheimers New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave., Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 would be appreciated.

Neal M. Tanis, age 85, of Wayne went home to the Lord on Tuesday June 26, 2018.

Neal was a registered Architect in New Jersey and New York and a member of the American Institute of Architecture.  His practice has been located in Clifton for over 50 years.  He was most importantly a loving Husband and Father.

He was born and raised in Prospect Park and attended Eastern Christian Elementary School.  He graduated high school from Passaic County Technical and Vocational High School. Neal served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea in the early 1950s, post conflict.  After he was honorably discharged from the Army in mid 1950.  He continued his work as a draftsman until he achieved his Architectural degree from the Institute of Design and Construction in Brooklyn, New York and became licensed. Neal’s Architectural practice has always been in Clifton, N.J., first on the Clifton Avenue extension and then in Botany Village where it is currently located. He never retired and worked up until his last days.  He loved his work and was devoted to it.  He cherished 26 years of loving and loyal marriage to his wife Janet.  Neal enjoyed playing sports competitively, particularly Basketball and Softball, which he enjoyed up to his 70th year.  He was especially proud of the League “Best Pitcher” award given to him by the Packanack Lake Men’s Softball Association in 2002, his 70th year.  Neal and his wife Janet also loved to travel and enjoyed various vacations to Italy and the Mediterranean where Neal would marvel at the architecture.  They especially loved spending tine at their home in Sarasota, Florida.  Neal was a devoted father, grandfather and great grandfather.  He was kind, generous and had an outstanding work ethic and great faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Neal touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed.

Neal is survived by his wife Janet Tanis of Wayne, six sons; Ty and his wife Marilia of Oak Ridge, Tom and his wife Janet of Oak Ridge, Tal Tanis of Oak Ridge, Ted and his wife Dani of Newfoundland, Troy Tanis and his companion Chrissy Koch of Stockholm, and Travis Tanis of Oak Ridge, three daughters; Taryn Machos and her husband Michael of Old Bridge, Lauryn Tanis and her companion Michael Sherman of Butler, PA, Lindsay Durosier and her husband Jeff of Spring Valley, NY, and two step-sons Dr. Dennis Tirch and his wife Dr. Laura Silberstein Tirch of Ringwood and John Tirch and his wife Leah of Pompton Lakes. He is also survived by one brother Robert Tanis of North Haledon, and one sister Ethel Baum of Grand Rapids, MI, eighteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Neal’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

Joseph Albanese, Jr., age 61 of Wayne, passed Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

He was born in Hoboken to Joseph and Margaret Albanese. The family moved to Ridgefield when Joseph was eight years old. He graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School, where he was on the baseball and wrestling teams, with the Class of 1975. He continued his education at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting with the Class of 1978.

Joseph has worked as an auditor for the Coca-Cola Company in Hackensack, as an auditor for the Foster Wheeler Company in Livingston, as a Controller for the Belco Pollution Control Corporation in Parsippany, and as the Chief Financial Officer of the Huffman-Koos Company in Hackensack.  For the past twenty years he has worked as the President and Chief Financial Officer of the Dr. Leonard’s Healthcare Company in Edison and as the Chief Financial Officer of its holding company the Amerimark Corporation. He was very proud of the company and its employees and loved his work at Dr. Leonard’s.  Many will recall receiving the Dr. Leonard’s catalog in the mail.

Joseph met the love of his life Eileen O’Sullivan during their high school years.  Joseph was on the baseball team and Eileen was on the softball team.  One of their teachers, Mr. Bastick, served as matchmaker and introduced the two. Their first date was to a Ridgefield vs. Harrison basketball game where Eileen was the statistician.  There was a bench clearing brawl and all attendees, including Joe, were escorted out of the building. When Eileen came out to the parking lot she found that Joe had left as told and her father was waiting in the car to take her home.  Joe never heard the end of leaving Eileen behind!  They fell in love and Joe, after asking permission from Eileen’s father, proposed to her at the Christmas Eve Mass at Saint Matthews Church in Ridgefield.  They married at Saint Matthews on June 9, 1979 and had a reception, in what they considered the country at the time at the Regency House in Pompton Plains.  They honeymooned in Jamaica where Eileen got so sunburned on the first day that the local doctor sent her home. As she left the plane in Newark, in a wheelchair, a young nephew who had come to greet her asked Joe “what did you do to her?”  Joe and Eileen have enjoyed a loving, best friends, marriage of thirty nine years. He was a great husband and father who couldn’t do enough for Eileen or his children.

Joe will be lovingly remembered as a kind hearted, unintentionally funny, easygoing, look for the silver lining in every situation,  person who would always put other’s needs before his own. This was exemplified by his having just about any and everything with the imprint Life is Good. His calm demeanor was evident unless he was going to the airport, he was famous for wanting to leave many hours before the flight. He truly enjoyed coaching baseball and did so for the Wayne P.A.L. for many years. Joe truly loved his backyard pool and his Shih Tzu Sophie.  He was in his glory when floating in the pool with Sophie on his lap. He was a parishioner of Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Wayne for many years.

Joe was the loving husband of Eileen Albanese; devoted father of Daniel Albanese and his wife Rebecca and their two children Leonardo and Cecelia, Steven Albanese of New York City, and Caitlin Albanese of Long Branch; loved brother of the late Frank Albanese (1994), Jack Albanese and his wife Helen of New Milford; dear uncle of Joseph Albanese and Jacqueline Albanese; much loved son-in-law of Mary O’Leary and the late Neil O’Sullivan (1990); devoted brother-in-law of Maureen O’Sullivan and her fiancé Robert Casella and Colleen O’Sullivan.

Please send donations in Joseph's memory to support Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.  Check, made payable to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, should be mailed to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Attn: Emily Carter, 885 Second Ave., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10017.  Please indicate on the check that the gift is in memory of Joseph Albanese.  You can also donate online by clicking here.

Frank T. Maresca, 89 of Wayne, died on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.  He had lived in Wayne since 1976.

Frank was raised in Jersey City, NJ and after returning home from serving in the U.S. Army, he started making cabinets.  He was self-taught and quickly made a reputation for himself in Jersey City.  As his business grew, he found himself selling raw building materials in addition to finished cabinetry and in 1960, he started the “Fairmount Home Center” on Monticello Ave.  By 1972, the business grew and he moved to a larger location on Westside Ave., where he operated until retiring in 1993.  Frank wasn’t the type to sit around and relax, though, and he was often seen at the Maresca Lumber yard in Pequannock, which is owned by his sons.  He was a true “people person” and loved talking to anyone.  His customers loved and respected him.  Frank was a genuinely good man with a big heart.

Frank was indeed a workaholic, but his wife Connie always made sure that a family vacation was booked each summer.  They frequented Wildwood, NJ and his sons recall fun times there when they were boys.  Frank also loved his grandchildren dearly and had them over to his home as often as possible.  He was a devoted grandfather and spent lots of time with them.  He and Connie also loved going to Atlantic City and walking the boardwalk and the beach..  Frank also enjoyed tending to his garden at home, tinkering in the garage, and any woodworking project that interested him.

Frank is survived by his three sons; Frank and his wife Lorraine of Kinnelon, Thomas and his wife Rose of Kinnelon, and David of Wayne, five grandchildren; Frank Maresca and his wife Laura, Danielle Conforti and her husband Andrew, Jenine Maresca, Christine Maresca, and Thomas Maresca, as well as one great-grandson; Vincent Maresca.  Frank was predeceased by his beloved wife Connie in 2015, and by two brothers and a sister.

Dominick Severini, age 82, of Totowa passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 26, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Dominick was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.  He was one of two children to Albert and Ethel Severini.  Growing up in Brooklyn in the 1940’s and 50’s, it was no surprise that Baseball played a big interest in Dom’s life.  Being from Brooklyn it was also no surprise that Dom was a huge New York Yankees fan.

Not long after his graduation from High School in Brooklyn with the class of 1953, Dom enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed in Japan.  He served honorably in the United States Army from 1955 – 1959.  Subsequent to his honorable discharge, Dominick got a job at the New York Post Office where he worked for several years.  Then he was offered a position to work with his father at a trucking company called Fein Containers, which his father co-owned with other partners.  Dominick worked at Fein Containers for over 10 years until dad passed away.  Dom then earned a position as a security guard at the North Jersey District Water Supply Commission in Wanaque.  Dom worked there for many years until 2004 and truly enjoyed it.  He loved the people he worked with and they were in turn very fond of him as well.

In 1960, Dom was introduced to an attractive young woman by the name of Lucy Valente.  They were introduced by a mutual friend and went out for dinner and drinks on their first date.  They dated for about a year, fell in love and were married on June 25, 1961 at St Finbar’s Church in Brooklyn.  Dominick and Lucy stayed in Brooklyn where they had their first and only daughter Lisa.  After about nine years, in 1971, they moved to Totowa.  They would spend the rest of their lives together in Totowa.  Dom and Lucy cherished fifty-seven years of loving and loyal marriage.  During their years together, Lucy and Dom enjoyed playing cards with their friends, particularly Pinochle.  They also took great pleasure in traveling.  They frequented places such as Cancun, New Orleans, Bermuda, and a particularly memorable trip to Salem, MA on Halloween some years ago.

Dom was a kind and generous man who was liked by everyone that knew him.  He loved to laugh and was known for his smile.  He made friends wherever he went and kept long lasting friendships with people, including a special friendship with a childhood friend name Vincent Gabriel who has since passed on.  Dominick was dedicated to his Catholic Faith, he and Lucy were Parishioners of Our Lady of Holy Angels in Little Falls for many years.  Aside from his love of Baseball and the Yankees and above all of Dom’s interests and hobbies, his family was his greatest passion, nothing meant more to Dominick than spending time with and providing for his family.  He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, he touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by his family and friends alike.

Dominick is survived by his wife Lucy (nee Valente) of Totowa, one daughter Lisa Greco and her husband David of Totowa, two grandchildren; Christopher Greco of Totowa and Alexandria Greco of Totowa.  He was also predeceased by his sister Joan Bove.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Our Lady of Holy Angels Church, 473 Main St, Little Falls, NJ 07424.

Angela Marie Rubbone (nee Amorosi), age 66, of Towaco, passed away with her loving family by her side on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.

Born in Newark, NJ, Angela was raised in nearby Bloomfield and West Orange. An accomplished athlete in an era when women’s sports didn’t enjoy the prominence that they do today, Angela excelled as a pitcher for the Mountain High School Mountaineers softball team. She went on to graduate from Mountain High (currently West Orange High School) in 1969, then earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1973 from the Panzer School of Physical Education at Montclair State College (now Montclair State University). What followed was a fulfilling, thirty-five-year career as a physical education teacher and coach at Kearny High School until her retirement in 2008. Angela enjoyed the distinction of being Kearny High’s first ladies track team coach and also led the school’s gymnastics team for many years. In 1995, she concurrently served as the head gymnastics coach at perennial New Jersey power, Ridgewood High School.

It was at Kearny High School that Angela met her beloved husband Joseph. They first encountered each other in 1974 at one of the school’s pep rallies in conjunction with their then roles as assistants for the baseball and track programs, respectively. At first, their relationship was merely personable and professional, but, in the spring of 1976, their paths began to cross with greater frequency when they had to coordinate and schedule gym time for their teams. The love light sparked and they started dating shortly thereafter.  Angela and Joe were married on March 10, 1979 at St Raphael’s Church in Livingston, NJ. They initially settled in West Orange, where they were blessed with their son Joseph (1980) and daughter Alisa (1983).  For each child, Angela took ample time away from work to love and nurture them. The family later moved to Towaco in 1988. Angela and Joe’s marriage of thirty-nine years proved to be one that God truly smiled on, filled with loving companionship and many good times and memories.

Aside from working out and running – Angela trained for and successfully completed the New York City Marathon in 1998 – her favorite pastime was tennis. A fierce competitor, with an extremely strong and often unreturnable left-handed serve, she could shut down her opponents, which frequently included Joe or one of her kids, in no time. Of course, winning was important, but Angela enjoyed the social aspect of the game just as much, regularly getting together with friends in the Packanack Lake Tennis Club. Angela also enjoyed playing pickleball – a fast-paced paddle game combining the sports of tennis, badminton, and table tennis.

The warmth, love and closeness of family was much valued by Angela. She always got excited about the holidays. They were a joyous time for her and she loved having her family gathered to celebrate together. When a holiday gathering included a turkey on the dinner table, extended family always looked to Angela to bring the bird. She prepared it the old-fashioned way, just like her mother and grandmother taught her. No frozen turkeys for Angela. Oh no! The turkey needed to be fresh and it needed to be big! She’d always make sure to brine the turkey for several days before cooking it. Then there was her traditional Italian stuffing, which she painstakingly prepared with stale bread and finely sliced onions before carefully placing back into the bird to cook. As for transporting the twenty to thirty-pounder to relatives’ homes, she left that to Joe and the kids to figure out. Angela was equally known for her delicious and creative jello, so dessert was always a much-anticipated delight.

Angela and Joe were very grateful for the time they could have together. They spent many summers on Long Island enjoying the various State Parks where Joe served as a lifeguard for over forty-five years.  They also had a lot of fun traveling and their favorite destinations included Mexico, the Dominican Republic and just about any island in the Caribbean.  In recent years, they often took trips to Belmar, NJ, where they would spend the day on the beach and then gradually make their way to nearby Loch Arbour for dinner at McGillicuddy’s, one of Angela’s favorite restaurants.

Angela was a very sociable, caring, and giving person who was most sincerely devoted to her family, but who also lovingly gave of her God-given time, talents and treasures in the service of friends and those in need. When her mother suffered from multiple sclerosis for twenty years, Angela was there. When her father became ill and needed help, Angela insisted that he live with Joe, the kids and herself in their Towaco home. When her husband was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2010, Angela never left his side prior to and during his recovery. In-between, she made it her mission to support her children, attending nearly every one of her son Joey’s football, basketball and baseball games from the time he was a young boy all the way through his senior season as a cornerback on the Amherst College football team, and just about all of Alisa’s dance competitions, gymnastic meets and UCLA Dance Team events. Her drive to help those in need also inspired her to become the founder of a support program in Kearny called “REACH”, made up of a select group of Kearny High School students that aimed to enrich the social and emotional growth of their peers.

Much of what shaped Angela’s life was inspired by her ceaseless faith in God. She spent many years as a parishioner at St. Raphael’s Church in Livingston where she taught catechism and served as a eucharistic minister. She was a deeply devoted Catholic and never missed mass, even in recent times when she was sick. She was especially grateful to Father Dominik Bakowski and the rest of the parish family at St. Pius X Church for their ministry and prayers throughout her illness.  

Angela was the beloved wife of Joseph. She was the loving mother of Joseph M. of Hoboken, NJ and Alisa and husband Sean Rice of Santa Monica, CA; loving stepmother of Pamela and Jennifer Rubbone, both of Queen Creek, AZ; dear sister of Charles and wife Lois Amorosi of Cape Coral, FL; and dear sister-in-law of Rae-Ann “Dolly” Amorosi. She is also survived by numerous beloved cousins, nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Angela was predeceased by her loving parents Gerard and Margaret Amorosi, and her dear brother Gerald Amorosi.

John “Jack” Meyer, age 86 of Sussex and formerly of Wayne, died at home on Saturday, June 23, 2018.  He had lived in Wayne for nearly forty years before retiring to Sussex.

Jack had worked primarily in the construction trades as owner of Meyer Brothers Construction, performing site work and paving services.  Jack was always the ‘happy go lucky’ type who would have preferred to go fishing everyday if he could.  Years ago, he went fishing with friends in the Thousand Islands region of New York, and throughout his life he would fish everywhere else he could.  A devoted family man, he coached Wayne PAL baseball and basketball for many years while his children were in the program.  He also enjoyed spending the summers in Bradley Beach at the Jersey Shore with his family.  He loved his family dearly, especially his grandchildren.

Many years ago, Jack had an experience in the Appalachia region of Kentucky that left a profound impression on him.  He witnessed abject poverty and entire families that were starving.  This inspired him to work with charities that focused on feeding the hungry.  As an active member of the Preakness Baptist Church in Wayne, he volunteered with the CROP walk and other related fundraisers.  Jack also used his wonderful singing voice to record an album of gospel songs and he donated all the proceeds from his record sales to feeding the hungry.  Jack’s son was able to upload those recordings to YouTube and played them for Jack from his phone.  Jack was amazed to hear his recordings being played from his son’s phone!

Jack met his wife Gladys at Hawthorne High School.  He had graduated before her, but they met during her senior year and quickly fell in love.  They were married at the First Baptist Church in Paterson on March 8, 1958 and drove to Florida for their honeymoon.  The settled in Oakland for a few years before moving to Wayne in 1962.  They retired to Sussex in 2000 and have enjoyed sixty years of marriage together.

Jack is survived by his beloved wife Gladys (nee Stellingwerf) of Sussex, four children; John W. Jr. and his wife Nicole of Stockholm, Karen Dykenga and her husband Douglas of Vernon, Robert and his fiance, Marcela of Haledon, and Ronald and his wife Amy of Hopatcong, seven grandchildren; Kristen, Jack III, Nadine and her husband Justin, Doug, Ryan, Jerilyn, and Jenifer, one great-grandson; Brady Kelly, and by his brother; William and his wife Grace of Randolph.  Jack was predeceased by his granddaughter Jessica, and by his sister Hazel Froio.

For those wishing to make a donation in Jack’s memory, please consider the Harvest House, located at the First Baptist Church in Sussex, and mail donations to; P.O. Box 374, Glenwood, NJ 07418.  Harvest House currently serves 40-50 meals per day to those in need and your help would be greatly appreciated.  www.harvesthousenj.org

Eleanor “Curly” Baum (nee Kuiken), aged 76, died peacefully on June 22nd, 2018 at home in Wayne, NJ, after a brief struggle with cancer. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and dear friends. Eleanor Marie was born on February 7, 1942 the oldest daughter of the late Jacob & Eleanor Kuiken of Wyckoff, NJ.

As a young girl she was given the nickname “Curly” by her doting father because of always having curlers in her hair; the nickname didn’t just “stick” with her, most people only know her by the nickname and are unaware of her “real” name being Eleanor.  Curly was a graduate of Ramapo Regional High School and went on to a secretary position at Hawthorne Spring Co. and Kleppers Auto Parts in Hawthorne, NJ

A devoted loving mother to James Tuit Jr., Kathleen (Tuit) Pass, Raymond Tuit and Crystal Baum; Curly embraced motherhood and could be found sewing clothes, making complete outfits for not only her kids but nieces and nephews.

In 1977 Curly married John J Baum Jr and they purchased their dream home in Wayne, NJ.  Together they spent many nights and even years in designing and updating the home, with Johnny either in the yard on a machine, creating the landscape or inside doing carpentry work while Curly was sewing curtains, painting, staining the wood all the while keeping her home neat and tidy and having dinner on the table by 6:30pm.  You would often find Ray mowing the lawn and Kathy tending to her baby sister, Crystal. She loved to entertain which turned her home into a “go-to spot” for all the kids and their friends from grade school until present time Curly always made sure everyone felt welcomed, loved and fed!

She was a longtime patriot of Orange County Fair Speedway in Middletown, NY. Beginning early on cheering for her Uncle Ray in the Ray Cook Racing Wheels #87 to being her sons Jimmy and Ray’s biggest fan. Every Saturday night you knew where to find Curly; in the covered grandstands with her dear friend Judy surrounded by what once may have been considered strangers now close friends. She truly enjoyed the sport of DIRT racing.

