Obituaries
Michael J. Shea

Mr. Shea, 64, of Easton, Pa. died Dec. 22 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Hazlet for 20 years before moving to Easton. Mr. Shea was employed by Equitable Insurance, New York City, N.Y. He served in the U.S. Army and was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church, Keyport. He was survived by his former wife, Suzanne Simeone; two sons, James Shea, Hazlet and Robert Shea, Allentown, Pa.; a daughter, Christine Shea, Freehold; and a sister, Margaret Sonda, Brooklyn, N.Y. Services were held at the Day Funeral Home, Keyport. A Mass was offered at St. Joseph’s Church, Keyport, followed by interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.

Jeanette Kantor

Mrs. Kantor, 95, died Dec. 22 at the Central New Jersey Jewish Home, Somerset. Born in Poland, she arrived in the United States in 1935 and lived in Brooklyn most of her life, moving to Somerset six years ago.

She was predeceased by her husband, Abel, in 1960 and a son, Irving, in 1996. Mrs. Kantor is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Lee and Daniel Gaynor, Monroe Township; and Grace and Mal Silverman, Freehold Township; a daughter-in-law, Joan Cantor, Jackson Township; six grandchildren; and nine great grandchildren. Services were held at Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, followed by interment at New Montefiore Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y.

Leonard Sonenthal

Mr. Sonenthal, 77, of Clark died Dec. 22 at home. He was born in Newark and lived in Clark for the past 35 years. Mr. Sonenthal was a retired police lieutenant with the city of Newark for 33 years, retiring in 1987. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police, PBA and Retired Supervisor Officer Association, all in Newark. Mr. Sonenthal is survived by his wife, the former Doris Ades; two daughters, Mindy Morelli, Freehold, and Shari Rodriguez, Linden; a brother, Carl Sonenthal, Woodbridge; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson. Arrangements were handled by the Goldstein Funeral Chapel Inc., Edison, and graveside services were held at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge.

Malita L. Palmer

Mrs. Palmer, 93, of Howell died Dec. 23 at Bartley Manor, Jackson. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived in Bloomfield, North Caldwell, Bayonne and Manalapan before moving to Howell. She was employed at Steinbach department store, Manalapan, for several years. She was a communicant of St. Veronica’s Roman Catholic Church, Howell; a former communicant of St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro, where she was also a member of the Rosary Society; and a member of the Molly Pitcher Women’s Club, Freehold Township. She was predeceased by her husband, Alfred Palmer, in 1972. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, William A. and Carol Palmer of Wayside; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia A. and Thomas A. Gillis of Howell; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Veronica’s Church, followed by interment at St. Catharine’s Cemetery, Wall Township. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Greater New Jersey Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Suite 251, Denville 07834.

Hannah Arnovits Riemer

Mrs. Riemer, 89, of Scranton, Pa., died Dec. 25 at the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, Scranton. Born in Scranton, she had lived in Freehold for more than 30 years before returning to Scranton 17 years ago. She had attended Westchester State Teacher’s College in Pennsylvania, and for more than 25 years, she and her husband had owned and operated Pinky’s Tot-To-Teen Shop, Freehold, before her retirement in 1976. She was a member of Congregation Agudath Achim and Hadassah, both Freehold. She enjoyed playing the piano, knitting, baking and telling jokes. She was predeceased in 1976 by her husband, Abraham Riemer. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Debra Robin and Jack Macnamara of Ulster, Pa.; a sister, Ruth Strohl of Scranton; two grandsons; and many nieces and nephews. Graveside services were held at the Hebrew Benefit Society Cemetery, Freehold Township, with Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements.

Tessie Struyf

Mrs. Struyf, 84, of Manalapan, died Dec. 25 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Scranton, Pa., she had lived in Freehold before moving to Manalapan 48 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. She was predeceased in 1979 by her husband, Henry J. Struyf. Surviving are a son, William H. Struyf of Des Moines, Iowa; two daughters, Peggy M. Moore of Manalapan and Joan Ann Tvaroha of Howell; a brother, Frank Ginko of Lakewood; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Donald J. Kazlauskis

Mr. Kazlauskis, 78, of Jackson died Dec. 25 at home. Born in Freehold, he had resided in Jackson since 1956. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he worked as an inside salesman for Weyerhaeuser Co., Freehold, for 30 years before retiring in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Helen Saulich Kazlauskis; a son, Kenneth Kazlauskis; a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Raymond Davis; and two sisters, Sophie Layton of Freehold and Alice Lamont of Englishtown. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Raymond A. Brundage

