Obituaries

Marie Abello

Marie Abello (nee Mattaliano) died on Jan. 6 in West Hudson Post Acute Care Center, Kearny. She was 93.

Born in Jersey City, she lived many years in North Arlington.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral Mass was held in St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave an online condolence please visit www.armitagewiggins.com

Marie was a member of the Mount Carmel Seniors in Jersey City.

Wife of the late Joseph Abello Sr., she was the mother of Joseph Abello Jr. and the late Anthony Abello. She is also survived by their wives, Vi and Jean. She was the sister of Rose Sansone and the late Joe Mattaliano and Dominick Fiorese; the sister-in-law of Sam Abello, and grandmother of Joe, Paul, Vincent, Anthony, JoAnn and John. Also surviving are eight great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to St. Stephen’s Four Chaplains Fund c/o the funeral home.

Cav. Joseph Coccia Jr.

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Cav. Joseph Coccia Jr. 83, of Saddle Brook, formerly of Kearny, passed away on Jan. 3.

Born in Newark to the late Clementina and Joseph Coccia Sr., he was an Army veteran of the Korean War serving in Japan and Korea from 1951-1953.

Joseph was the founder of the Coccia Foundation in Saddle Brook, a foundation to preserve and promote Italian culture. He was also the founder of the Joseph and Elda Coccia Institute at Montclair State University. Joseph was decorated with the medal of Cavaliere in the Legion of Merit presented by the Republic of Italy for extraordinary fundraising after the earthquakes in 1976 and 1980 (Friuli and Mezzogiorno). He was a parishioner of St. Philip the Apostle R.C. Church in Saddle Brook. He served as a Past National President of UNICO National from 1976-1977 and was a former member of the Board of Directors of Valley National Bank. Previously, he owned Coccia Real Estate and Insurance Agency in Kearny.

Cav. Joseph received a personal Papal Blessing from Pope John Paul II . He was a Lifetime Silver Honorary Member of the N.J. State Police Benevolent Association for a successful fundraiser in obtaining 140 bulletproof vests for local police officers and was the grand marshal in the Columbus Day Parade in Nutley-Belleville and in East Hanover.

Beloved husband of Elda M. (nee Soriano) Coccia he was the devoted father of Genevieve Nicastro of Whippany, Elisa Coccia of Saddle Brook, Marisa Kettelhut of Georgia, Joseph Coccia, III of Rochelle Park and Christopher Coccia of Florham Park; dear brother of the late Katherine Zito, Theresa Farr and Vincent Coccia; loving grandfather of 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Costa Memorial Home, Boulevard and Central Ave., Hasbrouck Heights on Monday Jan. 7. A funeral Liturgy was held in St. Philip the Apostle R.C. Church, Saddle Brook, followed by entombment at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Coccia Foundation, 23 Leswing Ave., Saddle Brook, N.J. 07663 would be appreciated.

Anna Graziosi

Anna Graziosi died Jan. 6, 2013, in the Christian Health Care Center in Wyckoff. She was 97.

Born in Jersey City, she lived for many years in Kearny before moving to Wyckoff in 2007.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral Mass was held in St. Cecilia’s Church in Kearny, with interment in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.

She was a secretary at Beaubrummel Ties in New York City.

Wife of the late Anthony, she was the sister of Cecilia Cappiello, and the late Angelina Tortora, and Samuel Cappiello. She is also survived by 15 nieces and nephews; 34 great-nieces and nephews, and 25 great-great-nieces and nephews.

Paul McNabb

Private services were held for Mr. Paul McNabb, formerly of Kearny, who died on Jan. 6. He was 60.

Paul was a graduate of Queen of Peace High School and was a truck driver for over 40 years for Nabisco and then GOD Trucking before retiring from Gold Coast Freightways, Inc.

He was a loyal N.Y. Yankee and Jets fan. He enjoyed camping and going down the shore and good music. Paul lived life to the fullest.

He is predeceased by his parents Margaret and Francis McNabb. He will be missed but never forgotten by Frank and Jeanine, Maureen and Frank, Brian and Joanne and his three nieces and many good friends.

In Paul’s memory, please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Kathy M. Potter

Kathy M. Potter (nee Hackett) died Jan. 6, surrounded by her family, in Bayonne Hospital. She was 52. Born in Kearny she lived in Jersey City before moving to Bayonne 10 years ago.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. Her service was followed by a private cremation. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com

Kathy was a graphic specialist at Pengad Inc. in Bayonne and graduated summa cum laude from N.J. City University where she was the managing editor of Transformations and was a founding member of Re- Collective Writers Group. She was a member of the Bayonne Woman’s Club and the Woman’s Auxiliary American Legion Post 99. Kathy’s last selfless act was giving the gift of life to others by her loving family’s decision to donate her organs.

She is survived by her husband Rae Potter and her children Alannah and Garvey. She was the youngest sister of Ellen Pfarr, and Art, Jim, Carole and Tom Hackett.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to NJCU Foundation (Kathy Potter Memorial Writing Award) c/o Lori Summers, director of development, 2039 Kennedy Blvd. H-315 Jersey City, N.J. 07305.

Stanley Rekuta

Stanley Rekuta, 82, of East Newark, formerly of Kearny, passed away on Friday, Jan. 11. Born in Kearny, he lived there most of his life.

The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison, on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 9:30 a,m. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home at 10 a.m. Friends may call Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and from 9 a.m. Thursday. His interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

He was an elevator technician, working for Otis Elevator, Harrison, for many years. He was a member of the Harrison Senior Citizens. He served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. In his spare time, Stanley was an artist who enjoyed drawing. He was also a big fan of soccer, the N.Y. Giants, and N.Y. Mets.

Predeceased by the love of his life, Anne Hamlin (2001), he is survived by Anne’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests a memorial contribution be made to the Harrison Senior Citizens Center, care of the funeral home in loving memory of Stanley. For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfuneralhome.org.

Ann G. Speirs

Ann G. Speirs (Zeoli), 99, died on Saturday, Jan. 12, in the Mountainside Hospital, Glen Ridge.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny on Wednesday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m. A funeral Mass will be offered in Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Glendale Cemetery, Bloomfield. Visiting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 15, from 4 to 8 p.m. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.

Ms. Speirs was born in Harrison and was a lifelong resident of Kearny.

She was employed by R.C.A. in Harrison for 40 years, retiring many years ago.

She is survived by her nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Ann was predeceased by her siblings Mae Joll, Frances Krapek and Anthony, Charles, Michael and John Zeoli.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Our Lady of Czestochowa Church. 115 3rd St., Harrison, NJ 07029.

Thomas W. Young

Thomas W. Young (Whitey), 51, of Fort Meyers, Fla., formerly North Arlington, lost his battle to cancer on Jan. 3.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Donna (Kinder); two sons T.J. and Michael. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Basso of North Arlington, brother to JoAnn Landaeta of Pennsylvania, Patti Mobilio and Sandra McKenna, both of North Arlington; son-in-law of William and the late Sue Kinder; brother-in-law Debbie and Diane, both of Florida; seven nieces and nephews and also a great nephew Anthony Thomas, his namesake.

Tom owned his own landscaping business in Florida.

A private cremation was held. Memorial donations to the American Cancer Society.

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