Curly enjoyed her ladies night out for her Funtastics Bowling League, winning the multiple championships as well as bringing home a few trophies herself. When winter came Johnny & her would make trips up to Old Forge, NY where they would spend long weekends snowmobiling with their friends, Russ & Karen Arnott and Don & Lisa Alber. During the summer & fall months they would enjoy vacationing with Jim & Judy and Ronny & Kay on road trips to multiple NASCAR tracks rooting for her favorite driver, Bill Elliott.

The family wishes to thank Valley Hospice who cared for her during her last days; Linda Kohles, RN who’s compassion, empathy & support were phenomenal and the thoughtful, kindhearted  aides; Lynelle, Marlene and Jennie. We cannot thank you enough for your guidance and support through this difficult time.

Curly is survived by her husband; John Baum of Wayne, her children; Crystal Baum and her husband CJ Orosz, Kathy Pass and her husband Bob, and Ray Tuit and his wife Debbie and  sister Wilma Redner along with her precious fur-kitties Tigger & Melody along with beloved Grand-Kitties.  She is predeceased by her loving son, Jim Tuit Jr. and brothers Jack and Eddie Kuiken. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives, friends and neighbors.

Hilda E. Trinidad (nee Colon) age 72 of Clifton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 21, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving  carof her family.

Hilda was born and raised in Coamo, Puerto Rico, one of four children to Rodolfo and Petronila Colon.  At the age of about eighteen Hilda arrived in the United States and lived with her sister in Paterson.  While living with her sister here in New Jersey, her sister’s husband Jose introduced her to a young man named Leonides Trinidad.  They dated for about three years and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married in the summer of 1971.

Hilda and Leonides moved around a bit but remained in Paterson and would raise their three children there.  Subsequent to their children growing up and leaving home, they moved to the city of Clifton in 1999.  Hilda spent most of her life as a homemaker, however from about 1978 until 1982 she worked at Terry Footwear on an assembly line where they manufactured slippers.

Hilda’s true calling was not however to work on an assembly line but to care and nurture her family.  Not only did she raise and instill in her three children strong, lasting family values, but she also baby-sat several of their neighbors’ children whom she cared for and raised as well.  Hilda was a loving, nurturing, and most of all strong woman who was referred to as the “rock” of the Trinidad family.  Not only was she completely devoted to her family, she was also devoted to her Christian Faith.  Hilda and Her Husband Lenny are members of Rock of My Salvation Church, (Rocca De Mi Salvacion), in Newark.  Hilda enjoyed crocheting and knitting and made countless baby blankets, booties, and furniture covering for her entire family over the years.  Hilda’s family also recalls frequenting the Jersey Shore Points such as Seaside and Atlantic City Beeches.  Aside from all of Hilda’s hobbies and interests, her greatest passion was for her family and her faith.  The night that Hilda passed away she was ministering to her entire family.  Some of her last words were, “I am going to be ok, I am leaving with Jesus, now stop crying!!” Hilda’s family feels blessed to have had such comforting closure.  Hilda was an extraordinary woman who touched the loves of many people and will be sincerely missed by her family and friends alike.

Hilda is survived by her husband Leonides Trinidad of Clifton, one son Daivid Trinidad and his wife Kathleen of Wayne, two daughters; Magali Muniz and her husband Edwin of Haledon, and Elizabeth Perez of Bethlehem PA, eight grandchildren; Alyssa, David Jr, Amberlyse, Rachel, Amaryllis, Rabecca, Kathlyn, and Alexis.  She was predeceased by her three sisters Mary Colon Reyes, Nelida Colon Reyes, and Iris Colon Reyes, as well as her brother Samuel Colon Reyes.

Those who wish to make a donation in Hilda’s name are asked to consider the American Cancer Society, NJ Chapter 986 South Springfield Ave, Springfield NJ 07081.

Gustav Vogt, age 90, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Thursday June 21, 2018 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Gustav was born and raised in Lithuania, before moving to Germany as a young man.  He was one of four children to Gustav and Juliana Vogt.  Gustav immigrated to the United States in 1950 in search of a better life and the American Dream.  When he arrived in the United States, he settled in Paterson where he quickly found a job at Continental Can Company.  There he was trained as a Precision Machinist.  Gustav spent the next twenty-eight years with Continental Can until they closed up shop in the mid 1980’s.  After closing, Gustav found other employment  in Wallington, NJ, again as a Precision Machinist, and worked there until his retirement in 1992.

A few years after arriving in the United States, Gustav attended a local dance gathering in Irvington.  There he met an attractive, young woman by the name of Waltraut Junge.  The two of them hit it off wonderfully and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married in June of 1957.  The couple lived in Paterson for three years, then in 1960 they moved to the town of Wayne.  They would call Wayne home for the rest of their lives together and it would also be where they would raise their only son, Steven.  Waltraut and Gustav would cherish 33 years of loving and loyal marriage together until Waltraut’s unexpected passing in 1990.  Although broken hearted, years later he was able to find love again and met Anneliese Petelko, who has been his companion for the last twenty-four years.

Being a machinist, it was logical and understandable that Gustav enjoyed working with his hands.  He enjoyed things like gardening and woodworking.  He was also a soccer fan and loved watching the World Cup every four years.  He also had the privilege to travel to many different and exotic places such as Switzerland, Hawaii, and Bermuda to name a few.  He was an avid fisherman, especially salt water.  He frequented the Jersey Shore Points fishing for blues, fluke, and flounder.  Gustav was a sweet, generous man with a wonderful sense of humor.  He was a devoted Father and Grandfather, he touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew him.

Gustav is survived by his only son Steven and his wife Michelle of West Milford, two grandchildren Peter and Allison, he is also survived by his 24 years companion Anneliese Petelko of Prospect Park.  He was predeceased by his two brothers Henry Vogt (2012), and Joseph Vogt (2010), and his sister Adele Kaleda (2016).

Rosemary I. Finnegan (nee Reynolds) of Packanack Lake in Wayne passed away peacefully on June 19, 2018.

She was born in New York City spending her formative years in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY later living in Syracuse, NY and Millinocket, Maine for eight years before moving to Packanack Lake in Wayne in 1961.

Rosemary received her formal education at Saint Joan of Arc Grammar School in Jackson Heights and also at Saint Bartholomew’s High School in Elmhurst, NY graduating at sixteen.  She also attended Fordham University and Syracuse University.

She was a parishioner of Immaculate Heart of Mary RC Church in Wayne where she served as a Eucharistic Minister.

Rosemary loved the outdoors and was an avid skier frequenting slopes in Maine and Vermont.

She had six children whom she loved with all her heart.  However tragedy struck three of her children at an early age.  She lost her newborn son John in 1958, her son James Gerard in July of 1999 to a heart attack, and her daughter Rosemary Finnegan-Agostino died in 2006 at age fifty.  Rosemary was a wonderful lady of faith and she would often say that “God gave me the strength to handle the loss of these three children.

Donald and Rosemary Finnegan had forty-two years of “wonderful marriage together” until Donald’s passing in December 1992.

Surviving are three sons Donald R. Finnegan and his wife Mary, Thomas M. Finnegan and his wife Janine and Robert C. Finnegan and his wife Anna all of Packanack Lake in Wayne, thirteen grandchildren; Alyson Heron and her husband Jason of West Milford, Donald P., Thomas H., Haley, Christina and her husband Brian Sebak of West Orange, James J., Megan, Liam, Jake, Ryan, Caileigh, Matthew, Alexa and two great-grandchildren; Patrick and Sophia.

Rosemary was predeceased by her sisters Catherine MacDonald in 1997 and Eileen Power in 2016.

Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider Straight and Narrow, 396 Straight St., Paterson NJ 07501.

Deborah Hric age 59 of Towaco passed away peacefully on June 18, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Deborah was born and raised in Passaic and lived in Clifton for a short period of time until moving to Towaco with her family forty-five years ago.

Deborah was one of five children to MaryAnn and John Hric.  She graduated from Montville High School with the class of 1976, and graduated one year early having doubled up on some classes.  Immediately after high school graduation she attended King’s College in New York for two years.  Deborah then transferred to Bryan College in Dayton, TN, where she continued to study for another two years.  Eventually she made her way back to New Jersey where she attended William Paterson College and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education.  Following her college graduation, Deborah earned a position as an elementary school teacher at Gateway Christian School in Hackensack where she worked for about two years.  Deborah was then hired by the Paterson Board of Education again as an elementary school teacher in School #5.  She worked there for many years until her retirement in 2016.

Deborah had a special place in her heart for animals, particularly Giraffes.  She enjoyed traveling and made some very memorable trips to places such as Africa and Israel.  She also enjoyed traveling with the teachers that she worked with to places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City.  Deborah was a veracious reader, while other kids wanted to go out and play, Debbie, as a young girl, would sign up for book challenges at the local library.  Debbie was a kind-hearted, giving and forgiving person.  She was dedicated to her profession and to her Christian Faith.  Although Debbie did not have children of her own, she was like a second mom to her nieces and nephews.  She always planned the family gatherings, events and holidays, she was the “spice” in everything that the family did.  Not only was she a second mom to her nieces and nephews, but to all of the children that she had the pleasure of teaching throughout the years.  Debbie touched the lives of many people and countless children and will be greatly missed by everyone that knew her.

Deborah is survived by her parents; John and MaryAnn Hric of Towaco, three brothers; Jonathan Hric and his wife Caren of Washington Twp, David Hric and his wife Cheri of Lake Hiawatha, and Daniel Hric and his wife Jeannine of Newfoundland, one sister Becky Hric Holschuh and her husband Paul of Oak Ridge, and seven nieces and nephews; Jonathan Jr, Jesse, Victoria, Joshua, Matthew, Samantha, and Davey.

William “Bill” Daniel Kamp went to be with the LORD June 17th. He was 95.

It was a murky, moonless night in 1944 at an American airbase located on the heel of the boot known as Italy. The young, 20 year old lieutenant was checking out his C-47 Skytrain prior to takeoff. He and his crew were delivering bullets - lots of bullets – along with rifles, grenades, mines and food to partisans in Yugoslavia who were reigning havoc on the Nazis, who brutally occupying their country.

Flying in the dark over the Adriatic Sea with no lights on, Lt. Kamp’s C-47 finally crossed enemy lines and circled the field (literally a field). Hearing the drone of his engines, the partisan fighters received the signal to light the runway with fires in 55 gallon drums where they successfully delivered the critical supplies.

William “Bill” Daniel Kamp went to be with the LORD June 17th. He was 95.

He lived in Wayne for over 50 years, led a great life and was very blessed. He was a loving father and husband, a pilot, Dutch bakery owner, volunteer member of the Boy Scouts, musician, golfer and bowler. He served in three wars: WWll, the Korean Conflict and Viet Nam.

Bill was born in Paterson, New Jersey on March 28, 1923 to Barney and Sietze Kamp. He grew up with his 9 brothers and sisters in Prospect Park and Wyckoff. He graduated from Eastern Academy and attended Casey Jones School of Engineering. Like many others, his education was interrupted by WWll. Bill joined the US Army Air Corps and earned his pilots wings as a 2nd Lieutenant. While home on leave, he met the love of his life, Ella Szabo. They met at a roller rink and after returning from the war Bill and Ella were married on October 28, 1946.

Bill could have been anything he wanted and took the opportunity to join his father’s business, Kamp’s Bakery.

Together Bill and Ella raised four children; Bill, Glenn, Dana and Darcy. Always involved in his children’s lives, he received the Silver Beaver Award from The Boy Scouts of America. He continued to serve his country in the US Air Force Reserve attaining the rank of Major.

Upon his retirement from Kamp’s Bakery, Bill kept very busy with one of his many loves: bowling. He was a teammate to people of all ages and bowled in a number of leagues. At age 82 Bill bowled a 299.

He was an avid golfer and was very computer savvy, keeping the scores and team records for his golf leagues. Another love of Bill’s was the organ. He joined an organ club and found much joy in playing with his friends and for his family.

Strong in his faith in God, Bill was very active in his church, Preakness Valley United Reformed Church, where for many years sang in the choir.

Bill is survived by his sons: Bill, Glenn and Dana, their wives Madeline, Cynthia and Fran, and his loving daughter, Darcy. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Garth, Sarah, Brett, Jonathan, Cyara, Patrick, Michele, Scott, Kate and Sean; and 11 great grandchildren: Buddy, Shayla, Sam, Maria, Emma, Kai, Annie, Grace, Trip, Ruby Kay and Penny Rose. Bill was predeceased by his wife Ella, who passed away in 1995.

With the Air Force Bill traveled and saw a lot of the world but loved most visiting places where his family lived: California, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee. Just like the Jimmy Stewart movie, Bill truly had a wonderful life.

Joan Heinrichs, age 74, of Haledon, passed away on Sunday, June 17, 2018.

After Joan was born, her parents brought her home to their house in Haledon and, as it turned out, she ended up living in that house her entire life. The home was a lovely Arts and Crafts era structure built in the first decade of the 1900’s and purchased by her grandfather in the 1920’s. Sitting on 3 acres of land, there was plenty of room for beautiful flower gardens, vegetables, raspberry bushes, currents, grape vines and fruit trees and Joan really enjoyed taking care of it all. A skilled do-it-yourself horticulturalist, she liked to graft fruit trees resulting in a harvest of two types of apples from the same tree.

Joan spent her freshman and sophomore year at Central High School in Paterson while a new school, Manchester Regional High School, was being constructed in Haledon. Her junior and senior year were spent in the sparkling new and completed Manchester Regional High School where she graduated with the Class of 1962.

With her years of formal education behind her, Joan jumped into a car with her mom, her sister Barbara, her aunt Marie and her cousin Marilyn to embark upon a cross-country road trip to the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, Washington. They enjoyed all the sights and attractions at the fair including the 605 foot tall Space Needle observation tower complete with rotating restaurant at 500 feet. Along the trip to the fair and back home they got to see other U.S. points of interest including South Dakota’s Badlands and Mount Rushmore, Oregon’s Sea Lion Caves, Nevada’s Hoover Dam, and the Great Salt Lake in Utah.  

After the trip of a life-time, Joan entered the workforce as a member of the steno pool – a group of worker who were available to take notes in shorthand, at Haband – a seller and distributor of clothing, originally located in Prospect Park. She eventually moved with the company to Oakland and, through hard work, determination, and gifted leadership skills, Joan worked her way all the way up to the position of President of Advertising before retiring in 2009 after a 47 year career.

One of Joan’s favorite passions were her dogs. She was especially adept at training them in obedience and agility and would get together with friends to train their dogs together. She was especially fond of Norwegian Elk Hounds and German Shepherds and her most recent companion was a beautiful long-haired golden German Shepherd named Zaza. Joan also was a big fan of opera and classical music. She had a huge collection of CD’s and records so she could play whatever she felt compelled to listen to at any given time.  

Joan is survived by her sister Barbara Heinrichs of Cape May.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joan’s name are asked to consider the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036, or donations can be made online at www.bcrf.org

Irene Lopuzzo age 81, of Wayne passed peacefully on Saturday, June 16, 2018.

She was born in Cliffside Park to the late August and Paula Juengert.  The family moved to Clifton during Irene’s senior year of high school. She graduated from Clifton High School with the Class of 1954.

She married and lived in Clifton for 40 years before moving to Wayne over 20 years ago.

Irene married Donald Lopuzzo on October 7, 1956 at Saint Phillips Church in Clifton and honeymooned in Florida.  They settled in Clifton and lived there for thirty-eight years before Donald’s passing in 1994. During their years together Irene learned to cook Italian specialties from Donald’s sisters.  Irene was great at making meatballs and would give her children and eventually her grandchildren a meatball on a fork and tell them it was a lollipop.  She enjoyed ceramics, dinners out with family - always preceded by a scotch and soda, and trying to teach her children and grandchildren German. She will also be lovingly remembered for her unapologetic and honest way.  She had an expected standard and didn’t mince words if you failed to meet it.

Irene was all about doing everything as a family. Her children fondly remember Sunday dinners together, two week long summer vacations at the Pan American Hotel in Wildwood Crest, and many family vacations on cruise ships. Irene and Donald often took cruises and even enjoyed one on the “Love Boat” before it was cast on the television show The Love Boat.  She enjoyed playing Bingo aboard the ships and with the Golden Age Circle of Wayne.

Soon after Donald passed away Irene moved to Wayne where she has lived for over twenty years.  She was the loving wife to the late Donald Lopuzzo (1994); devoted mother of Janice Di Bianco and her husband Ettore of Wayne, Susan Pogorelec and her husband John of Wayne, and the late Arthur Lopuzzo (2004); cherished grandmother of Erica Lipkin and her husband Adam, Stephen Di Bianco and his wife Kaitlyn, Elisa Di Bianco and her fiancé Justin, Joseph Pogorelec and his wife Stephanie, and Janice Pogorelec; dearly loved great-grandmother of Charlie, Gina, Luca, Viviana, and James.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to her granddaughter Janice's adult center, The Opportunity Center, 13-19 Fair Lawn Ave., Fair Lawn, 07410 would be appreciated.

Helen S. Wolff (nee Slawinski), age 94 of Wayne, died peacefully on June 15, 2018.  She had lived in Wayne since 1960.

Helen had worked for Fawcett Publications.  During her twenty years with Fawcett, she ascended to Editor of “Mechanic’s Illustrated” and “True Confessions” magazines.  She loved her job and enjoyed a successful career by any measure, especially considering the era in which she worked and how difficult it was for a woman to break through the glass ceiling.  Of course, if you knew Helen, then you know that she wouldn’t allow anything, or anyone, to obstruct her path.  She was a true pioneer.  As much as she loved her job though, she greatly disliked the commute into New York City and retired in 1962.  Naturally, she remained very active and volunteered her time generously with several area charities.  She was especially fond of Eva’s Village in Paterson.

Helen grew up in New York City and was one of four children.  Her father was a Polish immigrant who had escaped from a Siberian prison.  After a long and arduous journey, he made it to New York City where he started a family.  He was a very skilled wood carver and took employment with the Works Progress Administration (WPA).  Sadly, he contracted pneumonia and died in 1944.   Helen’s mother, Marcela, was a proud Polish woman, devout Catholic, strong and independent.  She went to church daily, missing on very few occasions.  Helen told a story, and she was very good at telling stories, of how her mother had a dear friend who “keeled over and died” in church one day, while she was praying.  The experience was upsetting to Marcela, but she admitted to Helen that this was how she would want to die someday.  One year later, Helen’s mother died in church.

During her 20’s and 30’s, Helen often traveled alone, or with one of her girlfriends.  She was fiercely independent and inherited her mother’s moxie.  Helen always stayed active and her travels typically revolved around some sort of athletic activity, such as skiing, tennis, and horseback riding.  On one occasion, she booked a long weekend at the Eddy Farm Resort in Pennsylvania, during the late 1950’s.  She had planned to play tennis and relax a bit.  While she was hitting the ball by herself against the practice wall, she spotted two handsome men starting to play a game of tennis.  She challenged the winner, who ended up being Arthur Wolff.  They hit it off almost instantly and, in Helen’s own words, they “were very good for each other.”  A wedding followed in July of 1960 and they moved to Wayne in October that year.  They remained very active together throughout their marriage and Helen was heartbroken when he passed in 1997.  Her independent nature enabled her to persevere during the years since Arthur died, and her only regret was not ever having children with him.  She recently planned her own funeral and shared many stories of her life, all while enjoying a few Marlboro 100 cigarettes and a cocktail.  Even at ninety-four years old, her mind was as sharp as a tack, and she understood how blessed she truly was.  She shared one of her favorite songs, singing Nat King Cole’s “Almost Like Being in Love.”