Mr. Brundage, 66, of Howell, died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Newark, he had lived in Union Beach for most of his life before moving to Howell one year ago. He was a truck driver for Sunshine Biscuit, Parlin, for 15 years before retiring in 1996. Prior to that, for 10 years he was a police officer in Union Beach. A U.S. Army Korean War veteran, he was a member of American Legion Post 0023, Keyport. He is survived by his wife, Judy; a son, John Brundage of Old Bridge; two daughters, Stacey Smith of Howell and Missy Panella of Jackson; and seven grandchildren. Services were held at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge, followed by entombment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Agnete Hjort Schmidt

Ms. Schmidt, 86, of Lyndhurst, died Dec. 26 at Colts Neck Village, Colts Neck. Born in Perth Amboy, she had resided in Lyndhurst before moving to Freehold Township in 2001. She was employed by Western Electric as an executive secretary for 42 years until her retirement in 1982. She was an active member of the former Second Presbyterian Church in Newark. She is survived by a sister, Marion Weber of Freehold Township; a niece, Laurie Klesitz of Howell; two nephews; two great-nieces; and four great-nephews. A funeral service was held at the First Presbyterian Church, Freehold, with Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 118 W. Main St., Freehold 07728.

Christeen Margaret Green Thompson

Mrs. Thompson, 93, of Freehold Township died Dec. 26 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Long Branch, she had lived in Freehold for the past 72 years and was a child care provider. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Freehold, and Order of the Eastern Star, Molly Pitcher Chapter No. 198, also in Freehold. She was predeceased in 1989 by her husband, W. Thurston Thompson. Surviving are two sisters, Edna Brister of West Long Branch and Florence Palmer of Port Richey, Fla. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, with the Rev. Myrna Bethke, pastor of the First United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment followed at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Order of the Eastern Star services were also held. Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 91 W. Main St., Freehold 07728; or to the Freehold Fire Department Memorial Fund, 49 W. Main St., Freehold 07728.

James Crotchfelt

Mr. Crotchfelt, 61, of Freehold, died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Neptune Township, he had lived in Freehold all his life and was an aide at the John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township. Prior to that, he was employed at Goetz’s Citgo Station, Freehold. Surviving are a brother, Robert Crotchfelt of Millstone, and a sister, Ann Heege of Jackson. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Nina Karen Louise Saunders

Mrs. Saunders (née Marsh), 49, of Manalapan, died Dec. 27 at home. Raised in New Providence, she graduated from the former Overlook Hospital School of Nursing, Summit. She was active in the Manalapan Booster Club, where she served on the executive board for several years and for which she was elected president for one term. She was team mother for the Manalapan High School football players, coordinating their annual banquet for 11 years, as well as their reunion dinner. Surviving are four sons, Christopher, Thomas, Kevin and Douglas, and their father, Thomas G. Saunders, all of Manalapan; her mother, Carol Marsh of Flemington; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert L. and Eloise Marsh of Shamong; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Christine and Joseph Boselli of Haverford, Pa., Kathleen and Michael Sabbagh of Flemington, and Carol and Timothy O’Keefe of Chicago; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Barbara and John Gasparini of Oceanport; an uncle; seven nieces; and two nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan, followed by burial at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Central Jersey Chapter, 740 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Ernest Szepessy

Mr. Szepessy, 74, of Freehold Township died Dec. 28 at Burnt Tavern Convalescent Center, Brick. Born in South River, he had lived in the Ironbound section of Newark and in Woodbridge before moving to Freehold Township in 2002. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was a retired truck driver. He was predeceased by his parents, Mary and Bert Szepessy, and a sister, Margaret Smogi. Surviving are a brother and sister-in-law, Bert and Emily Szepessy of Pennsylvania; five grandchildren; three nieces; a great-niece and great-nephew; and longtime friends Rosemarie Wottrich, John and Mary Jo Wottrich, and Peter and Sandy Peckhardt. He was also "Pappy" to Christofer and Erika Peckhardt and Nicole, Johna and Dayna Wottrich. A funeral service was held at the C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia section of Howell, with the Rev. Brian Eble officiating. Interment was private.

Fae Crane

Mrs. Crane, 88, of Parsippany, formerly of Manalapan, died Dec. 29 at St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston. Born in Newark, she had lived in Miami, Chicago, Irvington, Union and Manalapan before moving to Parsippany three years ago. She was a retired comptometer operator with Bristol-Myers, Hillside, who later worked as a bookkeeper for J&H Dinettes in Freehold. She was a member of Hadassah, Irvington, and the Diamond Spring Lodge of New Jersey. She was predeceased by her husband, Jack Crane. Surviving are two sons, Hal Crane of the Morganville section of Marlboro and Marvin Crane of Parsippany; two brothers, Manuel Margolis of Union and Louis Margolis of Cranford; two sisters, Toby Weissman of Queens, N.Y., and Esther Simon of Omaha, Neb.; and five grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Menorah Chapels at Millburn, Union, followed by interment at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin.

