Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

RICHARD JOSEPH YUHAS, 56, of Jackson, died April 16 at home. He was born in Englishtown and had lived in Millstone, prior to moving to Jackson in 1990. He was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, Manalapan, for the past 29 years. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. He was a graduate of Freehold High School, class of 1963. He was predeceased by his father, James Joseph in 1988 and his sister, Patty Ann Yuhas. Surviving are his mother, Cassy Kelich Yuhas; eight brothers, James of Jackson, David of Pennsylvania, Michael J. of Englishtown, Philip of Virginia, Victor of Freehold, Frederick of New York State, Vincent of Englishtown, and Anthony of Manalapan; four sisters, Barbara Stevens of Tucson, Ariz., Stella Earp of Pennsylvania, Dorothy Lamberson of Englishtown, and Ann Marie Yuhas of Mount Holly; and many nieces and nephews. Interment was in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.

ROSE MARIE PALUMBO ZUCCARO, 87, of Monroe, formerly of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died May 6 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Her husband, Frank J. Zuccaro, died in 1990. Surviving are a son, Frank J. Zuccaro of Monroe; two daughters, Shirley Carney of the Morganville section of Marlboro and Judith Marcy of Edison; two brothers, Anthony Palumbo of the Toms River section of Dover and James Palumbo of Barnegat; two sisters, Mary Persico of Sunrise, Fla., and Connie DeFeo of Fair Lawn; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Bernadette’s Church, Parlin section of Old Bridge. Entombment was in Clover Leaf Memorial Park Mausoleum, Woodbridge.

STEPHEN CASELLA, 77, of Howell, died May 2 at Kessler Institute, West Orange. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in Lakewood before moving to Howell 25 years ago. He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II in the European Theater. He was a former member of the Teamsters, Local No. 560. He was a truck driver for Eastern Freightways in Carlstadt and New Brunswick until his retirement in 1975. Surviving are his wife, Philomena Casella; a son, Dennis Casella, and a daughter Janet Zerilli, both of Howell. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood. Interment was in Brigadier General William C. Doyle New Jersey Veterans Cemetery, Arnytown.

MARIAN CHEESEBROUGH, 67, of the Adelphia section of Howell, died May 2 at home. She was born in Pottsville, Pa., and had lived in Erie, Pa., before moving to Howell in 1968. She was a former member of the Adelphia Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Pottsville, Pa. She worked at Hubers Road Stand and Cicone Farms, both Howell. Surviving are her husband, Thomas R. Cheesebrough; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas R. II and Kim Cheesebrough of Jackson; two brothers, William Thompson of Pottsville, Pa., and Robert Thompson of Sanford, Mich.; four sisters, Betty Ryndock of Minnersville, Pa., Ruth Livingston of York, Pa., Doris Kreps of Friedensburg, Pa. and Kathryn Schaeffer of Ping Grove, Pa.; and two granddaughters. Interment was in Pottsville, Pa.

SHIRLEY IDA S. GREENFIELD, 80, of the Bayville section of Berkeley, died May 3 in Tallwood Care Center, Bayville. Born in Newark, she resided in Piscataway and Lakewood, and wintered in Ocala, Fla., before moving to Bayville. Mrs. Greenfield was a former member of Deborah Heart and Lung Foundation. She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin W., in 1999. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Leslie Greenfield of Freehold Township; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rona and Kenneth Oshin of Forked River, and Michelle and William Kelley of Washington Township; two sisters, Sophie Magod and Anita Feuer, both of Florida; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Interment was in Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Memorial donations may be made to the Rett Syndrome Association, 9121 Piscataway Road, No. 2B, Clinton, Md. 20735.