What a day this has been!

What a rare mood I'm in!

Why, it's almost like being in love

There's a smile on my face

For the whole human race

Why it's almost like being in love

All the music of life seems to be

Like a bell that is ringing for me

And from the way that I feel

When the bell starts to peal

I would swear I was falling

I could swear I was falling

It's almost like being in love

Helen is survived by ten nieces and nephews and was predeceased by her husband Arthur in 1997, by her sister JoAnn Danek in 2006, and by her two brothers; Stephen in 1969 and Henry in 1989.

Grace A Gurisic, 84, residing in West Milford, New Jersey died at Chilton Memorial Hospital, Pompton Plains, New Jersey on June 9, 2018.  She was born in Rocky Hill, New Jersey to her dear parents Louis and Margaret Gurisic.

Grace was a public servant of boundless energy.  She graduated from Princeton High School Princeton, New Jersey and Rider College, Trenton, New Jersey, where she majored in Business Administration.  She was first elected to the Borough Council in her home town of Rocky Hill at the age of 22.  Two years later, at the age of 24, she became the youngest woman mayor in the United States.  In 1959, she was elected to the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders and served from 1960 to 1965, attaining the added distinction of being the first woman to be elected to the Somerset County Freeholder Board.  Grace worked for the State of New Jersey in the NJ Conservation Economic Development Department.  Grace then became Special Assistant to Congressman Robert A. Roe, New Jersey 8th Congressional District from 1960 to 1993.  Grace belonged to many organizations throughout the years and received numerous awards for her dedicated service.  Everyone who knew her, loved the beautiful person she was inside and out.  She will be sorely missed by all.

Grace is survived by nine nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law.  She was predeceased by her siblings: Gertrude Tennyson, Margaret Voorhees and George Gurisic.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Grace’s name to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 17 Pompton Avenue, Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 or the West Milford Rescue Squad, 1480 Union Valley Rd, West Milford, NJ 07480.

Emily Elizabeth Mulraney, age 21, lifelong resident of Wayne, passed on Saturday, June 9, 2018.

She graduated from Wayne Hills High School, class of 2014, and was continuing her education at Bergen County Community College, Paramus.

Emily was born with a congenital heart defect and as an infant doctors predicted she wouldn’t live beyond the age of two.  Though her condition had her in and out of hospitals over the years, she proved everyone wrong with her strong will and determination. Whenever she was sick she always said, “don’t worry, I’ll be fine, I always am”.  As such, she wanted to spend her life as a child life specialist to assist children in similar circumstances.

Emily was artistically gifted and enjoyed doing voice-overs for online cartoons. Her love of the comic universe was evidenced by her many costumes, love of ComicCon, and the fact that she wore her Harry Potter hat wherever she went.

Emily will be remembered as a person who was determined to graduate from college. She was funny, sarcastic, helpful, sweet, and kind.  She loved her family, was a great friend, told the best jokes, and would do anything she could to help others. She was socially aware beyond her years and politically astute. She beamed with pride the first time she was able to vote.  She liked cooking, but the best thing she ever made was reservations at her favorite restaurant E&V in Totowa.

She had many fond memories of growing up in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ridgewood.  Her family remembers her on stage in Christmas shows and dancing to her own drum.

Emily was treasured by her mother, Liz Mulraney, and a shining angel to her grandparents, Thomas and Janette Mulraney from Wayne.  She is survived by her uncle Thomas and Aunt Meghan Mulraney of Wayne.  She will always be remembered by her siblings Jack, Dallas and Caden Kaminski of Greenwood Lake, NY, and her extended family and her friends, including Cody McLaughlin.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Joseph's Hospital - Pediatric ICU, 703 Main Street, Paterson, NJ 07503 ( in the "COMMENTS" section please indicate your donation is for the Paterson - Pediatric ICU) would be greatly appreciated.

Norman Schanz, age 53, of Haledon, passed away on Friday, June 8, 2018.

Norman was born in Paterson and raised with his brother Ron in Wayne. As a young boy during grammar school years, he enjoyed playing in the Wayne PAL Drum Corps and the occasional opportunity to march in a local parade. During his high school years at DePaul High School Norm worked for his parents, breeders of toy and miniature poodles in their family owned business - Croslyn Kennels. This experience kindled a life-long love and enjoyment of animals.

After graduating from DePaul High School with the Class of 1982, Norm attended Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA, then worked for a few years for a local veterinarian as a vet tech. In 1988 he began a thirty-year career as a Principal Laboratory Technician in the mice lab at the School of Biology at William Paterson University. His duties and responsibilities were varied including caring for over 2,000 lab mice and training students who were working for professors conducting research projects. He was an integral part of important research and was frequently named in the publications of the professors that he worked for. In between, he gladly conducted tours of the lab and biology department with high school students visiting William Paterson. Norm was very dedicated to his work at the school and always made himself available to come in to work, day or night. Even if he was away on vacation, he’d receive calls to answer a question or solve a challenge.

While working for the local veterinarian, Norman met the love of his life. Her name was Lisa Maybert and they quickly discovered a mutual admiration for animals. They married in 1989 at St. Paul’s R.C. Church in Prospect Park and, soon after, bought a home together in Haledon which they shared with Ginger, their Collie mix who they loved as family. They especially enjoyed going down to the Jersey shore together and would make it their regular vacation every year, visiting various beaches. Norman and Lisa were blessed and were a blessing to each other, enjoying a twenty-four year marriage until Lisa’s passing in 2013.

When Norm wasn’t at work, he enjoyed keeping his yard well-groomed and tending to his flowers and vegetable garden. Like so many area gardeners, he tried his best to outsmart the deer that would come to dine in his back yard.  Norm figured his tomatoes would be safe in big pots up on his deck, but the deer came anyway. He also loved working on little projects in the house and was likely a regular customer at the Tanis Hardware Store, near his home.

Above all else, Norm’s family was most important to him. He enjoyed visits to his mom’s house and while he was there, he always made sure that everything in her house was in good working order. Norm also enjoyed time spent with his niece and nephew sharing stories about their collegiate experiences.

Norman was the loving son of Irmgard Meyers; dear brother of Ron and his wife Linda Schanz of Edison, and dear uncle of Kimberley Schanz and David Schanz. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Lisa in 2013, his father Francis Schanz in 1981, and his stepfather Leonard Meyers in 1996.

Those planning on an expression of sympathy in Norman’s name are asked to consider contributing to The Norman Schanz Memorial Student Emergency Fund which has been established at William Paterson University in honor of Norman’s service and dedication to students. Memorial gifts may be directed to:

Michael Russo

Office of Institutional Advancement

William Paterson University Foundation

300 Pompton Road

Wayne, NJ 07470

Make checks payable to the William Paterson University Foundation.  (Norman Schanz Fund in memo portion of the check.)  Memorial gifts may also be made online at http://www.wpunj.edu/giving/

For gifts made online please indicate the gift is being made in memory of Norman Schanz in the Comments section of the form. If you have any questions call 973-720-3990.

Gertrude R. Palmieri, age 90, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 8, 2018. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Palmieri, Jr. who predeceased her in 2010. During her working years, she was a telephone operator with AT&T in Wayne.

Born in Jersey City and raised in Union City, Gertrude was a resident of Clifton and Wayne before moving to the Longview Assisted Living residence in Wyckoff in 2010. She truly loved the genuine sense of community there and the many meaningful friendships she established over the years with fellow residents and the loving staff.

Myrna May Sparks (nee Raker), of Wayne, passed away on June 7th, 2018. Although born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania, she had decided to attend NYU where she met her husband Robert William Sparks. Together they moved to Wayne to create their legacy of their two children, Jonathan and Elizabeth.

Myrna established her own business entitled Bon Chien, which was a pet care service that originated from her deep affection towards animals. She always maintained a household of multiple dogs. This fondness rooted from a young age spent in her family’s country home, where she honed her excellent horse-riding skills. This time was spent with her siblings Barbara and Roy. Because of this, she made sure to acquire a country home of her own so that this love could always flourish.

Myrna was an avid traveler, later being accompanied by her second husband, Oscar Pelaez. Among many, her favorite destinations were Paris, Tuscany, Venice, and Santorini.

Myrna was a mother, grandmother and caretaker for all of her future generations. In being a good listener, she understood the needs of her family members and would always provide. Her generosity and compassion were constant and overflowing. She was a very thoughtful and kind woman who will be missed dearly.

Myrna is survived by her husband, Oscar Pelaez, her two children, Jonathan Sparks and his wife Sandra, and Elizabeth Holman, and her three grandchildren, Alexandra, Austin, and Rachel Holman.

Christopher J. Simon, 17 of Pompton Plains, died Wednesday, June 6, 2018 while his mother held him close.  Afflicted with Cerebral Palsy at birth, his life has consisted of a series of challenges and he faced each one with unmatched courage and determination.  He taught everyone around him how precious this life is, and about not taking anything for granted.

Christopher was born several weeks premature on August 17, 2000.  By the grace of God, and the skill and dedication of the staff at the Valley Hospital NICU, Christopher’s parents brought him home for the first time four months later.  Dawn and Mike learned quickly and found within themselves a unique strength that they didn’t previously know they had.  They were dedicated to seeing that Christopher would enjoy life as much as anyone else, and they set out to see that he experienced all that he possibly could.  With the help of so many amazing nurses, friends and family, that’s exactly what happened.  Dawn was determined to see Christopher included in everything and go everywhere, regardless of the challenges.  There were no insurmountable obstacles, and Dawn made sure of it.  At four years old, Christopher was treated to a Make-a-Wish family vacation to Disney World, and if the permanent smile on his face was any indication of his enjoyment level, then he was having the time of his life there!  Christopher enjoyed that trip so much, that he began fundraising for Make-A-Wish so that others could enjoy the same compassion which he had received.  He has attended the Lead East car show in East Hanover every year since then (fourteen years), supporting the Make-a-Wish fundraising drive, and he truly enjoyed being there.  Christopher attended school at the Children’s Therapy Center in Fair Lawn and Midland Park.  He was proud to receive his diploma, wearing cap and gown, in 2014.  Dawn also brought him to Franklin Lakes Challenger Baseball where he joined the “Dream Team,” playing baseball for ten years.  He also joined the Challenger Bowling team which met at the Holiday Lanes in Oakland.  They discovered his love of swimming and Christopher often went to the PRNJ pool in Wayne for his swimming therapy.  He earned a bit of celebrity status after being featured in one of their advertisements.  Later, he was introduced to therapy horseback riding in West Milford, which he quickly fell in love with as well.  Halloween was among his favorite holidays and Dawn never failed to make him the best costumes.  This past year, he was a slice of pizza, and had previously dressed up as a race car driver, an Indian, a Mummy, the Grim Reaper, Gene Simmons, Elvis, a Hippie, a drummer, and the list goes on.  His wheel chair was always incorporated into his costume.  He was also a regular in the Pequannock Memorial Day Parade, having marched with the Girl Scouts just two weeks ago.  Christopher enjoyed watching the NY GIANTS on TV with his dad, and was treated to a few NY YANKEES games over the years, and those were especially memorable for him.  Christopher also went to the beach in a specialty wheel chair that could carry him across the sand.  He attended the St. Mary’s Catholic Church Special Needs Ministry which enabled him to receive his First Communion and, just recently, his Confirmation.  He looked snappy that day, in his suit and tie, along with the fanciest shoes he’s ever owned.  Christopher did, of course, have a favorite pair of shoes; his Converse All Stars.  These had previously belonged to a dear friend of his, Alex Seifried, who also had Cerebral Palsy and passed away two years ago.

Christopher loved doing things with his family, especially his little sister, Samantha.  She is nothing less than his personal angel, and she has fed him with love since the day she was born.   She has truly been there for him at every turn.  They went fishing together at PV Park, and Christopher never missed one of her softball games.  He was her biggest fan!  The two of them really enjoyed visiting the Easter Bunny and Santa, anxious to have their picture taken each holiday season.  Samantha learned from an early age how to help care for her brother.  She became keenly aware of his needs, watching him closely when he experienced seizures, and she was especially helpful at communicating for him, telling his nurses what he was in need of.  She was a huge help to her mom, and gave her brother uncommon compassion.

Christopher was a very brave boy.  Despite his Cerebral Palsy, he was stronger than most people who are not similarly afflicted.  His life of 6,502 days was a constant battle for survival, and a never ending struggle.  Yet, his love flowed limitlessly for everyone he met, and for all those who helped him along the way.  His smile said it all.  In the hospital room on June 6, he saw a busy and endless flow of countless visitors, hearing the words “I love you” more times than anyone could count.  It was, in its own way, a beautiful scene.  Yet during a few brief and peaceful moments alone, with no one in the room but his mother holding him, he decided it was time to end the battle, to die.  He did it his way.  His struggle has ended, and he will be dearly missed, but the love he shared during his lifetime is more genuine than anything imaginable, and that will be his legacy.

Christopher is survived by his devoted parents; Dawn and Michael Simon of Pompton Plains, his loving sister Samantha, grandparents; Barbara Waibel of Wayne, and Louis Waibel and his wife Kathie of Hemlock Farms, PA, aunts and uncles; Cherylyn Mazakas and her husband Stephen of Califon, NJ, Louis Waibel and his wife Kerri of Kinnelon, NJ, Michelle McKeen and her husband Michael of Verona, NJ, and James Simon of Hawley, PA, cousins; Silas, Lou, Matt, Annabelle, Elizabeth, Cassidy, Kelsey, Bryan, Jeanine, Nathaniel, Linda, and Vince, and a large, extended family.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be greatly appreciated to the Mary Therese Rose Fund, www.marythereserose.org.  You can also mail your donations to; MTRF, Inc., 33 Wolfe Drive, Wanaque, NJ 07465, attn. Jack Crilly.

An excerpt from the poem “I Am the Child;”

I am the disabled child.

I am your teacher. If you allow me,

I will teach you what is really important in life.

I will give you and teach you unconditional love.

I gift you with my innocent trust, my dependency upon you.

I teach you about how precious this life is and about not taking things for granted.

I teach you about forgetting your own needs and desires and dreams.

I teach you giving.

Most of all I teach you hope and faith.

I am the disabled child.

Philip Brucato, age 54, of Wayne, passed away after a long illness, on Monday, June 4, 2018.

Phil was born in 1963 in the town of Garfield and grew up in Wayne. In fact, he called Wayne his hometown almost his entire life.

As a child, Phil was both an imaginative kid who could entertain himself playing in the mud, building forts or escaping to wherever his imagination took him, and he was an athletic kid who started by playing baseball for Wayne PAL where he usually played catcher and outfield. He went on to play catcher and second base for Wayne Hills High School and even later in life, he played softball in a private league. Phil’s team was sponsored by the International Food Court so that became its name. More importantly, he helped that team win the championship in 1986. He was also a very accomplished league bowler who maintained a 206 average bowling for many years at Wayne’s T-Bowl.

After graduating from Wayne Hills with the Class of 1982, Phil took a couple of jobs before enlisting full-time in the U.S. Army National Guard. While there, he served as a squad leader during basic training. Already a competitive person by nature, he came away from his time served with even more confidence and an amazement of the things he learned that he would have never thought he could have done.

In 1994 Philip fell in love and married Elva Thompson. Three years later, they welcomed their son Michael, and, in many respects, Michael became Phil’s world. He knew how to make life fun for Michael and they did all kinds of enjoyable and interesting stuff together including: going to cheer on their New York Mets at old Shea Stadium and Citi Field, heading down the Jersey shore to Point Pleasant, riding on all the attractions at Hershey Park in Pennsylvania, taking frequent visits to New York’s Museum of Natural History where Michael came to know where every exhibit was by heart, frequently catching the latest blockbuster movie, going apple picking, and most recently, taking a trip to Florida to visit Disney World and Universal Studios just this past November, 2017.  

Philip was a route salesman. His career started with Maier’s Premium Italian Bread where he worked for five years before going to work for Entenmann’s Bakery for the past 24 years until sickness forced him to retire. When he came to Entenmann’s he took the Newark, NJ route because no one else wanted it. Through hard work, a strong work ethic and always giving 100 percent, Philip turned that route into gold and he provided Entenmann’s products to Newark stores for fourteen years. Outside of work, Phil kept busy too. He enjoyed going to the gym, taking walks around Packanack Lake, going to karate lessons, and participating in the Mud Run Challenge with his nephew Ralphy and other guys half his age.

For much of his life, Phil was not much of a church goer, but one Sunday he decided to go to Grace Bible Church in Pompton Plains with his sister-in-law Diane who went all the time. Soon after, he encountered a man in one of the stores on his delivery route who had a very strong faith in God. Phil and that man somehow got into a conversation about spiritual matters and the man told Phil that God had much more in store for his life than he realized. Soon after Phil started going to Jacksonville Chapel and then to Tuesday night bible study. He became very hungry for the words of the Lord as they were explained to him at church and in his holy bible. Four years ago Phil gave his life to God and he was baptized. The words of that man he met in the store on his sales route came to fruition not only in Phil’s life on earth, but more importantly, he is now enjoying eternal life with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Phil was a fun-loving guy. But more importantly, he was personable and caring and was always someone you could trust. Once he got to know you, he’d do anything for you and, in all that he did, he gave one hundred percent.

Philip is survived by his much-loved son Michael of Wayne; his brother Ralph J. and wife Diane Brucato of Wayne; dear nephew Ralph L. Brucato of West Milford; and his dear former wife Elva Brucato of Wayne. He was predeceased by his loving parents Ralph A. and Yvette Brucato.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Philip’s name are asked to consider Autism Society, 4340 East-West Hwy., Suite 350 Bethesda, Maryland 20814 or at autism-society.org

Beatryce A. Raimondi, age 94, of Whiting and New Port Richey, Florida, formerly a thirty-five year resident of Wayne, passed Monday, June 4, 2018.

Beatryce was born and raised in Jersey City having graduated from Snyder High School, where she was a Drum Majorette with the Class of 1942. After high school, she worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City. Beatryce spent many summers as a kid in Lawrence Harbor their family summer home.  My mom was very social and loved to dance big band style.

She met a cute man named Joseph Massa at a YMCA dance in Jersey City and they soon fell in love. After meeting her for lunch one day Joseph proposed marriage as they rode the elevator back up to her job.  Beatryce’s father wanted her to have a large wedding but Joseph and Beatryce secretly got married in New York City. Beatryce and Joseph enjoyed a loving and devoted marriage. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Herbert and Joan, and they enjoyed being together for twenty-nine years before Joseph’s untimely passing in 1976.  Beatryce worked for fifteen years as a secretary for the Wayne Board of Education, and before retiring in 1981, she served several years as Secretary to the Principal at the George Washington Junior High School.

