Obituaries

Howard James Montgomery

Mr. Montgomery, 77, of Manahawkin, died July 3, 2007, in Greenville, S.C. Born in Queens, N.Y., he had lived in Manahawkin for six years and had previously resided in Whiting, Manalapan, Staten Island, N.Y., Brooklyn, N.Y., and Queens. He was a service manager for IBM in Cranford and New York City. A U.S. Navy veteran, he served during the Korean War as a machinist mate on the USS Des Moines CA-134, whose nickname was the "Daisy Mae." He was a former fire chief of the Gordons Corner Fire Company, Manalapan. He also enjoyed gardening and volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. Mr. Montgomery was predeceased by his wife, Janet (DeGorter) Montgomery, in 1997, as well as a brother, James Montgomery. Surviving are four daughters, Janet Christensen of West Keansburg, Marie SanSoucie of Sunbright, Tenn., Irene Smrkovsky of Little Egg Harbor and Christine Reed of Matlacha Isles, Fla.; three sons, Edward Montgomery of Collingswood, Howard Montgomery of Atlanta and Scott Montgomery of Simpsonville, S.C.; 18 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held at Bay View Cemetery, Leonardo section of Middletown. The John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity International, 121 Habitat St., Americus, GA 31709-3498; or the Popcorn Park Zoo - Associated Humane Societies, P.O. Box 43, Forked River 08731.

John A. Alfano

Mr. Alfano, 49, of Marlboro, died July 14, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. Mr. Alfano earned a doctorate and worked as an electrical engineer at Telcordia Technologies, Piscataway, for many years. He was a communicant of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro, where he also volunteered his time as a basketball coordinator. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean Heintz-Alfano of Marlboro; a son and daughter, Jonathan and Jacqueline, both of Marlboro; his mother, Madeline Alfano of Marlboro; a brother, Carl of Red Bank; and a sister, Rose Rappaport of Englewood. Services were held at the Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Gabriel's Church, Marlboro, followed by entombment at St. Gabriel's Cemetery and Chapel Mausoleum, Marlboro.

Marilyn Brudner

Mrs. Brudner, 79, of Englishtown, died July 8, 2007, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was a former member of the Battle of the Bulge Organization. She was also active in the Jewish War Veterans Society, Pink Ladies, and Dayton Village Incorporated. Mrs. Brudner was predeceased by her husband, Max, in 2005. She is survived by three daughters, Wendy Lurie of Rosedale, N.Y., Ilene Brudner of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Barbara Sarnelli and her husband, Lawrence, of Marlboro; a sister, Binnie Lazarus of Staten Island, N.Y.; an aunt, Sylvia Rubin of Manalapan; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A chapel service was held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan.

Sylvia Gelber

Mrs. Gelber, of Marlboro, died July 8, 2007, at Pine Brook Care Center, Manalapan. Born in New York City, she had lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., for most of her life before moving to Marlboro seven years ago. Mrs. Gelber was a sales clerk with William Greenberg Desserts Inc. of New York City for more than 25 years, retiring in 1983. She was a member of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Union; and a volunteer at Coney Island Hospital for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel Gelber, in 1971. Surviving are her daughters, Marcia Feibusch of Marlboro and Roberta Lilenfield of Brooklyn; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services were held at Mount Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, N.Y. Arrangements were by Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan.

Marie Magruder

Mrs. Magruder, 89, of Manalapan, died July 4, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Beloit, Wis., she had resided in New York City from 1946 to 1973 and then lived in Freehold before moving to Manalapan. Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Magruder was a registered nurse for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, New York City. She served in the U.S. Army Air Corps' Nurse Corps during World War II, attaining the rank of first lieutenant. She was a graduate of the Michael Reese Nursing School, Chicago. Mrs. Magruder was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, and a member of the Red Hat Society. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward J., in 1990. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Robert M. and Jane E. Magruder of Monmouth Junction; and a daughter, Joan M. Magruder of Suffern, N.Y.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandsons. A 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 the Sister Mary Colette Memorial Fund, 82-31 Doncaster Place, Jamaica, NY 11432.

Lucille Cavico Cherchia

Mrs. Cherchia, 85, of Basking Ridge and Marco Island, Fla., died July 14, 2007, at Morristown Memorial Hospital. Born in Newark, she raised her family in Union and had resided in Toms River before recently moving to Basking Ridge. She spent the winters in Marco Island, Fla., for 30 years and had lived there permanently for the past four years. Mrs. Cherchia had been an account coordinator for Western Electric and AT&T. She was a member of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Basking Ridge and the San Marco Roman Catholic Church in Florida. She also was an active member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, as well as a founder and president of the Italian American Society of Marco Island. Mrs. Cherchia was predeceased by her husband, Paul L. Cherchia, in 1995. Surviving are three children and their spouses, Angela and Jonathan Holt of Tewksbury, Hunterdon County, Dr. Peter J. and Meg Cherchia of Medway, Mass., and Paula and Neil Fox of Marlboro; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass was offered at St. James Church, with the Gallaway & Crane Funeral Home, Basking Ridge, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131.

Phyllis Bishoff Duggan Remenar

Mrs. Remenar, 85, of Lakewood, died July 18, 2007, after a lengthy illness. Born in Pueblo, Colo., she had lived in New Jersey all her life and also spent time at her home in Haines City, Fla. She graduated from Leonardo High School, Leonardo section of Middletown, and was a homemaker. She was a lifetime member and active supporter of the Deborah Hospital Foundation, as well as a lifetime member of the Friendly Nighters Women's Club. Mrs. Remenar belonged to a Christian Bible study group and enjoyed dancing and crocheting. She was predeceased by her first husband, Gerald C. Duggan Sr., in 1970. Surviving are her second husband, Joseph Remenar; seven children and their spouses, Frank and Barbara Duggan of Freehold, Sharon and Wilhelm Fischer of Berkeley Heights, Kathleen and Robert Krueger of Fair Haven, Trish and Robert Patten of Middletown, Linda and Ron Hague of Chattanooga, Tenn., Irene and Thomas Cunningham of Old Bridge, and Joseph and Donna Remenar of Lynden, Wash.; four siblings and their spouses, Lois and Raymond Richardson of Whiting, Shirley and George Penfield of Bossier City, La., Frank and Joan Bishoff of Cascade, Va., and Richard and Madeline Bishoff of South Toms River; 20 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Burial took place at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown, with the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Deborah Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills 08015; or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202, or online at www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.