Obituaries

Dorothy Bevan

Dorothy Bevan, (nee Suckiel) of Harrison, entered into eternal rest on Thursday, Dec. 5.

Born in Kearny, she was a lifelong resident of Harrison. Dorothy was a homemaker and was also a parishioner of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison.

Beloved wife of Lawrence Bevan (married 53 years), she was the loving mother of Janet Bevan, dear sister of Caroline Lozo, Veronica Gralinski and Donald Suckiel and an aunt to many nieces and nephews. S

he was predeceased by her son Ronald Bevan (2008) and her sister Janet Suckiel.

Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison and her entombment was in Woodbridge Memorial Gardens, Woodbridge. For information or to send condolences to the family, please visit mulliganfuneralhome.org.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Our Lady of Czestochowa Church in care of the funeral home in memory of Dorothy.

Ruth P. Bradow

Ruth P. Bradow (nee Doeg) died Dec. 6 at home. She was 89.

Born in North Bergen, she lived in Jersey City before moving to Kearny in 1985.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral service was held in Grace Church, Kearny, followed by private cremation. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.

Ruth was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and was a Girl Scout Leader and Sunday School teacher, all in Jersey City. She was also a member of Grace Church in Kearny and The Rutherford Chapter O.E.S.

Wife of the late Edward G., she is survived by her son Edward and his wife Lorri and her daughter Paulette Bradow. Sister of the late Marie, she is survived by her grandchildren Edward, David, Judy, Cate, Elizabeth and Nancy and nine great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Kidney Foundation or Grace Church Memorial Fund.

John J. Carchidi

John J. Carchidi, a lifelong Kearny resident, died on Thanksgiving Day at home. He was 85.

Visitation was held in the Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny (condonfuneralhome.com). The funeral Mass was offered on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny. A private cremation followed.

Mr. Carchidi was the owner/ operator of John J. Carchidi General Contractor for 40 years before retiring in 1993. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

John is survived by his wife, Rose (nee Carchidi) and his children Roseanne Stewart and her husband, Craig, John Carchidi and his wife Sharon and Christine McShane and her husband, Daniel. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Christopher, Daniel, Linette, Jacqueline,John, and Alexandra. John also leaves his brother-in-law Vincent Carchidi.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) or St. Stephen’s Church.

Emma Costa

Emma Costa (nee Smedley) died Dec. 2 at Clara Maass Medical Center. She was 79.

Born in Pennsylvania, she lived in Kearny before moving to Tuckerton.

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

Emma was a secretary and registrar for the Town of Kearny and was a secretary at Atlantic City Airport. She had also been a Cub Scout leader in Kearny.

Beloved wife of Edmund Costa, she was the mother of George (Helen), Daniel and Linda Richardson and the late Kevin and Timothy Richardson. She was also the sister of Bill Smedley and grandmother of Joseph, Lauren, George, Maureen, William, Kevin and the late Robert.

In lieu of flowers, please consider American Lung Association.

Elizabeth C. Doeffinger

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Elizabeth C. Doeffinger (nee Metz), 86, of Belleville, passed away on Friday, Dec. 6. Elizabeth (“Betty”) was married for 56 years to the late George Doeffinger Sr.

She lived her life serving her community as a volunteer for organizations and charities that touched many. Betty was involved in scouting and served her beloved veterans though the American Legion Auxiliary Post 70 and the 8 and 40. Her most recent service as a docent of the Turtle Back Zoo fulfilled her devotion to children’s education and animals.

Betty was a loyal wife,mother and friend. Surviving are her five children George Jr., John and Thomas Doeffinger, Lisa O’Malley and Karen Frisch. She leaves her legacy of strength for her community and commitment to her family, to her seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. Funeral services were held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 575 Kearny Ave., Kearny. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her name to Zoological Society of NJ, The Professional Education Fund, 560 Northfield Ave., West Orange, N.J. 07052.

Joseph ‘Joe’ D. Graham

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Joseph “Joe” Graham, 52, of East Newark, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 7 and has now joined with his mother Joan (nee Jennings) (1995) and his brother James (2012). After a courageous battle with cancer, Joe passed from complications resulting from post 9/11 illness. T

he funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 9:45 a.m. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. from Christ Episcopal Church, Cleveland Ave., Harrison, across the street from the funeral home. His interment will follow in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny. Friends may call starting at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. For information, directions or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfuneralhome.org.

Joseph graduated from Kearny High in 1979. He was an ironworker and a member of the Ironworkers Union Local 402, Riviera Beach, Fla. He served as a firefighter with the East Newark Volunteer Fire Department and was a life member of the NJ State Fireman’s Exempt Association. He was a first responder volunteer at ground zero on Sept. 11, 2001.

Joseph was a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. He was also a member of the Union Ironworkers Motorcycle Club.

Joe is survived by his loving wife Daphne, his daughters Danielle and Kelsey, his stepsons Thomas Laver, Matias and Daniel Griffiths, his father, Raymond D. Graham Sr., his siblings and their spouses, Raymond Jr. and his wife Monica, Kathleen Ahearn and her husband James, Thomas and his wife Maura, Linda Carson and her husband Robert and Kenneth and his wife Dawn, his good friend, Ronald Rivas and his wife Marie.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Joseph’s memory in care of Mulligan Funeral Home in loving memory of Joe.

Patrick Hesketh

Patrick Hesketh, 82, died on Dec. 2 at Alaris Health at Belgrove in Kearny.

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

Patrick was born in Harrison. He lived in Kearny before returning to Harrison 50 years ago. He was an All State soccer player at St. Cecilia High School.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.

Mr. Hesketh was employed by the Kearny Water Department as a heavy equipment operator for 20 years, retiring in 1993.