Four years after Joseph’s passing Beatryce met Albert J. Raimondi and was fortunate enough to find love a second time.  Albert and Beatryce married on January 2, 1982 and on January 3rd they moved to New Port Richey Florida. Beatryce and Albert retired together and enjoyed traveling and cruising all over the world until his passing in 2006.  Beatryce enjoyed great health through her years, loved sewing, was maintaining her home and pool in Florida.  She will be lovingly remembered for her energetic and feisty nature which is evidenced by the fact that in her 80’s she was riding a JetSki and went for a ride on her son-in-laws motorcycle.   In 2017 she moved from Florida to The Pines at Whiting to be closer to her children and grandchildren.  Although she was ninety-one years old she was fiercely independent, in charge of selling her home in Florida, and organizing her move to New Jersey. She made new friends in Whiting and was liked by many for her smile and enthusiasm.

Beatryce was the loving wife of the late Joseph Massa (1976) and the late Albert J. Raimondi (2006); devoted mother of Herbert Massa and his wife Donna of Howell and Joan Mancuso and her husband Joe of Manahawkin; cherished grandmother of Joseph Mancuso, Michael Mancuso, and Julie Ann Massa; loved sister of the late Edyth Nicholson and the late Herbert Coombe and loved aunt to Arthur Nicholson and Ardith Welsh.

Ronald E. Gray, Jr., age 58, of Wayne passed Friday, June 1, 2018.

Ron was born in Delhi, NY and raised in Walton, NY having graduated from  O’Neil High School with the Class of 1978.  He continued his education at the State University of New York (SUNY) where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance.

Ron worked at several CPA firms in New York State and in 1992 joined the CPA firm of Feldman & Holtzman in Pompton Lakes, NJ.  He proudly attained his CPA license and in 1998 opened his own firm in Bloomingdale, NJ.  In 2001 he and Ronald Lembo founded Lembo & Gray, LLC in Wanaque, NJ.  A few years later, a second office was opened in West Milford.  Ron loved his work and assisting his clients. He considered his clients to be friends and his office staff to be family.

Ron was an active member of the Passaic County Chapter of the NJ Society of CPAs.  Over the years, he held several offices, including Chapter President.  He was currently serving as a Director on the Executive Board Committee.  He also served on several committees at the State level.

While working at Feldman & Holtzman, a co-worker, Bob Colaneri (future brother-in-law) introduced Ron to Norma Giardino.  They had a double date with Bob and his wife Susan. They went Scotch Doubles Bowling at Butler Bowl. It was love at first sight. Less than a year later, Ron asked for Norma’s hand in marriage over a home-cooked Italian dinner at his apartment.  They were married on May 7, 1995 at Saint Mary’s Church in Pompton Lakes by Fr. William Scully. They have enjoyed 23 years of a loving and devoted marriage.

Ron will be remembered for his great sense of humor and how much he liked to joke.  His nieces and nephew always looked forward to spending time with Uncle Ron.  David, Jessie, Daniel, Stephanie, Nicole, Alyssa, Hillary, Ron, Holden, Erin, Sawyer, Collin, and Great-Niece Charlotte held a special place in his heart.  He loved to spoil them and take them on special adventures.

He was an avid golfer and made many good friends at the Passaic County Golf Course.  His group of golfing buddies would arrive at 4 AM on weekends in order to be the first team on the links.

Ron and Norma also loved to travel.  They travelled both internationally and extensively in the US.  They spent a great deal of time at the Jersey Shore at Long Beach Island.  For the trips to LBI, Ron always left by 8 am to beat the traffic and he would somehow fit all the beach equipment in their little red convertible.  Disney World, Flagler Beach, FL and Topsail Beach, NC were some of their most visited spots. Other favorite trips included driving along the California coastline, the Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone.

Ron was also gifted with musical ability. He played the guitar and knew all the words to all the songs. He loved concerts and had a special love for the Rolling Stones and Jimmy Buffett.  He once got a little lost trying to find the Jimmy Buffett concert in New York City and Norma suggested they simply follow the girls wearing coconut bras.  They always had front row seats at the local summer concerts where they would share special times with their friends.

Ron and Norma’s themed parties at their home were awesome.  Luau, patriotic, Super Bowl and New Year’s Day parties were among the most memorable.

The cards, gifts, prayers, phone calls, and outpouring of love from our family and friends during Ron’s illness meant so much to both of us.

Ron was the loving and devoted husband of Norma, cherished son of  Ronald, Sr. and Joan Gray of Holly Ridge, NC.  He was dearly loved by his 3 brothers,  Donald Gray of Walton, NY, Michael Gray and his wife Betsy of  Rochester, PA, and Mark Gray of Holly Ridge, NC.  He was a devoted son-in-law to Alfred Giardino of Pompton Lakes and a loving brother-in-law to Susan and Bob Colaneri of Bloomingdale, and Steven and Lori Giardino of Wayne.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Saint Mary’s Food Pantry, 22 Lakeside Ave., Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442 would be appreciated.

Margherita Aliotta Ciciulla, age 65, of Wayne, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, June 1, 2018.

Born in Gela, Italy, in 1953, at the age of fourteen, she emigrated to the USA in 1967 with her parents and four brothers and two sisters to pursue the American dream. They settled in Paterson, New Jersey.

Margherita soon reconnected with another immigrant she knew from growing up in Sicily, Mario Ciciulla. After some travel and service in the Italian Merchant Marines, Mario returned to New Jersey and he and Margherita fell in love and exchanged their wedding vows on August 19, 1971. They stayed in Paterson and, with the blessed arrival of their firstborn – a baby girl who they named Nella, Margherita quickly settled into her role as caring, loving, and nurturing mother. Early in her marriage and while Nella was a toddler, Margherita also worked in Paterson as a seamstress. As their family grew they moved into their first home in Fair Lawn with Baby Maria joining the family in 1975 and Baby Giuseppe in 1979. Fair Lawn proved to be a great place to raise her family and Margherita enthusiastically poured her lively and vivacious self into the lives of her children while simultaneously making the house a warm and welcome place to be. Mario and Margherita’s house also became the go-to place for all extended family occasions because of Margherita’s genuine gift for making occasions really special. Her welcoming warmth and energy were attractive traits but there was also no debate about who was the best cook in the family. Without a doubt, that title belonged to Margherita and only to Margherita! In fact, to her family, she was the best cook in the world who could have been a world renowned chef.  Margherita knew all of the recipes her mother taught her as well as a few of her own, by heart. There was no measuring! Just a little pinch of this and a little bit of that – it was all by touch, taste and smell. The downside to her culinary talents became apparent when Margherita dined out. Her criticism of what she was served was just down-right embarrassing to family and friends who chose to dine out with her. She would have been tough company to contend with on the Food Network or the Cooking Channel but there were a couple of restaurants worth mentioning that should be very honored to know that they achieved Margherita’s approval - Varka in Ramsey and Gigino at Wagner Park with Statue of Liberty views. In general, her favorite dish was blue crabs. They would be piled three feet high while her family eagerly waited for Margherita to finish.

On weekdays between 2:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M., and most weekends too, everyone knew where they could find Margherita. Guaranteed, she’d be with her friends playing cards. This was truly one of her favorite forms of entertainment as it afforded her the competitive challenge countered by the love of being in the company of those she enjoyed spending leisurely time with. When home she also enjoyed staying in close touch with her Italian roots by watching broadcasts on Italian television networks and also listening to Italian music with favorite artist including Andrea Bocelli and Amedeo Minghi. She also found it extremely satisfying to spend time in the sunshine, especially down the shore at Wildwood, LBI and Cape May as well as Aruba.

Above all else, Margherita’s greatest love of all was for her family. Her grandchildren became “Nonna’s” greatest joy and passion and she’d stop heaven and earth in a heartbeat, day or night, to be there for them. Sadly, in 1998, just a few days shy of their 27th wedding anniversary, Margherita’s beloved husband Mario passed away after an untimely battle with Leukemia.

Eventually Margherita took a full-time sales position with Fortunoff in Wayne where she was helpful and friendly if you needed assistance with the purchase of a small appliance. Just like in every other facet of her life, for the ten years that she worked at Fortunoff, she poured herself into her work and especially enjoyed creating beautiful displays and working with her fellow associates with whom she established friendships. In 1999, she said goodbye to her home in Fair Lawn and moved to Wayne.

From her huge smile that just lit up every room she walked into, to her blunt in a nurturing kind of way honesty, to her loving, warm and sweet sense of humor, to the pride she took in her family and anything she set herself to do, Margherita’s memory will be forever cherished by her family and friends who loved her and they will miss her so very much.

Margherita was the beloved wife of the late Mario Ciciulla; loving mother of Nella and husband John W. Ras of Wayne, Maria and husband Erik Maher of Midland Park, and Giuseppe  and wife Tracy Ciciulla of Franklin Lakes; cherished grandmother of Victoria, John, Jake, Luke, Mila, and Joie; precious daughter of the late Michele Aliotta and the late Maria Alparone Aliotta; and dear sister of Francesco and wife Joanne Aliotta, Anthony and wife Estella Aliotta, Giuseppa Colli and husband George Hermann, Rosetta and the late Filippo Mannisi, the late Rosario Aliotta and wife Lina, and the late Guiseppe Aliotta.

Those planning an expression of sympathy in Margherita’s name may consider sending flowers or making a memorial donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org).

Kenneth F. Gordon, age 72, of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

Born in Guttenburg NJ, Ken was raised there until age nine, when his family moved to Wayne. While attending Wayne High School, known today as Wayne Valley High School, he worked in different part time positions such as a gas station attendant, mechanic, and he even assembled screwdrivers at a local factory. Ultimately he settled into a career with Wayne Township D.P.W. in the Water Department. Ken’s career with the township started in June, 1966 and, over the course of time, he rose to a supervisor position in the Water Department. He briefly tried his hand as an over the road truck driver, with my Uncle, but returned to the township within 6 months. After 49 years of service, Ken retired for the Township of Wayne, in December, 2015.

In September of 1965, Ken married Claire Nigro. They were soon blessed with two beautiful children – Darlene in 1966 and Kenneth in 1969. They amicably divorced in 1981. Ken met Lori Price, they moved to Oakland and lived there for 16 years. Ken moved back to Wayne in September 2000. He liked living in Wayne, and was closer to his son, daughter and 3 Grandsons. His son and grandson live right down the street, and his daughter and her family moved right next door in 2012. They recall Ken being meticulous and he had the nicest lawn in the neighborhood. He enjoyed working outside in the yard, specially during the early morning hours on the weekends. He didn’t just work on his own home projects though, and being woke up at 7 am on Saturday was always comical because how can you be upset when your Dad is cleaning up your leaves for you? He also built many outdoor decks for friends, relatives and people who asked for him to build them one. If you needed electrical work such as installing outlets, light fixtures, ceiling fans and wiring. He was comfortable around tools and knew how to use them and enjoyed doing projects. He also liked to tinker on older cars, motorcycles and would bring home old bicyles to refurbish. No matter the job or project he worked on, he took pride in his work, his home and his family. His hands were never idle and another favorite pastime was fishing in the Passaic and Ramapo Rivers. Of course, he released God’s creatures back into their natural habitat after catching them.

Ken adored his grandchildren. Being a chocoholic himself, he always made sure he had lots of cookies, Hershey chocolates, Kit Kats, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and M&M's in the house. He also always has a fridge full of Jelly rings, Coke and Yoo-Hoo's on hand for when they showed up at his doorstep. Always making sure there were treats for the kids. He enjoyed teaching them how to fix and make things work. When his grandchildren were young he made them bicycles, “Frankenstein bikes”. He would gather old bikes to remake them into a functioning bike. He'd take a few parts from this one and that one, sand down and repaint the frames, put new wheels and pedals on them to give them to his grandchildren. Speaking of bikes, Ken had one of his very own – only his had a motor. He was as proud of his Kawasaki Vulcan motorcycle as he was of his Ford Fusion. He loved going on trips with family and friends, whether it was day rides or long road trips, he just enjoyed being on his motorcycle. He took a couple motorcycle trips to Texas to visit family. There were many Sundays he would just get on his bike and ride the day away with no particular destination.

Reserved by nature, Ken would loosen up once he got to know you well enough. He could be sarcastic and he loved to bust your chops, but he was also loving, thoughtful and he’d help in any way he could.

Ken is survived by his much-loved son and daughter: Kenneth Gordon and Darlene Gordon, both of Wayne: three cherished grandchildren: Kenneth, Johnny and Brandon; great grandson Asher and also three step-grandchildren: Carli, William, and Michael; six brothers and sisters: Elizabeth Smith, Judith DiLiddo, Gary Callahan, Valerie Cudworth, Linda Tubridy, and Genaveeve "Jeanie" Gordon; 26 nieces and nephews; and 35 great nieces and great nephews. He was predeceased by his loving parents: Alexander and Anna Gordon; and four brothers: Alexander, Robert, Richard, and James Gordon.

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

Leonard “Lenny” John Knapp, Jr., age 66, of Wayne passed peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

He was born and raised in Paterson and at the age of twelve his family moved to North Haledon where he went to Manchester Regional High School. Lenny enjoyed being on the wrestling team there and graduated with the Class of 1969. Through the years he lived in Ringwood, Wayne, and Coral Springs, Florida before returning back to Wayne.

Immediately out of high school Lenny earned a job with the IBM Corporation.  They sent him to Computer Programing training and just after a year with the company he was drafted into the US Navy to serve in the Vietnam War. Lenny served three years with the US Navy with much of his service aboard the USS Glover.  After his three years he signed up for the US Naval Reserve where he served an additional three years. He was Honorably Discharged, in 1977 as a Fire Control (gunfire control) Technician Striker Third Class- Gunners Mate. He returned to work for the IBM Corporation for twenty-two and one half years following his service.  He was always fiercely loyal to IBM and vowed to never own an Apple product. For years after his career with IBM, he worked as a Real Estate Agent for Weichert Realtors in Wayne, and was most recently driving a limousine for the Carriage Limousine Company in Pompton Lakes.

Lenny met the love of his life, Cindy Hreha through his friend who was actually dating Cindy at the time.  She was meant to set him up with a girlfriend until he contacted her and found out she was no longer dating his friend.  He asked her out and their first date was to Seaside Beach and Boardwalk at the Jersey Shore to watch the fireworks.  They soon fell in love and after only six months Lenny proposed marriage.  Cindy said, “Why don’t you ask me again in six months.”  Well six months later on Christmas Eve, while sitting on a love seat in Cindy’s parents’ family room, Lenny proposed a toast of Harvey’s Bristol Cream. Cindy opened the box holding the bottle and found an engagement ring inside.  After getting permission from Cindy’s father, they married on April 2, 1977 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Wayne, had a reception at the Russian Hall in Singac, and honeymooned in Florida where they enjoyed a deep sea fishing trip together.

He was a devoted New York Yankee Fan, coached softball and soccer for his daughters through the years, and enjoyed playing pool and golf. He never missed a soccer game for his girls. For many years, family vacations were planned around boating aboard the “Knapp-Time,” which he would trailer to a different lake each summer. He loved being the captain of his boat and making sure his first mates (his grandkids) were learning the love of boating as well.  Lenny and Cindy always enjoyed trips to the beach and spent many anniversaries at the coast.

Lenny will be remembered as a proud, devoted, stubborn, kind and compassionate man who could strike up a conversation with anyone.  He loved to be right and always got in the last word. On the exterior he looked tough but deep down he was caring and loving unless you took his favorite coffee mug, his parking spot in the driveway, or his favorite spot on the couch! He was fiercely loyal to buying American unless it was about his Coca-Cola.   He was never an early riser and even his military papers cited a reprimand for “not conforming to military life so well.”  Things moved on “Lenny Time” as he was always the last one out of the house and always a bit late. When it came to cooking, Lenny was the Master of the Grill (he could grill a mean steak)  and he was a master at making Crepes.  Everyone loved his crepes one of his favorite stories was how he made them in a hotel room for Megan’s entire traveling soccer team, including all the parents.   Lenny loved his time with his family and loved vacationing together. Some of his favorite memories are of his time spent at Sebago Lake in Maine where he has family in the surrounding area.  He came from a family of card players and loved to play cribbage with Megan and backgammon, and poker. He was extremely handy and could build just about anything from wood, he would always end a job with “it’s a beautiful thing". Most of all Lenny will be remember as the best Poppy in the world by his five grandchildren.  He lit-up when he would see them and his heart melted with each and every hug. He was extremely proud of his girls and his grandchildren and loved his wife fiercely.

He was the loving husband of forty-one years to Cindy Knapp; devoted father of Dr. Heather Knapp-Hoch and her husband Duane of Cream Ridge and Megan Redfern and her husband Christopher of Wayne; cherished grandfather of Benjamin Redfern, Harper Hoch, Colin Redfern, Adeline Hoch, and Jackson Redfern; dearly loved brother of Bruce Knapp and his wife Donna of Ridgefield Park and Brian Knapp and his wife Alicia of Meridian, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Paws 4 People Foundation that assists in placing therapy dogs with veterans.

Anne Orosy (nee Kaduk), age 90 of Wayne, died on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 after a brief illness.  She had lived in Montvale, NJ before moving to Wayne two years ago.

Anne was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  She took her first job as a seamstress at the age of fourteen.  Of course, she was younger than Canadian law allowed for such employment, so she had to fib a little on her job application.  Lo and behold, her skills as a seamstress were exemplary and she soon found herself promoted to “supervisor!”  Not even fifteen years old yet, Anne was supervising a team of seamstresses, all of them much older than she was.  In short order, she was offered another promotion which required her to document her age.  Rather than face the potential consequences, she decided to quit and leave before any trouble might have arisen.  Nevertheless, she had proven how skilled she was as a seamstress and her talent only improved throughout the years.  She made her own wedding gown, which she later altered into a gorgeous dress which she was able to wear again and again.  She fashioned much of her own clothing, her children’s clothing, and countless other garments.  She was very skilled at just about any kind of handy-craft, especially those which required sewing and knitting.  During her senior years, she remained very socially active.  While in Montvale, she taught chair exercise classes at the Montvale Senior Community Center, and they use video recordings of her classes to this day.  She also loved to play cards, particularly Bridge and Poker.  When she moved to Wayne two years ago, she quickly found friends within the Golden Age Circle, and joined Canasta games at the Wayne YMCA where she also continued her commitment to exercise, three times per week without fail.

Anne met her husband Joseph at the wedding of a mutual friend, where they were each serving in the wedding party.  Joe took her to the movies on their first date, and they married in 1946.  Joe was a skilled mechanical engineer with more than seventy patents to his name.  His skills however, caused him to be in high demand professionally, and he traveled extensively during his career.  Their family also moved more than seven times, living in Canada, New York City, Connecticut, Chicago, and New Jersey.  Anne was always the devoted wife and worked tirelessly to raise their children and maintain the family home.  Joe passed in 2002 after fifty-six years of marriage after which Anne began to enjoy some traveling of her own.  She has visited Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, England, Switzerland, Spain, and many more destinations.  She had always been fascinated by Kangaroos, and on her trip to Australia she was able to fulfill her dream.  She has lived a long life, filled with many blessings and good health.

Anne is survived by her two children; Cindy Orosy and her husband John Toth of Wayne, and Gary Orosy and his wife Kelly Ring of Krum, Texas, as well as her grandchildren, including Erik Nyby, Michael Nyby and his wife Sonia of Toronto, Canada, and Stephen Orosy of Krum, Texas.  She was predeceased by her husband Joe in 2002.

Walter Leon Babjak, age 95, of Pompton Plains, previously of Pines Lake in Wayne, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.

