The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK

– Obituaries – Polly Pelletier, 68, Real Estate Broker; Founded Mothers’ Sailing Organization

Polly Pelletier 68, of Wolfeboro, N. H. died on Wednesday, January 19, at home.

Born in Mineola, N. Y., she had lived in Westfield, Fanwood and Vermont before moving to Wolfeboro 15 years ago.

Mrs. Pelletier was a real estate broker in Wolfeboro for the last 15

years. Previously, she had been a primary school teacher at the Hartridge School in Plainfield.

Mrs. Pelletier attended Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and the New York School of Fine Art.

She was a founder of the Mighty Mamas, a young mothers’ group of avid sailors in Weekapaug, R. I.

Surviving are a son, Todd Palmer Spayth; her mother, Mary Wallace Palmer; a brother, James Wallace Palmer, and two grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Monday, January 31, in the Lamington Presbyterian Church in Bedminster.

February 3, 2000

Fred Noack, 93

Fred Noack, 93, of Belmar died on Sunday, January 23, at the Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.

Born in Newark, he had lived there before moving to Belmar in 1970.

Mr. Noack had been a sheet metal worker for Seaboard Sheet Metal Works in Newark for 25 years before retiring in 1971.

He was predeceased by his wife, Edna Bendel Noack, in 1975.

Surviving are two daughters, Diane Stone of Westfield and Fern Schehr of West Orange; five grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren.

Services took place on Friday, January 28, at the Gray Funeral Home, 318 East Broad Street in Westfield. Interment was at Fairmount Cemetery in Newark.

February 3, 2000

Ramon Lugo, 65

Ramon Lugo, 65, of Perth Amboy died on Wednesday, January 26, at the Perth Amboy Division of Raritan Bay Medical Center.

Born in San Sabastian, Puerto Rico, he lived in Perth Amboy for the past 45 years.

Mr. Lugo had been a machine operator for 38 years at Hatco Chemical Company in Fords, retiring in 1994.

He was a communicant of Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic Church in Perth Amboy.

He was predeceased by a son, Ramon A. Lugo, in 1992, and by two brothers, Luis Mendez and Augustin Lugo.

Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Carmen Lugo; a daughter, Gladys Sheppard of Scotch Plains; four sisters, Maria J. Rivera, Carmen Perez, Cielo Ruiz and Milagros Lugo, all of Puerto Rico; two brothers, Juan Lugo of New York and Jorge Lopez of Trenton; six grandchildren and a greatgrandchild.

Services were held on Saturday, January 29, from the Flynn & Son Funeral Home in Perth Amboy, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Fatima Church. Burial was at Alpine Cemetery in Perth Amboy.

Condolences may be sent to the funeral home’s Internet address at www. flynnfuneral. com

February 3, 2000

Jean Benjamin

Jean Benjamin of Somerville died on Monday, January 24, at her apartment in the Somerset Senior Citizens Housing.

Born on February 28, 1924, in Evansville, Ind., the daughter of the late J. L. and Anna Masterson, she relocated to Somerville in 1964.

Mrs. Benjamin had been employed as an assistant manager at the Reinhardt store in Somerville until it closed. She subsequently worked as a receptionist for Dr. William Cleary and, upon his retirement, for his successor, Dr. Paul Haggan, in his dental practice.

After her retirement in 1995, Mrs. Benjamin remained active as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and the Somerset Medical Center.

She was a past Secretary of the Senior Citizens Tenants Association.

Mrs. Benjamin was a longtime parishioner of the Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville.

She was predeceased by her husband, Albert J. Benjamin. Surviving are a son, James Benjamin of Fanwood; two daughters, Lynn Vandeviver of Rochester, N. Y. and Ann Zimmerman of Columbus, Ohio; a sister, Judy Vogt of Whiting; and six grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was held on Friday, January 28, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Somerville, followed by interment at the church cemetery.

Arrangements were handled by the Cusick Funeral Home in Somerville.

February 3, 2000

Jean O. Kimble, 78, Active in Scouting; Sunday School Teacher in Westfield

Jean O. Kimble, 78, of Westfield died on Thursday, January 27, at home.

Born in Newark, she moved to Westfield 53 years ago.

Mrs. Kimble was a Sunday School teacher at The Presbyterian Church in Westfield and was active with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, both of Westfield.

She was predeceased by a brother, Joseph Quaas, and a granddaughter, Trisha Kimble.