He was a member of the Harrison Seniors, the St. Cecilia Seniors and Post No.1302 V.F.W., Kearny.

Surviving are his children Mary Gill and Patrick J. Hesketh II; two brothers, Francis and John Hesketh and one granddaughter Megan Gill. He also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Robin June Kozik

Robin June Kozik, 58, of Point Pleasant Borough, passed away, Sunday, Dec. 1, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born and raised in Kearny, she moved to Point Pleasant in 1989.

Robin was a lover of nature, and enjoyed gardening, the ocean and spending time with her animals. She was also an avid NY Giants fan.

She was predeceased by her parents, John Francis and Elizabeth (Brown) Kozik.

Robin is survived by her twin children, Brittany Elizabeth Kozik and Officer Rory Francis Kozik, U.S. Navy; her sister, Elizabeth M. Kozik and her husband Biraja N. Sahu and their son, Rabindra John Kozik Sahu; her twin brother, Robert John Kozik and his wife, Sunita; and their daughter, Jennifer Hughes and her husband William and their son A.J. She is also survived by her sister, Janie F. Kozik. Arrangements were by the Van Hise & Callagan Funeral Home, 812 Arnold Ave., Point Pleasant. Cremation was private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Robin’s name to savebarnegatbay.org,friendsofislandbeach.org/ donate/, theraptortrust.org, bestfriends.org or woundedwarriorproject.org.

Robert ‘Bobby’ Christopher Leister

Bobby Leister, 50, of South Abington Township, Pa., formerly of Harrison, North Arlington and Belmar, died Nov. 2 in Scranton, Pa.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend Bobby’s Life Celebration memorial service at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, on Saturday, Dec.14, at noon.

Bobby was born on Jan. 29, 1963, in Kearny. He was the son of Richard and the late Marilyn (Egbert) Leister.

Bobby’s greatest love, and his dedication, was to his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Cathy Jo (Ferrara) and his loving children: Andrew, Julia and Charlie, all at home.

He was the dear brother of Dave, Carol Aquino and her husband Tony, Elaine Frick and her husband Jim, Richie and his wife Patty, and Jimmy and his wife Talin. He is also survived by his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Sarah Lenahan; brotherin- law Joe Ferrara and his wife Missy; sister-in-law Marilyn Pisani and her husband Ralph, many nieces, nephews, loving relatives and dear friends.

“Gone But Never Forgotten”

Carlota M. Sanchez

Carlota M. Sanchez died on Dec. 1. She was 98.

Born in Ecuador, she lived in Newark before moving to Belleville 25 years ago.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at Immaculate Conception Church on Woodside Avenue in Newark.

Carlota is survived by her daughter Antonieta Sanchez, her granddaughter Elizabeth Moyano and her grandchildren Anthony and Alexandra Ramos.

Catherine Scullion

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Catherine Scullion died on Dec. 1 in N.Y.C. She was 67.

Born in Scotland, she lived in Kearny for the past 25 years.

Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Stephen’s Church, followed by a private cremation.

Cathy was an office manager for Dr. Holwitt in Glen Ridge. Before that, she worked for Dr. Murphy in North Arlington. She was a member of the St. Andrew’s Honor Society and was an avid Mick Jagger fan.

She was the sister of Susan McKeown, Christine Smith, and the late Barbara Sheridan, Thomas and Harry Scullion and Frances Stroligo. Also surviving are many beloved nieces and nephews and their families.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Humane Society.

Vincent Herman Tornfelt

Vincent Herman Tornfelt, 100, passed away on Dec. 4, in Wilmington, Del.

Mr. Tornfelt was born to Swedish emigrants Oscar and Ingrid Nilsson Tornfelt in 1913, in Kearny.

Vince was senior class president of Kearny High School in 1931, and attended Washington and Lee University.

Unfortunately, his formal education was stopped during the Great Depression. Vince enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served in the South Pacific and returned to the United States on the battleship Iowa. He returned home to Kearny, where he and his brother, Bill, who was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge, restarted the family auto dealership, the Argyle Garage. In 1946, he married Barbara Harris of Paterson. He and his brother ran the three-car showroom business six days a week until they retired in 1978.

Despite the hardships, he became successful, raised a family, made many friends, and stayed active in the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington and the Kearny Optimist Club.

Vince moved to Forwood Manor in Wilmington in 2001. Over the years, when anyone would ask how he was, his response was always positive. “I’m doing the best I can.” On hearing a complaint, he would be quick to quote his Navy drill instructor, “Adjust, this is not home,” and spell out the word “a-d-j-u-s-t”.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Barbara Harris Tornfelt, in 1989. He is survived by his daughter, Ingrid Berlien and husband, David, of Wilmington, Del.; and his son, John Tornfelt and wife, Debbie, of Lancaster, Pa. He was the proud grandfather of Leslie Stewart (TJ) of East Amherst, N.Y.; Stephen Berlien (Andrea) of Morton, Ill.; Eric Tornfelt (Eden) of Charlotte, N.C.; and Sam Berlien (Reina) of Philadelphia, Pa. He was also the great-grandfather of Tucker, Hudson and Grady Berlien, and Hallie Stewart.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the staff at Forwood Manor. Services will be private.

For online condolences, please visit www.chandlerfuneralhome.com.

Doris VanKirk

Doris VanKirk, 87, died on Dec. 4 at Alaris Health at Kearny.

Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. The funeral service was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, 663 Kearny Ave., Kearny, followed by interment in Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.

Doris was born in Newark and lived in Kearny since 1971.

She was employed as a bookkeeper for CohnReznick in Roseland for 21 years, retiring in 2000.

Miss VanKirk was a member of Rutherford Chapter No. 24 O.E.S. as well as the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington where she served as treasurer for several years.

She leaves behind many dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to a charity of choice would be preferred.

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