ANNA SHWAHLA, 99, of Howell, died May 7 at home. She was born in Passaic, and had lived in Bayonne, before moving to Howell in the 1930’s. She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, South River. She was a homemaker and owner of a blueberry farm in Howell. She was predeceased by her husband, Steven in 1986, and her son, Steven, died in 2001. Surviving are a son, Paul of Howell; a daughter, Mary Shwahla of Howell; two sisters, Helen Holland of Lakewood, and Olga Norkus of Manasquan; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild. Services were held at Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, South River. Interment was in Sts. Peter and Paul Cemetery, South River.

EDITH BURKE DEMUTH, 62, of Howell, died May 8 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Manhattan, N.Y., she moved to New Jersey in 1968 and lived in Manalapan for more than 20 years before moving to Howell three years ago. She graduated from the Convent of the Sacred Heart on 91st Street in Manhattan, then she worked as an assistant buyer with B. Altman & Co. In 1980, she became a sales representative for Verizon until she retired last year. She was a former president of the Monmouth Heights Swim Club Board of Trustees. She was predeceased by her husband, Andrew. Surviving are four sons and a daughter-in-law, Andrew of Freehold, Joseph and Christopher, both of Howell, and William and Tracie of Farmingdale; a daughter, Adrianne of Long Branch; two brothers, Adrian and Frank Burke; and an aunt and uncle, Mimi and Francis Martin. A Mass was offered at St. Gabriel’s Church, Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.

MARY ELLA KRAUTWATER GRIFFIN, 78, of Applewood Estates, Freehold Township, died May 4 at home. Born in Springfield, Ohio, she graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and taught school in Ohio before moving to Columbia, Mo. A resident of Freehold Township for 36 years, she previously had lived in Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo., Golden, Colo., and Milwaukee, Wis. Mrs. Griffin had been a substitute teacher in Old Bridge. She was a volunteer for the Girl Scouts and at Freehold Area Open Door food pantry for many years. She also had been a volunteer at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, for 30 years, with more than 5,500 hours of service, and was named Volunteer of the Month last September. She also received the Monmouth Park Charity Ball’s Outstanding and Unselfish Service Award and was nominated for the 2001 Outstanding Service Award. As a charter member of the New Jersey State Federation Molly Pitcher Woman’s Club of Freehold for more than 35 years, she served in many different offices and in 2001 was placed on the honor roll of the New Jersey State Federation of Women’s Clubs. She was a member of the Christian Women’s Club and the Freehold Art Society. She was a member of Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, Tennent section of Manalapan, and served the Presbyterian church as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, moderator of deacons and circle leader. Mrs. Griffin is survived by her husband of 56 years, William L.; a daughter and son-in-law, Mary D. and William T. Pahl of Delanco; two granddaughters; a sister-in-law, Patricia Krautwater of Springfield, Ohio; a brother-in-law, Dr. Leland M. Griffin of Evanston, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Old Tennent Church, followed by interment in the church cemetery.

PAUL N. ROCKAFELLOW, 91, of Freehold Township, died May 5 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Little York, he lived in Keansburg, Red Bank, Middletown, Keyport and Millstone Township before relocating to Freehold Township. Mr. Rockafellow was vice president of Rockafellow Construction Co., Matawan. He was a member of the Reformed Church of Freehold. He was predeceased by his wife, Frances Hyer, who died in 1994; and a daughter, Betty R. Rockafellow, in 1993. He is survived by a son, Bertram N. Sr. of Freehold Township; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Private graveside services were held at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

JOHN "JACK" WISH, 65, of Freehold, died May 6 at home. Mr. Wish was a liquor salesman for Federal Wine & Liquor, Kearny, and previously was a bus driver for Lincoln Transit. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, a member of Freehold Council No. 1672 Knights of Columbus, a member the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 54, all of Freehold. He was also a member of the Foresters Club of Lakewood. Mr. Wish is survived by his longtime companion, Janet Piontek of Freehold; three sons and two daughters-in-law, John of Freehold, James and Pamela of Farmingdale, and Jeffery and Ann of Howell; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Patricia Wish of Englishtown; two sisters, Patricia McKeanna of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Dorothy Breese of Freehold Township; and two grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment in the parish cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.