Obituaries

Gregory S. Cerstvik

Gregory S. Cerstvik, of Newark, entered into eternal rest, after battling cancer at his sister’s house in Lyndhurst, on Jan. 9. He was 62.

The funeral was conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on Tuesday, Jan. 13. A funeral Mass followed at St. Cecilia’s Church, Kearny. Interment took place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.

Born in Newark in the Ironbound, Gregory was raised there and spent most of his life there. He worked as a dairy manager for several food chains for many years. He was a member of UFCW Local 1262, Clifton. He was also a plumber on the side. He was a friend of Bill W. and an avid sports fan who enjoyed fishing and NASCAR. He greatly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. A fan of music, he was a vocalist for several bands, mainly SCID.

Gregory is survived by his loving daughters Jennifer Cerstvik and her fiancé James Hartkopf and Mimi Antonio and her husband Trijilio; his cherished grandchildren Mikey, Julia, Jayden, Kennedy and Aiden; his dear brother and sister Peter Cerstvik and his wife Marion and Patricia “Sis” Ebbe and her husband Michael. Gregory is also survived by his nephews Christopher, Michael, Richard and his wife Marisa, Richard and Peter Jr.; his greatnephew Ryder Thomas; his beloved ex-wife Michelle Cerstvik and many cousins, friends and extended family. He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Jennie (nee Jusinski).

In lieu of flowers, an expression of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society in care of Mulligan Funeral Home in loving memory of Greg.

David Anthony Collazo 

David Anthony Collazo died on Jan. 8. He was 23.

Born in Belleville, he lived in Kearny before moving to Towaco in 2006.

Visiting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 10 a.m. at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington and entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. (www.armitagewiggins.com)

David is the beloved son of Jose and Maria Collazo and grandson of Carmen Sanpedro Davila. Brother of Brian, Jessica and the late Nicole Collazo, he is also survived by his uncle and aunts, Adolfo Rodriguez, Maria T. Vazquez and Maria C. Collazo, along with many loving cousins and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Make A Wish Foundation.

Mary Devaney 

Mary Devaney (nee Brechin), 83, of Kearny, and formerly of Harrison, died on Jan. 6.

Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Funeral services were at the funeral home, followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Mrs. Devaney lived in Harrison before moving to Kearny four years ago. She was a cashier with A & P Supermarket in Kearny and Jersey City for 30 years, retiring in 1993.

She was the beloved wife of 62 years of James Devaney. She was the dear mother of James P. (Lisa) and Neil Devaney, grandmother of James P. Devaney Jr., Keth Devaney, Valerie Bradley and Paul Roman and greatgrandmother of Lillian Pires.

John B. Dowie 

John B. Dowie, 89, of Jupiter, Fla., passed away on Jan. 4.

Born and raised in Kearny, John attended Kearny schools where he excelled as an athlete and lettered in baseball, basketball, soccer and football; played shortstop and was captain of the baseball team that won the Greater Newark Tournament in 1943; and was inducted into the Kearny High School Athletic Hall of Fame for baseball.

Upon graduating from Kearny High School in June 1943, he entered the United States Army in August 1943 at the height of World War II and served as an infantryman with the 163rd Regimental Combat Team of the 41st Infantry Division in the Pacific where he took part in several island assaults against Japanese forces during the war and was wounded by enemy fire during the Battle of Biak Island for which he was awarded a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge.

Upon his return to Kearny, he attended John Marshall College and was active in area baseball and basketball organizations. In his free time, he devoted countless hours to coaching and managing Kearny youth baseball, something that he truly enjoyed.

Mr. Dowie was appointed to the Kearny Police Department in 1955 and then in 1962 to the Kearny Fire Department where he was honored as Fireman of the Year in 1977 as the result of a lifesaving event. After 32 years of service to the Town of Kearny, he retired to Spring Lake Heights, prior to moving to Jupiter, Fla.

John is survived by his wife of 65 years, Anne V. Dowie (nee Kelly); son, John Dowie and his wife Ann; daughter, Suzanne DeLuca and her husband Jeffrey; and grandchildren, Catherine and Jonathan Dowie and Jeffrey, Joshua and Jesse DeLuca. His parents, William and Rubina Dowie, a sister, Ruby and three brothers, William, Robert and Walter, predeceased him.

A memorial service was held Jan. 7 at Taylor and Modeen Funeral Home, 250 Center St., Jupiter, Fla. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Sunflower Team, Hospice of Palm Beach Foundation, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, Fla. 33407.

Stephen B. Haggerty 

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Stephen B. Haggerty, 71, formerly of Williamsburg, Va, passed away peacefully, Friday, Jan. 2, in Burke, Va., with his wife at his side.

Steve was born Sept. 9, 1943, in the Bronx to Joseph Francis and Bridget Anne (Hughes) Haggerty. He graduated from St. Peters Preparatory School in Jersey City and from the then- St. Peter’s College. Steve was employed as a systems analyst for the mobile phone industry before his retirement to Williamsburg, Va.

Steve is survived by his wife of 50 years, Mary Ann Haggerty, son Brian Haggerty, daughter Laura Socha, brother William Haggerty, sister Marianne McGarry, eight grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews, and extended family. Steve was a loving father, husband, grandfather and friend to all. A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Jan. 19, at the Church of the Nativity, 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Va. 22015.

Memorial donations may be made to Capital Caring Hospice in Stephen’s name so that others may be blessed by their loving support at 2900 Telestar Court, Falls Church, Va. 22042 or capitalcaring.org.

Condolences to the family may be sent by mail/common carrier to: The Haggerty Family, c/o UPS Store, 5765-F Burke Centre Parkway, Burke, Va.

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