JAMES J. MURPHY JR., 73, of North Middletown, died April 25 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, he moved to Middletown in 1963. He worked as a lithographer/manager for Prudential Insurance Co., Newark. Prior to that he worked for IBM, in New York City as a methods analyst for 10 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, North Middletown; a member of the Knights of Columbus, third degree, third order of St. Francis; and a past president of the St. Vincent DePaul Society at St. Catherine’s. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Jean Markey Murphy; eight sons, James J. Murphy III of Hazlet, Francis X. Murphy Sr., Thomas A. Murphy, Kevin J. Murphy, Richard "Ted" Murphy, and Paul I. Murphy, all of Middletown, Sean P. Murphy, Esq., of Little Silver, and Joseph James Murphy of North Carolina; three daughters, Jeanmarie Chudzik, and Annmarie Murphy O’Reilly, both of Middletown, and Valentina Marie Feldman of Hazlet; three sisters, Sister Mary Murphy, S.C. of Convent Station, Eleanor Brauner of Oradel and Claire Morgan; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Catherine Church. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Rev. Val J. Peter, Boys Town Center, Boys Town, NV 68010.
WALTER P. LUSKE, 86, formerly of Spring Lake Heights, died May 5 in Englewood Community Hospital, Englewood, Fla. Born in Jersey City, he lived in Monroe for 10 years, Middletown for 14 years, and Spring Lake Heights, moving to Englewood three years ago. He worked as an insurance agent for 45 years. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth Crafts Luske, in 1993. Surviving are two sons, Bruce D. Luske of Rhinebeck, N.Y., and Barry W. Luske of Farmingdale; one daughter, Barbara Coscone of Norwood; two sisters, Charlotte Church of Middletown, and Florence Clough of Point Pleasant; and five grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. Cremation was at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.
JAMES J. FITZSIMMONS, of Highlands, died on May 1. Born in Irvington, he lived in Matawan, moved to Melbourne, Fla., for 16 years and returned to Matawan in September. While in Florida, he was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church. He was a reserve policeman for eight years; a member of the Knights of Columbus; a past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars; a volunteer fireman with Cliffwood Fire Co. No 1; and a member of the senior citizens of Keyport and Cliffwood for many years. Mr. Fitzsimmons worked as a mill wright with National Lead for 29 years. He had an active military career for 27 years, serving with the U.S. Naval Reserve, the U.S. National Guard and the U.S. Army. Surviving are his wife of 47 years, Geraldine "Gerry" Crone; a daughter and son-in-law; one grandson; several brothers-in-law; sisters-in-law; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Catherine’s Church, North Middletown. Interment was at Shoreland Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Hazlet.
THOMAS D. HORAN, 49, of Middletown, died May 6 in Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Queens, N.Y., he lived in Holbrook, N.Y., before moving to Middletown 21 years ago. He worked as senior vice president for IBI Security, Queens, for 31 years. Surviving are his wife, Diane Santillo Horan; his mother, Margaret Potterton Horan of Rockville Center, New York; one son, Ryan T. Horan of Middletown; two daughters, Shannon Horan and Brandi Horan, both of Middletown; one brother, William Horan of Baldwin, N.Y.; two sisters, Patricia Godfrey of Commack, N.Y., and Debra Lynch Pappalardo of Oceanside, N.Y. Services were under the direction of Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Middletown. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
ANNELIESE BUXBAUM, 86, of Matawan died May 3 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Germany, she lived in North Bergen and OId Bridge before moving to Matawan 33 years ago. Mrs. Buxbaum was a homemaker. Surviving are her husband, Henry Buxbaum of Matawan; one daughter, Rita Kennedy of the Poconos, Pa., seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Entombment was at Woodbridge Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Woodbridge.
Lillian Horoschak Bucco Chawner, 75, of Cheesequake Village, Old Bridge, died May 3 in Regency Park Nursing Home, Hazlet. Born in Perth Amboy, she moved to Old Bridge 15 years ago. She was a homemaker and an aircraft riveter for General Motors during World War II. She was a member of the Democratic Party in Perth Amboy and worked at the polls at election time. She was a member of the Altar Rosary Society of Holy Spirit Church, Perth Amboy, until she moved to Cheesequake Village and became a member of the St. Lawrence Altar Rosary Society, and a Eucharistic minister and lector. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary Post No. 6761. She was a volunteer for 30 years at Roosevelt Hospital, Edison. Mrs. Chawner was a communicant of St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Laurence Harbor. She was predeceased by her first husband, Philip Bucco, in 1976. Surviving are her husband, John Chawner of Old Bridge; one sister, Rose Kady of Sayreville; two nieces, Ethel Stenger of Georgia, and Margaret Maliczyszyn of Manalapan; seven great-nieces and greatnephews; and eight great-grandnieces and greatnephews. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Lawrence Church. Interment was at St. Nicholas Cemetery, Hopelawn. Donations may be made to: The Seeing Eye Inc., P.O. Box 375, Morristown, NJ 07960.
ANN E. DUFFY, 84, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown died May 3 in Arnold Walter Nursing Home, Holmdel. Born in Pittston, Pa., she lived in Deer Park, N.Y., and Keansburg, before moving to Port Monmouth, five years ago. She was a credit manager for Norelco, New York City, for 32 years, retiring in 1979. Surviving are her brother, James Duffy of Deer Park; one sister, Marie Deering of Port Monmouth; and several nieces and nephews. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment was at St. Charles Cemetery, Pinelawn, Long Island, N.Y.
STELLA MAE SPAFFORD FLANNELLY, 88, of Keyport, died May 3 in Summerhill Nursing Home, Old Bridge. Born in Berkley Heights, she was a lifelong resident of Keyport. Mrs. Flannelly was a seamstress for La Paree, Matawan. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her first husband, Clifford "Red" Wilson, in 1979; and her second husband, John J. Flannelly in 1980; her son, Reliance Pete Wilson; three brothers, Donald Spafford, William Spafford, and Clare Spafford. Surviving are two daughters, Carol Joyce Auriemma of Keyport and Louis M. Nicora of Matawan; one son, James C. Wilson of Hazlet; two brothers, George Spafford of Morganville and Francis Spafford of Florida; one sister, Gertrude Ellison of Keyport; eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
ROBERT D. ROAKE, 62, of the Belford section of Middletown, died May 3 in Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Bayonne, he lived in Oakland before moving to Belford 13 years ago. He was employed as a pressman for the Newark Star-Ledger for 10 years. Mr. Roake was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, the New Monmouth section of Middletown. Surviving are his wife, Elaine Kubinec Roake; three daughters, Gabrielle Lauricella of Hasbrouck Heights, Heather A. DeSantis of Clifton, and Jessica L. Roake of Belford; one brother, William P. Roake of Bayonne; one granddaughter and one grandson. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
RAYMOND KELLY, 80, of the Belford section of Middletown, died May 6 in Avante at Red Bank Nursing Home. Born in Sandy Hook, he lived most of his life in Middletown. He was a bus driver for Teamsters Local No. 701 for 15 years, retiring 18 years ago. Mr. Kelly was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth. He was a charter member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2179, Port Monmouth section of Middletown, and Middletown Elks Post 2179, Belford. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II; was a survivor of the Pearl Harbor invasion; and served on the Yorktown at the Battle of Midway. Mr. Kelly owned and operated Kelly’s Beauty Salon, Belford, for many years. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Thomaseen Welch Kelly; two sons, Mike and Tim Kelly, both of Middletown; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Pfleger Funeral Home with a Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, both Middletown. Cremation was at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.