Surviving are George F. Kimble, her husband of 57 years; two sons, Frederick Kimble of Clinton and Kenneth Kimble of Fanwood; a daughter, Karen Kimble of South Plainfield; three brothers, Edward Quaas of California, Kenneth Quaas of Illinois and Wayne Quaas of Maplewood; two sisters, Myra Lee of Pinebrook and Marlene Case of Parsippany, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Monday, January 31, in the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield. Interment took place at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

February 3, 2000

Lucy Valenti, 90

Lucy Scioscia Valenti, 90, of Manahawkin died on Wednesday, January 26, in the Southern Ocean County Medical Center in Manahawkin.

Born in Scranton, Pa., she had lived in Scotch Plains for more than 50 years before moving to Manahawkin two years ago.

She was predeceased by her husband, Louis A. Valenti, and a son, Louis Valenti, Jr.

Surviving are two daughters, Margaret Albert and Marian Finn; a son, Kenneth Valenti; a sister, Nellie Iuso; 23 grandchildren and 33 greatgrandchildren.

A Mass was offered on Saturday, January 29, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains, following the funeral from the Memorial Funeral Home, 155 South Avenue in Fanwood. Interment took place at Hillside Cemetery in Scotch Plains.

Memorial donations may be made to the Scotch Plains Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 325, Scotch Plains, 07076 or to the Stafford Township First Aid Squad, 61 Beach Avenue, Manahawkin, 08050.

February 3, 2000

Hildreth Strassman, 74, Coowned Firm; Volunteer With Jewish Radio Program

Hildreth Strassman, 74, of Scotch Plains died on Friday, January 28, at home.

Born in Elizabeth, she lived in Scotch Plains since 1953.

Mrs. Strassman had been coowner and office manager of J. Strassman & Sons, a retail industrial hardware tool company in Elizabeth, for many years before retiring in 1991.

She was a volunteer with behindthescenes operations of “JM In The AM,” a Jewish radio program on WFMU in Jersey City, for the past 18 years.

During World War II, she had worked on the assembly line at the General Motors plant in Linden.

Surviving are her husband, Alfred Strassman; two daughters, Susan Cohen of New York and Rose Kandl of Union; two sons, Kenneth Robert Strassman of Highland Park and David Steven Strassman of Israel; two brothers, Phillip Schwartzberg of Northridge, Calif. and Harvey Schwartzberg of Springfield; a sister, Roslyn Schwartzberg of Elizabeth, and nine grandchildren.

Services were held on Monday, January 31, in the Higgins and Bonner Funeral Home in Elizabeth. Interment took place at Gomel Chesed Cemetery in Newark.

February 3, 2000

Adele Thurston, 82

Adele Thurston, 82, of Basking Ridge died on Friday, January 28, at home.

Born in Cranford, she had lived in Mountainside for 50 years before moving to Basking Ridge in 1997.

Mrs. Thurston had been a secretary for Western Electric in Kearny for seven years until 1941.

Surviving are a daughter, Elizabeth Hogan; two sons, James Thurston and Robert Thurston, and six grandchildren.

A memorial service was held on Tuesday, February 1, in the Chatham United Methodist Church in Chatham.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial.

February 3, 2000

Thomas J. Brown, 76

Thomas James Brown, 76, of Westfield died on Sunday, January 23, at the Hudson House in Elizabeth.

Born in Georgia on February 10, 1923, the son of George and Hattie Brown, he lived in Westfield for 31 years.

Mr. Brown had been employed by the Alcoa Aluminum Company for 30 years until retiring.

He was predeceased by his son, Darryl Arthur Brown, on March 15, 1999.

Surviving are his wife, Pauline Brown; a son, Blair Eugene Brown; four daughters, Cassandra Mallory, Beverly Lenore Brown, Natalie Elizabeth Brown and Yvonne Cheryl Brown; a sister, Deborah Johnson of Plainfield; 13 grandchildren and five greatgrandchildren.

Services were held on Friday, January 28, at the Plinton Curry Funeral Home in Westfield.

February 3, 2000

Virginia Seiter, 82, Active in Local Groups, Was Red Cross Volunteer in World War II

Mary Del Monaco, 76

Mary B. Di Maio Del Monaco, 76, a lifelong resident of Westfield, died on Monday, January 31, at Overlook Hospital in Summit.

Mrs. Del Monaco had been employed as a clerk for the Argonaut Insurance Company in Cranford for 15 years, retiring 11 years ago. Prior to that, she had been a seamstress.

She was a communicant of St. Helen’s Roman Catholic Church of Westfield.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Dr. Margaret M. Ball, in December.

