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Obituaries 1.30.08
Maureen A. Willis, longtime educator
RUTHERFORD-Maureen A. Willis, of Rutherford, passed away Jan. 18. She was a lifelong resident of Rutherford.
Ms. Willis was a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and earned a Master’s degree from Jersey City University, where she also served as adjunct professor. She was a teacher in Weehawken and moved to Rutherford where in addition to teacher she was an administrator, cheering coach and principal. She later became principal of Anna C. Scott Elementary School in Leonia. She also served as Special Services coordinator for the Leonia Board of Education and as principal of Leonia Middle School. She was a recipient of the New Jersey Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award and served as president of the Rutherford Education Association. She was a member of the Rutherford Historic Preservation Commission and a trustee of the Rutherford Education Foundation. In 1988, Ms. Willis co-founded what is now known as the Ben and Kay Willis Foundation to provide annual college scholarships to deserving Rutherford High School seniors. She also helped launch the RHS Alumni Walk this past fall.
Ms. Willis is survived by siblings JoEllen Willis and Doug Rose of Little Rock, Ark.; Kim Willis and Basil Irwin of Longmont, Colo.; Pat Willis of Rutherford; Fran and Phil White of Dallas, Texas; Jeane Willis of New York, N.Y.; Ben and Madeleine Willis of Ramsey; Tim and Sue Willis of Rutherford; Jerry Willis of Sandy Hook and Dan and Karen Willis of Rutherford. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Jamie Willis Rose of Leedsburg, Va.; Patric, Caroline, Austin and Katie Willis of Ramsey; Mike, Brian, Kathryn and Mary Willis of Rutherford and Conor, Patrick and Alisa White of Dallas, Texas.
On Jan. 21, relatives and friends attended the funeral mass from St. Mary’s R. C. Church in Rutherford. Arrangements were made by Collins-Calhoun Funeral Home, also in Rutherford.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ben and Kay Willis Foundation, c/o 171 Wood St., Rutherford, 07070.
Frances Napolitano
LYNDHURST-Frances Napolitano (nee De Blasi), of Lyndhurst, passed away Saturday, Jan. 19. She was 92 years old. Mrs. Napolitano was raised in Newark and moved to Lyndhurst 38 years ago.
She was a member of the St. Gerard Guild at St. Lucy’s Church in Newark.
Mrs. Napolitano is predeceased by husband Pasquale Napolitano, Jr. and children Jo-Ann and Gerard. She is survived by daughter Ann Lauria and her husband, Anthony F., sister Helen Fede and brothers Michael and John. She is also survived by grandson Anthony Joseph and his wife, Samantha and great-granddaughter Tiffany.
On Jan. 22, relatives and friends attended the funeral from S. W. Brown & Son Funeral Home and later to the funeral mass from St. Lucy’s Church, both in Nutley. The services were followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Please omit flowers.
Michael S. O’Gara
LYNDHURST-Michael S. O’Gara, of Lyndhurst, passed away Thursday, Jan. 17. He was a lifelong resident of Lyndhurst.
He was a longshoreman in Port Newark and a member of the International Longshoremen’s Association Local #235.
Mr. O’Gara is survived by parents Alicia (Ascensio) and Michael T. O’Gara and sisters Darlene Santos, Elise Collazo and Adrienne Erin Church. He is also survived by niece Natalia and nephews Robert, Sean and Randy.
On Jan. 21, relatives and friends were received from S. W. Brown & Son Funeral Home in Nutley and later attended the funeral mass from Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Lyndhurst. The service was followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.
Benjamin Cichinski
CARLSTADT-Benjamin Cichinski, of Carlstadt, passed away Jan. 20. He was 91 years old. Mr. Cichinski was born in Elizabeth and lived in Carlstadt for 40 years.
He was a tool and die maker for Insulating Fabricators in East Rutherford for 27 years, retiring in 1968.
Mr. Cichinski is survived by wife Margaret (nee Primiano) Cichinski of Carlstadt and daughter Juanita Turner-Sarfaty and her husband, Lloyd of Carlstadt. He is also survived by siblings Kay Terris and Joseph Lipich.
On Jan. 23, relatives and friends attended the funeral service from Kimak Funeral Home in Carlstadt. The service was followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph’s R.C. Church, 120 Hoboken Rd., East Rutherford 07073, Attn.: Sister Marigene Kennedy.
