Obituaries

Vincent Phillip Masi Jr.

Mr. Masi, 60, of Bradley Beach, died May 19 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune Township. Born in Irvington, he had lived in Jackson before moving to Bradley Beach one year ago. Mr. Masi was a master baker for Pennant Foods, Chicago. Prior to that, he and his family owned and operated Vincent's Cookie Cupboard in Manalapan and Freehold. He also was a baking teacher at Burr D. Coe Vocational High School, East Brunswick. He was a graduate of Woodbridge Vocational Technical High School and had attended Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus, Freehold Council No. 1672, and a former Boy Scout leader in Freehold. Mr. Masi was predeceased by his father, Vincent P. Masi Sr., and a sister, Barbara Kaminski. He is survived by a son, Vincent Charles Masi of Bradley Beach; two daughters and a son-in-law, Kimberly Ann Masi of Freehold, and Amy Elizabeth and Douglas Bost of Milltown; his mother, Rita Rondeau of Jackson; a brother, Frank Masi of Jackson; two grandchildren, Michael Dellachiaie and Alyssa Bost; his former wife, Clare Celano of Freehold; and his former mother-in-law, Sophie Celano. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center St., Freehold, Tuesday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, Wednesday, May 24, at 10 a.m., followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

John Kowalski

Mr. Kowalski, 85, of Freehold Township, died May 9 at St. Barnabas Hospice, Long Branch, after a battle with kidney disease. Born in Bayside, N.Y., he moved to Freehold Township in 1929. Mr. Kowalski worked as an apprentice weaver in the A & M Karagheusian rug mill from 1939 to 1942, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS LCI 346 as a motor machinist and was stationed at various ports throughout the Pacific Ocean during World War II. After the war, he briefly continued his employment at the rug mill and later became a career salesman. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mr. Kowalski was predeceased by his wife, Helen, in 1999, after 52 years of marriage. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Gerard and Shannon Kowalski, and three grandchildren, all of Monmouth Beach; a brother, Teddy Kowalski of Santa Barbara, Calif.; a sister, Jean DeVito of Groton, Conn.; and several nieces, nephews and friends. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to COSAC, 1450 Parkside Ave., Suite 22, Ewing 08638. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Raymond C. Boyce

Mr. Boyce, 84, of Toms River, died May 13 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Englishtown, he had lived in Point Pleasant for 10 years before moving to Toms River 13 years ago. He was a mechanic for Sunoco, Old Bridge, for 40 years before retiring in 1985. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he operated tanks and other machinery, Mr. Boyce was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. He was predeceased by his wife, Ruth, in 1984, and two brothers, Richard and Frank Boyce. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Raymond Jr. and Elizabeth Boyce of St. Albans, Vt.; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Eansley and Jean Boyce of Robertsville, Granton and Harriet Boyce of Little Egg Harbor, Emil and Faith Boyce of Denver, N.C., and Hartson and Linda Boyce of Matawan; a sister and brother-in-law, Alta and Fred Peterson of Forked River; and three sisters-in-law, Diana and Eva Boyce, both of Freehold, and Elizabeth Vitolo of Toms River. Funeral services were held at the Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan.

Christine Towers

Mrs. Towers, 56, of Freehold Township, died May 9 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived in Brooklyn and Old Bridge before moving to Freehold Township. Mrs. Towers was a legal secretary for Cleary-Gottlieb, New York City. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She is survived by her husband, Larry Towers; a son, Brian, and a daughter, Jennifer, both of Freehold; two brothers, Jim Cherry of Seminole, Fla., and Jack Cherry of Port Jefferson, N.Y.; and two sisters, Diane of Brooklyn, and Lori of Florida. Interment took place at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Lucille Gambale

Mrs. Gambale, 61, of Freehold Township, died May 11 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had resided there before moving to Freehold Township 19 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mrs. Gambale is survived by her husband, James; a son and daughter-in-law, James and Donna Gambale of Brooklyn; two daughters and sons-in-law, Laurie and Andrew Guarraci of Clermont, Fla., and Lisa and Jon Goldbetter of Freehold Township; her mother, Mary Petito of Staten Island, N.Y.; a sister, Marianne Liguori of Staten Island; and six grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by entombment at St. Gabriel's Mausoleum, Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Evelyn L. Backfisch Hibberd

Mrs. Hibberd, 85, of the Cliffwood Beach section of Old Bridge, died May 12 at her daughter's home in Aberdeen. She was born in Maplewood. Mrs. Hibberd was a purchasing agent at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy, for 25 years, retiring in 1992. She was a member of the Laurence Harbor First Aid Squad. She was predeceased by her husband, George H. Hibberd, in 2002; a brother, Charles Backfisch; and two sisters, Margaret Auth and Dorothy Esslinger. Mrs. Hibberd is survived by four daughters, Donna Kipila of Barnegat, Denise Reisert of Aberdeen, Debra Ordner of Hope Valley, R.I., and Dawn Bittner of Freehold; a brother, Robert Backfisch of Virginia; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Keyport, followed by interment at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, was in charge of arrangements.

Judith Ann (Leek) Procopio

Mrs. Procopio, 63, of Manalapan, died May 18 at home after a 15-month battle with cancer. She grew up in southern New Jersey and lived in Maplewood for several years before moving to Manalapan in 1978. Mrs. Procopio was a teacher, beginning at West Orange High School and later at Hillel Yeshiva in Ocean, the Freehold Regional High School District, and St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel. She is survived by her husband of more than 40 years, Anthony; a daughter and son-in-law, Laurie P. and Gary Floyd of Howell; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Maureen Procopio of Eugene, Ore.; her father, Robert Leek of Little Egg Harbor; two brothers and a sister-in-law, James Leek of Manahawkin, and Dennis and Marianne Leek of Marlton; two grandsons; and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Cremation was held at the convenience of the family. A Mass will be offered Wednesday at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan. The family will receive friends and relatives at the M. David DeMarco Funeral Home, 205 Rhode Hall Road, Monroe Township, Tuesday 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Judith A. Procopio Scholarship Fund, c/o Manalapan High School, Church Lane, Manalapan 07726.