Walter’s life began in memorable fashion, with the doctor traveling to their house in Irvington N.J. though a raging snow storm to deliver him. By the time the doctor arrived, baby Walter and his mother Marion were in distress. The situation was so grave, that at one point the doctor asked Walter’s father, “Do you want me to save the baby or your wife?” When Walter was delivered he wasn’t breathing and was turning blue. It took the desperate, but heroic, act of Walter’s grandmother to help him breath by plunging him into a bucket of ice cold water.  Despite this near tragedy, Walter’s life was a very good and full life that would span ninety-five years.

Walter was raised in Irvington, N.J. where he and his friends liked to swim in the local Tuscan Farms swimming hole and sleigh ride in the winter. Walter was the son of Ukrainian immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  His father and mother came to the US when they were young, his mother coming on the eventually ill-fated RMS Lusitania.

After graduating from Irvington High School in 1940, Walter began a career that would span 28 years with the Bendix Corporation where he rose to the position of Purchasing Manager. While working for Bendix, he was called away in 1946 to serve in the U.S. Army. World War II was nearly over, so Walter remained stateside, serving in Kansas and Colorado. Upon his return to civilian life, the U.S. Army awarded him with the World War II Victory Medal.

Walter resumed work at the Bendix Corporation while simultaneously attending Seton Hall University courtesy of the G.I. Bill. He was especially proud of the fact that he graduated from Seton Hall University in just three (3) years. At Bendix he was involved in working on the Apollo Spacecraft.  With a Bachelor’s degree added to his credentials, Walter was ramping up his career, only to be drafted again, this time serving in Korea during the Korean War. While there, he was on a train which sustained enemy fire. Walter survived the terrible ordeal.  Unfortunately, his time in Korea caused significant loss of hearing as well as nightmares from the battles fought. Walter attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and, was honorably discharged in 1951. While there he earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, and a Distinguished Unit Citation.

Walter met his beloved wife Norma Kath on a blind date set up by mutual friends. On that first night out together, a nervous Norma spilled her drink on Walter.  Despite the mishap, they fortunately continued to date and eventually married on December 6, 1952 at the Westfield Presbyterian Church.  Norma’s parents were married twenty-five (25) years earlier on this same date and Dec. 6 was also Walter’s father’s birthday. One of the first meals Norma served Walter was corn beef hash left over from WWII.  Walter was quick to share that it was something he ate every day during his Army service in Korea and he hoped he would never have to eat it again.  He never did.

After the wedding, the newlyweds moved initially to Utica, NY when Bendix Corporation transferred him and then moved back to central N.J. a couple of years later.   In 1956, he and Norma decided to take a risk and move to the country in N.J. rather than remain in the city life of central N.J.  They had the foresight to choose Pines Lake, a beautiful log cabin vacation lake community in Wayne that was being developed and which drew many young families.  At Pines Lake, Walter, Norma and their children had a very active and happy social life making many friends at the lake.  The family would swim, fish and sail on their tiny sailboat at the lake with their friends.  It was really a wonderful place to live and grow a family. Ten years later they moved across the lake to a larger home that Walter renovated. After raising their three children and finishing his career at Singer Kearfott in Wayne in 1998, Walter and Norma moved to the Stoneybrook section of Sarasota, Florida. This new home was like a paradise to Walter because it afforded him the ability to play golf everyday on some pretty special courses. They remained in Florida for the next fifteen years before moving back to New Jersey and settling at the Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains.

Walter never had a problem keeping active and happily occupied during his lifetime.  His skills were very diverse and if he did not know how to do something he quickly taught himself how.  He built a workroom and finished a basement in his first house and completed extensive renovations at his second house in Pines Lake.  He could lay tile, build shelving and cabinets as well as plumbing and electrical.  Walter was also an avid gardener, who planted fruit trees and berry bushes among many other beautiful flowing shrubs and trees and other significant landscaping.  Walter even built toys for his children such as skate boards, by taking old roller skate wheels and attaching them to wood planks he cut into the right shape, which his kids would ride down very steep hills.  He also built the best tree house in the neighborhood and it became the place to play in the neighborhood. Walter built floats and full size Pinewood Derby racecars for the Pines Lake 4th of July parade every year.  Mostly Walter was an extremely skilled woodworker, who designed and built his own furniture including some gorgeous sideboards that were displayed in his own home. He also enjoyed restoring antique furniture.  He would purchase antiques on their antiquing trips to the Jersey shore during family vacations, much to the dismay of his children who wished they were at the beach (but who now appreciate the antiques).  He would carefully bring furniture back to their original beauty and luster.  Over time he gained an interest in carving decoys.  Walter was a self taught, very skilled decoy carver, who developed his own unique style and who sold his decoys up and down the east coast.  He created a decoy carving business called the Rudy Duck.  Walter won numerous awards for authenticity and fans of his beautiful decoys came back time-over-time to purchase additional decoys.  

Above all else, Walter’s family was his greatest joy. Growing up he was very close to his sister Leona (Lee), his mother Marion and his father Leon.  He and Lee played and hung out together all through their school years.  He was very protective of his sister.  He along with his wife, children, sister and nieces would also visit his parents every week.  The visits and dinners were warm family weekly events.  Walter and Norma’s children will also always look back and remember the social gatherings at their house and the great vacations down the Jersey shore camping in Cape May, Stone Harbor, Sea Isle City, as well as up north in Cape Cod Massachusetts and on down to Washington, DC, camping by the side of the Potomac River. When the blessings of grandchildren came into their lives, Walter and Norma looked forward to their visits at their home in Florida.

Walter’s faith was also an important part of his life. He prayed daily throughout his life.  His parents were Ukrainian Orthodox, and he attended Catholic schools for most all of his schooling.  He and Norma were very active members of the St. Michaels Church in Wayne for more than sixteen (16) years, where Walter served on various committees at the church and taught Sunday School.  They also attended Preakness Reformed Church for twenty one (21) years, and when they moved to Florida, they regularly attended the Church of the Palms.

Those who knew Walter well will miss his laid back nature.  He was a very kind and patient father who would take the time to teach his children how to do many of the things he was so skilled at.  He played many fun games and tricks with his family and children.  Walter and Norma regularly played Bridge throughout their lives with many different groups of people.  Walter also regularly volunteered in his community serving at various times on committees for the St. Michaels and Church of the Palms churches he attended as well as his communities of Pines Lake and Stoneybrook.  Walter was a planner and he also liked to read financial newspapers and was interested in business, financial investing and the stock market.

Walter was the beloved husband of Norma (nee Kath); loving father of 3 children: Kathie Babjak Genge (husband George Genge, son Jason and daughter Nicole McConnell, her husband Ian Mc Connell) of Fairfax, VA; Kevin Babjak of Topeka, KS (and his son Sean, Sean’s wife Heather and their children Connor and Cooper) of Wichita Kansas, and Timothy Babjak (wife Dena, son Austin, and daughter Ashley) of Wayne; Walter cherished his children, grandchildren and great grand children;  Walter, was the dear brother of Leona “Lee” Forster of Louisville, Kentucky; and dear uncle of Patty Cunningham and Maureen Simon.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Walter’s name are asked to consider a gift to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, and American Cancer Society.

Theresa M. Duncan, age 78, of Wayne passed peacefully on Monday May 28, 2018.

She was born and raised in Paterson.  At the age of sixteen, in the mid 1950’s, Theresa had open heart surgery in New York City. This was cutting edge surgery at that time and Theresa was blessed with a longer than ever expected life. She was blessed with two sons Thomas and Joseph and when they would give her a hard time she would react with a Fred Sanford like reaction grabbing her chest and feigning that she was having a heart attack. For years she worked as a hair dresser in Pompton Lakes and babysat friends and families children. Continuing her devotion to children, she worked for several years as an Aide for the Wayne Board of Education at the Lafayette School.

Theresa loved to watch television and videotaped, watched, and re-watched everything she could. She loved anything to do with Hollywood and would always read the TV Guide cover to cover. She could tell you what was on television and at what time it aired. She was a great cook and specialized in all sorts of Italian specialties.  Her loving touch on stuffed mushrooms, stuffed clams, and stuffed artichokes will never be duplicated. If she made you stuffed clams and you didn’t return the clam shells afterword you can bet you wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Most of all Theresa will be remembered for her love of her grandchildren.  She loved them all deeply and was always proud of their accomplishments.

Theresa was the loving mother of Thomas Duncan (Lorre) of Pompton Lakes and Joseph Duncan (Debra) of Wayne; cherished grandmother of Joseph, Thomas, Michael, Anthony, Alexis, and Nicholas Duncan; devoted daughter of the late Mildred Blanco and her step-father the late Joseph Blanco; loved sister of the late Louis Ciros (2002).

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

Ronald M. Cardell, age 82, of the Packanack Lake Section of Wayne, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family in the comfort of his home.

He was born in Jersey City and raised in Hoboken until he was eight years old. His family then moved to Palisades Park where Ronald graduated from Leonia High School with the Class of 1953. He resided in Bergen County before settling in Packanack Lake in 1974.

Ron was a gifted athlete, receiving the MVP Award in football, wrestling, and track while in high school. As captain of the 1951 Leonia High School undefeated wrestling team, he placed 4th in the New Jersey State Wrestling Championships. He attended Rutgers University on a full scholarship for wrestling, and was a proud member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity. He placed 3rdin the State AAU Wrestling Championships in 1953, 1955, and 1960, and placed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Wrestling Championships. In addition to his wrestling accomplishments, he also won 2nd Place in the Mid-Atlantic weightlifting championships and placed 3rd in the NJ State Championships in gymnastics on parallel bars.

Ron graduated from Rutgers with a Bachelor of Science degree, and went on to receive his Master’s Degree in Physical Education from Montclair State University. He taught biology at Hawthorne High School, where he coached football and started the Hawthorne High Wrestling Team as their first Wrestling Coach. He continued his career at Teaneck High School, where he was a physical education teacher, supervisor, Department Chairman of the Physical Education Department, and Head Coach and/or Assistant Coach for Football, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Tennis, and Fencing, before retiring in 1997.

Ron was also active in his lakeside community. He served as President of the Anglers Club and was honored to be on the Board of Governors and Board of Directors for fourteen years. He was a member of the Packanack Players, appearing in several plays and summer variety shows, and is remembered by many for his handstand act. He was an avid tennis player at the Packanack Lake Tennis Club and continued playing tennis and working out at Crunch Fitness until his death. He also served as his son’s Little League Baseball Coach for several years.

Ron will be lovingly remembered for his athletic ability, a gift of being able to talk to just about anybody, and pride in his lawn and the flowers around the house. His many years of living in the Packanack Community, and his outgoing nature, had him talking to the passers-by who happened past his front porch. He loved to sing and fellow Hoboken native, Frank Sinatra, was his favorite. No story about Ron would be complete unless it mentioned his ability to do handstands and walk on his hands. This is a skill he taught his son Jeffrey and his grandson Dylan.

Ron was the loving husband of fifty years to Edith “Edie” Cardell; devoted father of Michael Cardell and his wife Donna of Little Egg Harbor, the late Ronald Cardell (2014), and Jeffrey Cardell and his wife Rebecca of West Milford; he was the cherished grandfather of Dylan Scott Cardell; loved brother of Richard Cardell and his wife Eleanor of Clifton and his sister Joy Fasciana of Randolph; he was the much-loved uncle to his many nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to FOWA  (Friends of Wayne Animals) Rescue or the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad would be greatly appreciated.

Jean Claire Stienstra went to be with her lord on May 28, 2018.

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Jean Claire Stienstra went to be with her lord on May 28, 2018.  She was born in Prospect Park, NJ and went to Prospect Park Grammar School, and Hawthorne High School.  She got her nursing certificate from St. Vincent’s Hospital in Montclair, NJ.  She helped start a day care center in the Pompton Reformed Church.

Jean and her husband Henry were married at the Union Reformed Church.  Henry passed away in 2001.

Jean loved to spend her summers in Ocean Grove where she was on various committees.  She also was an avid reader and cross stitcher.  She was a member of Unity Christian Reformed Church in Prospect Park.

Jean is survived by her 6 children, Priscilla Durkin, Peter Stienstra, Deborah Pruette, Ruth Nicastro, Adrianna Hagan, and Darren Stienstra.  She has 4 grandsons, 8 granddaughters and 2 great-grandchildren.

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In lieu of flowers memorial donations to The Good Shepard Mission, PO Box 2401, Paterson, NJ 07509 or the Ocean Grove Gospel Musical Ministries, c/o Mr. Donald Cleaves - OGCMA, 54 Pitman Ave., Ocean Grove, NJ 07756 would be appreciated.

Robert P Wysocki, age 63, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday May 27, 2018 while receiving the loving care of his family.  Robert was born in Passaic.  Shortly after Robert was born he and his family moved to Wayne in 1959.  Robert remained a life-long resident of Wayne.  He was one of seven children to Stanley and Edna Wysocki.  Robert graduated from Wayne Valley HS in 1963 and worked as a Carpenter for the Bergen County Carpenter’s Union Local 235 for most of his adult life.  He and his family were parishioners of Our Lady of the Valley RC Church in Wayne for many years.  Robert was also closely involved with the St Francis Missionary for many years.

He was an avid sports fan, particularly a New York Yankees and Pittsburg Steeler fan.  He was a kind and generous man who would go out of his way to help anyone in need.  It didn’t matter whether you were family, a friend, or a neighbor.  Robert could fix and build just about anything.  Robert was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by his friends and family alike.    

Robert is survived by four brothers; Stanley A. Wysocki, Jr. of Wayne, Daniel Wysocki and his wife Mary of Jensen Beach, FL, David Wysocki of Wayne, and James Wysocki and his wife Debbie of Holly Springs, NC, two sisters Deborah Arroyo and her husband Peter of Bethlehem, PA, and Carolyn Rider and her husband Rich of Conway, SC, and 8 nieces and nephews.  Robert was predeceased by his mother and father; Edna Wysocki (2001) and Stanley A. Wysocki (1998).

In lieu of flowers, friends may make donations to Our Lady of the Valley RC Church, 630 Valley Rd, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Betty J. Gilmore, age 69 of Wayne, died suddenly after a brief illness on Friday, May 25, 2018.

Betty and her husband Joe were business partners, owning Associated Diamond Products in Paterson from 1985 – 2009. They took over operation of the company from Betty’s mother and father when they retired. Since 2009, she has worked at Harmon/Face Values in Parsippany. Betty was also a travel agent for Cruise Concepts in Pequannock, where she shared her vast knowledge of cruising with her clients.

Betty moved to Wayne with her family when she was just a young girl. She attended elementary school at the original Preakness School and later graduated from Wayne Senior High School in 1966. She went on to earn her LPN from Passaic County Vo-Tech in Wayne and put those skills to good use as a member of the Wayne Memorial First Aid Squad, and as a CPR instructor. She was very active in her community and was also an Auxiliary member of Pompton Falls Volunteer Fire Department Wayne Company #3, for twelve years. She was also a proud member of Guardians of the Ribbon, serving as Treasurer, helping in the fight against cancer.

Betty’s hobbies and interests varied widely. She adored her dogs - golden retrievers and rescues alike. She enjoyed taking her first Golden Retriever, Max, to obedience competitions was quite proud of him as a therapy dog, especially during 9/11. She loved genealogy and had a great interest in tracing her family tree, which lead her to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She liked to crochet, knit, and loved cooking. She took many different cooking classes, including the Cordon Bleu. She even took a ‘cooking’ trip to Florence, Italy where she was able to attend cooking classes with famous Italian Chef, Giuliano Bugialli. She crafted ceramics and used to teach classes at her home. She was an avid quilter and enjoyed attending the Jinny Beyers seminars as well as teaching others how to quilt. She was also passionate about her cars and felt really cool cruising around in her 1991 teal Camaro RS with T-tops, and later she had a 2002 convertible Corvette that she absolutely loved! Probably her greatest joy was going on cruises. She has enjoyed thirty-three cruises, to be exact, and they’ve been all over the world. Besides the usual trips to the Caribbean, she has also traversed the Panama Canal, visited Alaska, Vietnam, the Philippines, Bora Bora, Tahiti (her favorite!), and just about every other place you can imagine. She certainly has enjoyed some wonderful experiences.

Betty met her husband Joseph while they were both working in a printing shop in 1967. To this day, Joe calls her “Smocks” because she always wore a smock in the print shop to keep from getting ink on her clothes. Joe was smitten from the start and they dated for just a few months before he proposed to her in May of 1967 at the top of Hunter Mountain, New York. They were married on January 20, 1968, and honeymooned to Mount Snow, Vermont. That turned out to be less than a good idea, as the temperatures were well below zero the whole time. They enjoyed themselves nonetheless, and opted for warmer weather destinations during the following fifty years of their loving marriage. Joe was a devoted husband to his beloved Betty, and he learned that best response to any request she had was a heart-felt “yes, dear.” This was especially true when she asked for a Diet Coke!

Betty is survived by her husband Joseph of Wayne, two children; Michael Gilmore and his girlfriend Katty of Wayne, Kimberley Rossi and her husband Michael of Wayne, and six grandchildren who all called her “Nah Nah;” Alexis, Amanda, and Anthony Rossi, and Benjamin, Katelyn, and Liam Gilmore, all of Wayne.

For those wishing to make a donation in her memory, please consider the Pompton Falls Volunteer Fire Company #3, 130 Jackson Ave., Wayne, NJ 07470, www.waynefire3.com, or the Guardians of the Ribbon, P.O. Box 2131, Wayne, NJ 07470 www.pinkhealsnnj.org.

Daniel Barker, age 41, of Wayne went to be with the Lord on Thursday May 24. 2018.  His earthly journey has ended and his heavenly reward beginning.  As a Navy veteran, he was proud to serve aboard the USS Gettysburg.  Dan enjoyed bowling, visiting NJ Landmarks, and trips to Gettysburg, PA.

Daniel is survived by his parents William “Bob” Barker and Linda Barker of Wayne, and one brother Andrew Barker also of Wayne.

Nicholas J. McIlwrath, age 29, of Wayne, passed away on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

Nicholas was born in Pequannock and raised in Wayne where he attended Wayne Valley High School. As a young boy, he played baseball through the youth programs at Wayne PAL. Nicholas’ team was sponsored by Haledon Nurseries and it was especially cool for him to have his father be one of his coaches. Nicholas was the youngest kid on his team but he was also one of the best. At bat, he could switch hit and in the field he could play multiple positions including catcher, shortstop and pitcher. He was such a good pitcher that his coaches nicknamed him “Nolan Nicky” after Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan. As Nicholas grew, he was also honored to be a member of the Traveling All Stars.

To be in the company of Nicholas was always a fun and interesting experience. When he was thirteen, his brother Patrick turned him onto dirt bikes and motorcycles. He loved riding in the woods and in “the Grove” and when he was old enough to get his driver’s license, Nicholas figured he’d see what road bikes were like. His first was a Kawasaki street bike and, riding it like it was an extension of himself, he could do a wheelie that would seem to last forever! Nicholas also had a real artistic nature. He loved doing sketches and drawings. Judging by how often they would show up in a lot of his artistic works it seemed that flames were something he especially liked to draw. Eventually Nicholas explored a new canvas for his art when he started replicating his creations in the form of tattoos on himself. He started with a few tattoos that he gave himself but his first real serious tattoo was one done by a tattoo artist as a memorial to his father whose name was also Nicholas, who passed away in 2000.  

