Obits from North New Jersey, Friday, October 25, 2002
GAIL F. KOPCHAK BILICSKA of Passaic died Wednesday. Before retiring, she was a secretary for Becton Dickinson and Co., East Rutherford, and Morgan Guaranty Trust Co., New York City. Subsequently, she was a secretary for Saints Cyril and Methodius School, Clifton, and St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School, Passaic. She was a parishioner of St. Mary R.C. Church, Passaic. She was a member of Slovak Catholic Sokol Wreath 2, Passaic, and the First Catholic Slovak Union Branch 381, Jersey City. Arrangements: Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, Van Houten Avenue, Clifton.
ISABELLA BROWN, 55, of East Orange, formerly of Englewood, died Monday. She was an office manager for AT&T, New York City, where she worked for 35 years. She was a graduate of City University of New York. She was a member of New Hope Baptist Church, East Orange. Arrangements: Nesbitt Funeral Home, Englewood.
NORMAN W. BUTKA SR., 82, of Northvale died Wednesday. Before retiring, he was an accountant for Burlington Industries, Rockleigh. He was a parishioner of St. Anthony R.C. Church, Northvale, where he served as an usher. Arrangements: Anthony R. Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale.
DIANE T. ORR CLARKE, 54, of Teaneck died Thursday. Before retiring, she worked for Sony Corp. in Oradell for 21 years. She was a parishioner of St. Joseph R.C. Church, Bogota. Arrangements: Petrik Funeral Home, Bogota.
PETER COLOMBO, 82, of Fair Lawn died Thursday. Before retiring in 1979, he was a supervisor for Public Service Electric and Gas Co. in Clifton, where he worked for 36 years. He was a member of the Sea Scouts and the Boy Scouts of America. Arrangements: Vander Plaat Colonial Home, Fair Lawn.
PATRICIA A. FALLON, 63, of Secaucus, formerly of Hackensack, died Wednesday. She had been an assistant credit manager for Bell Atlantic in East Orange, where she worked for 33 years, and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. She was a member of Gilda's Club in Hackensack, the Hudson County Urban League, and the American Red Cross. Arrangements: Mack Memorial Home, Secaucus.
JOSEPH J. FEGO, 70, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Clifton, died Thursday. Before retiring, he worked for the Clifton Department of Public Works.. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War. He attended St. Frances Cabrini R.C. Church. Arrangements: Turner Funeral Home & Crematory, Spring Hill.
LOUIS FRIEDMAN, 91, of Fort Lee and Aventura, Fla. died Wednesday. He was a founder and co-owner of Palmer Furniture Co., Jersey City. He was a member of Pashas. Arrangements: Robert Schoem's Menorah Chapel, Fair Lawn.
MADELINE X. GARLINGER GAUNT, 93, of West Caldwell, formerly of Allendale, died Tuesday. She had been a teacher for the Bergen County school system. She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, Allendale, where she was a Sunday school teacher. She was a member of the Woman's Club and the XYZ Club, both in Allendale. She was a volunteer at The Valley Hospital, Ridgewood. Arrangements: Van Emburgh-Sneider Funeral Home, Ramsey.
LOUIS GUALARIO, 68, of Fair Lawn died Monday. Before retiring, he was a maintenance engineer for Durotest, Clifton, where he worked for 30 years, and was a member and steward of the Electrical Engineer Machine Union. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and a member of American Legion Post 171, Fair Lawn. He was a member of Warren Point Presbyterian Church, Fair Lawn, where he was a sexton. Arrangements: Vander Plaat Colonial Home, Fair Lawn.
RALPH F. HEINRICH, 87, of Toms River, formerly of Fair Lawn, died Wednesday. Before retiring, he was a machinist for Sandvik Steel, Fair Lawn. Previously, he was an engineer for Singer-Kearfott Corp., Little Falls. He was a Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He was a former member of the Fair Lawn Senior Citizens Club. Arrangements: Moore's Home for Funerals, Wayne.
FRANK W. HUELSTER, 59, of Hackensack died Wednesday. He had owned HCS Architectural Design Services, Hackensack. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph R.C. Church, Hackensack. He served on the Hackensack zoning board. Arrangements: G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, Hackensack.
JOHN J. KREHLIK, 71, of Rochelle Park died Thursday. Before retiring in 1991, he worked for the Bergen County park system for 38 years. He was an Army veteran of the Korean War and a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3484, Saddle Brook, and American Legion Post 170, Rochelle Park. He was a parishioner of St. Stephen R.C. Church, Passaic. He was a former member of the Restored Rusty Relics. Arrangements: Bizub-Quinlan Funeral Home, Lexington Avenue, Clifton.
THEODORE C. KUZMINSKI, 82, of Clifton died Wednesday. Before retiring in 1983, he was a foreman for Dixon Ticonderoga Co., Jersey City, where he worked for 44 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of American Legion Post 8 and the Disabled American Veterans, both in Clifton. He was a parishioner of St. Clare R.C. Church, Clifton. Arrangements: Allwood Funeral Home, Clifton.
WINIFRED R. LEOPOLDT, 83, of Oakland died Wednesday. Before retiring in 1985, she was a broker for Julia Heavey Real Estate, Oakland. Arrangements: Oakland Memorial Home.
JOSETTE T. SGROI MARIONE, 64, of Lanoka Harbor, formerly of North Bergen, died Thursday. Arrangements: Vainieri Funeral Home, North Bergen.