Surviving are her husband, Angelo Del Monaco; a son, John Del Monaco of Kearny; a brother, Albert Di Maio of Cocoa, Fla.; a sister, Rose Esposito of Westfield, and a grandson.

A Funeral Liturgy will be given at 10 a. m. today, Thursday, February 3, at St. Helen’s Church, with interment to follow at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dooley Colonial Home, 556 Westfield Avenue in Westfield.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Westfield Volunteer Rescue Squad.

February 3, 2000

Blanche Howarth, 104, Parishioner At Garwood Presbyterian Church

Avis M. Behrmann, 99

Avis M. Manchester Behrmann, 99, of Westfield died on Saturday, January 29, at Rahway Hospital in Rahway.

Born in Tiverton, R. I., she lived in Westfield for most of her life.

Mrs. Behrmann had been a teacher for the Fall River school system in Fall River, Mass. for four years before retiring in 1927.

She received her degree in education from Wheelock College in Boston in 1922. She was predeceased by her husband, William F. Behrmann, in 1975. Surviving are two daughters, Susan E. Behrmann and Barbara A. Behrmann, both of Westfield.

Private services were arranged by the Gray Funeral Home, 318 East Broad Street in Westfield.

February 3, 2000

Ethel Roediger, 93, Was State President For Educational, Philanthropic Group

Ethel Price Roediger, 93, of Ft. Collins, Colo. died on Friday, January 28, at Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins.

Born on May 7, 1906 on a farm near Broken Arrow, Indian Territory, which became Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Paul and Susie Witten Parker. She had lived in Oklahoma, in Camden and in Lake Charles, La. for five years before relocating to Westfield, where she resided from 1948 to 1992.

She graduated from Ponca City High School in Oklahoma and attended William Woods College. While living in Oklahoma, she had worked as a bookkeeper.

Mrs. Roediger was an active member of Chapter U, P. E. O., an educational and philanthropic organization which she joined in 1954. She served in many capacities within the group, including as New Jersey State President. P. E. O. provides educational scholarships and opportunities for women worldwide.

She was also a member of the First United Methodist Church in Westfield for 44 years.

She was predeceased by her two husbands, William H. Price and Joseph C. Roediger, along with her parents and a brother, Orville Parker.

Surviving are two sons, Bruce Price of Dover, Del. and Hugh Price of Ft. Collins; two stepsons, Joseph Roediger of Phoenix, Ariz. and John Roediger of South Portland, Me.; 10 grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p. m. tomorrow, Friday, February 4, at the First United Methodist Church in Ft. Collins.

Memorial contributions may be made to the P. E. O. Project for Continuing Education, care of Goes Funeral Care, 3665 Canal Drive, Ft. Collins, Colo., 80524

February 3, 2000

Blanche M. Howarth, 104, died on Monday, January 31, at the Westfield Center, Genesis ElderCare Network in Westfield.

Born in Rahway, she lived most of her life in Garwood.

Mrs. Howarth was a member of the Garwood Presbyterian Church, where she was active in women’s associations.

She was predeceased by her hus band, George E. Howarth, in 1958,

and by a son, Wesley W. Howarth. Surviving are another son, George E. Howarth of Jackson; three grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a. m. today, Thursday, February 3, at the Gray Funeral Home, with the Reverend Gary Wetzel officiating. Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Gray Funeral Home in Westfield.

February 3, 2000

Virginia Carolyn Johnson Seiter, 82, a former Westfield resident for more than 30 years, died on Sunday, January 30, in Poquoson, Va.

She had relocated from Westfield to Orange, Va., where she lived for almost 20 years before moving to Poquoson.

While living in Westfield, Mrs. Seiter served in various capacities at the First Presbyterian Church, among them as a Deacon.

She was also active in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and in the Westfield Women’s College Club, serving as the club’s President and later as Chairwoman of its Scholarship Committee.

After moving to Orange, Mrs. Seiter was active with the First Presbyterian Church and in the community there. Her volunteer activities included serving for years as a docent at Montpelier, President James Madison’s home.

She attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Va. and graduated from Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.

During World War II, Mrs. Seiter worked as a writer and as a Red Cross volunteer in New York City.

She was predeceased by her husband, Eugene D. Seiter, Sr. Surviving are two sons, Eugene D. Seiter, Jr. of Poquoson and Clinton T. Seiter of San Francisco; a daughter, Carolyn Sue Seiter Sturgeon of Charleston, W. Va., and five grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, February 5, at the Orange First Presbyterian Church, 162 West Main Street in Orange, with the Reverend William Nickels presiding. Interment will follow the memorial service at Graham Cemetery in Orange.

