George W. Mathers
George W. Mathers of Kearny died on Aug. 4 at his home. He was 91.
A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 9:30 a.m. in St. Stephens Church, Kearny, followed by interment in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. To leave an online condolence .please visit www.armitagewiggins.com
George served in The Army during World War II. He was a member of the Benstead Center Seniors and was an accomplished musician. He was past president and a member of the Essex County Musicians Union. He was a retired Relay Technician from Westinghouse.
Husband of the late Florence (Sroka), he was the father of Alice M. Zeller, Linda Santiago, George Mather and the late Marilyn Mather; brother of the late Harry A. Mather and Helen Aumack. He is also survived by six grand and five great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his granddaughter Claire “bear.”
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The D.A.V.
Laura McKay
Laura McKay (Everetts) 57, died on Saturday, July 28, at her home in Seaside Park.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, followed by a private cremation. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com
Laura was born in Newark. She lived in Kearny for 35 years before moving to Seaside Park eight months ago.
She is survived by her husband Francis; daughters Nicole McKay and Ashley McKay; her siblings Dean Everetts, Karen D’Alessandro, Veronica Zeichner; grandchildren Tyler McKay and Gia DeAquino. Laura also leaves behind her parents Gene and Theresa (Hughes) D’Alessandro.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the ASPCA at www.aspca.org.
Carmen Ruiz
Carmen Ruiz of Springfield died at Overlook Hospital in Summit on Wednesday, Aug. 1. She was 50. Born in Medellin, Colombia, she came to the U.S. when she was 7, was raised in Sunnyside, Queens, N.Y., and lived in Springfield for the past 20 years.
Carmen is survived by her husband Paul Polukord; children, Justin and Ashley of Springfield; mother Celina Ruiz of Queens, N.Y.; sister, Beatriz Ruiz of Queens, NY, and brother, Carlos Ruiz of Pendergrass, Ga. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, friends and her loving pets.
Carmen was a passionate, loving mother and loving friend of many. Graduate of Baruch College in N.Y., she was a financial analyst for GlaxoSmithKlein in Parsippany for 24 years. She also volunteered her time at Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside and at the St. Claire’s Home for Children in Newark.
A funeral Mass was held on Aug. 6, at St. James Church, Springfield. Arrangements were by Bradley, Smith & Smith Funeral Home, 415 Morris Ave., Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation, 150 New Providence Road, Mountainside, N.J. 07092. To send condolences or for further information, go to www.bradleyfuneralhomes.com
Estelle Rydberg
Estelle Hope Rydberg (Schaaf), 94, passed on Monday, July 30, in the Andover Subacute and Rehab Center in Andover.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, followed by interment in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com
Estelle was born in Kearny and resided there until moving to Newton in 2008. She was a member of the Home League of the Salvation Army in Kearny.
She is survived by her nieces, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and was predeceased by her parents Herbert and Mable (LeVan) Schaaf and later by her husband Albert in 1990.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Salvation Army of Greater Kearny, 443 Chestnut St., Kearny, NJ 07032 or to Domestic Abused and Sexual Assault Intervention Services, P.O. Box 805 Newton, N.J. 07860.
Bernadette Tietjen
Bernadette Tietjen died on Aug. 4 at Clara Maass Medical Center. She was 62. Born in Newark, she lived in Harrison before moving to Kearny 20 years ago.
A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Stephens Church, Kearny, followed by interment in Hillside Cemetery, Lyndhurst. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com
Bernadette is survived by her mother Helen Wieczenski; her children Heather Crist and Jason (and Sheetal) Davitt; her brothers and sister Michael and Tommy Wieczenski and Andrea Kustosz. Also surviving are her grandchildren Alexis, Madison, Jonathan, Aanya and Saheli. Bernadette’s husband Dave Tietjen died only eight months ago.
