OBITUARIES 09/27

From the Sept. 27 edition of the Register-News

By:
Filomena DiBlasi

Capodici

   CHESTERFIELD — Filomena "Fanny" DiBlasi Capodici, 99, died Sept. 21 at home.
   Born in Casteltermini, Italy, she lived in the Trenton area most of her life before moving to Chesterfield.
   Mrs. Capodici was a homemaker and member of St. Joachim’s Church and its Sacred Heart Society, and the San Calogero Society of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Trenton.
   Daughter of the late Michael and Carmela Traina DiBlasi, wife of the late Calogero Capodici and mother of the late Joseph Capodici, she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Carl Rentner of Chesterfield, with whom she lived; a son and two daughters-in-law, Michael and Rita Capodici of Levittown, Pa., and Joan Capodici of Hamilton; a sister, Josephine Durso of Casteltermini; seven grandchildren, Carolyn Gutowski and her husband, Robert, Cindy Martin and her husband, Randy, Carl Capodici and his wife, Joanne, Robert Capodici and his wife, Rhonda, Joseph Capodici and his wife, Janine, Christopher Capodici and his wife, Tina, and David Capodici; six great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held from Chambers D’Errico & Correnti Funeral Homes, Trenton.
   Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Joachim’s Church, Trenton.
   Burial was in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton.
   Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joachim’s Church, in care of 19 Bayard St., Trenton, NJ 08611; or Community Hospice, P.O. Box 441, Trenton, NJ 08603.
Joan M. Pukenas
   FLORENCE — Joan M. Pukenas, 68, died Sept. 20 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia.
   Born in Trenton, she lived in Upper Montclair before moving to Roebling 48 years ago.
   Mrs. Pukenas worked with the state eight years as an administrative assistant and was a laboratory technician with Mercer Medical Center for 17 years.
   She was a member of the Holy Assumption Catholic Church and the executive board of Holy Assumption School PTA.
   Daughter of the late John and Marie Keuper Phillips, she is survived by her husband, George Pukenas; two daughters and sons-in-law, Maryleigh and David Lippincott of Tempe, Ariz., and Barbara and Len Polyak of Florence; four sons and daughters-in-law, Rick and Linda Pukenas of Cape May Point, Tom and Sue Pukenas of Chattanooga, Tenn., Chris and Debbie Pukenas of Roebling and Scott and Amanda Pukenas of Medford; two sisters, Peggy Otis of Southport, N.C., and Cathy Wagner of Bunnell, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral was held from Koschek and Porter Funeral Directors, 1115 Hornberger Ave., Roebling.
   Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Holy Assumption Catholic Church, Roebling, with the Rev. Giles Barreda officiating.
   Burial was in Holy Assumption Cemetery, Roebling.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Lupus Foundation, 1873 Route 70 East 110F, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003; or Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, P.O. Box 115, Gibbstown, NJ 08027.
Helen L. Young

   BORDENTOWN CITY — Helen L. Young, 92, died Sept. 24 at home.
   Born in Newark, she lived in Westfield for 22 years before moving to Bordentown in 1990.
   She retired in 1974 as a personnel investigator from Western Electric, Union, after 49 years.
   She was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, its Altar Rosary Society and senior citizens group and the Telephone Pioneers of America.
   Mrs. Young volunteered at St. Mary’s food pantry, Rahway Hospital, Holy Trinity School and was past president of the Rosary Society of St. Augustine’s Church, Newark.
   Wife of the late John A. Young, she is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and James McEwan of Bordentown; and three grandchildren, Shannon and Meghan McEwan, and Sarah and her husband, Robert Edwards.
   Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. on Sept. 27 at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 45 Crosswicks St., with the Rev. Michael Burns officiating.
   Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
   Memorial Contributions can be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Dr., Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.
Randolph E.

Mershon Sr.

   WEST WINDSOR — Randolph E. "Bud" Mershon Sr., 70, of Princeton Junction died Thursday, Sept. 20, at The Medical Center at Princeton.
   Born in Princeton, he was a lifelong West Windsor resident.
   He was founder and president of R&E Mershon Concrete Products, nominated by the state Department of Labor as Veteran Employer of the Year in 2000. He received the same award from the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars earlier this year.
   He sponsored many youth soccer, baseball and basketball teams in Hamilton, Bordentown, Chesterfield and Mansfield. He also owned horse farms in Princeton and Ocala, Fla.
   Brother of the late Herbert, Charles William and John Mershon, he is survived by his wife of 48 years, Elizabeth H. Mershon; a son and daughter-in-law, Randolph E. Jr. and Sharon Mershon of Chesterfield; two daughters and sons-in-law, Bettie and Patrick Greber of Princeton Junction and Cynthia and John Molesworth of Robbinsville; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Betty and Mike Kostue of Princeton Junction, Ginny and Pete Millington of Ocala and Anne Woodard of Princeton Junction; a granddaughter and her husband, Christine M. and Jeffrey Calandra; four grandsons, Randolph E. III and Tyler Mershon and Duncan and Patrick Molesworth; and nieces, nephews and friends.
   Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Princeton Borough.
   Burial was in Princeton Cemetery.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bud Mershon Memorial Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 477, Bordentown, NJ 08505; or Twin W First Aid and Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 385, Princeton Junction, NJ 08550.
Joseph Petty

