Obituaries

Frances Flerx

Mrs. Flerx, 80, of Westfield, died Feb. 12 at Sunrise Assisted Living, Marlboro. Born in Plainfield, she had lived in Scotch Plains before moving to Westfield. She was a surgical fitter for Williams Surgical Co., Plainfield. After retiring, she worked part time at Personal Touch, Scotch Plains, and Shepherd’s Nook, a Christian bookstore in Cranford. She was a member of the Hydewood Park Baptist Church, North Plainfield, for more than 50 years, throughout which she served as a deaconess, church librarian, nursery school coordinator and Sunday school secretary, as well as a Pioneer Girls leader. She was also a volunteer for both the Second Westfield Senior Citizens Housing Corp. and Runnells Specialized Hospital of Union County, Berkeley Heights. Mrs. Flerx was predeceased by her husband, Christian E. Flerx, as well as a brother, Sam Romano, and a sister, Josephine Van Sant. Surviving are a son, Christian F. Flerx; a daughter and son-in-law, Darlene McGrath-McCullion and Joseph McCullion of Manalapan; a sister and brother-in-law, Lillian and Earl Herbst; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Hydewood Park Baptist Church, with the Rev. Miche Moniguet officiating. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Hydewood Park Baptist Church Sunday School Program, 100 Norwood Ave., North Plainfield 07060.

Flavio “Robert” Ricelli

Mr. Ricelli, 66, of Freehold Township, died Feb. 13 at home. Born in Manhattan, N.Y., he had lived in North Bergen before moving 20 years ago to Freehold Township, where he was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church. Prior to retiring in 1998, he owned Encore Trucking of South Kearny for 18 years. He was also an exalted ruler of Elks Lodge 1357, Union City. Surviving are his wife, Ernestine Trani Ricelli; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Rosemary and Charles Maratta of Toms River, and Brenda Aparicio, Denise and Frank Santiago, and Judith and Robert Douglas, all of Freehold Township; and 12 grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, followed by interment at St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, Marlboro. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Barbara M. DuBois

Mrs. DuBois, 94, of Freehold, died at John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold. Born in Worcester, Mass., she resided in Freehold for most of her life and worked as a secretary for A&M Karagheusian rug mill, Freehold, for 21 years. She was then employed by McGraw-Hill for 14 years. She was also a member of the American Legion Unit 54 of the Ladies’ Auxiliary. Mrs. DuBois was predeceased in 1994 by her husband, Harvey. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, John and Jeanne DuBois of Freehold; a daughter, Judy DuBois of Howell; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Frances Johannen

Mrs. Johannen, 54, of Little Silver, died Feb. 15 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., she resided there before moving to Little Silver. Mrs. Johannen was a registered nurse and in-home practitioner for the Monmouth County Office of the Handicapped. She was also a volunteer counselor. She was predeceased by her parents, Elizabeth and Mario Galliano. Mrs. Johannen is survived by her husband, Charles Johannen; three children, Donna Grillo of Old Bridge, Anthony Grillo of Freehold, and Chantall Grillo of Woodbridge; two stepsons and their wives, Colin and Alice Johannen, and Kevin and Megan Johannen; and four grandchildren. The John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, was in charge of arrangements.

Joan Blake Bohinc

Mrs. Bohinc of Howell died Feb. 15 in Howell. Born in Elizabeth, she resided in Cranford prior to moving to Howell. She was a homemaker. She enjoyed gardening, and the beach. She was predeceased by her husband, John in 1976; and her twin sister, Jean. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Blake Bohinc and Geraldine DiMarco of Holmdel; three daughters and sons-in-law, Victoria and Douglas Wester of Howell, and Christine Bohinc and Detlev Peikert, and Heidi and Robert Casper, all of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a sister and brother-in-law, Patricia Hannis and Hugo Dierkx; a sister-in-law and her husband; two brothers-in-law and their wives; and six grandchildren. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Philip Rubinstein

Mr. Rubinstein, 84, of Covered Bridge, Manalapan, died Feb. 15 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Poland, he emigrated to the United States in 1929 and grew up in Manhattan, N.Y. He had lived in Edison for 20 years and in East Brunswick for five years before moving to Covered Bridge six years ago. Prior to retiring in 1981, Mr. Rubinstein owned R&S Shoes Inc., Avenel, for 20 years. A member of Knights of Pythias, Rahway, he enjoyed taking pictures and making home movies. He was predeceased in 1973 by a brother, Hyman. Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Esther; three daughters and a son-in-law, Marsha Levine of Edison, Susan Rubinstein of Red Bank and Sandra and Ken Conti of Lyndhurst; a brother, Morris Rubinstein; three sisters, Bella Wolf, Molly Lockspeiser and Frances Epstein, all of Florida; and four grandchildren, Randi, Jaclyn, Simon and Michael. Services were held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902; or the Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation, 36 Front St., Crosswicks 08515.

