Obituaries

Eleanor Willett Davis

Mrs. Davis, 85, of Matawan, died Nov. 27 at home. She had lived in Englishtown for 62 years and in The Willows, Holmdel, for three years before moving with her husband to Matawan three months ago to live with her youngest daughter and son-in-law. Mrs. Davis was a bank manager for Shadow Lawn Savings and Loan Association, Englishtown, for 17 years before her retirement 23 years ago. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Englishtown, where she served as a deacon and elder and was a member of the Women’s Circle. She was a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, Monmouth Courthouse Chapter, and Order of the Eastern Star, Molly Pitcher Chapter No. 198, both of Freehold. Mrs. Davis was predeceased by a daughter, Virginia Leigh Davis, in 1945. Surviving are her husband, Frederick L. Davis; three daughters and sons-in-law, Jacare Lynne and John Bethea of Bakersfield, Calif., E. Leta Davis and Norman Hood of Hamilton Township, and Holly G. and Richard Ingram of Matawan; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Englishtown on Sunday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 50 Main St., Englishtown 07726; or The Susan G. Komen Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, is in charge of arrangements.

Clara Helen Potenza

Mrs. Potenza, 87, of Jackson, died Nov. 19 at Bartley Health Care Nursing & Rehabilitation, Jackson. Born in New York City, she had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., and then in Freehold before moving to Jackson three years ago. She was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. Mrs. Potenza was predeceased by her husband, Frank, in 1990, as well as two brothers and two sisters. Surviving are a son, Rocco Potenza of Freehold; three daughters, Virginia Merola of Freehold Township, Angela Marmo of Montville and Debra Potenza of Howell; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, followed by interment at Pinelawn Memorial Park, Pinelawn, N.Y. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

David S. Kuperberg

Mr. Kuperberg, 85, of Freehold Township, died Nov. 20 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in New York City, he had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., for 60 years and in Manchester Township for 25 years before moving to Freehold Township earlier this year. Mr. Kuperberg was employed at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York City, until his retirement in 1985. Prior to that, he operated David’s Store for Men, Brooklyn. He a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was among the servicemen who landed at Normandy during the first four hours of the D-Day invasion. He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Brooklyn. His wife of 61 years, Etta Kuperberg, died in 2003. Mr. Kuperberg is survived by two sons, Mitchell Kuperberg of Mountain View, Calif., and Nelson Kuperberg of Freehold; a daughter, Roberta Rosenfeld of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two sisters, Florence Friedman of Jerusalem, Israel, and Beatrice Montross of Cheyenne, Wyo.; two grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A service was held at the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, with military honors. Memorial donations may be made to Deborah Hospital, 212 Trenton Road, Browns Mills 08015.

Mary Jacob Martin

Mrs. Martin, 89, of East Brunswick, formerly of South River and Englishtown, died Nov. 22 in Willowcreek Rehabilitation and Care Center, Somerset section of Franklin. Prior to her retirement in 1969, she was employed as a seamstress with M&M Sportswear, South River, where she worked for 20 years. Her husband, Peter Martin, died in 1969. Surviving are a nephew, Joseph R. Jacob of South Amboy, and a niece, Marion Bates of Trenton. Services were held at Maliszewski Funeral Home, South River. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River.

Julia DiRusso

Mrs. DiRusso, 90, of Freehold, died Nov. 21 at Applewood Estates, Freehold Township. Born in New York City, she had been a resident of Freehold Township for the past four years. Mrs. DiRusso worked as a cashier for union Local 144 in New York until her retirement. She was predeceased by her husband, Benedetto DiRusso, in 1970. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Loreta and Anthony Emanuel of Freehold; a brother, John Blyn of Long Island, N.Y.; a sister, Helen Sepanski of Lynbrook, Long Island; and two grandchildren. A graveside service was held at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Michael J. Barkalow

Mr. Barkalow, 52, of Cookstown, died Nov. 22 at Kennedy Health Systems, Cherry Hill. He was born in Neptune Township and had resided in Freehold before moving to Cookstown two years ago. Mr. Barkalow was a graduate of St. Rose of Lima School and Freehold High School, both Freehold, and William Paterson University, Wayne. He worked for many title insurance companies in Freehold and the surrounding areas. Surviving are his parents, James R. and Patricia Sweeney Barkalow; three brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Sharon, Daniel and Kathy, and David and Jane Barkalow; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Rick Kalinauskas, and Colleen and Edward Doody; and 12 nieces and nephews. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Veronica Coyne

Mrs. Coyne, 92, of Freehold, died Nov. 22 at The Manor Care Center, Freehold Township. Born in Jersey City, she had lived in the Freehold area for more than 70 years. She worked as a winder for A&M Karagheusian rug mill for 25 years, and was subsequently employed by the A&P supermarket of Freehold for 21 years, retiring in 1976. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, as well as a member and former president of the St. Rose Senior Citizens Club. Mrs. Coyne was predeceased in 1972 by her husband, Jerome P. Coyne. Surviving are two daughters and a son-in-law, Patricia and Russell Rue of Manalapan, and Joan Budnick of Sarasota, Fla.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and a close friend, “Skippy” Gawron. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Chapel, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905; or the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) of Central Jersey, 141 Bodman Place, Red Bank 07701.

Robert Daniel Gerrity

Mr. Gerrity, 68, of Long Beach, N.Y., died Nov. 22 at his daughter’s home in Freehold. He was born in New York. Mr. Gerrity was a stationary engineer for the New York City Department of Corrections before his recent retirement. He was predeceased by his mother, Evelyn Grace Marano. Mr. Gerrity is survived by his father, Anthony Marano of Yonkers, N.Y.; three children, Barbara Gerrity, Robert Gerrity, and Donna Gerrity and her husband, Richard, all of Freehold; two grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Karen Gerrity of New York; a nephew; a niece; and a grandniece. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.