Thomas Jeremy Moffa

Mr. Moffa, 43, of Freehold, died Dec. 29 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Neptune, he had resided in Freehold all his life. A history buff, he was a graduate of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, who worked as a medical administrator for Millennium Eye Care, Freehold Township. He is survived by his mother, Margaret Moffa of Freehold; his father, Thomas Moffa of Columbus; and a brother, Richard Moffa of Freehold. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements, which were private.

Christopher Michael English

Mr. English, 22, of Red Bank died Dec. 30 at home. He was a carpenter at Carpenters Local No. 2250, Red Bank. He enjoyed time with his pets and playing the guitar. He is survived by his father, Michael D. English of Red Bank; his mother, Marcie Clarizio of Middletown; two brothers, John English of Freehold and Ben English of Red Bank; his maternal grandparents, Lena and Chris Kluin of Middletown; his paternal grandparents, Anita and John Donohoe of California; his stepfather, John Clarizio of Middletown; and several aunts and uncles. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

Timothy J. Ryan

Mr. Ryan, 61, of Hazlet died Jan. 10 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Staten Island, N.Y., he reside there prior to moving to Hazlet 28 years ago. He was a heavy equipment operator at Governor’s Island, N.Y., for 26 years, retiring in 1996. He served with the U.S. Navy for four years during peacetime. He was a communicant of St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Nicolaisen Ryan; a son, Timothy F. Ryan of Hazlet; two daughters, Sherel Ryan of San Diego and Nancy Ryan of Bangor, Maine; and two sisters, Nancy Williams of Houston and Kathleen Wieber of Howell. A funeral liturgy will be offered Jan. 14 at 10 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment will follow at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, is in charge of arrangements.

Shirley A. Hurle

Mrs. Hurle, 75, of Manalapan died Dec. 30 at home. Born in Newark, she had lived there before moving to Manalapan in 1983. She was a telephone operator for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., Newark, and later worked as a game attendant at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson. She was also a volunteer for Unified Vailsburg, Newark. She was predeceased in 2002 by her husband, Eugene P. Hurle. Surviving are four sons, John Hurle of Manalapan, Kevin Hurle of Parlin, Dennis Hurle of Bayonne and Eugene Hurle of Jackson; three daughters, Kathy Petrone of Union, Jean Ruggiero of Manalapan and Colleen Adinolfi of Freehold Township; a brother, Charles Gauweiler of Jensen Beach, Fla.; a sister, Patricia DiIonne of Churchville, Pa.; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Manalapan, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Robert Soden

Mr. Soden, 69, of Jackson died Dec. 30 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Long Branch, he had lived in South Belmar be­fore moving to Jackson nine years ago. He was a self-employed roofer before his retirement 15 years ago. He was predeceased in 1994 by his wife, Marie Soden, and in 1993 by a son, Robert Frank Soden. Surviving are a daugh­ter, Muriel Roberta Schultz of Jackson; a step­daughter, Heather Ness; three sisters, Evelyn Gasko of Englishtown, Mary Burdge of Howell and Leona Bentz of Bordentown; four grand­daughters; two step-granddaughters; six great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Muriel Ar­lene Beams Soden. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Yola C. Adario Caracciolo

Mrs. Caracciolo, 79, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, died Dec. 31 at home. Born in Cliffwood, she was a lifelong resident. Mrs. Caracciolo was a seamstress. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She is survived by her husband, Frank Caracciolo; a son, Anthony Caracciolo of Marlboro; a daughter, Connie Bisignani of Hopatcong; two sisters, Mary Wallace of Cliffwood and Ann Zduniak of the Wickatunk section of Marlboro; and five grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Entombment was at St. Joseph’s Mausoleum, Keyport. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, was in charge of arrangements.

John Patrick Frayne

Mr. Frayne, 63, of Medford died Dec. 28 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he resided in Holmdel for 30 years prior to moving to Medford in 1997. Mr. Frayne was employed at ICP&L Printing Co., Tennessee, for several years, retiring in 2001. Prior to that, he was national sales manager at Avery Dennison Manufacturing, Framingham, Mass., where he was employed for 24 years. He was active in bird-dog training and was a member of the English Setter Club, Medford. He is survived by his mother, Eileen Frayne of Marlboro; two daughters, Jennifer Gates of Island Heights and Elizabeth Titus of Jamaica, Vt.; a son, John T. Frayne of Middletown; two sisters, Elayne Ryan of Walden, N.Y., and Brenda Keane of Marlboro; a brother, Barry Frayne of Staten Island, N.Y.; his former wife, Margaret Frayne of Medford; and three grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.