ROSE M. MATTEO, 79, of Fort Lee died Wednesday. Before retiring in 1953, she was a seamstress in North Bergen for 36 years. She was a parishioner of St. Nicholas R.C. Church, Palisades Park. She was a member of the Hudson-Bergen Seniors and the Seniors at St. Rocco R.C. Church, both in Union City. She also was a member of the Monte San Giamo Club auxiliary and the Fort Lee Seniors. Arrangements: McCorry Bros. Funeral Home, Cliffside Park.
FRANCES F. LEE McMANUS, 64, of Englewood died Tuesday. Before retiring in 1998, she was a teacher in the Englewood school system. Previously, she was a secretary for the Urban League for Bergen County. She was a member of Covenant Life Ministries, River Edge. Arrangements: Nesbitt Funeral Home, Englewood.
FREDERICK J. NICK, 89, of Garfield died Thursday. Before retiring in 1982, he was a maintenance supervisor for Central Bergen Association, Garfield, where he worked for 15 years. He also worked for Forstmann Woolen Mills, Garfield. He was a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Kostka R.C. Church, Garfield. He was scoutmaster of Troop 19 and Troop 37. Arrangements: Alesso Funeral Home, Lodi.
FRANKLIN B. OSTERHOUDT, 61, of Butler died Wednesday. He had been a custodian for the Fair Lawn Board of Education, where he worked for 12 years. Previously, he worked for Owens-Illinois Co., Riverdale. Arrangements: Richards Funeral Home, Riverdale.
GORDON O. PALMER, 86, of Mesa, Ariz., formerly of Cliffside Park, died Monday. He was born in England and came to the United States in 1956. He had been an embroidery designer for Weiner Laces, Cliffside Park, and Carollace, Edgewater. He was a Mason. Arrangements: Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, Mesa.
ANNA C. ZAWISHA POZNICK, 82, of Clifton died Wednesday. She was a parishioner of St. Brendan R.C. Church, Clifton. Arrangements: Gorny & Opuda Lakeview Memorial Home, Clifton.
FRANCIS A. REILLY, 38, of Carlstadt died Wednesday. He worked for New Penn Motor Express, Kearny, and was a member of Teamsters Local 641. Arrangements: Kimak Funeral Home, Carlstadt.
CHRISTOPHER D. RITCHIE, 43, of Ramsey died Tuesday. He was a Navy veteran. Arrangements: Van Emburgh-Sneider Funeral Home, Ramsey.
HELEN K. SIGTERMANS, 96, of Saddle River and Bergenfield died Wednesday. She had been a cafeteria manager for National Food Management Service, Long Island, N.Y. Arrangements: Riewerts Memorial Home, Bergenfield.
ROSALIND B. BISSELL SOBOL, 64, of Belleville died Thursday. Before retiring four years ago, she was a teacher in the Clifton school system, where she worked for 40 years, and was a member of the New Jersey Education Association and the Clifton Teachers Association. She was a graduate of Douglass College, New Brunswick, and received a master's degree from Kean College, Union. Arrangements: S.W. Brown & Son Funeral Home, Nutley.
JOSEPH SPATUZZA, 72, of Lodi died Wednesday. He was born in Italy. Before retiring in 1978, he was a factory worker for Northeast Cardboard Co., Bergenfield. He was a parishioner of St. Joseph R.C. Church, Lodi. He was a member of the Lodi Senior Citizens. Arrangements: Aloia Funeral Home, Garfield.
GERTRUDE STEINER-LAY of Ridgefield died Wednesday. She was born in Switzerland and came to the United States in 1924. She was a lace designer and owned Steiner Studio. She was a graduate of Douglass College, New Brunswick. Arrangements: Frank A. Patti & Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home, Fort Lee.
CHARLES W. "BUDDY" STRAUCH, 94, of Catawissa, Pa., formerly of Saddle Brook, died Thursday. Before retiring, he was a self-employed cabinetmaker and carpenter. He was a charter member of the Saddle Brook Ambulance Corps. Arrangements: Wulfert Funeral Home, Catawissa.
EDITH M. PALERMO TAYLOR, 87, of Little Ferry, formerly of Palisades Park, died Thursday. She had been a seamstress. She was a parishioner of St. Michael R.C. Church, Palisades Park, and a member of its Rosary Society. She was a member of the Palisades Park Senior Citizens Club. Arrangements: Volk-Leber Funeral Home, Palisades Park.
JOSEPH TRUNCELLITO, 94, of Allendale, formerly of Fort Lee, died Thursday. Before retiring, he was an architectural designer and co-owned Mastro Lumber and Millworks, Union City. Subsequently, he was a consultant to building contractors. He was a graduate of Cooper Union. He founded the Architectural Woodwork Institute and his millwork was featured in Architectural Digest. He taught estimating and drafting at the City College of New York Extension. He was past president and Man of the Year of the Fort Lee Lions Club. He was an Honor Guard for the Knights of Columbus in Cliffside Park. Arrangements: Vainieri Funeral Home, North Bergen.
EDITH ALLAN VONDERHORST, 83, of Wayne, formerly of Paterson, died Wednesday. She had been a seamstress for Lobell Co., Paterson, and Haband Co., Prospect Park. She was a parishioner of St. Agnes R.C. Church, Paterson. Arrangements: Moore's Home for Funerals, Wayne.
RUTH A. WOERTZ, 62, of Lyndhurst died Wednesday. She had been an office administrator for the Lyndhurst Parks Department for 31 years. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church, Lyndhurst. She was a past president and former member of the Board of Education, former member of the Fire Department auxiliary, president of the Lions Club, and a member of the Republican Club, all in Lyndhurst. Arrangements: Nazare Memorial Home, Lyndhurst.