   HAMILTON — Joseph Petty, 85, died Sept. 19 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
   Born in Trenton, he was a lifelong area resident.
   Mr. Petty was a supervisor with Eastern Aircraft and worked 35 years with General Motors Corp., retiring in 1973.
   He enjoyed playing bingo and was a founding member of the Garden State Motorcycle Club and a member of the Starlight Seniors Club.
   Son of the late Michael and Anna Repash Petty and brother of the late Nicholas, Michael and Andrew, Mary Auld, Verna Hetmanski and Anna Bialota, he is survived by his wife of 55 years, Bertha Wyzga Petty; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Alan and Beverly Petty of Southampton, Roy and Donna Petty of Mansfield and Don of Hamilton; two brothers, Jack of Trenton and Peter of Las Vegas; two sisters, Elizabeth Mizerski of Arizona and Helen Petty of Trenton; three grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
   The funeral was held at Kutch Funeral Home, Trenton, with the Rev. Bill Henry of Liberty Street Church of Christ officiating.
   Burial was in St. Mary of the Assumption Byzantine Catholic Cemetery 3.
   Memorial contributions may be made to RWJUH-Hamilton Foundation, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, NJ 08690.
Jean H. Coleman

Thompson

   PLUMSTED — Jean H. Coleman Thompson, 65, died Sept. 19 at home.
   Born in New Brunswick, she lived in Allentown before moving to New Egypt four years ago.
   Mrs. Thompson was a homemaker.
   She is survived by her husband, Raymond "Butch" Thompson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Albert Young of New Egypt and Nancy and Jason Conk of North Hanover; two sons, Anthony Ruffino of California and Raymond Thompson of New Egypt; a sister, Leona Lopresti of New Brunswick; three brothers, James Coleman of Highland Park, Robert Coleman of Mount Laurel and Leonard Coleman of Las Vegas; and eight grandchildren, Jason and Albert Young, Samantha Thompson, Tabitha and Jesse Conk, Justin Thompson and Edward and Joseph Ruffino.
   The funeral was held at Tilghman Funeral Home, New Egypt, with the Rev. Alaina Walton officiating.
   Burial was private.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 159, Haddon Heights, NJ 08035.
William Hill

Kelly Jr.

   LONG BEACH — William Hill Kelly Jr., 30, was lost in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York.
   Born in Yardley, Pa., he also lived in Brant Beach and New York City.
   Mr. Kelly graduated from St. Ignatius School, Yardley, and Bishop Egan High School, Levittown, Pa., in 1989.
   He received a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Scranton (Pa.) in 1993.
   He worked with the Tradebook LLC division of Bloomberg LP, New York City.
   He was a member of the University of Scranton Alumni Association, St. Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Yardley, and St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, Brant Beach.
   He is survived by his parents, William Hill Sr. and JoAnne Kelly of Brant Beach and formerly of Yardley; four sisters, Colleen Kelly Jones and her husband, Daniel, of the Bronx, N.Y., Kathleen Kelly Hamilton and her husband, Christopher, of Bordentown, Maureen Kelly Donegan and her husband, Michael, of Windsor, Conn., and Meigan Kelly of Philadelphia; and other relatives and friends.
   Memorial Mass will be celebrated 2:30 p.m. Sept. 30 at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, 4700 Long Beach Blvd., Brant Beach.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Little Sisters of the Assumption, 260 E. 201st St., Bronx, NY, 10458.
   Arrangements are by Bugbee-Riggs Funeral Home of Ship Bottom.
John Henry

Thompson Jr.

   FORT MYERS, Fla. — John Henry Thompson Jr., 80, died Sept. 22 at home.
   Born in Schuylkill Haven, Pa., he lived in the Bordentown area before moving to Florida 16 years ago.
   He retired in 1984 as a supervisor with National Gypsum Co. in Florence.
   He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving as a platoon sergeant, a charter member of the national WWII memorial committee, and a member of Bordentown Elks 2085 and the Bordentown Chapter of the Deborah Foundation.
   Husband of the late Elizabeth D. Thompson and brother to the late William, he is survived by four daughters and three sons-in-law, Gail E. and James Cummings of Ft. Myers, Patricia McClaskey of Florence, Deborah and Carlo Ayars of Franklinville and Betty-Jo and Brian Lynch of Bordentown; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Carl and Phoebe Thompson of Pemberton, Raymond and Adele Thompson of Salida, Conn., and David and Judy Thompson of Union, Ore.; three sisters and two brothers-in-laws, Joann and Doug Massey of Hammonton, Alice and Dick Fischer of Tallahassee, Fla., and Lois Anderson of Texas; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
   The funeral will be 10 a.m. on Sept. 27 at Peppler Funeral Home, 122 Crosswicks St., Bordentown.
   Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
   Memorial contributions can be made to the New York Police and Fire Widows and Children Benefit Fund, P.O. Box 3713, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163.