Obituaries

Michael Gaynor

Michael J. Gaynor, 54, died on Sunday, March 15, at home in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

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

Mr. Gaynor was born in the Bronx, N.Y., and lived in Kearny since age nine. He moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa., 11 years ago.

He was a postal worker at the Bloomfield Post Office for 27 years. Michael is survived by his wife Colleen (Quinn). He was the uncle of Allison Gaynor and Christopher Michael Gaynor.

He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Mary (Coyne) Gaynor and his brother Christopher Gaynor. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the VNA/Hospice of Monroe County at www.vnahospiceofmc.org.

Dolores Jeraldine Hanf 

Dolores Jeraldine Hanf, 85, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., died on March 7 in Walterboro, S.C.

She was born in Jersey City, to the late Mrs. Philomina Berardo and the late Mr. Gabriel Richard Fuschillo.

Dolores served proudly in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. She later worked in Lyndhurst as an insurance agent and in Hollywood, Fla., as a clerk in the Broward County Court system.

She is survived by one daughter, Deborah Ferrato, of Wallkill, N.Y.; two sons, Richard Hanf (Nancy), of Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Keith M. Hanf (Dawn), of Fairfax, Vt.; six grandchildren, Shawna, Michael, Daniel, Kelsey, Dana and Elizabeth, and nieces, nephews and loving friends. A memorial service was held in Beaufort, S.C., followed by a ceremony with military honors in Beaufort National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her honor to the Veteran’s Victory House, 2461 Sidneys Road, Walterboro, S.C. 29488, or any veteran’s organization.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McAlister-Smith.com.

Arrangements were by McAlister-Smith Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant Chapel, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

Betty Hinkley 

Betty Hinkley (Layton), 80, a lifelong resident of Kearny, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 17. Her final days were spent at home surrounded by family.

Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. The funeral service was held from the funeral home. Interment was to follow at Nicholson Cemetery in Nicholson, Pa., at a later date.

Betty was born in Jersey City on July 14, 1934, to the late Edward and Dorothy (Park) Layton. She grew up in Kearny and graduated from Kearny High School in 1952. Later, she worked as certified dental assistant for Dr. Edward S. Levy, D.D.S., in Kearny for many years.

Mrs. Hinkley had a passion for knitting and loved visiting her Point Pleasant beach house. The First Baptist Church of Arlington was a special place to her where she was an active member and matriarch. Betty was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Joseph E. Frobisher Post No. 99, American Legion, in Kearny.

She is survived by her husband of 60 years Robert G. Hinkley; two children Thomas Hinkley and his wife Joanne of Kearny and Lynda Hinkley and her life partner William Kirchoff of Sag Harbor, N.Y.; one brother Jack Layton and his wife Kathy of Hilton Head, S.C.; and two grandchildren Evan and Neil Cratz.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the First Baptist Church of Arlington, 650 Kearny Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032 would be appreciated.

Rosemarie Klossek 

Rosemarie Klossek, 70, of Kearny, died Wednesday, March 18, at University Medical Center in Newark.

Born and raised in Newark, Mrs. Klossek lived in Harrison for 25 years before moving to Kearny. She was employed by various industries, including Brothers Bakery in Kearny and Mel Gambert Shirt Co. in Harrison.

The daughter of the late Frank and Lucia (nee Iacullo) Silva, Mrs. Klossek was also predeceased by her husband, Ronald Klossek, on Oct. 7, 2006, and three brothers, Anthony, Frank and Peter Silva. She is survived by one daughter, Lisa M. Sarni and her husband, Richard, of Stillwater; four grandchildren, Alisha Nichols and husband, Christopher, and Gabrielle, Alexis and Richard Sarni; one sister, Maryann Silva; and two brothers, Manuel and Joseph Silva. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, as well as family and friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Smith- McCracken Funeral Home, 63 High St., Newton. Online condolences may be offered at www.smithmccrackenfuneralhome.com.

Martin James Sharkey 

Martin James Sharkey died March 21. He was 70.

Born in Newark, he lived most of his life in Harrison. Visiting will be on Wednesday, March 25, from 4 to 8 p.m., at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. The service will take place that evening. Private cremation will follow. www.armitagewiggins.com.

Mr. Sharkey loved fishing and the outdoors. He was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Bears fan. He had been a welder for Vac/U/Max in Belleville.

Formerly married to Shirley Sharkey, he is also survived by his children Lisa M., Brian S. and Jamie G. Sharkey; his brother Edward; his grandson Jamie; along with nieces and a nephew.

John Baptiste Solano 

John Baptiste Solano, 96, of Waretown, formerly of Colonia, died on Wednesday, March 11, in Stafford Township.

Born in Kearny on April 5, 1918, he was the son of the late Anthony and Mary Lico Solano. John was an inspiration to all he met. In the words of his great-granddaughter, he was “selfless, generous, hopeful and a lover of everything and anything.” He loved life and lived it fully to the last minute. He was a retired troubleshooter with Elizabethtown Gas Company.

He was predeceased by his wife, Marjorie Davis Solano, in 1997 and his son, Anthony John Solano, in 2004; his brothers, James Solano and Patrick Solano; and his sisters, Marian Solano Holowatch, and Elizabeth Solano Fash. Surviving are his daughter, Sharon Ann Savacool, and her husband, Donald, of Waretown; his six grandchildren, Dawn Taylor, Donald Savacool, Steven Savacool, Kristin Solano, Tony Solano and Brett Solano; eight greatgrandchildren; his brothers, Frank Solano and Joseph Solano; his sister, Sarah Solano Cadorette; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held on Friday, March 13, at the Holcombe- Fisher Funeral Home in Flemington and he was interred at the Hazel Wood Cemetery, Colonia.

Robert J. Van Volkenburgh 

Robert J. Van Volkenburgh, 71, of Hunterdon County, entered into eternal rest and joined his Savior Jesus Christ on Aug. 26, 2014.

Robert was born and raised in Kearny and briefly in North Arlington. He attended St. Cecilia’s High School and graduated from Kearny High School in 1962.

He lived the last 35 years of his life in Hunterdon County with his wife of nearly 51 years, Marianne, and raised two sons, Dr. Robert Van Volkenburgh Jr. and Dr. Daniel Van Volkenburgh. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.

He is survived by his wife Marianne, his sons Dr. Robert Van Volkenburgh Jr. and wife Gwendolyn, Dr. Daniel Van Volkenburgh and wife Rebecca; six grandchildren; his sister Carol Costello and husband Angelo; mother-in-law Angie Raimondo; sisterin- law Evelyn Kaiser; and many nieces and nephews.

Robert was a kind, warmhearted and generous man famous for his dry humor and vivacious personality. He will be greatly missed. Mail may be sent to: P.O. Box 5301, Clinton, N.J. 08809.

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