Above all else, Nicholas especially cherished his family. He was the most fun uncle his nieces and nephews could ever ask for! They absolutely thought it was the coolest to be with their awesome “Uncle Nicky” who would do anything to make them laugh and be happy – even let them paint his nails which he didn’t even take off right away. They also liked it when he’d teach them how to sketch and draw. Everyone loved Nicholas! When he was just a little kid, people would always say, “He’s so cute.” Always happy and outgoing, he was a natural charmer who was fun to be with and always able to make you laugh – so good in fact that, if you were upset with him for any reason, it was hard to stay mad at him.

Nicholas was the much-loved son of the late Nicholas McIlwrath who passed away in 2000, and Donna McIlwrath and her companion Max Williams of Lincoln Park; dear brother of Colleen and husband Ariel Saia of Westminster, CO, Laura McIlwrath of Little Ferry, Patrick McIlwrath and wife Deidre LaPlaca of West Milford, and Jaclyn and husband Tyler Simmons of Wayne; cherished grandson of his maternal grandparents: Janet Lougheed of Wayne and the late Dan Lougheed, and his paternal grandparents: Jean Keefer of Little Falls and the late Wilbert “Red” Keefer; and adored “Uncle Nicky” of Nicole, Madison, Derek, Stevyn, and Sydney. He was also much loved by his uncles and aunts.

Patricia Ellen Harrington (nee Stack), age 70, of Oak Ridge passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Patricia lived in Flushing, Huntington Station, NY, Packanack Lake in Wayne, and Kinnelon before moving to Oak Ridge.

Patricia was born in Queens, NY to James and Lucille Stack. She was one of four children and grew up with her family in Long Island. During her childhood and as a young lady, Patricia was a member and very active at St John’s Episcopal Church in Huntington Station, NY as was her mother. Patricia graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Huntington Station, NY with the class of 1965. After graduating high school, Patricia enrolled in Lasell College in Newton, MA where she studied Fine Arts and Fashion. She was only in college for about a year when she felt terribly homesick and returned to family in New York. Patricia then went to work for Meyer Bros in Wayne for a short time selling perfume.  She was then offered a position at the Association of Retarded Citizens (ARC) in Morris Plains where she as a Secretary for about two years. Subsequent to her employment at ARC she earned a position at Berlex HealthCare Pharmaceuticals in Wayne where she worked as an Executive Secretary. She held this position as the company moved to Montville and then eventually integrated into Bayer HealthCare. Patricia worked for over ten years there until her health forced her into an early retirement in 2000.

In 1982, Patricia’s friend Elaine Grundy, introduced her to a gentleman named Lee Harrington. Elaine was working for Lee as a secretary for several years and set the two of them up on a date. Lee and Patricia dated for about two years and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on January 20, 1984.  They were married in Patricia’s mother’s home in New York by Reverend Al Smith.  They honeymooned in New York at the Mohonk Mountain House.  Patricia and Lee first settled in Kinnelon and eventually moved to Oak Ridge fifteen years ago.  Patricia and Lee cherished more than thirty-four years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Patricia was an outstanding cook, and having a Greek background, she was quite often prepared the most delicious Greek recipes, particularly her Greek Meatballs.  She was also known to have made an exceptional Carrot Cake as well.  Also having a background of arts and fashion, Patricia was quite talented in crafts.  Patricia was also an avid dog lover.  At a young age, and also as an adult when she had children, she would bring home stray dogs and adopt them.  Many dogs were adopted into Patricia’s family over the years.  Patricia always seemed to be happy and energetic and made friends wherever she went. She was the kind of person you would like and enjoyed being around even if you had just met her.  Patricia also suffered from gradual hearing loss throughout most of her life, eventually becoming almost completely deaf in one ear.  But this never stopped Patricia from befriending and socializing with people.  Patricia was a very special person who touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by all who knew her.  Patricia’s family would like to recognize and thank Valley Hospice for their kind and professional care.

Patricia is survived by her husband Lee Harrington of Oak Ridge, two sons; James Lantier of Quakertown, PA, and Todd Lantier and his wife Sheila of Atlanta, GA, one step-son Tyler Harrington and his wife Arlene of West Milford, one step-daughter Sage Grant and her husband David of Wayne, two brothers; Michael Stack and his wife Wendy of Austin, TX, and George Stack and his wife Connie of Long Island, NY, one sister Peg Rowe of Sayville, NY, her mother Lucille Stack of Sayville, NY, and six grandchildren; Kyle, Evan, Drew, Davis, Katie, and Chase.  She was predeceased by her father James Stack.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Patricia’s name are asked to consider Alzheimer’s New Jersey 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203 Roseland, NJ 07068.

Joan Margaret Peters of Wayne passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2018.

Joan was born to Lance Victor Cullis and Lydia Bohland Cullis in Queens, New York, the youngest of their four children, joining Eric Cullis, the late Doris Palma and the late Edna L. Reimers.

Joan worked for the Continental Can Company located at 633 Third Avenue in New York City as a Supervisor in the Data Processing Department for many years before retiring in the 1980’s.

Joan was strong, strict, and set in her ways. She had very high standards and wasn’t shy about holding you to the same. Joan loved boating, skiing and hunting, which she enjoyed from her home in Bolton Landing at Lake George, NY.  She also loved to wear vibrant colored clothing and jewelry, Friday night martinis and sharing her life with her dogs. Although she lived in the Packanack Lake section of Wayne during the winter, every spring she would say, “the Lake is calling and I must go”.

Joan is survived by her brother, Eric, two nieces, Virginia Williamson and Joan Faulkner, two nephews, Eric Cullis, Jr. and Roger Cullis and her grand-nephew, Dakota Towt. Joan is also survived by her next-door neighbors, Sue and Gregg Malanga and their daughters, Sarah and Michaela and her dog, Dodger.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Lake George Land Conservancy would be greatly appreciated.

Louise Zintel, age 83, of Riverdale, passed peacefully on Friday, May 18, 2018.

She was born in Jersey City and graduated from Kearny High School with the Class of 1954. Just out of high school Louise worked for the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Company in Newark.

One snowy, wintery day, Mel Zintel spotted a pretty girl struggling with an extremely large package. The girl’s name was Louise Reichers and she had just purchased a still-to-be-assembled red wagon that she planned to give to her cousin Johnny Cruitt for Christmas. Mel pulled over and asked Louise if he could give her a hand to get the package home. She gratefully accepted his offer. A couple days later, Mel was back to Louise’s house to help her assemble the wagon and the two of them really hit it off! One of Mel’s favorite pastimes was going to see the big bands. His favorite band featured Joni James and he loved to take Louise to see Joni and other bands in Asbury Park and New York City. Upon his honorable discharge from the Army, Mel returned to his hometown of Kearny. They eventually married on February 25, 1956 at Grace Methodist Church in Kearny. They honeymooned in Daytona Beach, FL, not just because of the sunny warm climate, but also because they could go to the auto races on the beach. After their honeymoon, they lived in Bellville, then Kearny before purchasing their first home in North Arlington where they stayed for the next twenty years raising their two daughters, Sheri and Dori. They moved again in 1984 to Wayne where they stayed until moving down to the Jersey shore to live in an adult community. They quickly learned that life down the shore was not for them because they missed their children and grandchildren way too much. Mel and Louise moved back to North Jersey, this time settling in Riverdale where Louise has remained to this day. Mel passed away on October 7, 2013 and Louise has continued to live in Riverdale. Louise truly enjoyed time with her family and even had lunch with her daughter the day she passed.

She will be lovingly remembered as a strong, devoted, loyal and dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother. When it came to her children Louise was always there for them. She was always involved with their activities and even took on the job of President of the North Arlington PTA when the children were in high school. Both she and Mel would work the concession stand during school events. Louise and Mel took the kids on vacations to Cape Cod and Disney World and Sunday dinners in North Arlington and later in Wayne were always hosted by Louise. Her motherly dedication easily flowed into her love and care for the grandchildren.  She was always available as a baby sitter and as they grew older she and Mel would attend their sporting events, and see them off to dances and proms.   Louise will be remembered for her love of reading, crocheting, dancing, and the ocean. She joins her loving dogs Beauty and Holly, and her big alley cat Sly in Heaven.

Louise was the loving wife of fifty-seven years to the late Mel Zintel (2013); devoted mother of Sheri Guggiari and her husband Bob of Hamburg and Dori Zintel of Totowa; she was the cherished grandmother of Brian, Shannon, Jamie, Jenny, and James; she was also the loving cousin of Johnny Cruitt, Billy McBurney (Toni), and the late Barry McBurney; she was the affectionate former mother-in-law of Douglas Marotti (Donna).

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the ASPCA or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society would be greatly appreciated.

Bernard A. Ewasko, age 83, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 18, 2018.

Born in Shenandoah, PA and raised in Paterson, Bernie graduated from his high school with the Class of 1952. A few years later, he heeded the call from Uncle Sam and proudly served in the United States Army from 1955 to 1958.

As a kid growing up on Keen Street in Paterson, one of Bernie’s childhood friends was a girl named Louise “Lou Ann” Iuele who lived across the street from his house. Lou Ann recalled racing bikes together when they were little. As they grew into their teens, the dynamic of their friendship changed a bit. At 17, Bernie wanted to take Lou Ann out on a date and, even though she was only 14 at the time, Lou Ann’s father permitted her to go because he knew Bernie well and trusted him to be a good boy. Those first dates consisted of Sunday drives past the farms on Ratzer Road in Wayne in Bernie’s first car. There love just continued to grow and, on Saturday, November 28, 1959, they exchanged their wedding promises at Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson. After the wedding, they drove to Florida to enjoy a warm and sunny honeymoon. Bernie and Lou Ann’s first home together was in their hometown of Paterson. They eventually moved to West Paterson before landing in Wayne where they have lived for the past 57 years. In all, they were blessed with almost 59 years in a marriage that gave them two beautiful children and many happy moments together.

Bernie could best be described as a self-taught, self-made man. There was no challenge too great for him to take and he was truly the person that all in his family looked to for guidance and wisdom. Already at a very young age, Bernie got involved in plastics manufacturing. His ultimate professional achievement was becoming president of Ber Plastics, Inc., manufacturer of polyethylene film, located in Riverdale.

Bernie’s times of leisure were most enjoyed spending time in the woods of North Jersey and Northeast Pennsylvania hunting for deer and pheasant or taking hikes every Saturday a little closer to home at Ramapo Reservation or Bear Mountain with his grandson Mark or anyone else that wanted to join him. When Bernie turned 40, he told Lou Ann that he wanted to get a motor cycle and so that’s what he did – a big Honda Gold Wing 750. His daughter Jo Ann and son Steven have great memories of Dad taking them for cruises and even Lou Ann would take rides. She’d hang on tight to Bernie and apparently talk a bit too much. This would prompt Bernie to tell her to “Shut your mouth or the bugs will go in!” Bernie also liked his cars, especially a 1978 Silver Anniversary Edition Chevy Corvette. He’d proudly display it at area car shows and take home lots of first place awards in competitions. One time he let Lou Ann drive his baby. She drove it through a puddle and that was the last time she got to drive it. Instead he purchased another corvette for her too drive through as many puddles as she wanted. It was a bright red 1982 model and it’s still in the family today. For countless years winter times were most enjoyed in a warmer place than Jersey – at their ocean condo at Indian Harbor Beach in Florida. Lou Ann would spend the whole winter and Bernie would come down two weeks out of each month since he had to attend to his business too.

Above all else, Bernie was lovingly devoted to his family. He once told Lou Ann that it was his personal conviction and purpose in life to take care of his family until God gave him his last breath. It was his greatest pleasure to do so and he was proud of each and every one of them. When blessed with his first great-grandchild – Marcelo Alexander, he was ecstatic! Surely, Bernie’s legacy will live on in the lives he guided and touched along the way.

Surviving are Bernie’s beloved wife Louise “Lou Ann” (nee Iuele); his dear daughter and son: Jo Ann Ewasko of Wayne and Steven and wife CharlotteAnn Ewasko of Oak Ridge; three adoring grandchildren: Nicole, Mark and his wife Jackie, and Cory Ianuale; one cherished great-grandson: Marcelo; his dear sister-in-law Irene and husband Chris Seltenheim of Pompton Lakes; his niece Karen and husband Bill Hansen; his nephew Chris Seltenheim, Jr.; and his brother-in-law Carmen and wife Karen Iuele.

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

Harriet M. Rubin, age 83 of Wayne, died Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

A native of West Orange, NJ, Harriet was born in Orange, NJ, and moved to Wayne in 1964 where she raised her two children, Erica and Mike. An avid antiques collector and dealer, she enjoyed working the antique shows with her mother, and later working with her friends at many estate sales in the area. She loved her grand-babies and her favorite Packanack Lake family who adopted her as their own.

Harriet was predeceased by her mother, Rose Metz of Bloomfield, and daughter, Erica Rubin Enright of Colorado.

Harriet is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Mike and Sally Rubin of Bedminster, and four grandchildren, Zachary Rubin of Bedminster, Samantha Rubin of New York City, Alexa Rubin of Boston, Massachusetts, and Hunter Enright of Colorado.

Janine E. Foster (nee Seery), age 57, of Wilkes-Barre, PA passed away peacefully in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of her family.

Janine was born in East Orange and was raised in Wayne.  She attended Wayne Vallley High School and immediately after earned a position at Marshalls in Wayne working at the front desk.  Janine worked there for a few years, then was offered another position at Kraft Foods in Pompton Plains working  in the Customer Service Department.  Janine held this position for the next thirty two years, following Kraft Foods to Wilkes-Barre, PA when they moved and changed over to Mondelez.  While working for Mondelz, they offered to reimburse Janine to further her education.  Janine went back to school at night at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA where she eventually earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business.  She also eventually worked her way up to Customer Service Manager at Mondelez.

Janine was a dog lover and would devote much of her spare time to helping people find their lost pets.  She leaves behind her very best friend Ozzy, her dog which meant the world to her.  Aside from being an animal lover, Janine enjoyed playing Golf and loved Country Music.  She was known as the “Fun Aunt” to her nieces and nephews.  She was the one that they could go to and talk when her nieces and nephews couldn’t talk to their parents.  Janine was a kind and caring person to everyone that knew her.  She touched the lives of many people and will be sincerely missed by her friends and family alike.

Janine is survived by her husband Keith Foster and his two children Rhionna and Tayler of Drums, PA, two step-children Megan and Heather Siezmore, one sister Suzanne Jantzen of Wayne, one niece Jessica Lueddeke and her husband Jason of Wayne and their two children Jason and Nicholas, one nephew Jason Jantzen and his wife Christina of Wayne and their two children Adrian and Dylan. She was predeceased by her two brothers; Patrick Seery (2002) and David Seery (1992), and her parents John Seery (1982) and Barbara Seery (2006).

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Janine’s name to Awesome Pawz 255 West 32nd Street, Hazel Twp, PA 18202.

Joseph A. Pagano, age 86, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 13, 2018.

Joe was born and raised in Paterson where he graduated from Central High School in 1949.

When Joe was just a young lad, he lived in a neighborhood in Paterson with lots of kids his age. He would frequently go to visit his cousin who was one of those neighborhood kids. Across the street from his cousin lived a young girl named Ann Di Pasquale. The three of them, Joe, his cousin, and Ann, along with a bunch of other friends, would often play ball, ride bikes, and just spend time together near Ann’s house. Ann’s mom got to know these kids and would often look out the window and watch them play. She really took a liking to little Joseph Pagano. As the kids grew into their teens, Ann got a job working at the lunch counter at Woolworth’s department store. Joe started to take a different kind of liking to his friend Ann, and oftentimes he’d go visit her at work. He’d come in and say something to the effect of “How about a soda Ann?” She’d reply with “Do you have any money to pay for the soda? No money, no Coke.” On Friday and Saturday nights when Ann was about to get out of work, Joe would often show up to walk her home or they would go catch a movie. Then one summer, Joe’s grandma bought him a car for $300 and Joe and Ann and their friends started going to Paramus Beach. That was usually on a Sunday and after a day in the sun, Joe and Ann would come home, get a shower and they’d be off to the movies again. Eventually Joe got a motorcycle and one day, out of the blue, he said to Ann, “I think I’ll sell this motorcycle and we can get married.” A little surprised, Ann replied, “How do you know I want to marry you?” Joe answered by exclaiming, “I figured you might consider it since you seem to like to hang out with me.” Well, they did marry, on Sunday, June 8, 1952 at St. Anthony’s Church on Beach Street in Paterson. After a reception at the Dover Club on 20th Ave. and State Street, they got in their car and drove to Florida for their honeymoon. This coming June, they would have been married for 66 years and blessed years they were!

Five months after the wedding, Joe was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent directly to Korea where he served in a medical company, attending to wounded comrades. Though he had absolutely no experience and would probably burn water, he eventually became an Army cook and a baker. He learned to make pizza with the ingredients that Ann would send him from America. His pizza was a big hit with the medical staff. Joe served his country until 1952 when he was honorably discharged and returned to civilian life, reunited with his young bride. Joe was glad to serve and was the proud recipient of the Korean Service Medal, Bronze Service Star, Combat Infantry Badge, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Joe and Ann first lived together in an apartment in Paterson on Trenton Ave. As a young man, before going to Korea, Joe worked for his uncle who had a construction business. Joe enjoyed the work so, when he came home from Korea, he decided to start his own construction business. He called it Joson Construction, Inc. and one of his first jobs was building a beautiful home for him and Ann on Jackson Avenue in Wayne. That’s pretty-much the only residential construction job he ever did, choosing instead to concentrate on commercial work because, as Joe would say, “In commercial work, I don’t have to deal with women and all of their questions and changing their minds all the time.” He really enjoyed his career in construction and he made a lot of friends along the way, but at age 65, he called it quits and sold the business. Never one to sit still for very long though, Joe continued working part-time for Hawthorne Chevy and Wayne Mazda.

Joe was always a fun guy to be with. For many years he bowled in two leagues at T-Bowl in Wayne – the Friday night men’s league and the Sunday mixed league where he and his teammates all wore the team-sponsored shirt – Joson Construction. He was a colorful guy whose car of choice was always a Cadillac. He also loved to get out on Lake Hopatcong with Ann and friends in his boat. Throughout the years, he and Ann owned three boats. Starting off with an old used Chris Craft, their third one was their first new one and they named her “Fancy Free”. Getting out on the lake in that boat was so important to Joe that, if invited to a wedding in the summer, he always respectfully declined choosing instead to send regrets and a gift. Joe got a real kick out of betting on the horses too. Favorite race tracks included the Meadowlands, Monmouth Park and the Delaware Park and Casino and Joe always put a lot of effort into studying the handicaps in the daily newspaper. His efforts paid off as he was pretty good at picking out the fastest horses. It was all in good fun and the winnings were often spent on dinner for him and Ann and the many friends that often joined them for a day or night of betting. An astute businessman, Joe also loved to follow the stock market and, a lot like betting on the horses, his knack for picking a winning stock was partly due to luck and partly because of the time he invested to study the market.

