Obituaries

Josephine "Chickie" DeMaria

Mrs. DeMaria, 88, of Middletown, died March 20 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she resided there before moving to Middletown 25 years ago. Before her retirement in 1979, Mrs. DeMaria was a bank teller at the Dime Savings Bank, Brooklyn, for 21 years. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert DeMaria; and four sisters, Fannie, Millie, Margie and Mary. She is survived by a son, Robert DeMaria of Freehold; a daughter, Claudia Marsiello of Middletown; a brother, Pat Sorrentino of Lakewood; a sister, Anne Russo of Hazletown; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. March 22. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered March 23 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial will be at Ocean View Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y.

John J. "Pete" Bennett

Mr. Bennett, 86, of Freehold Township, died March 17 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was the former proprietor of the Battleground Inn, Colts Neck, and the Country Inn, Freehold Township. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having served in the European-African-Middle East campaign. He was predeceased by three sisters, Margaret Harvey, Jan Hawkshurst and Catherine Riley; and three brothers, Albert Jr., Francis and Walter Bennett. Mr. Bennett is survived by his wife of 59 years, Helen; four sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert and Scott Bennett, both of Freehold Township, Jeffrey and Janet Bennett of Ocean Township, and Ronald and Valerie Bennett of Jackson; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center St., Freehold, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. The interment will follow at the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown, Burlington County, at 11 a.m.

Joseph H. Chiarantano

Mr. Chiarantano, 67, of Jackson, died March 18 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he had resided there until moving to Jackson two years ago. Before his retirement in 2003, Mr. Chiarantano was an operating engineer for Operating Engineers Union Local 94 in New York City for 20 years. He served in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve. He was a member of the Central Jersey Italian American Cub, Jackson, and the Jackson Township Republican Cub. Mr. Chiarantano is survived by his wife, Camille; two daughters and sons-in-law, Maria and Gino Mallamaci of Manalapan, and Catherine and Michael Aiello of Cedar Grove; and six grandchildren. Friends and family may call Tuesday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, 344 Route 9 north, Manalapan. A funeral liturgy will be celebrated Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, followed by entombment at Marlboro Memorial Cemetery, Marlboro.

Genevieve "Jean" Fortunato

Mrs. Fortunato, 96, of Howell, died March 7 at The Manor, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had been a resident of the Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Freehold in 1972 and then to Pinewoods Assisted Living, Howell, three years ago. Mrs. Fortunato was a homemaker. She was a member of the Senior Citizens Group of Freehold and St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She was predeceased by her husband, Vincent, in 1978; and a brother, Howard Molisani, in 1987. Mrs. Fortunato is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John and Maryanne Fortunato of Freehold; two sisters, Marian Davis of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Gloria Sergi of New Rochelle, N.Y.; a brother, Clarence Molisani of Lake George, N.Y.; two grandsons; and three great-grandsons. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Eugene F. Savage

Mr. Savage, 77, of Whiting, died March 7. Born in Detroit, he had lived in Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Rhode Island before moving to New Jersey. Mr. Savage was employed in the field of graphic arts and also owned The Chowder Pot restaurant, expanding to 11 franchises over 22 years. He retired in 1989. He served as president of Toastmasters in 1955 and was a past president of the Keyport Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Cedar Glen Lakes Writers Guild and a founder of the Alcoholics Anonymous chapter at Faith Reformed Church, Hazlet. Mr. Savage was predeceased by an infant son, David Eugene. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Helen Confer Savage; four daughters and sons-in-law, Janelle and John Deaver of Freehold, Joan and Angelo Randazzo of Brick, Patricia and Bray Barnes of Toms River, and Kim and Robert Brightman of Freehold Township; a brother and sister-in-law, Louis and Antoinette Savage of Watermill, N.Y.; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at DeGraff Lakehurst Funeral Home, Lakehurst. Memorial donations may be made to the American Parkinson's Disease Association, P.O. Box 214, Elizabeth 07207.

Kathleen Mary O'Neill Collins

Mrs. Collins, 46, of Englishtown, died March 8. Born in Jersey City, she was a lifelong resident of the Englishtown and Manalapan area. Mrs. Collins is survived by her husband, Christopher; her parents, John and Regina O'Neill of Manalapan; a brother, Timothy O'Neill of Belcamp, Md.; three sisters, Arlene DeFrances of Manalapan, Karen Hancheck of Southampton, and Carol Cantello of Manassas, Va.; and 14 nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at Our Lady of Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Englishtown, followed by interment at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Perrineville section of Millstone. The Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Angelina Gouvernel

Mrs. Gouvernel, 79, of Jackson, died March 8 at Newark Beth Israel Hospital. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived in Freehold Township for more than 20 years before moving to Jackson in 1986. Mrs. Gouvernel was a quality control inspector for Carter Wallace, Cranbury, for seven years before retiring in 1995. Prior to that, she worked for Worthington Biochemical Co., Freehold Township. She was a member of the Altar Rosary Society of St. Monica's Church, and a member of Seniors Who Care, both in Jackson. Mrs. Gouvernel was predeceased by her husband, George, in 1974; and a brother, Frank, in 2004. She is survived by a son, George Gouvernel of Riverside; three daughters, Lily Ann Kafka and Connie Crossen, both of Jackson, and Susan Ferro of Fischerville, Va.; two brothers, Vito Mastromarino of Barnegat and John Mastromarino of Staten Island, N.Y.; a sister, Mary Sherman of Massapequa, N.Y.; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, both in Freehold Township. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Dorothy J. Hancorn

Mrs. Hancorn, 79, of Wall Township, died March 8 at Ocean Medical Center, Brick. She was born in New Brunswick and had lived in Elizabeth, Rahway and Iselin before moving to Wall in 2004. Mrs. Hancorn was an administrator at Singer Inc., Port Elizabeth. She was predeceased by her husband, George, in 1996. She is survived by a daughter, Susan Hancorn of Freehold. The Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, was in charge of arrangements.