RUTH HOPE, 89, of Freehold Township died Jan. 12 at home. Born in Newark, she resided in Freehold Township since 1935. She was an assembler at Air Cruiser’s Company, Wall Township, for 24 years, retiring in 1976. She was a communicant of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband, Albert J. Hope in 1989; a grandson, R. Michael Hope in 1997; and a sister, Marie Mount. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, William J. and Patricia Hope of Howell Township, and James A. and Bonnie J. Hope of Manasquan; her daughter and son-in-law, Ruth Ann and David Piatowski of Freehold Township; her brother, John Henzler of Monroe Township; four sisters, Catherine Dye of Hightstown, Helen Jemison of Monroe Township, and Irene Archer and Janet McKnight of the Whiting section of Manchester Township; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Jan. 15 from 4-8 p.m. at Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold. A funeral service will be Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Freehold First Aid Squad, 18 Spring St., Freehold, 07728; or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Building Fund, 31 Throckmorton St., Freehold 07728.

ELEANOR B. DALE of Freehold died Jan. 7 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was a lifelong resident of Freehold. She was a secretary for the Freehold Learning Center for 20 years, retiring in 1981. She was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church of Freehold, and a charter member of Battleground Country Club, Manalapan. She was a former member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 1454 Auxiliary, and a former member of Molly Pitcher Chapter No. 198 Order of the Eastern Star, both Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband, Andrew E., in 1994. She is survived by a sister, Ruth Morris of Freehold; and several nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 18 at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

AMELIA KOHN, 85, of Freehold, died Dec. 8 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born in New York City, she resided in Perth Amboy most of her life before moving to Freehold 15 years ago. She was secretary to the business administrator of the Perth Amboy Board of Education for 25 years, retiring in 1983. She was a life member of the Perth Amboy Chapter of Hadassah, and a longtime member of the sisterhood of Temple Beth Mordecai, Perth Amboy. She was predeceased by her husband, Sidney Kohn, in 1999; a daughter, Jerilyn Kohn, in 1964; a sister, Ethel Sarlitt; and a brother, Sam Stern. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Ronna and Richard Silberberg of Freehold; two sisters, Carol Cohen of Toms River and Lenora Holt of California; and three grandchildren. Interment was at Beth Israel Memorial Park Cemetery, Woodbridge. Memorial donations may be made to Temple Beth Shalom, 108 Freehold-Englishtown Road, Manalapan 07726.

ROSE PETRENKO, 93, of Freehold Township died Jan. 7 at The Manor, Freehold Township. Born in Newark, she had lived in Hillside, Springfield and Lakewood before moving to Freehold Township two years ago. She was a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell for more than 30 years, retiring 28 years ago. She was a member of the National Czechoslovakian Society. She was predeceased by her husband, John, in 1993. She is survived by two sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law, Irene and Henry Mihaly of Freehold Township, and Dorothy Petrenko of Lakewood; three nieces; two nephews; one grandniece; and three grandnephews. A graveside service was held at Evergreen Cemetery, Hillside.

HEDY STRZEPEK, 62, of Howell died Dec. 27 at home. Born in Poland, she lived in Freehold Township for 22 years before moving to Howell 10 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She was a homemaker. Surviving are her husband, Stanley; a son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Debra of East Windsor; two daughters and sons-in-law, Suzanne and Robert Solat of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Linda and John Quast of Naperville, Ill.; two brothers, Kazimierz Iwachow of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jakub Iwachow of Wallington; and seven grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold. Interment was in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.

LYNN SCATURRO, 46, of Marlboro, formerly of Sayreville, died Dec. 29 at home. Surviving are her husband, Robert Pommerencke; her parents, Charles and Arlene Scaturro of Spotswood; five sisters, Carol Scaturro of the Somerset section of Franklin, Jan Marie Hillyer and Reyne Scaturro, both of Spotswood, and Melany Scaturro and Mary Beth Scaturro, both of North Brunswick; her grandmother, Marie Eagles of Rochester, N.Y.; and many nephews and nieces. A Mass was offered at Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Entombment was in Holy Cross Mausoleum, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the American Cancer Society.

