Obituaries

Celia Hunko

Mrs. Hunko, 95, of Freehold Township, died Oct. 4 at home. She was born in New York City and grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y. She and her husband moved to Englishtown in 1952 and then to Freehold Township in 1985. She moved to The Villages, Howell, in 2000 and relocated to Freehold Township last year. Mrs. Hunko worked, managed and helped to establish Knob Hill Golf Course, Manalapan, from its inception in 1963 until her retirement in 1989, when the golf course was sold. She continued her catering business until the age of 89. She was predeceased by her husband, Roger Hunko, in 1996; a son, Robert Hunko, in 1946; and her siblings, Pat Cianci, John Cianci, Fannie Frediani, Tessie Guida, Ida Corleto, Olga Montevago and Eleanor Pearlman. Mrs. Hunko is survived by her children, Barbara A. Wagner of Freehold, Roger and Kathleen Hunko of Bremerton, Wash., and Suzanne Hope of Freehold Township; a former son-in-law, D. Bruce Wagner, and his wife, Maureen; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902.

Frances M. Bastedo

Mrs. Bastedo, 93, of Freehold, died Oct. 10 at Care One at Jackson. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, she resided in Freehold and Southern Pines, N.C., before moving back to Freehold. She was a seamstress in the Freehold area and had worked as a chef in Southern Pines, N.C. She was a former member of The Reformed Church of Freehold. Mrs. Bastedo was predeceased by her son, Donald, in 1996; three brothers, John, Robert and George "Scottie" Gillespie; and two sisters, Margaret MacClellan and Lyla Kilgour. She is survived by her husband, Harry, of Jackson; a brother and sister-in-law, Douglas and Virginia Gillespie of Howell; a brother-in-law, William Bastedo of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Ruth B. Ohlberg of Jackson; a granddaughter; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held at the Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Edward Charles Buck

Mr. Buck, 79, of the Belford section of Middletown, died Oct. 5 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Born in Newark, he resided in Northern New Jersey, prior to moving to Belford 43 years ago. He was a machinist at General Motors, Linden, for 27 years, retiring in 1982. Following retirement, he was a maintenance worker for Red Bank Regional High School, Little Silver, for 11 years, retiring in 1994. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2433, Union; American Legion Post No. 515, Middletown; and Sandy Hook Veterans Historical Society. He was a volunteer for The Arc of Monmouth County, Tinton Falls. He was an avid bowler with The Shadow Lake Bowling League, Shadow Lake section of Middletown, and received the highest average award for the 2005-06. He was predeceased by his wife, Carol Ann Hagermann Buck in July; and a son-in-law, Michael Connors in September. He is survived by three daughters and one son-in-law, Susan Marie Buck of Belford, Maryanne Marie and Scott Motherway of Manalapan, and Maureen M. Connors of Hazlet; a sister, Dorothy McNally of Union; three brothers, Robert, William and Charles Buck, all of Union; and three grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was held at St. Mary's Church. Burial was at Bay View Cemetery, Leonardo section of Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.

Bradley H. Gray

Mr. Gray, 75, of Old Bridge, died Oct. 8 at Cranbury Center, Monroe Township. Born in Jersey City, he resided in Old Bridge most of his life. He was a banker at Chase Manhattan Bank, New York City, for 35 years, retiring in 1982. Mr. Gray was a member of Nativity Evangelical Lutheran Church, East Brunswick. He was a member of the Old Bridge Civic Association, a founding member and secretary/treasurer of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers Auto Racing Club, and a member of the Garden State Vintage Stock Car Club. He was predeceased by his wife, Barbara Lehan Gray, in 1998. Mr. Gray is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Donna and Lenin Simicich of Freehold, and Linda Curry of North Brunswick; two sons and daughters-in-law, Brian and Amy Gray of Old Bridge, and Thomas and Kathleen Gray of Jackson; his mother-in-law, Amelia Lehan; and 12 grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, followed by interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Catherine "Cay" Soyer

Mrs. Soyer, 71, of Freehold, died Oct. 8 at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. She resided in Queens, N.Y., prior to relocating to Freehold seven months ago. She was an executive assistant at Allen & Company, New York City, retiring in 2005. She attended the Church of St. Ignatius, New York City. She was a former member of the Malba Women's Club, and Garden Club, Queens. She is survived by her husband, Frank Perricone; two sons and daughters-in-law, Colin and Maura of Oceanport, and Adam and Renate of Kingston, N.Y.; a daughter and son-in-law, Victoria and Roger of New York City; and five grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Oct. 12 at 10 a.m. at Church of The Precious Blood, Monmouth Beach. Arrangements are by Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. Memorial donations may be made to Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1005 Fifth Ave., New York City, NY 10028.

Jacqueline Carmellino

Mrs. Carmellino, 93, of Manalapan, died Oct. 5 at The Manor Care Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived in Staten Island, N.Y., before moving to Manalapan five years ago. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mrs. Carmellino was predeceased in 1982 by her husband, Philip. Surviving are three daughters and a son-in-law, Joan and William Micciulli, Rosemarie Carmellino and Virginia McAteer, all of Manalapan; a brother; Paul Falco of Staten Island; a sister, Camille Fey, also of Staten Island; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Mary Evelyn Thomas Denton

Mrs. Denton, 78, formerly of Marlboro, died Sept. 16 in Charlottesville, Va. She was born in Merigold, Miss. Mrs. Denton was a Democratic committeewoman in Marlboro as well as Marlboro's Democratic Club president and Democratic municipal leader. She became New Jersey's first woman business administrator by serving as Marlboro's business administrator for six years. She also was the Marlboro Township clerk for four years. She was active in many aspects of community life, serving in PTAs, as a Cub Scout den mother, a Little League baseball scorekeeper, an officer of the American Legion Auxiliary, and on the Marlboro Industrial Committee. In 1980 she and her husband moved to Charlottesville, Va., where she served as Democratic committeewoman in the Walker District of Charlottesville for several years. She was a charter member of the Charlottesville Senior Center as well as the Senior Investment Club and the Senior Golf Group. Mrs. Denton was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, James Price Denton, and a son, James Thomas Denton. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, G. Byron and Jo Ann Denton of Marlboro, and Blake O. and Paula Denton of Port St. Joe, Fla.; and six grandchildren.