John Egresits

Mr. Egresits, 88, of Freehold, died Feb. 16 at home. Born in Kophaza, Hungary, he had lived there and in Austria, Germany and England before moving to the United States in 1951. From 1960-1975, he was a chef at the American Hotel, Freehold. He subsequently worked as a chef at the Kings Grant Inn in Point Pleasant, the River House in Rumson, Green Meadows in Colts Neck and Applewood Estates in Freehold Township. During World War II, he was a first lieutenant in the Hungarian Army. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, where he also served as an usher. Surviving are a niece, a nephew, two grandnieces and two grandnephews, as well as family in Europe. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Laugelli Coldon

Mrs. Coldon, 85, of Eatontown, and formerly Long Branch, died Feb. 17 at Jersey Shore Care Center, Eatontown. Born in Long Branch, she was a lifelong resident of the area. Mrs. Coldon was a secretary at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, for 25 years before retiring. She was a communicant of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Long Branch. Mrs. Coldon was predeceased by her husband, George Coldon, in 1985. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Rosemary Coldon of Howell; a grandson; one niece; and two nephews. Interment was at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. The Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch, was in charge of arrangements.

Donald J. Carroll

Mr. Carroll, of Freehold, died Feb. 17 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., he had lived in Freehold for the past 30 years. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind., he was president of DCA Communications, New York City, prior to retiring. Mr. Carroll served in the critical skills program in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, where he served as a Eucharistic minister, and was also a member of the Men’s Group at St. Veronica’s Church in Howell. Surviving are his wife, Marie DeCarlo Carroll; two daughters and a son-in-law, Maryann Carroll and John Shea, and Kathleen Carroll, all of Neptune; and a niece, Tara Manno of Allentown, Pa. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Chapel, Freehold. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Rose of Lima School Development Fund, 51 Lincoln Place, Freehold 07728.

Margaret “Peg” Stillwell Duncan

Mrs. Duncan, of Virginia Beach, Va., formerly of Freehold, died Jan. 19 at her daughter’s home in Virginia Beach. Surviving are two daughters, Dianne and Joan; a son, Miguel; and six grandchildren. A funeral home in Virginia was in charge of arrangements.

Sam Tave

Mr. Tave, 91, of Freehold, died Feb. 17 at The Manor Care Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he had lived in the Englishtown area for most of his life and also in Florida for several years. Prior to retiring in 1977, he owned Tave Poultry Farm, Manalapan, for 35 years. He was a member of Congregation Sons of Israel, Manalapan, for more than 60 years. Mr. Tave was predeceased by his wife, Blanche, in 1977 and a brother, Morris. Surviving are three sons, Dennis Tave of Freehold, Stuart Tave of Wall Township and Lawrence Tave of Dallas; a brother, Irving Tave of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; a sister, Sarah Feder of Monroe; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. Services were held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan, followed by interment at Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery. Shiva is being observed Feb. 20-23 (Sunday through Wednesday) at the Tave residence in Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the Congregation Sons of Israel Educational Fund, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan 07726.

Doris J. Forman

Mrs. Forman, 79, of Neptune City, died Feb. 17 in Oldsmar, Fla. Born in Marlboro, she had lived there for more than 60 years before moving to Neptune City five years ago. She was a child-care provider for more than 20 years and a member of the Old Brick Reformed Church in Marlboro. Mrs. Forman was predeceased by her husband, Frank Forman, in 1996 and a brother, Willard Emmons. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Frank Jr. and Diane Forman of Neptune City; two daughters and a son-in-law, Donna Emery of Howell, and Gail and Andre Thomas of Hazlet; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Louise Emmons of Marlboro; seven grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, with the Rev. Ben Lin officiating. Interment followed at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to the Old Brick Reformed Church, 490 Route 520, Marlboro 07746; or the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902.

Eric John “Rickey” Maxfield

Mr. Maxfield, 40, of Brick, died Feb. 18 at home. Born in Neptune Township, he was raised in Howell and was a graduate of Howell High School. He was a self-employed painter. Mr. Maxfield was predeceased by his mother, Suzann Milocik Maxfield. Surviving are two sons, Richard Maxfield of Brick and Eric Maxfield of Jackson; his father and stepmother, Norman Jr. and Joyce Maxfield of the New Egypt section of Plumsted; two brothers, Nicholas Maxfield of New Egypt and Michael Maxfield of Howell; his maternal grandmother, Anna Milocik of Jackson; and his paternal grandmother, Olive Theodor of Howell. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.