Obituaries

Catherine Santoro LaBruno

Mrs. LaBruno, 64, of Monroe Township, died Jan. 24 at home. Born in Jersey City, she resided in Marlboro prior to moving to Monroe Township 16 years ago. She was a clerk at North Bergen Board of Education for 27 years, retiring in 2000. She was predeceased by two brothers, Joseph and Frank Santoro; and a sister, Lucy Melazzo. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Frank; a son, Frank LaBruno Jr.; and a daughter, Stacy LaBruno, all of Monroe Township; a brother, John Santoro Jr. of North Brunswick; and a sister, Phyllis Lavelle of Wood Ridge. Visitation will be Jan. 28 from 1-3 p.m. at The Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 p.m.

Carmela Sirangelo Cofone

Mrs. Cofone, 80, of East Brunswick, formerly of the Parlin section of Sayreville and the Morganville section of Marlboro, died Jan. 16 at home. Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a seamstress with Dora Dress Co., South River, where she worked for 20 years. Her husband, Daniel F. Cofone, died in 1982. Surviving are a daughter, Marie Vieira of East Brunswick; four brothers, Joseph Sirangelo of Jersey City, Albert Sirangelo of Florida, Peter Sirangelo of Long Island, N.Y., and Vincent Sirangelo of Freehold; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Bartholomew’s Church, East Brunswick. Interment was in Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, Iselin section of Woodbridge.

Lila Ruth Illmensee

Mrs. Illmensee, 93, of Colts Neck, died Jan. 18 at Care One at Holmdel. Born in Belhaven, N.C., she had lived in Colts Neck for more than 40 years. Before her retirement, Mrs. Illmensee was a bookkeeper for Illmensee Realtors, a family-operated real estate firm in Colts Neck. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck. She was predeceased by her husband, George V. Illmensee, in 1981. Mrs. Illmensee is survived by two sons, George and Jack Illmensee, both of Colts Neck; two daughters, Lila Faye of Colts Neck and Barbara Meade of East Brunswick; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Mary’s Church, followed by interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown Township. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Walter Louis Horstman

Mr. Horstman, 91, of Freehold, died Jan. 18 at The Manor, Freehold Township. He was born in Erie, Pa., and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. A business administrator, he started in the banking industry in Erie and then went to New York City to work for Cyanamid Corp. as a purchasing agent. He ultimately worked in the business office of Queens College, City University of New York, where he was an assistant business manager and purchasing agent. Mr. Horstman married Annette Jeter of Freehold in 1968 and was active in the drive to build Freehold Area Hospital, now CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. After retiring in 1975, he volunteered at the hospital, helping in the maintenance department, and later became an independent employee. Interment was private. Memorial donations may be made to CentraState Healthcare Foundation, 916 Route 33, Suite 6, Freehold 07728, earmarked for equipment for the Maintenance Department. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Valentina Dopter

Mrs. Dopter, 59, of Manalapan, died Jan. 20 as the result of an accident on Route 9 that also took the life of her husband. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, she and her family immigrated to Brooklyn, N.Y., in 1978 and moved to Manalapan in 1984. She was the owner of Kay Leather Goods, New York City. Mrs. Dopter is survived by her son, Vitaly Dopter of Manalapan; her daughter, Irena Dopter-Davis of Oak Park, Ill.; and a sister, Tamara Dyachenko of Chicago. Burial took place at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. The Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Gerald Greulich

Mr. Greulich, 51, of Freehold Township, died Jan. 20 at home. Born in Neptune, he had been a lifelong resident of Freehold Township. Mr. Greulich was a wood craftsman for Joseph Torchia Construction, Freehold. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Sheet Metal Laborers Union and a member of The Club, Freehold. Mr. Greulich was predeceased by his father, Gerald A. Greulich, in 1964. He is survived by his mother, Carlyn Greulich; a daughter, Jennifer Blaney of Brick; three sisters, Jerlyn Greulich of York, S.C., Jacklyn Greulich of Silver Ridge, Maine, and Jeanette Greulich of Jonas, Pa.; several nieces and nephews; and his friend Kelly Murray of Monroe. Interment will take place in the spring at Silver Ridge Cemetery, Maine.

Gerald Grossman

Mr. Grossman, 88, of Marlboro, died Jan. 20 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he had lived in Long Island, N.Y., before moving to Marlboro 18 years ago. Mr. Grossman was vice president of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and was a union member for 38 years before retiring in 1984. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served as a captain in field artillery. He was a graduate of New York University, where he earned a master’s degree in education. Mr. Grossman is survived by his wife of 64 years, Barbara Grossman; a son, Michael Grossman; a daughter and son-in-law, Laura and Wayne Silverman; and two grandsons. Interment was private, under the direction of the Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to a local Alzheimer’s Association chapter.

Doris Patricia Ticky

Mrs. Ticky, 78, of Freehold Township, died Jan. 20 at The Manor, Freehold Township. She was born in Marlboro and had been a resident of the Freehold area all her life. Before her retirement 13 years ago, Mrs. Ticky had been a cafeteria worker at the Joseph J. Catena School, Freehold Township. Prior to that, she was employed at the Monmouth County Hall of Records, Freehold. Mrs. Ticky was predeceased by her husband, Walter Ticky, in 1995. She is survived by a son, Robert William Ticky, and a daughter, Janis A. Ticky, both of Freehold Township. Funeral services were held at the Reformed Church of Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the Reformed Church of Freehold, 67 West Main St., Freehold 07728; or the American Cancer Society (designated for pancreatic cancer research), 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Le Roy Kinsey Sr.

Mr. Kinsey, 76, of Freehold Township, died Jan. 21 at Care One of Holmdel. Born in New Bern, N.C., he had been a longtime resident of the Freehold area. Mr. Kinsey was a corrections officer, retiring from the Jamesburg Correctional Facility, Monroe, in 1992. He was a member of the Monmouth County Board of Elections for 34 years. Mr. Kinsey is survived by his wife of 57 years, Bettie Kinsey; two daughters, Diana McCrory and Linda Ivory; a son, Le Roy Kinsey Jr.; six brothers, James Reid, Alton P. Kinsey II, Alexis Anderson-Kinsey, Alphonso Moore-Kinsey, William Kinsey and Bruce Kinsey Jackson; four sisters, Thelma Angevine, Bernice Robinson, Lucille Kinsey Moore and Gloria Wester; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Entombment took place at Maplewood Mausoleum, Freehold Township. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.