Visitation will take place from 7 to 8: 30 p. m. tomorrow, Friday, February 4, at the Preddy Funeral Home in Orange.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Orange, Va.

February 3, 2000

– Since 1897 –

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

WESTFIELD: 318 East Broad St., Fred H. Gray, Jr. Mgr. • 2330143

CRANFORD: 12 Springfield Ave., Dale R. Schoustra, Mgr. • 2760092

Executive Administrator – William A. Doyle

• FRED H. GRAY, JR. •WILLIAM A. DOYLE • PAULETTE CRABIEL WAHLER • DALE SCHOUSTRA • DAVID J. CRABIEL

We appreciate our neighbors

Like you, we appreciate having good neighbors. That's why we also do our best to be good neighbors.

As established members of the Westfield business community, we understand the security of dealing with people you know, people you trust! We've built our reputation on this trust.

For over 100 years, we've provided area families with sound advice and caring service at times of personal loss. We believe we help the most by listening and providing choices.

We hope you remember you can turn to us in times of need. You can also talk to us about planning ahead... removing this burden from the minds of others. Please call us or stop by.

Dooley Funeral Service, Inc.

Caring & Courteous Service to the Cranford/Westfield Area Since 1913

Westfield

556 Westfield Avenue 2330255 John L. Dooley Manager

Cranford

218 North Avenue 2760255 Charles V. Dooley

Manager

MASTER MEMORIALS

1171 E. Broad St. Westfield, NJ

2332350 ALSO: 300 Rt. 37 East Toms River, N. J. 3492350

MONUMENTS MARKERS MAUSOLEUMS

DESIGNER • BUILDERS OF FINE LETTERED • CLEANED Bruce Bauer, Prop. (Established 1938)

Madeleine Wolcott, 85

Madeleine A. Wolcott, 85, of Westfield died on Tuesday, February 1, in Overlook Hospital in Summit.

Born in France, she came to the United States in 1919 and settled in New York City. She later lived in Schenectady, N. Y. and at various Army posts before moving to Westfield 47 years ago.

Mrs. Wolcott was a member of the Parent Teacher Association, the Boy Scouts, the Senior Citizens and Bridge Club, all of Westfield, and also taught aquatics to retarded children.

She established the student library at McKinley Elementary School in Westfield.

Mrs. Wolcott attended Hunter College in New York. Surviving are her husband, Harrold B. Wolcott; two sons, Paul Wolcott of East Brunswick and Harrold A. Wolcott of Waterford, Va.; two brothers, Richard Shotwell and Albert Shotwell of California, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will take place tomorrow, Friday, February 4, from 9 to 11 a. m. at the Gray Funeral Home, 318 East Broad Street in Westfield. A funeral service will follow at 11 a. m. at the funeral home, with burial at Fairview Cemetery, also in Westfield.

February 3, 2000

Genevieve James, 98

Genevieve M. Tierney James, 98, died on Sunday, January 30, at The Woodland Genesis Elder Care Nursing Home in Plainfield.

Born in Girardville, Pa., she had lived in Westfield for more than 20 years.

Mrs. James had taught at Glassboro High School for 21 years before her retirement in 1966.

She graduated from Westchester State Teachers College in Westchester, Pa. in 1923 with a bachelor’s degree in science.

She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas James. Visitation will take place today, Thursday, February 3, from 2 to 4 p. m. and from 7 to 9 p. m. at the Gray Funeral Home 318 East Broad Street in Westfield.

A Funeral Liturgy will be held tomorrow, Friday, February 4, at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Scotch Plains. Burial will follow at St. Gertrude’s Cemetery in Colonia.

February 3, 2000

John F. Gannon, 74, Navy Veteran; Was Elizabeth High School Teacher

John F. Gannon, 74, of Clark died on Monday, January 31, in Overlook Hospital in Summit.

Born in Orange, he had lived in Westfield and Elizabeth before moving to Clark three years ago.

Mr. Gannon was a teacher with the Elizabeth Board of Education for 20 years. He also taught English as a second language at the Elizabeth High School night school program.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hall University in South

Orange in 1949 and was awarded his teaching certification from Kean College in Union in 1955.

He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

Surviving are four daughters, Sally Holden, Nancy Gallo, Susan French and Janie Gannon; a sister, Marie Slaght, and six grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p. m. today, Thursday, February 3, in the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral Home in Westfield.

February 3, 2000