Obituaries

Leo A. Koncher 

Leo “Lee” A. Koncher passed away on July 4 at home. He was 57.

Born in Jersey City, he lived most of his life in Kearny before moving to Forked River five years ago.

Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. To leave online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.

Lee earned a master’s degree in engineering and was employed at ITT Avionics in Nutley.

Son of the late Leo and Angela (nee Miskinis) Koncher, he was also the brother of the late Kathleen Rogers, Robert Koncher and Daniel Koncher. He is survived by many close friends. He is resting peacefully in his green Hawaiian shirt and jeans.

Lee was a generous supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Please consider a donation in his memory.

Helen Marjeski 

Helen Marjeski (nee Modzelewski), 92, of Toms River and formerly of Kearny, went home to be with the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ on July 18.

The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Wednesday, July 22, at 9 a.m. A funeral mass will be offered in St. Cecilia Church, Kearny, at 10 a.m. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Relatives and friends may visit the funeral home on Tuesday, July 21, from 7 to 9 p.m. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.

She was born in Harrison on June 1, 1923. She lived in Kearny for many years before moving to Toms River three years ago.

Mrs. Marjeski worked for Kenny Steel Treating Corp. in Kearny for over 25 years, retiring in 1991.

In her journey to heaven she leaves behind her two children Theodore Marjeski and Karen Stiles and two grandchildren Jessica and Nicholas Stiles.

Helen was predeceased by her parents Alexander and Angela (Bartus) Modzelewski and one brother John. Helen was a beautiful person, a wonderful caring mother, best friend and devoted grandmother. She will be sadly missed but will remain in the hearts of her children and grandchildren forever.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Frank Murphy 

Frank Murphy 84, died on Wednesday, July 15, at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville.

Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was offered in Holy Cross Church, Harrison, followed by a private cremation. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.

Frank was born in Newark and was a lifelong resident of Harrison. He was a platform worker for St. Johnsbury Trucking in South Kearny for 20 years ,retiring in 1987. He was a member of Teamsters Local 560 in Union City and a member of the Holy Cross Seniors in Harrison.

Mr. Murphy is survived by his daughters Patricia Distano (Carmen) and Marie Migliorisi (Richard); two brothers Michael and Charles Murphy; one sister Maureen Burger; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his wife Dorothy (Zinkiewicz) Murphy and his siblings Thomas and Matthew Murphy and Susan Kropcho.

Argelia Pina

Argelia Pina (nee Fuentes) died July 13 at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville. She was 99.

Born in Cuba, she lived many years in Kearny.

Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral service was held at the funeral home, followed by burial in the Clinton Cemetery in Irvington.

Mrs. Pina was a member of the Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Newark.

Wife of the late Andres Pina, she is survived by her son Raymond, her grandchildren Nicole, Raymond and Christian and her great-grandchildren Mikaela, Alexandra, Liam and Gabriel.

Margaret M. Ross 

Margaret M. Ross (nee Comp) died July 12 at home. She was 88. Born in Hazelton, Pa., she spent most of her life in Kearny. Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Cecilia’s Church, Kearny, where she was a Rosarian, followed by entombment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Wife of the late John J. Ross, she was the mother of Maryann Critchley (Kevin), Patricia McCarthy (Gene), Kathleen Donnelly (the late Bryan), and John Ross (Dottie). She was the sister of Rosemary Ruby, John Comp and the late William and Martin Comp. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Andrew and Ryan Critchley, Kristina and Erin McCarthy, Rachel and Meghan Donnelly and Daniel and Amanda Ross and her great-grandson Jackson.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to St. Cecilia’s Food Pantry in Kearny.

Victor Raul Sanchez 

Victor Raul Sanchez, 82, of East Orange, formerly Newark, entered into eternal rest on July 12 at Columbus Hospital LTACH, Newark. He was 79.

The funeral was conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on July 18. A funeral Mass was held at St. Cecilia’s Church, Kearny, followed by a private cremation.

For information or to send condolences to his family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.

Born in Lima, Peru, he came to the United States in January, 1982. Victor lived in Kearny for a short period of time before moving to Passaic. He returned to Newark in 2000. He worked in several different jobs and industries in the U.S. and in Peru, He was a jack-of-all-trades. He was also associated with Senor De Los Milagros of Newark.

In his free time, he greatly enjoyed art, specifically painting and drawing.

He is survived by his daughter Ana Bowman and her husband Robert, of Seattle Wash., and his sons Ociel Bravo of Garfield and Percy Guzman of Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela. Victor is also survived by his six grandchildren, Izzie and Greta Bowman, Hugo and Ivanna Bravo, Percyociel and Andy Guzman.

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