At one point in his life, a friend asked Joe if he’d like to join the Wayne Township Lions Club. It turned out to be one of the greatest propositions Joe ever accepted. He loved all facets of being a member, from raising money for various needs, especially for the blind, to arranging trips to Pegasus at the Meadowlands, to just making lots of friends and enjoying their company. It’s not surprising that Joe loved the camaraderie! He was extremely sociable. His wife Ann would laugh recalling that, early in their marriage while living on Trenton Ave. in Paterson, she’d send him for a gallon of milk at the corner store and, an hour later, he’d still not be home because of all the people he stopped to talk to along the way. Why, if he met a dog, he’d stop to talk to it. Joe was always that way, even from as young as twelve years of age. He was the biggest story teller ever and if a joke he was telling wasn’t funny, it was funny because of the way Joe would tell it. Even when Joe moved to the Veterans home in Lyons in 2016, after an injury due to a fall, He quickly became friends with all the workers at the home.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife Ann to whom he was married for almost 66 years; two sisters: Linda Migliadora of Wayne, and Judy Regina and husband Joseph of Lincoln Park; his nephew Wayne Ray of Pequannock; great-nephews: Albert Aboyoun, III and Joseph Aboyoun – both of Paterson, and Benny and Nicholas Di Pasquale, both of North Haledon; and his sister-in-law Gloria Schleser of Butler. He was predeceased by two nephews and one niece: Harold and Benny Di Pasquale, and Marilyn Aboyoun

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Joseph’s name are asked to consider Wayne Township Lions Club, 782 Valley Road, Wayne, NJ 07470 or VA New Jersey Health Care System, Attention Donation Office, 151 Knollcroft Road, Lyons NJ 07939.

Pauline Peer, age 93, of North Haledon and formerly, a longtime resident of Wayne, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, May 10, 2018 with the comfort of family by her side.

Pauline was born in Singac. As a young woman, she was employed by the Instrument Specialties Company as an assembler. Pauline met her future husband, Harold “Timer” Peer, on a front porch in Singac. After dating for a while Pauline would say to him “let’s get married” and Harold would simply wait for the topic to go away. Eventually Harold proposed to Pauline and she said she wasn’t sure. She soon said yes and they married on February 10, 1946.

Soon after marriage, Pauline and Harold worked together to build their own home in the Mountain View section of Wayne. During those early years of marriage, the blessing of two beautiful baby girls also arrived and Pauline happily settled into life as a homemaker and mother. As the saying goes, she wore a lot of hats – one of them being assisting her husband Harold in his plumbing business. If you called the business line it was Pauline’s voice that you’d hear announce “Harold Peer Plumbing, how may I help you?” She also managed all scheduling and billing and pretty much anything else that needed to be done to support the business. In between, she managed the household too. She was an accomplished seamstress who sewed most of her own outfits as well as the ones for her daughters. For many years, their home in Wayne became the “go-to” place for summer picnics and other gatherings for family and friends. Pauline was an excellent hostess and an even more excellent cook who did most, if not all, of the cooking for these parties including get-togethers for the members of Harold’s metal detectors club.

Pauline enjoyed taking a break from daily responsibilities by heading out for a night of line dancing and socializing at the Wayne Civic Center (former Preakness School) on Hamburg Turnpike. She was also a member of the senior citizen group where she was always ready to take part in sponsored day trips including outings to Atlantic City to catch a show and a delicious buffet dinner. Her daughter Barbara Jean’s move down to the Jersey shore to South Seaside Park turned out to be a great thing for Pauline too as she loved to visit and spend time on the bay, watching the beautiful boats sail in and out while warming herself on a beautiful sunny day. Those vacations turned into staycations as she loved it down the shore and her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren were all too happy to let Grandma stay for a while.

In 2010, Pauline’s beloved husband Harold passed away suddenly after sixty-four years of wedded blessing. The next year she downsized to an apartment in Hawthorne before moving into her daughter Denise’s house in North Haledon in 2015. Pauline will always be loved and cherished and remembered for gentle, kind, loving and caring disposition.

Pauline was predeceased in 2010 by her beloved husband Harold “Timer” Peer. She was the loving mother of Barbara Jean Hatrak and her husband Michael of Columbus, and Denise VanVlaanderen and her husband Robert of North Haledon; cherished grandmother of Deanna and Matthew Hatrak and Jade Macfarlane VanVlaanderen and Codi Basile VanVlaanderen; and dear sister of Willie, Olga, Helen, Nick, and Johnny.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005, would be appreciated.

Mary Segreto (nee Poandl), age 98 of Wayne, died peacefully after a brief illness.  She had lived in Toms River for more than thirty four years before moving to Wayne last December.  Years ago, Mary was employed as a router for New Era Manufacturing in Hawthorne.

Born in Vienna, Austria, she immigrated to Paterson at the age of 8.  Sadly, her mother died during childbirth while delivering Mary’s younger sister.  Consequently, Mary never truly knew her mom and was raised by an aunt in Austria in the years before moving to America.  Her father, Alois Poandl, came to America seeking the American Dream.  He settled in Paterson and establish himself there before bringing his children to join him.  Her father remarried here in America, and Mary’s stepmother was a wonderful woman who helped to raise her with love and care.

Mary attended School 17 and School 4 during her elementary years, and she still has her ‘signature books’ from those days, signed by many of her classmates.  One boy named Frank Segreto left a kind note in her 8th grade book, and several years later Mary married him!  Their wedding was on April 20, 1941 and they enjoyed forty-five years together before Frank died in 1986.  They initially settled in Paterson, then moved to Prospect Park and North Haledon.  They retired to Toms River where they were among the earliest residents of Holiday City South.  In her leisure time, she sewed, read, and did needlepoint and ceramics.  She was socially active and a founding member of the Women’s Club at Holiday City South, and they loved to take bus trips to Atlantic City, or to the local Bingo game!  She was also a remarkable cook and an excellent baker!  She was always happy to share her edible treats and it was common place for her to deliver baked goods to her hairdresser or anyone who did something nice for her.  The contractors who worked in her home were well fed and blamed her for single-handedly making them all fat!  She also loved gardening and kept a lovely, colorful yard at her home.  She was a notably devoted Catholic and member of St. Maximilian Kolbe RC Church in Toms River, where she attended mass as often as possible.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Frank in 1986, and by her siblings; Julia and Joseph.  She is survived by her daughter; Vivian Sheerin and her husband James of Wayne, her son; Russell, one grandchild; Gina Johnson and her husband Kris of Aiken, South Carolina, and great-grandson Gabriel Johnson.  She was a special grandmother to Courtney Sheerin and Colleen Lutz.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mary loved flowers and she would certainly enjoy having them at her funeral.  For those wishing to make a donation in her memory instead of flowers, please consider the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA  02241-7005.

Ryan T. Comeau, age 41 of West Milford, died on Sunday, May 6, 2018.  He fought an incredibly courageous battle with Leukemia for more than a year. He has lived in West Milford since 2009.

Ryan was a PE teacher at the Chatham Day School since 2002, where he was dearly loved by the students.  At 6’-4” tall, he towered over the young kids, but they knew him as a caring, “gentle giant,” and was always seen with an infectious smile.  He was also the Athletic Director at CDS and grew their athletic program from it’s infancy.  Ryan was also an offensive line football coach, at Newark East Side High School, prior to 2011, and most recently at Union High School. He took pride in not just helping his players achieve at their highest level on the field, but in helping mentor them into fine young men off of it. His devotion to his athletes and students was unmatched. He was an inspiration to countless young people throughout his career, and his impact will be felt forever.

Ryan was born in Framingham, Massachusetts but moved with his family to Tampa, Florida as a young child.  He graduated from Gaither High School in Tampa where he was a standout football player.  He earned his Associate’s Degree from Butte Junior College in Oroville, California.  He performed exceptionally well on the Butte football team, and he still holds the Butte College shot-put record!  After graduating from Butte, he was recruited to play football for Rutgers University as their starting right tackle. He was a proud member of the Rutgers Letters Winners Club for both football and track & field. He kept himself physically fit by eating right, and he could be seen in the gym by 5 AM, every Monday to Friday, most recently at Pro Fit Health and Fitness in Boonton; he loved to work out.

Ryan met his wife during a chance-encounter following a Rutgers football game.  Ryan was supposed to be spending time with his parents, who came from out of town to watch him play. He told them he was too exhausted after the game and that he just wanted to rest.  Of course, he was only making an excuse so he could actually go to the after-game party!  He met Diana Valotto that night, and they hit it off right away.  When he left the party, he asked for her phone number, but he had nothing to write it on! Fearing he might forget her number, he made another friend memorize it for him, and he called her a few days later.  He proposed romantically on the beach at Point Pleasant, NJ, and they were married on November 30, 2002 at St. Gerard’s RC Church in Paterson, followed by a beautiful reception at The Tides.  Upon returning from their honeymoon in the Bahamas, they settled in Haskell, before moving to West Milford in 2009. They’ve enjoyed fifteen years of marriage, which has included several road trips to Disney World.  Ryan never minded making the long drive, even with the young kids.  He was an incredibly devoted husband and involved dad, who loved his children with all his heart. His daughter Isabella was his little princess, the first girl among all the many nephews, and his son, Ryan Jr., was the apple of his eye. His family was his world, and they will all miss him dearly. He was truly a light in the life of all that knew him, and the type of person that all aspire to be.

Ryan is survived by his wife Diana (nee Valotto) of West Milford, and two children, Isabella and Ryan, Jr.; his parents, Marcia Comeau of Tampa, FL, and Timothy Comeau of Alexandria, VA; his brother; Jason Comeau and his wife Terri of Reading, PA; his in-laws, Eugenio and Colomba Valotto of Pompton Lakes; sisters-in-law, Moira Frank and her husband Lawrence of Montville, NJ, and Antonella DaSilva and her husband Jimmy of Jefferson, NJ; and a very large extended family.

In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to help by offering their support to Ryan’s wife and children.  Please visit their fundraising page at www.youcaring.com.  There is an email address that's been established as well, with the intent that friends will express their sympathy, and also share their favorite memories and stories about Ryan.  Your emails will be saved and shared with his children as they grow.  The idea that Isabella and Ryan, Jr. will someday be able to learn more about their father through the heartfelt stories shared by all of you, insures that his legacy will be preserved for the next generation.  Send your stories to 4thandgoal53@gmail.com.

Charlotte Susen (nee Doremus), age 92 of Wayne, died on Friday, May 4, 2018.  She was a native of Passaic, NJ and had lived in East Paterson for thirty-five years.

Charlotte grew up in Passaic where he father, John Doremus, was the Assistant Fire Chief.  He is forever memorialized there for having lost his life in the line of duty; he was tragically killed in 1955 when two firetrucks collided while responding to an alarm.  She graduated from Passaic High School in 1943 and took her first job with Curtiss-Wright Corporation, which was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the country.  It was around this time that she became acquainted with Lawrence (Larry) Susen and they began dating.  They tied the knot while Larry was home on leave from the Service; November 28, 1946.  Larry only had a few days available to him so they were married on Thanksgiving Day and enjoyed a brief honeymoon in Washington, D.C.  They settled into an apartment in Clifton that was located directly above her father-in-law’s ice cream parlor on Ackerman Ave.  In 1950 they moved to East Paterson (now Elmwood Park) and lived there for over thirty-five years, raising their family.  Once her girls were a little older, she took a job managing the local LOFT’S Candies store in East Paterson.  She loved it there and spent many years working at that store until it eventually closed.  She then worked at the local Walgreens on Broadway, where they put her in charge of the cosmetics department.  Of course, if you knew Charlotte, there is irony to that story because she never wore makeup!  During their marriage, Charlotte and Larry enjoyed several cruises and loved to visit Vermont and Maine.  They had a great marriage and Charlotte was truly a devoted wife to her beloved Larry.

Larry’s parents had a vacation home in Forked River where they spent many summers as a family, and countless fond memories were enjoyed there.  She and Larry retired to that home in Forked River in 1985.  Charlotte truly enjoyed retirement and filled her days with knitting, jigsaw puzzles, various crafts, and she especially loved to play Bingo!  She was a regular on Bingo night at St. Pius X Church in Forked River.  She continued to live in Forked River until shortly after Larry passed away in 1996.  She then moved to Tennessee where she could be closer to her daughter, Doris, and the grandchildren there.  In 2011, she moved back to New Jersey to live with her daughter, Patricia, in Wayne.

Charlotte is survived by her two daughters; Doris Susen-Schultz and her husband Anthony of Greeneville, TN, and Patricia Marosits and her husband Robert of Wayne, six grandchildren: Jennifer Dempsey and her husband Kevin, Lawrence Boros and his wife Jenn, Jason Boros and his wife Lauren, Victoria Scaturro and her husband Joseph, Darlene Ciresi and her husband Samuel, and Melissa Petriello and her husband Matthew, and ten great-grandchildren; Morgan, Rylee, Jason Jr., Mason, Gabriella, Daniella, Fiorella, Summer, Natalia, and Quinn, with one more great-grandchild expected soon!

Friends wishing to make a donation in Charlotte’s memory are asked to please consider her church; Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, 1799 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, NJ 07470.

Blanca Puente (nee Riestra), age 89 of Wayne and formerly of Paterson, died on Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Blanca was raised in Canelones, Uruguay.  A bright student, she began teaching accounting as a teenager in Montevideo.  It was while teaching that she met a very handsome young man named Walter Puente.  Walter wasted no time asking her out on a date, but she dismissed him!  He asked her out several times before she finally agreed to a date.  They dated for no less than eight years before she agreed to marry him, and they exchanged vows on April 2, 1955 at the Iglesia de las Carmelitas RC Church in Montevideo, Uruguay, followed by a two week honeymoon to Buenos Aires, Argentina.  They settled to a home in Montevideo where they lived for the next several years.  After sometime, they decided to follow their relatives to the United States, and settled in Paterson, NJ.  Walter began working in the local textile mills while Blanca became a bookkeeper for Closure Systems in Hackensack.  She also began teaching Spanish at the Berlitz School in Ridgewood.  She truly enjoyed teaching and many of her students were hopeful medical school students who have been admitted to foreign schools where Spanish was the primary language.  Her lessons surely enabled many of them to succeed in their studies.  She was still teaching students up to just a few months ago.

Blanca and Walter truly enjoyed themselves and lived a good life.  They traveled the world, visiting Spain, Italy, Marocco, Switzerland, Mexico, Hawaii, Brazil, the Caribbean, and many other destinations.  They crossed the Equator on several occasions.  For their fiftieth wedding anniversary, they toured the Greek Isles and had a wonderful time together.  Blanca was truly a devoted wife and took great care of her husband.  She was a good mother, and an even better grandmother!  “Yaya,” as she was known to all of her grandchildren, was the most loving and caring grandmother they could have ever hoped to have.  She spoiled them all and showered them with her love.  They will all miss her dearly.

Blanca is survived by her husband Walter of Wayne, her daughter; Monica Costanzo (August) of Wayne, and four grandchildren; Dr. Tiffany Greco of Los Angeles, Nicole Greco of Wayne, Brian Greco of Wayne, and August Costanzo, Jr. of Wayne.

Bart DiPaola age 86 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Saturday April 28, 2018 while receiving the loving care of his family.

Bart was born in Paterson to Angelo and Ann DiPaola, one of five children. They lived in Paterson until Bart was about twelve or thirteen years old, when his family then moved to Haledon.  Bart attended Paterson Central High School and graduated with the class of 1949.  Not long after graduation, in 1951, Bart received the call to serve his country in the United States Army. He served honorably in the US Army from 1951 to 1952.  Subsequent to his service to the country, Bart was accepted and attended Montclair State College where he earned his Bachelor’s and later in the evenings his Master’s Degree, and continued his studies while teaching and was just shy of his Doctorate.

Following his undergraduate college education, Bart’s first position as a teacher was for his alma mater, Paterson Central High School.  There he taught Business Classes and Physical Education.  He was also an Assistant Football Coach alongside the famous Aubry Lewis, a football star and track athlete who was  captain of the  Notre Dame Fighting Irish.  He worked there for about two years, then moved to  the newly constructed Manchester Regional High School in Haledon, Bart secured a teacher’s position and again taught Business and Physical Education.  He was  the school’s first Football Coach and later it's Athletic Director.  While at Manchester he was also involved in local politics in Haledon where he was President of the Board of Trustees of the Haledon Library Board as well as a member and President of the Haledon Board of Education.   He spent the next six years at Manchester until he earned a post at the newly constructed Pascack Hills High School in Montvale, NJ as Vice Principal for one year, and eventually Principal for 26 years.  Bart would hold this position for the rest of career in education, until his retirement in 1994.  Pascack Hills High School would become Bart’s true passion other than the love for his family.  Bart was respected and admired by the Pascack Valley Regional Board of Education and Pascack Hills High School.  In his honor, Pascack Hills High named their athletic field, “Bart DiPaola Field.”  This was something that, throughout their lives, made Bart and his family very proud.

While attending Montclair State College, he was Captain of the School’s Football team.  At the games, it was never very hard for anyone to notice the School’s Home Coming Queen, an attractive young lady by the name  Joann Magrino.    Their first date was to a Montclair State College Basketball game and then onto White Castle for a hamburger.   Bart and Joann dated for about a year and a half, and as fate would have it they fell in love and were married on August 2, 1958 and honeymooned at Mount Airy Lodge in the Poconos.  After getting married, Bart and Joann first settled in Haledon where they lived for twenty years and raised their two children.  In 1977, they moved to Wayne and would call it their home for the rest of their lives together.  Bart and Joann cherished almost sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.

Bart, as a former Physical Education teacher, was obviously an avid sports fan, and was totally dedicated to his New York Giants, and the New York Yankees attending games with his children and grandchildren.  He had a special relationship with his older sister Catherine Gravino so much so that  he and his family owned a house with his sister Catherine's family in Lavallette at the Jersey Shore and would spend their summers together there.    Bart was a devoted father, a disciplinarian to his children, but when it came to his grandchildren, he spoiled them rotten.  He was smart, demanding and could also be very charming.   Bart was a devoted individual to the students of all the schools he taught at but in particular those of Pascack Hills HS, he touched the lives of countless people and will be missed by everyone that knew him.

Bart is survived by his wife Joann (nee Magrino) of Wayne, one daughter, Ann Mary O’Rourke and her husband John of Wayne, one son John DiPaola and his wife Dawn of Wayne, two sisters Catherine Gravino of Haledon, and Antoinette Citro of Florida, and five grandchildren; John Bart O’Rourke, Jeffery Bart DiPaola, Kristen Ann DiPaola, Joanna O’Rourke, and Stephen Robert DiPaola.  He was predeceased by his brother Louis DiPaola and Louis's twin who died as a baby.

Thomas Tennesen, age 80, of Wayne passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 24, 2018 in the presence of, and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Tom was born and raised in Bloomfield to Trygve and Alphild Tennesen.  He was the only son of their four children.  Subsequent to graduating from Bloomfield High School with the class of 1955 he went to work at Scientific Glass in Bloomfield.  He was only working for Scientific Glass for a short time when he decided to enlist in the United States Army.  Tom served from 1955 to 1957, and then spent another four years in the Army Reserves.  After being honorably discharged, Tom went back to work for Scientific Glass, who reserved his position while he served his country.  Tom started working in the warehouse at Scientific Glass, and eventually over his twenty-nine year career, worked his way up to Sales Manager.  He would be forced to find a new job after Scientific Glass closed in 1983.  This wouldn’t take long, and Tom earned a position again as a salesman at Kimble and Contes Glass based in Vineland, NJ.  He would work for Kimble and Contes for the next 25 years until his retirement in 2008.