HARRY E. BROWN, 78, of Old Bridge died Dec. 30 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Surviving are his wife, Muriel Holman Brown; five sons, Glen of Lakewood, Steven of Manalapan, Donald of Cary, N.C., Thomas of Bayville and William of Old Bridge; a daughter, Judith Frank of Jackson; a brother, Art; two sisters, Margie and Ruth; and nine grandchildren. Services were held at Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge. Interment was in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown section of North Hanover.

ARNOLD LEVITON, 66, of Manalapan died Dec. 30 at New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home, Edison. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived there for 32 years before moving to Manalapan 34 years ago. Mr. Leviton was a controller for more than 40 years. A U.S. Army veteran, he served during the Berlin crisis. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias, Battleground Lodge, Manalapan, where he was a past chancellor commander. Mr. Leviton is survived by his wife, Barbara; two sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen and Susan Leviton of Manalapan, and David and Celia Leviton of Jackson; a daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and David Goldberg of Manalapan; a brother and sister-in-law Elliot and Jacquie Leviton of Houston; a sister and brother-in-law, Lenore and Dan Kann of Houston; and five grandchildren. Services were held at Mount Sinai Cemetery, Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Edison.

RICHARD PAUL THOMPSON, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died Dec. 30 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Newark, he resided in Union before moving to Port Monmouth 47 years ago. Mr. Thompson was employed at Jaejer Lumber Co., Madison, for 15 years, retiring in 1992. Prior to that, he was a foreman at Dairy Lee, Newark, for 40 years. Mr. Thompson is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bertha Paaz Thompson; a son, Richard Paul Thompson Jr. of East Stroudsburg, Pa.; two daughters, Lynn Halvorsen of Howell and Kathy Klein of the Clarksburg section of Millstone; a brother, Kenneth Thompson of Port Monmouth; two sisters, Violet Sohlgren of Florida and Marge Arnold of South Carolina; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Burial was at Graceland Memorial Park, Kernilworth.

EDWARD C. CINNIRELLA, 76, of Freehold Township died Dec. 31 at Bartley Health Care Nursing and Rehabilitation, Jackson. Born in Queens, N.Y., he had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., before moving to Freehold Township in 1994. Mr. Cinnirella was an electrical engineer for Unisys, Great Neck, Long Island, N.Y., for 40 years, retiring in 1981. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. Mr. Cinnirella was predeceased by his wife, Mollie, in 1994. Surviving are his daughter, Donna Cinnirella, with whom he lived; and his friend, JoAnna Cacciatore of Freehold Township. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, followed by entombment in St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702; or the New Jersey Chapter of Parkinson’s Disease Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, One Robert Wood Johnson Place, New Brunswick 08901.

PATRICIA CUMMINGS KRUSE BURKHARD, 85, of Winchester, Va. died Jan. 2 at Winchester Medical Center, Winchester. Born in Freehold, she had lived in Jackson before moving to Winchester. Mrs. Burkhard was a professional dancer on Broadway and later was a teacher in the Freehold Township schools for 25 years. She was a graduate of Georgian Court College, Lakewood. Her first husband, Edwin Kruse, died in 1981, and a sister, Gresilla Maher, died in 1999. Mrs. Burkhard is survived by her husband, Henry F. Burkhard; two sons, Brian Kruse of Ramsey and Emil Kruse of Dover, Del.; two daughters, Edwina Byrne of Winchester and Karen Garrison of Glassboro; 14 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, followed by interment in the parish cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to Covenant House, P.O. Box 731, Times Square Station, 340 W. 42nd St., New York, NY 10108-9998.

