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.

HELEN BLANCK, 89, of the Covered Bridge adult community of Manalapan died May 10 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she lived there prior to moving to Manalapan 22 years ago. She was predeceased by her husband, Murray Blanck in 1984. She is survived by two daughters, Marleen Servetah of Howell, and Nancy Steinberg of East Windsor; and three grandchildren.

HELEN COLEMAN, 83, of Colts Neck died May 10 Center for Hospice Care at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Born in Jersey City, she resided in Colts Neck 54 years. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck. Her hobbies included vegetable gardening, and horseback riding and horses. She is survived by her husband, Charles Coleman of Colts Neck; her son, Michael Coleman of Mercerville section of Hamilton; two daughters and one son-in-law, Patricia and Bruce Green, and Barbara Coleman, all of Colts Neck; and three granddaughters. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck. Interment was at Old Tennent Cemetery, Manalapan.

JUNE IDA HAWKES, 66, of the Morganville section of Marlboro died May 10 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Iselin, she lived in the Robertsville and Morganville sections of Marlboro. She is survived by two sons, James R. of Jackson and Richard R. of Cranbury; two brothers, William Fink of Fall River, Mass., and George Fink of Iselin; a stepbrother, John Richards of Boonton; a stepsister, Carol Downs of Island Heights; and three grandchildren. Graveside services were held at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan, with the Rev. Myrna Bethke, pastor of First United Methodist Church of Freehold, officiating.

FORREST D. WELLS, 76, of Silver Ridge Park West, Berkeley, died May 13 at home. Born in Newark, he had lived in Maplewood for many years before moving to Silver Ridge Park West 12 years ago. He worked as supervisor of quality control at Sherwin-Williams Paint Co., Newark, for 48 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving from 1944 to 1946. He was a communicant of St. Maximilian Kolbe Roman Catholic Church, Toms River. He was a member of the St. Barnabas Church Knights of Columbus, Berkeley; American Legion Post 408, Newark; and the Silver Ridge Park West Men’s Club. He also was a volunteer for the Community Medical Center Transportation Department. He is survived by his wife, Marie; a son and daughter-in-law, Forrest and Margaret Wells of Linden; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Robert Kinsley of Farmingdale; one brother; three sisters; and two grandsons. The funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

MARION CONWAY MATTHEWS, 83, of Freehold Township, died May 14 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Freehold, she was a lifelong resident. She co-owned with her husband Matty’s Auto Body, Freehold, for more than 30 years. She was a former school bus driver for Freehold Regional High School. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband, Warren "Matty" Matthews in 1987. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Leanne M. and Philip Knice, and Patricia M. and Stuart Plank, all of Freehold Township; her brother, William F. Conway of Freehold Township; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima. Interment was at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

CORNELIUS G. "NEIL" BEGLEY JR., 48, of Freehold Township, died May 15 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Queens, N.Y., he was raised in East Northport, N.Y. He was vice president of human resources for American Express, New York City, where he was employed for the past 17 years. A 1975 graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y., he was a field artillery officer serving several tours of duty in Korea. He was assigned to the 72nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., and was a member of the staff and faculty at the U.S. Military Academy. While at West Point, he was a first team all-East Division I football player. He retired from the U.S. Army after 10 years of service with the rank of major. He was a graduate of Columbia University, New York City, where he earned a master of arts degree in organizational development. He was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township, where he was a Eucharistic minister. He was a board member and coach for the Freehold Township Little League; a coach in the Freehold Township recreation soccer and basketball programs; and a member of the Christian Brothers Academy Fathers Club. He is survived by his wife, Marilyn "Lyn"; three sons, 1st Lt. Cornelius G. III, assigned to the U.S. Army 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, Matthew of San Diego and Timothy, at home; a brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Gayle Begley of Katy, Texas; a sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Harry Clark of East Northport, N.Y.; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Peter and Mary Ellen Griffin, Dr. Thomas Griffin, Dr. Mary Ellen Rybak, and Tom and Kathy McGuinness; several nieces and nephews; and countless friends. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

ANTHONY SABATINO, 59, of Freehold Township, died May 15 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in New York City, he resided in Waldwick before moving to Freehold Township 15 years ago. He was a self-employed investment and insurance broker. He was a communicant of and Eucharistic minister to hospitals for St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Jeanne Romeo Sabatino of Freehold Township; three sons and one daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Brenda Sabatino of Howell, Mark Sabatino of Freehold Township, and Christopher Sabatino of Trenton; his brother and sister-in-law, Peter and Nancy Sabatino of Staten Island, N.Y.; two grandsons; two brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Robert Bellarmine Church. Entombment was at Forest Green Park Mausoleum, Marlboro.

IDELLA GREENE, 61, of Freehold died May 16 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Burke County, Ga., she was a lifelong resident of Freehold. She was a school crossing guard for the borough of Freehold before her retirement. She is survived by two sons, Walter Gill of Howell and James Cook of Freehold; three daughters, Patricia Dukes of Freehold, Della Gill of Freehold and Tanya Cook of Asbury Park; three brothers, John H. Holmes Jr. of Rochelle, Johnny Holmes of Manchester and Robert Holmes of Lakewood; three sisters, Ella Dotson of Manchester, Catherine Walker of Dover, Del., and Lessie Holmes of Englishtown; 19 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at New Hope Baptist Church, Freehold.

KATHERINE BATCHELOR MARGARETTA, 82, of South Amboy, died May 18 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was a lifelong resident of South Amboy. She was employed at the South Amboy Public Library for 19 years, retiring in 1987. Prior to that, she was a homemaker. She served as president of Friends of the Library following her retirement. She was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy. She was predeceased by her husband, John Margaretta in 1979; a son, Jack Margaretta in 1944; a sister, Maybelle Stewart; and two brothers, Mel and C. Leslie Batchelor. She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, John and Elaine Margaretta of Freehold, William and Toni Margaretta of Burlington, David and Irene Margaretta of Old Bridge, and Rick and Danielle Margaretta of Ocean Gate; three daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Richard Van Reed of South Amboy, Kathy and Robert Vlcej of the West Keansburg section of Hazlet, and Leslie Ann and Joseph Demeter of South Amboy; three sisters, Ada Lie of Morgan, Mary Ford of South Amboy, and Dorothy Freiwald of East Brunswick; 14 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was at St. Mary’s Church, South Amboy. Interment was at Christ Church Cemetery, South Amboy. Memorial donations may be made to the Dowdell Library of South Amboy, 100 H.G. Hoffman Plaza, South Amboy 08879, or the South Amboy First Aid Squad, P.O. Box 328, South Amboy 08879.