Even before graduating High School, Tom was putting in an honest day’s work.  He worked at WT Grant Department Store in Bloomfield when he was only sixteen.  While working there, he mustered up the courage to ask one of his co-workers, a young beauty named Margaret Pizzuti, out to the movies.  Margaret and Tom dated from 1954 till 1957 and as fate would have it, they fell in love and were married on November 30, 1957 shortly after Tom was honorably discharged from the Army.  They were married in Immaculate Conception RC Church in Montclair and honeymooned in the Poconos Lodge in Pennsylvania.  Tom and Margaret settled in Clifton after getting married and lived there for about four years until moving to Wayne in 1961.  They would call Wayne their home and would spend the rest of their lives together there.  Thomas and Margaret cherished just over sixty years of loving and loyal marriage together.    

Tom and Margaret were members of the Passaic County Committee of Wayne.  He was also a past president of the PTA for Ryerson School in Wayne.  Margaret and Tom were both avid bowlers and were members of a Wednesday night league at the Wayne T-Bowl for many years. Tom enjoyed golfing and occasional hunting .  He was a “Jack of All Trades” and was able to fix just about anything.  He also earned a certification in TV Repair many years ago as a young man.  He and his family vacationed regularly every summer in Lake George where they would go camping and boating.  Tom loved the water and taught all his children how to water ski.  When not vacationing, many weekends were spent on the water at Greenwood Lake with family and friends.  After retiring, Tom would often help his sons with their business and assist them at trade shows.  The salesman in him never left, and he truly enjoyed speaking and interacting with people.  He was funny and a pleasure to be with.  He was the kind of person you couldn’t help but enjoy being around.  Apart from all of Tom's interests, hobbies and talents, his greatest passion was for his family.  He was always there for his children and grandchildren and nothing brought him more joy than providing for and spending time with his family.  He was a sincerely devoted husband, father, and grandfather.  He was an extraordinary person who touched the lives of many people and will be sorely missed by his family and friends alike.

Thomas is survived by his wife Margaret (nee Pizzuti), three sons; Thomas and his wife Joan of Pequannock, David and his wife Patricia of Wayne, and Robert and his wife Ronnie of Pompton Plains, one daughter, Diana Anderson of West Milford, one sister Helen Tennesen of Bloomfield, and twelve grandchildren; Thea Rose, Diandra, Garrett, Spencer, Yvette, Jamie, Conner, Jessica, Cassidy, Jimi, John, and Laura. He was predeceased by his two sisters Elsie Mueller and Evelyn Peters.

In lieu of flowers, those planning to make a donation in Tom's name are asked to consider Alzheimer’s New Jersey, 425 Eagle Rock Ave, Suite 203, Roseland, NJ 07068.

Loriann Calogero, age 55, of Lake Forest section of Jefferson Township, passed suddenly and unexpectedly at home in her sleep on Friday, April 20, 2018.

"There are some

who bring a light

so great to the world

that even after they have gone

the light remains"

Loriann Calogero, age 55, of the Lake Forest section of Jefferson Township, passed suddenly and unexpectedly, at home, in her sleep on Friday, April 20, 2018.

She was born in Englewood, New Jersey and lived in Cliffside Park where she attended Epiphany Elementary School until she was eight years old when her family relocated to Ringwood where she graduated from St. Catherine's.  Loriann then attended DePaul High School in Wayne and graduated with the Class of 1981. She received both her Bachelor’s Degree in 1985 and her Master’s Degree in Communication and Art from William Paterson University.

While earning her Master’s Degree she worked as a substitute teacher for Lakeland Regional High School and William Paterson University.  She dedicated herself for over thirty years as an Early-Alert Coordinator, as well as an Adjunct Professor of Algebra, Italian, Communication and Public Speaking. In addition, she was also a professor at Caldwell University, specializing in Communication and Public Speaking. She was dedicated to her students and often remained in contact with them.

Loriann had the ability to manage multiple jobs, family, recreation and volunteering, and made it all look easy. While she was a representative of Magnolia & Vine Jewelry, she was very involved in her Lake Forest community where she served as a social director and enjoyed party planning and was determined to keep kids engaged and thinking during their special events. Loriann was an active volunteer with both the Lake Forest and Pope John Swim Teams. She had a love of sports and competition. Whether it was golf, volleyball, darts, corn hole or lazy-a-bocce her competitive nature was always evident.

Loriann and her husband Raymond both attended DePaul High School. Fifteen years later, they connected at Ringwood's St. Patrick's Day Parade and then again at Portabella's Restaurant. They soon fell in love and on August 14, 1999 they celebrated a destination wedding on Cable Beach in the Bahamas with approximately sixty-five close family and friends.

Loriann was devoted to her husband, extended family, friends, students, work, community and church but most of all she was devoted to her son Luke. She and Luke spent countless hours together, utilizing all their commuting time to advance Luke's education at both St. Mary's Elementary School in Pompton Lakes and Pope John High School in Sparta. Loriann truly cherished this time with Luke.

She was dedicated to her Catholic faith and St. Mary's Church. As a parishioner, she volunteered as a religious education teacher and fund raiser. She spent endless hours helping at the school and parish carnival.

Loriann was the rock of our family. The one who keeps us on our toes. The one who was never afraid to say how she felt. The one who was always the life of the party and her smile could light up a room. The one who loved so hard. The one who never gave up. The one who left an impression on everyone, everywhere she went.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Loriann-Calogero-Bright-Light-Fund at GoFundMe.com would be greatly appreciated.

Bruce M. Blanchard, age 70, of Pequannock, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 19, 2018. He was receiving the love and comfort of his family at the time of his passing.

Born in Passaic, Bruce was raised in Pequannock where he attended Holy Spirit grade schools and graduated from Pequannock High School with the Class of 1966. Growing up, Bruce was always involved in scouting and he ultimately attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was also a star on his high school wrestling team.

Bruce can thank his high school prom for providing the excuse to meet his future wife Linda Wojcichowski. There were three couples planning on going to the prom together – Linda with her boyfriend at the time, Bruce and his date, and one other couple. In anticipation, Linda wanted her nails to look especially nice so she purchased of set of those glue-on nails. Problem was, she used too much glue and they stuck up too high off of her fingers. Bruce noticed this and, thinking Linda needed a little help, he offered to take her to the industrial arts classroom to see if they could get the fake nails off. It didn’t work and Linda ended up wearing gloves to the prom, but soon after, Bruce wasted no time to ask Linda out. Soon after, Bruce started attending Alfred University in upstate New York so dating had to be long distance. At that point, he was majoring in Animal Husbandry because he told Linda he wanted to be a farmer. In the meantime, the Vietnam War was in full swing and, knowing he was going to be drafted, Bruce chose to enlist. He served stateside in the U.S. Navy from January of 1968 to January of 1972 and during that time, he received training as a boiler man – training that would prove to be very beneficial in the long run. Bruce and Linda continued their relationship via phone and mail and they even planned their wedding for May of 1970, but it had to be delayed until September 5, 1970 because the Navy ship Bruce was serving on was deployed to sea. He returned home just long enough to get married at Holy Spirit Church in Pequannock. After the wedding, he returned to Navy service in Virginia but this time he had the privilege and honor to bring his new wife along to live with him on the base.

After Bruce’s Navy service completed in 1972, he was honorably discharged and he and Linda returned to New Jersey where they settled initially in an apartment in Little Falls. Soon after they welcomed Bruce - their first of three sons. In 1974, they bought a house in Haskell and then in 1978 another house in Pequannock. By then Bruce and Linda’s other two boys – Brian and Kevin joined the family.

Bruce’s first job as a civilian was with (Public Service Electric and Gas PSE&G) where he was…….you guessed it – a boiler mechanic. That Navy training really paid off! He worked on the huge commercial boilers – the one’s you’d have to climb right into to work on. One could say Bruce really got into his work. In 1978 he went to work as a boiler operator/engineer for Hoffman LaRoche in Nutley and remained there for 25 years until taking retirement in 2013.

Bruce was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who always held a great amount of thankfulness to God in his heart for the blessings of family. His sons will always have great memories of vacations down the shore and trips to Florida – except for that one time they camped in Florida in the sweltering heat of summer. He packed a whole bunch of excitement in the few years of retirement by doing adventurous activities with Linda including zip-lining and traversing underground into a working well in Cancun, taking floating plane flights in Alaska, going on cruises seven times including one through the Panama Canal, and spending time in Lancaster, Pennsylvania where they liked to go to see the hot-air balloons, inspiring shows of Christ’s love and great music at the Sight and Sound Theater and American Music Theater, and, while in Lancaster, patiently going shopping with Linda who got all her supplies there for her quilting hobby. Bruce’s grandchildren were always welcome and even encouraged to spend time with Grandpa in his backyard pool, taking trips down the shore or spending the day visiting a local zoo.

When Bruce wasn’t taking trips, he had plenty of hobbies to keep him busy. He grew up with a love for model trains and it became one his lifetime passions. He had a whole room dedicated to the trains – some which dated back to the 1950’s, and he built whole villages that the trains traveled through. One of the scenes in the layout included a diner called “Lin’s Diner” named after his wife. Good-naturedly, the diner had smoke coming out of it as “compliment” to Linda’s excellent cooking skills. This was a hobby that he also enjoyed sharing with his grandchildren. Bruce also loved to spend time in his gardens, taking long walks, and working in his woodshop which truly had a tool for any application you could imagine. He truly was a gifted woodworking craftsman who built beautiful, finely carved benches, curio cabinets, spice racks as well as decorations, and toys for his grandkids.

Bruce’s contagious laugh will be a cherished memory for his family and friends and, every time someone who knew him well eats a marshmallow peep, they’ll think about how much he loved those confectionary critters. He liked them best when they were a little stale and he was certainly glad that he could count on getting them whenever a holiday occurred. He also had a seeming attraction to Butter Finger candy bars and so naturally, he kept a stash of them here, there, and everywhere. Don’t try to steal one of Bruce’s Butter Fingers! He kept pretty-good track of his inventory and he’d yell, “Who ate my Butter Fingers?” if he sensed one was missing.

Most important to Bruce was his faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He attended Grace Bible Church in Pompton Plains and, most recently, Green Pond Chapel. After retiring he also loved volunteering at The Good Shepherd Mission in Paterson. He faithfully volunteered every Wednesday and made many good friends along the way. When Bruce recently became sick, he truly appreciated the guys from the mission who came once a week to take him to the diner.

Bruce was the beloved husband for 47 years of Linda (nee Wojcichowski); loving father of Bruce W. and wife Maria Blanchard of Lincoln Park, Brian and wife Melissa Blanchard of Lincoln Park, and Kevin and wife Veronica Blanchard of Pequannock; cherished grandfather of Amber, Jason, Ava, James, Emma, Austin, Bethany, Josiah, and Caleb; dear son of Stanford Blanchard of Williamstown, NJ and the late Wanda (nee Dolinski) Blanchard; and much-loved brother of Pamela and husband John Tomchick of Williamstown, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Bruce’s name are asked to consider The Good Shepherd Mission, 336 Broadway, Paterson, NJ 07501 (gsmpat.org/donations).

Alfred C. Smetana, age 91, of Wayne, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Al was born in Paterson, the son of Anna (Orzenski) and Karl Smetana. He attended Paterson schools including Central High School. In 1943, during his senior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday. Before he could finish high school, he was inducted into the service. Al enjoyed telling the story of being in Panama and going out one night with his Navy comrades. Thanks to a little imbibing, his buddies all got tattoos, but Al was proud that he resisted, never seeing them as enviable things to have. Al served proudly at the Great Lakes Naval Station where he became a hospital corpsman. He later served in the Pacific aboard the USS Jerauld, APA174. Achieving the rank of petty officer third class, he and his shipmates were involved in the invasion of Okinawa, and later the occupation of Japan. Upon being honorably discharged, he returned home to Paterson and completed high school along with thirty or more veterans.

After graduation Al went to work for the A&P where he met the love of his life, Mildred Cornett. They married in 1949 and, after enjoying a beautiful honeymoon at Niagara Falls, they purchased their first home in Hawthorne.

As a youth, Al enjoyed playing all sports but especially football. He might have had an opportunity to play pro football but, at the time, there wasn’t much money to be made in the sport and, since he had just gotten married and purchased a home in Hawthorne, Al decided against the risk of injury. It’s hard to say if playing football makes you tough as nails or that you have to be tough as nails to play football, but no matter which saying is correct, there was no doubt that Al was tough as nails. He was so strong that, early in his marriage, he would frequently break items in the house purely by accident because he just didn’t know his own strength! Consequently, his wife Mildred bought him one of those “do-it-yourself-fix-anything” encyclopedias and Al was off to the races! He developed into becoming quite the handyman and could fix anything.

Al and Mildred moved to Wayne in 1961 and soon after got involved in a new church in town – Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church where they became charter members. Al also served as a member of the Sunday collection counting team. Later on he took up the much tamer sport of bowling. Al bowled in several leagues and became the secretary of Our Lady of the Valley men’s bowling league where he served as the league’s secretary for over 35 years, and finally retired from bowling with the Wayne Senior League just last year in 2017. He was a great secretary being one of the first to use a computer – an original Commodore 64, to keep track of and report league statistics. He also served as a delegate to the Passaic County Bowling Association but Al’s greatest bowling claim to fame was a 299 game and being inducted into the Passaic County Bowlers Hall of Fame.

While raising his two fine children and working full-time, Al attended evening classes at Farleigh Dickinson University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in business management. He went to work as a sales manager for August Sommer Inc. – designer, manufacturer, and installer of custom store and restaurant equipment in Carlstadt. He enjoyed a long, rewarding career of 33 years before retirement, but still possessing some gumption and gas in the tank, Al didn’t want to sit still. Instead, he became a part-time driver for the Five Town Dial Dial-A-Ride in Pequannock Township. He loved the social aspect of transporting the seniors for shopping, doctor appointments, beauty shops, or wherever else his passengers had to go. He did that for another eighteen years before giving up work for good.

Al’s many interests and hobbies always kept him busy. He had a beautiful workshop in his home which featured every craftsman tool you could imagine. With those tools, Al used his skills to lovingly make anything from toys for his grandchildren like whirly birds and sandboxes to kitchen cabinets and bedroom sets for his own home. His interest in sports never waned either, and for years, in addition to bowling, Al enjoyed recreational softball. When he wasn’t actually playing a sport, he loved watching the Yankees and Giants. He was musical too and got a kick out of playing his harmonica and accordion, even if it made his dogs howl. He also loved keeping his mind sharp with the challenge of a good crossword puzzle which he felt so confident doing, he usually wrote letters in the little square boxes with a pen.

A true blue family man, Al always did his best to be a great husband, father and grandfather. When his kids were young, he was always ready and willing to assist them in building their assigned school projects and coach them in their sporting events. He and Mildred got to do some great traveling over the years and especially enjoyed trips to Hawaii, the Grand Canyon, Disney World, San Francisco, and to Worlds Fairs that most people never even knew existed. Al also loved spending time with his nieces and nephews swimming with them and teaching them to fish.

Sadly, Al’s wife Mildred passed away in 2005 after a very loving and blessed 56 year marriage. Knowing that Al would be lonely, a friend of his suggested that he join the Golden Age Circle of Wayne (GACW). While this never could fill the void in Al’s heart completely, it did give him joy and the blessing of new friendships. In fact Al loved GACW so much, he served as the organizations president for ten years, leading the group by running meetings and attending the banquets, shows and trips that he loved participating in so much. Whether it was serving as the bowling league secretary, faithfully attending mass at Our Lady of the Valley Church, running meetings for the GACW, or serving on the Township of Wayne’s Mayor’s Advisory Council, it seemed that Al was always on the go.

Al was not known as Al to everyone. Many called him “Big Al” and others knew him as “Popper” - a nickname he received from a waiter at Sevilla’s Restaurant in Passaic who unwittingly gave him that name when he brought out Al’s birthday cake exclaiming “Happy birthday Popper”. The nickname stuck and that’s what Al became known as to many of his family and friends. He even used it in his email address!

"Popper" will be sorely missed. He was an incredibly outgoing and sociable person who set a great example to many for his steady Christian faith, strength of character and servant heart.

Al was the beloved husband of fifty-six years to Mildred R. (nee Cornett) who passed away in 2005; loving and proud father of Alfred J. Smetana of Manahawkin and Ann Beideman and husband Francis of Pompton Lakes; cherished grandfather of Michael and Daniel Beideman: and dear uncle of several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Alfred’s name are asked to consider the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS  66675 or at www.WoundedWarriorProject.com.

Robert “Bob” McGill, age 62, of Haskell passed comfortably at home with the comfort of being surrounded by his family.

Bob was born to Catherine McGill of Ridgewood and the late Robert McGill. He was raised in Ridgewood having graduated from Ridgewood High School with the Class of 1974.

Helping others and the love of the outdoors brought him to the boy scouts where he achieved the highest rank within scouting, Eagle Scout. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, as flying was his first passion. He then graduated from Tennessee Temple University with a bachelor's degree in bible study.

His family will tell you he had more jobs in his lifetime than you can imagine. Living in Alaska, he was a Youth Minister and a pilot, worked on the Alaska pipeline and in a salmon cannery. He returned to the lower forty-eight and lived in Michigan where he drove a bus and worked in the Steelcase Office factory. He then returned to Ridgewood, New Jersey working as a carpenter, telemarketer, draftsman, insurance adjuster for the State Farm Life Insurance Company in Wayne and Parsippany.  He then worked for Kiel Oil Company in Butler, the Hess Oil Company, and studied for a degree in medical imaging.  Most recently he drove for the Airgas Corporation in Oakland, settling in Haskell fifteen years ago.

He would tell you his most important career was being a loving and caring husband, father, son and brother to his family. He was an outgoing person who had a heart of gold. He was always smiling, never said a bad word about anyone, and found the best in others, always. During his last few weeks, he battled the disease with dignity and valor, never complaining before succumbing to lung cancer.

Bob enjoyed golf, skiing, driving his quad, woodworking, his vegetable garden, making his own pickles, chopping firewood, and the beach.  He had many fond memories made of family vacations to the Jersey Shore and the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  An avid swimmer, he loved boogie boarding. He was a lifelong, passionate NY Giants and NY Yankees fan.

He met the love of his life Huguette Guillemot fifteen years ago. Their first date Bob suggested they walk to the restaurant, Beata’s in Butler. They would eventually fall in love and Bob proposed on Huguette’s birthday. They married and had a family vacation/honeymoon at the Outer Banks during which a hurricane descended on the island, making for a memorable time. They have truly enjoyed their last fifteen years together.

Robert was the loving husband of Huguette McGill; cherished son of Catherine McGill of Ridgewood and the late Robert McGill; he was the devoted father of Jessica Rickert (Jake) of Michigan, Jennifer McGill of Michigan, and Joel McGill (Rachel) of Michigan; he was the loved step-father of Jessica Lisa (Nicholas DeMarzo) of Randolph and Nicole Lisa of Jersey City; he was the much loved grandfather of Jackson, Emmit, Gabriella, Michael, and Autumn; Bob was the dearly loved brother of Timothy McGill (Tina) of Ramsey, the late Raymond McGill, the late Linda Gethrie and her surviving husband Robin.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations to American Cancer Society-NJ Chapter, 986 S. Springfield Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081 would be appreciated.