ALEX J. VINCE, 87, of Farmingdale died Jan. 3 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Roda, Va., he lived in New Brunswick before moving to Farmingdale in 1938. He and his father-in-law, George W. Matthews, owned and operated George W. Matthews Chevrolet, Farmingdale, for 36 years. He retired in 1976. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale; the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce; and the Free and Accepted Masons, Olive Branch Lodge No. 16, Freehold. He was a former president of the Kiwanis Club, Farmingdale, and a former member of the Manasquan River Golf Club, Brielle. He had been a member of the Advisory Board of the Central Jersey Bank & Trust, Freehold. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vera Matthews Vince; a son and daughter-in-law, George R. and Louise Vince of Lincoln, Vt.; a daughter and son-in-law, Virginia G.V. and William Yakow of Farmingdale; a sister, Mary Walter of Hobe Sound, Fla.; two grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and two cousins. The Rev. Dr. Wayne Richards officiated at the funeral service, which was followed by interment in Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Farmingdale, 8 Main St., Farmingdale, 07727.

MICHAEL BILLOTTI, 50, of Freehold Township died Jan. 3 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He practiced law for many years, most recently for Atlas Cupco North America, Pinebrook. Surviving are his parents, William and Emily Billotti of Staten Island, N.Y.; five brothers and four sisters-in-law, William and Bryson of Cape Cod, Mass., Thomas and Anna of Holtsville, N.Y., Paul of Indian Lake, N.Y., Robert and Rose of Jackson, and David and Adriana of Staten Island; a sister and brother-in-law, Annmarie and John of San Francisco; a niece; three nephews; and a goddaughter. Interment took place at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan.

EUGENE ANTON WILLIAM ERNST SR., 93, of Farmingdale died Jan. 6 at home. Born in the Vailsburg section of Newark, he resided in Livingston before moving to Farmingdale in 1962. He was the founder and president of Eugene Ernst Products Co., Farmingdale, for 35 years. Prior to that, he was the owner and operator of a family business where his children are also employed, Ernst Water Column & Gage Co., Livingston, for 40 years. He was predeceased by his brothers, George Ernst, Goswin Ernst, and Frederick Ernst. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Kathleen Anne Ernst of Farmingdale; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Eugene A.W. and Kathleen S. Ernst Jr. of Farmingdale, John A. Ernst of Manchester, and Roger P. and Laurie H. Ernst of Cream Ridge; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen A. and Spencer Wickham of Wall, and Janet L. and Richard McCoid of Spring Lake; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson. The Rev. Cliff Whitehead presided over the funeral service. Interment was at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold.

HARRIET M. LEVESQUE, 95, of Lakewood died Jan. 3 at home. Born in Gothburg, Sweden, she had lived in Millstone before moving to Lakewood 27 years ago. Mrs. Levesque was a homemaker and kennel owner. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Perrineville section of Millstone. She was predeceased by her husband, Maurice Antonio Levesque, in 1972; and a son, Pierre Levesque, in 1942. She is survived by a daughter, Madeline E. Thompson of Howell; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church, followed by interment in the parish cemetery.

ANGELA E. BUTLER, 82, of Manalapan died Jan. 8 at home. Born in Astoria, N.Y., she lived in Massapequa Park, N.Y., before moving to Manalapan in 1985. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her husband, William, in 1988. She is survived by three sons, William of Manhattan, N.Y., John of Carmel, N.Y., and Timothy of Forest Hills, N.Y.; two daughters, Pamela Bromann of Wheaton, Ill., and Peggy Feehan of Manalapan; a brother, Anthony Ragonesi of Chesterton, Md.; a sister, Frances Martino of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, Lincroft, followed by interment at Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel. Memorial donations may be made to St. Leo the Great Endowment Fund, 550 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft 07738.

MOLLIE METZ, 85, of Manalapan died Jan. 7. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had been a resident of the Covered Bridge section of Manalapan for 21 years. She was a homemaker. She was active in the Hadassah and Deborah chapters as well as recreation activities of Covered Bridge. She was predeceased by her husband, Harry, in 1994. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Perry Schwartz of Freehold Township, and Laura and Gerald Bursey of Manalapan; a brother, Stanley Boykoff; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Services were held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to: National Parkinson Foundation Inc., 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave., Miami, FL 33136.