Obituaries

JOYCE H. BRERETON, 79, of Freehold Township died July 15 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Spring Lake, she had lived in Red Bank before relocating to Freehold Township more than 50 years ago. Mrs. Brereton was a secretary for the YMCA, Freehold Township, for 10 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of Colts Neck Reformed Church, Colts Neck, and the American Association of Retired Persons. She was a volunteer at CentraState Medial Center, Freehold Township, and was a Red Cross nurse’s aide during World War II. She also was an organist at the Shrewsbury Reformed Church for many years. Mrs. Brereton was predeceased by her husband, Thomas J. Brereton; a daughter, Joyce Susan Brereton; a brother, Harry K. Estelle; and a sister, Marjorie Schmidt. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas H. and Cindy Brereton of Freehold Township; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan J. and Jack Coffey of Freehold Township; a sister, Barbara Menzel of Eatontown; and three grandchildren. Interment took place at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

JOSEPH GAJ, 78, of Freehold died July 16 at home. Born in Otalez, Mielec, Poland, he lived in Germany before moving to Freehold in 1951. Mr. Gaj was a maintenance employee at the 3M Co., Freehold Township, for 25 years before retiring 17 years ago. Before that, he was a custom weaver for the A&M Karagheusian Rug Mill, Freehold. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mr. Gaj is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anna Kirkitcha Gaj; two sons and daughters-in-law, Marian and Kathy Gaj of Millstone, and Paul and Donna Gaj of Howell; a sister, Cecilia Sienkowski of Allentown; and four grandchildren. Interment took place at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

FRANCES E. WEITZ, 80, of Freehold died July 18 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where she resided until moving to Freehold in 1986. Mrs. Weitz was an office manager for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Piscataway, for 25 years, retiring in 1989. She was a sergeant first class in the U.S. Army during World War II. She was a member of the American Legion Post 54, Freehold, and appears in the Women’s Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. She was predeceased by her husband, Ernst D., in 1978; and two brothers, Salvatore and Albert DiPaolo. Mrs. Weitz is survived by six nephews, one niece, and her friends Rita and Stephanie and their children. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Bayside, N.Y., followed by interment at Long Island National Cemetery, Pine Lawn, N.Y. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Monmouth Unit, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

ANN M. MOORE, 84, of Howell died July 19 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Byram, Conn., she resided in Lakewood before moving to Howell. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her husband, Ellsworth Moore, in 1981. She is survived by three sons, Carl Bohack Sr. of Howell, Abram Moore of Brick, and Ellsworth Moore of Lakewood; two brothers, Frank Bohacs of Florida, and Julius Bohacs of Connecticut; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Arrangements were under the direction of C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia.

ELIJAH "SLICK" JENKINS SR., 67, of Freehold died July 20 in a fire at Walter J. Conley Elks Lodge No. 1379, Freehold. Born in Waynesboro, Ga., he was a resident of Freehold for more than 50 years. He was caretaker of the Walter J. Conley Elks Lodge, and a former employee at Silvert’s Furniture Store, Freehold. He was a life member and trustee of Walter J. Conley Elks Lodge No. 1379, and enjoyed cooking and serving meals to Lodge members. He is survived by three sons, Darryl Jenkins of Leesburg, Fla., Rodney Jenkins of Freehold, and Daniel Crudup of Lakewood; four daughters, Debbi Jenkins of Long Branch, Michelle Jenkins of Farmingdale and Sheila Crudup and Diparah Dixon-Jenkins, both of Freehold; two brothers, Elike Jenkins and Nathan Wesby, both of Freehold; six sisters, Lena Hoffman of Philadelphia, Essie Oglesby of Englishtown, Elizabeth Williams of Farmingdale, Carrie Jenkins of Lakewood, Martha Wiggins of Virginia Beach, Va., and Rose Edwards of Freehold; 16 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Arrangements were by Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold.

IRMA ROSE MARCUS, 69, of Marlboro died July 21 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she resided in Marlboro the past 33 years. She was the office manager for Dr. Michael Baskin, Freehold Borough, retiring in 1995. She is survived by her husband, Martin Marcus of Marlboro; two daughters and sons-in-law, Linda and Donald Rusch of Indian Lake, N.Y., and Nancy and Mark O’Leary of Clinton; her sister, Judith Gambert of Brooklyn; and six grandchildren. Interment was at Forest Green Park Cemetery, Marlboro.

RUTHIE MAE PITTS, 69, of Freehold died July 22 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Shorter, Ala., she had lived in Englishtown before moving to Freehold in 1970. Mrs. Pitts was a nurse’s aide at the Pine Brook Care Center, Manalapan, for 25 years before retiring due to illness. She attended the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband, David Lee Pitts, in 2001. Mrs. Pitts is survived by two sons, David Pitts Jr. and Willie J. Pitts, both of Freehold; four daughters, Shirley Kelly of St. George, S.C., Bertha Cobbs and Bonnie Porter, both of Freehold, and Barbara Ann Salaam of Willingboro; two brothers, David Fitzpatrick of Clearwater, Fla., and Charlie Fitzpatrick of Montgomery, Ala.; three sisters, Doris B. Rowell of Tuskegee, Ala., Catherine Fitzpatrick of Montgomery, Ala., and Jessie Fitzpatrick of Detroit; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan.