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Charles Powell, 64
Broadcast Engineer; Worked in Civil Defense During 1960s
Charles W. Powell, 64, of Fanwood died on Monday, September 27, 1999 in Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield.
Born in Lynch, Ky., he had lived in Illinois and Cranford before moving to Fanwood in 1979.
Mr. Powell had been a broadcast engineer with the American Broad casting Company in New York City for 20 years before retiring in 1993.
In the early 1960s, he had been the Director of Civil Defense in Rantoul, Ill.
He was a graduate of Southern Illinois College.
Mr. Powell was a member of the National Association of Broadcasters and was also active with the Friends of Bill W., the American Motorcycle Association and the Religious Society of Friends Summit Monthly Meeting.
He was a 50-year member of the Amateur Radio Association of America and an honorary Kentucky colonel.
Surviving are two sons, Dr. Mark Powell and David Powell; a daughter, Kathryn Ann Scott; his mother, Ina Powell; a sister, Billie Jean Sparrow; five grandchildren and his fianceé, Elizabeth P. Taylor.
Funeral services will be held at 8 p.m. tonight, Thursday, September 30, at the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Avenue in Cranford.
Marion E. Zagari
Marion E. Zagari of Broomfield, Colo., died on Friday, September 24, 1999.
She was predeceased by her husHe band, Dominic Zagari, and a son, Donald Zagari.
Surviving are two sons, Kenneth Zagari of New Jersey and Kevin Zagari of Broomfield; two daughters, JoAnn Nikovics of Minnesota and Karen Gustafson of Arvada; a sister, Jean Wendell of Broomfield and two brothers, Fred DeFazio of Westfield and Warren DeFazio of Lady Lake, Fla.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered today, Thursday, September 30, at 1 p.m. at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary, with entombment to take place at the Mount Olivet Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2255 South Oneida, Denver, Colo. 80224 or to the Hospice of St. John, 1320 Everett Court, Lakewood, Colo. 80215.
Joseph A. Grasso, 85
Army Veteran; Was Owner of Bandstand Music Store
Joseph A. Grasso, 85, of Fanwood died on Monday, September 27, 1999 in Runnells Specialized Hospital in Berkeley Heights.
Born and raised in Newark, he moved to Fanwood 37 years ago.
Mr. Grasso had been the owner of the Bandstand Music Store in Westfield for more than 40 years, where he sold musical instruments and gave music lessons, before retiring in 1997.
He played the saxophone, flute and clarinet with the Ray Deveilla Band, and was a member of the Musicians’ Union Local No. 151 in the Union County area.
Mr. Grasso served in the United States Army as a Staff Sergeant during World War II, and also played in the band.
Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Marie Reale Grasso; a son, Anthony Grasso; a daughter, Mary Jo Myszka; three sisters, Florence Bruno, Elizabeth Snipes and Mary Laursen; a brother, Pat Grasso, and four grandchildren.
Visitation is today, Thursday, September 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered tomorrow, Friday, October 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains.
Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.
Memorial donations may be made to the Fanwood Fire Department or to the Fanwood Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Henry Townsend, 3rd
Henry P. Townsend, 3rd, 49, a lifelong resident of Westfield, died on Friday, September 17, 1999 in Westfield.
He worked for many years for Townsend Moving Company in Westfield, a family-owned business.
Surviving are a brother, Casey Townsend, and two sisters, Debra Mehaffey and Judy Townsend.
Private services were arranged by the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield.
Memorial donations may be made to a favorite charity.
Robert A. Goceljak, 57
Army Veteran; Carpenter At Bayway Refinery, Elizabeth
Robert A. Goceljak, 57, of Mountainside died on Sunday, February 28, 1999 at home.
Born in Jersey City, he had moved to Mountainside in 1949.
Mr. Goceljak was a carpenter with the rigging department at Exxon Bayway Refinery in Elizabeth for 35 years before retiring in 1998.
He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club, both of Piscataway.
He had served in the Army during the Vietnam War.
Surviving are his sister, Helen Muller of Syracuse, New York and three brothers, Paul Goceljak of Piscataway, Joseph Goceljak of East Windsor, and George Goceljak of Berkeley Heights.
A Funeral Mass will be held today at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Mountainside.
Interment will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Stony Hill.
Arrangements were handled by the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue, Westfield.
Anna Di Francesco, 91
Active in Church; First President of Scotch Plains Groups
Anna R. Di Francesco, 91, a lifelong resident of Scotch Plains, died on Friday, February 26, 1999 at home.
Mrs. Di Francesco was a homemaker.
She was a member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains, as well as its Rosary Society and Catholic Golden Age.
She was the first President of the St. Nicholas Women’s Auxiliary of Scotch Plains and Scotch Plains Meridians Golden Age Club.
Mrs. Di Francesco was also involved in many Parent-Teacher Association fundraising activities in the Scotch Plains-Fanwood school district.
She was predeceased by her husband, Antonio Di Francesco, in 1977, and by five brothers, Joseph Di Quollo, Anthony Di Quollo, Phillip Di Quollo, John Di Quollo, and Thomas Di Quollo.
Surviving are two daughters, Laura Swidersky and Rose Cerminaro; a sister, Laura Checchio; a brother, Nicholas Di Quollo; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Monday, March 1, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains, followed by a Mass at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Center for Hope Hospice or the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad.
Maryalice Gates, 78
Cafeteria Employee; St. Bartholomew’s Parishioner, Volunteer
Maryalice E. Gates, 78, of Scotch Plains died on Saturday, February 27, 1999 at Overlook Hospital in Summit.
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she had lived in Washington, D.C. and in California before moving to Scotch Plains in 1968.
Mrs. Gates had been a staff member in the cafeteria of Bell Labs in Murray Hill for 12 years before retiring in 1985.
She was a member of St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains and was a volunteer for the church’s Outreach Program.
She graduated from St. Katherine College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1942.
She was predeceased by her brother, Jerome Turbin.
Surviving are her husband, Charles B. Gates; two sons, Charles B. Gates, Jr., and Brian C. Gates; two daughters, Mary Pamela Fritzsching and Virginia Ann Peak; two sisters, Ednamae Ludwig and Ann Rita Holman; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 2, at the Rossi Funeral Home in Scotch Plains, followed by a Mass at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad.
Faith Bernotas, 78
Retired Secretary With Elizabethtown Water Company
Faith Bernotas, 78, of Fanwood died on Wednesday, February 24, 1999 at home.
Born in Caldwell, she had lived in Westfield before moving to Fanwood 40 years ago.
Mrs. Bernotas had been a secretary with Elizabethtown Water Company in Elizabeth for many years before retiring in 1986.
She was a lifetime member of the New Jersey Mineralogical Society, and a member of the New Jersey State Button Society, the Westfield Camera Club and the Fanwood Senior Citizens.
Mrs. Bernotas attended Columbia University in New York City.
She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Paul Bernotas, in 1997.
Surviving are three brothers-in-law, Anthony Bernotas of Colonia, James Bernotas of Bayonne and Albin Bernotas of Toms River; a sister-in-law, Adele Dagutis of Bayonne, and nine nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Monday, March 1, at the Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Avenue in Fanwood.
Interment took place at Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover.
