Obituaries

John William Strollo

Mr. Strollo, 95, of Long Branch, died May 14, 2007, at Gateway Care Center, Eatontown. Born in Long Branch, he was a lifelong resident. He was employed in the security department at Monmouth Park Racetrack, Oceanport. Prior to that, he was employed at Joseph Pingitore Inc., and B & B Beverages for more than 45 years prior to retirement. He was a member of Local 472, Millstone, and the Teamsters Union. He was a parishioner and usher at St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church, West Long Branch. He was a member of Knights of Columbus Council 335, Long Branch. He enjoyed football, baseball, golf and gardening. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Cantalice Strollo in 2006; a brother, Joseph Strollo; and three sisters, Angelina Graziano, Mildred Stone and Carmella Strollo. He is survived by two sons, Carmen J. Strollo of Freehold, and John R. Strollo of West Long Branch; three daughters and sons-in-law, Carmella and Alfred Caruso of Summerfield, Fla., Marie and John DeVito of the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township, and Helene and Fred Corcione of West Long Branch; a brother, Dominic "Nick" Strollo of Oceanport; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Jerome's Church. Interment was at Woodbine Mausoleum, Oceanport. Arrangements were by Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Foundation, Greater New Jersey Chapter, 400 Morris Ave., Denville 07834-1365.

Mary E. Peebles

Mrs. Peebles, 85, of the Morganville section of Marlboro, died May 16, 2007, at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Born in Ventnor, she had lived in East Orange, Cedar Knolls, and Homewood, Ill., before moving to Marlboro 27 years ago. Mrs. Peebles was a homemaker. She was predeceased by a brother, Thomas, and a sister, Alice. She is survived by her husband, Paul; four sons, Michael of Marlboro, Rob of East Windsor, Paul of Chicago, and Brian of Cranford; and 11 grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Interment was at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

Johanna "Hanni" Graf

Mrs. Graf, 86, of Freehold Township, died May 17, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Herborn, Germany, she had lived in Newark before moving to Rahway in 1961 and then to Freehold Township in 1979. Prior to her retirement in 1979, Mrs. Graf was a jewelry polisher at Tessler & Weiss, Union, for 28 years. She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene, in 1989. Surviving are a son, Frank Graf of Freehold Township; two daughters, Heide Giezey of Tamassee, S.C., and Irene Mecky of Montville; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. The Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, was in charge of arrangements.

Gary J. Ruda

Mr. Ruda, 53, of Englishtown, died May 13, 2007, at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Neptune Township, he was a lifelong Englishtown resident. Mr. Ruda was the owner and operator of Cobbler Plus Tailor, Freehold, for more than 25 years. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, the Central Jersey Rifle and Pistol Club, Jackson, and the Knights of Pythias lodge in Manalapan. He was predeceased by his father, Samuel Ruda, and a brother, Skip Ruda. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Alyssa and Donald Bozarth of Southampton; his mother, Vivian Ruda of Jackson; three sisters, Sandy Marinko and Elaine Ruda, both of Freehold, and Linda Kennedy of Lakewood; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery, Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to any literacy program.

E. Arthur Kratzman, M.D.

Dr. Kratzman, 87, a radiologist, died May 21, 2007, in Freehold. Born in 1920 in Astoria, Queens, N.Y., he graduated from the University of Michigan in 1939 and the New York University College of Medicine in 1943. He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 and was honorably discharged from the Navy Reserve in 1956. Among his many career achievements, he served as the chief of the Department of Radiology at Muhlenberg and group practice leader of Associated Radiologist for 35 years prior to his retirement in 1985. Dr. Kratzman received numerous awards and was the author or co-author of many medical publications. He was predeceased by his first wife, Ruth L. Kratzman, in 1977. He is survived by his wife, Alice C. Kratzman; a brother, Vincent C. Kratzman of Lahaina, Hawaii; two sons, E. A. Kratzman III and his wife, Teresa, of Greenwich, Conn.; and Val A. Kratzman and his wife, Carol, of Fairfield, Conn.; a stepdaughter, Jane Ettelson and her husband, Charles, of St. Louis; a stepson, Thomas O'Brian and his wife, Carolyn, of Boulder, Colo.; a niece; four grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at Applewood Estates, Freehold. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the Applewood Residence Assistance Fund, 1 Applewood Drive, Freehold Township 07728.

Margaret A. Monroe Anerella

Mrs. Anerella, 64, of Manchester Township, died May 23, 2007, at home. Born in New York, she had been a longtime resident of Staten Island, N.Y., before moving to the Renaissance in Manchester four years ago. She attended St. Clare's and St. Joseph Hill Academy, Staten Island. Mrs. Anerella is survived by her husband of 44 years, Roger; two sons, Roger Jr. and Danny; two daughters, Dawn and Deborah; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Jean Lyle; a brother, Richard Monroe; two daughters-in-law, Christine Anerella and Jeannine Anerella; and a son-in-law, Michael Mazza. The Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Gabriel's Main Church, Marlboro, followed by entombment at Holmdel Mausoleum, Holmdel.

Arlene Pepitone Hamilton

Mrs. Hamilton, 86, of Shelocta, Pa., died May 27, 2007, at Indiana (Pa.) Regional Medical Center. Born in New Brunswick, she resided in Matawan and Manalapan prior to relocating to Pennsylvania. She was a homemaker. She enjoyed playing bingo at St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Hamilton in 1994; two brothers, Francis and Byron Pepitone; and a sister, Florence Fulmer. She is survived by two daughters, Judith Hall of Shelocta, Pa., and Arlene Wisser of Casa Grande, Ariz.; a son, Edmund O'Connor of Matawan; a brother, Joseph Pepitone of Smyrna, Ga.; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Visitation will be May 31 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Day Funeral Home, Keyport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be June 1 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church. Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery, Matawan. Memorial donations may be made to Visiting Nurses/Hospice, 850 Hospital Road, Suite 3000, Indiana, PA 15701.