Nora Agnes Anderson
RUTHERFORD-Nora Agnes Anderson (nee Cunniff), of Rutherford, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22. She was 91 years old. Mrs. Anderson was born in Jersey City.
She was a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 20 years until retiring in 1983.
Mrs. Anderson is predeceased by husband Frank Patrick Anderson, son Frank J. Anderson, parents Mary and Frank Cunniff, sisters Julia Cunniff, Margaret Maphet, Dorothy Spillers and Ann Nosal and brother Frank Cunniff. She is survived by daughter Julia Galiastro and her husband, Joseph, sister-in-law Elizabeth Cunniff, brother-in-law Raymond Spillers and grandchildren Joseph and Mary Kate Galiastro and Barbara and Pamela Anderson. She is also survived by nephews and nieces and children.
On Jan. 29, relatives and friends were received from the Collins-Calhoun Funeral Home and attended the funeral from St. Mary’s R. C. Church, both in Rutherford. The cremation was private.
Vincent A. Pouyat
Vincent A. Pouyat, of St. Michaels, Maryland, passed away Jan. 21. He was 86 years old. Mr. Pouyat was born in Queens and lived in New York City.
He was a US Army Veteran of WWII . He worked as an aviation mechanic with Newark Air Service for nine years then joined General Electric in 1955 and retired after 35 years of service.
Mr. Pouyat is survived by wife Raimonda (nee LaMantia), children Patricia Pevreal, Victoria Weiler, Richard Pouyat and Jacqueline Pouyat and siblings Marie Miller, Fran, Joe, and Frank Pouyat. He is also survived by six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
On Jan. 25, relatives and friends attended the funeral service from Macagna Diffily Onorato Funeral Home in Rutherford. The service was followed by interment in St. Michael's Cemetery, South Hackensack.
Raymond G. Spanarkel
Raymond G. Spanarkel, Sr., of Sea Girt, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 23. He was 79 years old. Mr. Spanarkel was born in Jersey City.
He was a sales manager employed by the Kellogg Company for over 40 years upon his retirement in 1991.
Mr. Spanarkel is survived by wife Mary F. (nee Stone) and children Dr. Marybeth Spanarkel and her husband, James Hathorn, Kevin Spanarkel and his wife, Kathleen, James Spanarkel and his wife, Janet, John Spanarkel and his wife, Maureen and Sharon McPherson and her husband, Mark. He is also survived by sisters Eilenne O’Reardon and her husband, John and Joan Spanarkel, as well as 17 grandchildren.
On Jan. 28, relatives and friends attended the funeral mass from St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Rutherford. The service was followed by interment in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum in North Arlington. Arrangements were made by Collins-Calhoun Funeral Home in Rutherford.
Michael Anthony Carment
LYNDHURST-Michael Anthony Carment, of Lyndhurst, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 9. He was 26 years old. Mr. Carment was born in Belleville, lived in Kearny and lived in Lyndhurst for 14 years.
He had a Bachelor of Arts Special Ed Certificate. He was a member of the Calvary Temple in Wayne. He worked with Autistic children for five years and was a professional clown.
Mr. Carment is survived by father Kenneth Carment, mother Mary Carment, sister Faith Marie Carment and brother David Steven Carment. He is also survived by grandparents Carmela Cockcroft and Gladys and John Lawrence.
On Jan. 12, relatives and friends attended the funeral service from Ippolito-Stellato Funeral Home in Lyndhurst. The service was followed by interment in Crest Haven Cemetery.
Charles J. Abbate
LYNDHURST-Charles J. Abbate, of Lyndhurst, passed away Friday, Jan. 25. He was 89 years old. Mr. Abbate was born in Irvington, lived in Newark and has lived in Lyndhurst since 1967.
He was a World War II Army veteran. He worked as a steamfitter for the Newark Housing Authority in Newark for about 20 years before retiring in 1980.
Mr. Abbate is survived by wife Mildred (nee Del Pesco) of Lyndhurst and children Janice DiMarco and her husband, Richard and Frank Abbate and his wife, Renee. He is also survived by grandchildren Brent, Andreya and Ariane Di Marco and Brittany Abbate as well as his sister, Beatrice Naporano.
On Jan. 28, relatives and friends attended the funeral from Nazare Memorial Home, Inc. in Lyndhurst and then the funeral mass from Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington. The services were followed by interment in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum in North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to New Jersey Veteran’s Memorial Home at Paramus, 1 Veteran’s Way, Paramus, 07652.
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