Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.
CARMELA BOBIAK, 69, of Freehold, died Jan. 18 at Bartley Manor Convalescent Center, Jackson. She was born in New York City and moved to Freehold 40 years ago. She was a secretary at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, for seven years, and previously had been a secretary for Sears for 25 years. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She is survived by her husband, Adam; a son, Michael of Howell; a daughter, Christine Behring of Redington Shores, Fla.; a brother, Gustave Diorio of Manalapan; and three grandchildren. Interment was held at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.
WALTER G. NEFF JR., 76, of Union Beach, died Jan. 24 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Orange, he resided in Union Beach the past 48 years. He was an insurance underwriter for Cigna Insurance, N.Y., for 18 years, retiring in 1987. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II at the Normandy Landing, occupation of Germany, European/African Campaigns, and the liberation of France; and received the Bronze Star, Distinguished Service Medal. He was at the Normandy Landing. He was a communicant and head usher for 25 years at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. He was also a member of its Holy Name Society, and named its Man of the Year in 1993, and the Holy Name Society County Man of the Year in 1994. He was a member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and belonged to the Serra of Monmouth County. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Catherine Finnerty Neff of Union Beach; two sons and daughters-in-law, Walter G. and Jacqueline Neff III of Lakewood, and James J. and Christine Neff of Atlantic Highlands; three brothers, Frederick Neff of Millville, Robert Neff of Verona, and Paul Neff of Parsippany; his sister, Nadine McNally of Ogdensburg, N.Y.; and two grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, c/o Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Route 36, Union Beach 07735.
AGNES H. MODZELEWSKI, 85, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died Jan. 31 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, she resided in Port Monmouth for the past 53 years. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her husband, Stanley Modzelewski, in 1999. She is survived by her son, Stanley Modzelewski of Maben, Miss.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Alice and Robert Eckert of Port Monmouth, and Jane and Robert Earle of Jackson; a sister, Janie Williams of Alexandria, Va.; 10 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
GEORGE R. SCHEPP, 77, of Lakewood, died Jan. 21 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was born in The Bronx, N.Y., and lived in Middletown before moving to Lakewood one year ago. He earned a bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1951. He worked for Western Electric, New York City, then went on to Bell Labs where he worked on the Telestar Communication project. He was then employed by Lucent Technologies in Holmdel as an engineering supervisor for 42 years before retiring in 1993. He was a member of the Beacon Hill Country Club and a past president of the CBA Fathers Club from 1976-77. He was predeceased by a son, Paul Richard Schepp. Surviving are his wife, Marcella Donnelly Schepp; a son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Robina Schepp of Middletown; two sons, George T. Schepp of Monmouth Beach, and Richard P. Schepp of Atlanta, Ga.; a brother, Francis Schepp of Yonkers, N.Y.; and a sister, Helen Plunkett of Bronxville, N.Y. A Mass was offered at St. Mary’s Church, Middletown. Interment was in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Att. Communications Division, 6931 Arlington Road, Bethseda, Md. 20814.
EDNA RAGSDALE, 67, of Howell, died Jan. 24 in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Mrs. Ragsdale was born in Matawan and was a lifelong resident until moving to The Villages, Howell, in 1998. She was an avid horsewoman and was a member of the New Jersey Morgan Horse Assoc-iation. Mrs. Ragsdale was a tester for Cel-Wave, Marlboro, for 21 years before retiring in July 2001. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Nancy Ragsdale-Vine and David L. Vine of Howell; two sisters, her twin sister, Lois Sanders of Salem, Ind., and Kay Powelson of Old Bridge; and her close friend, John Mikulas. A private interment was held.
JOHN W BREWER, 75, of Whiting, formerly of Howell, died Jan. 25 in Whiting Healthcare Center, Whiting. Mr. Brewer was born in Flint, Michigan, and lived in Illinois until joining the Navy during World War II, serving in the Asian Pacific Theater. Mr. Brewer settled in Howell in 1950 an lived there for 49 years until moving to Whiting in 1999. He was an electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 271 for 20 years. He was a former member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9691 in Howell. His wife, Marie, died in 1992. Surviving are two sons, John A Brewer and Carl Brewer; and a brother, Robert Brewer of Illinois. Interment was in the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle New Jersey Veterans Cemetery, Arnytown.
WILLIAM J. KOHLER, 82, of Lakewood, died Jan. 28 in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in South Amboy, he lived in Lakewood for the past 40 years. Prior to retiring he was employed at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst, and was previously employed at the Raritan Arsenal, Edison, for 45 years. He was a member of St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council in Brick and a former member of Protection Engine Co., South Amboy. His wife Victoria Chiantese Kohler died in 1994. Surviving are a brother, Donald Kohler of Jackson; three sisters, Marie English of the Morgan section of Sayreville, Jean Murphy and Margaret Hulsart, both of South Amboy; and five nieces and nephews. A Mass was offered at St. Mary’s Church, South Amboy. Interment was in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Hamilton.