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.
ROBERT R. COLOT, 69, of Matawan died Feb. 16 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in Matawan, he was a lifelong resident. He was employed as the national purchasing manager at Maersk Shipping, Madison, retiring in 1995. Prior to that, he worked at his family’s business, Colot’s Service, Matawan, for 23 years. He was a communicant and lay reader at St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church, Matawan. He served with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He served on the Matawan Borough Council, and was a member of the Matawan Rotary Club, as well as St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus, Matawan. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Joann M. Redeker Colot of Matawan; his son, Robert R. Colot Jr. of Gloucester Township; three daughters, Roseann M. Colot of Boston, Ginette C. Colot of Washington, D.C., and Patricia L. Colot of Broad Run, Va.; a brother, Raymond Colot of Australia; and two grandchildren. A funeral service was offered at St. Clement’s Church, Matawan; followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent. Memorial donations may be made to Clement House, 172 Freneau Ave., Matawan 07747.
BENEDICT A. GROSSI, 69, of the River Plaza section of Middletown died Feb. 16 at home. Born in Newark, he lived in Red Bank before moving to River Plaza. He was a consultant for DuPont, Newark, Del. He was a communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank. He served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was a volunteer fireman for River Plaza Hose Company No. 1. He was predeceased by his wife, Anne Pisciotta Grossi. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Louis and Debra Grossi of Lake Havasu City, Ark.; his daughter, Annie Darrow of Toms River; his sister and brother-in-law, Anna and Bruno Lotto of North Arlington; four sisters-in-law, Catherine Colaneri, Elizabeth Notte, Vera Grassi and Sandra Kuzma; three brothers-in-law, Anthony Grassi, Frank Pisciotta and Donald Pisciotta; two grandchildren; and several nieces; nephews; cousins; and friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. James Roman Catholic Church. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery Mausoleum, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., New York City, NY 10021.
ELEANOR MARCINKOWSKI DOMBROWSKI, 74, of Hazlet died Feb. 18 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge. Born in Perth Amboy, she lived in South Amboy prior to moving to Hazlet. She was a retired member of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Prior to that, she worked for Industrial Heat Sealing, Jackson; and Kmart, Hazlet. She was a member of the Cullen Center Senior Citizen Club, Hazlet. She is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Marty and Peggy Dombrowski and Benn Dombrowski, all of South Amboy; a sister and brother-in-law, Dolores and Richard Ferrarin of Fords; a brother and sister-in-law, Leonard and Jean Marcinkowski of Lady Lake, Fla.; two grandchildren; and 17 nieces and nephews. Interment was at St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Keasby. Memorial donations may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, P.O. Box 79563, Baltimore, MD 21279-0563.
HENRIETTE H. STONEBRINK BLANK, 97, of Keyport died Feb. 22 at Arnold Walter Nursing Home, Holmdel. Born in Hazlet, she resided in Keyport the past 20 years. She was a homemaker. She was a member of St. John United Methodist Church, Hazlet, as well as its Leisure Times club. She was predeceased by her husband, Marvin C. Blank, and her son, Franklin H. Rutt. She is survived by several cousins and friends. Interment was at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet.
THEODORE SMUKLER, 95, of Matawan died Feb. 23 at The Highlands, Edison. Born in Gloversville, N.Y., he resided in Linden prior to moving to Matawan 32 years ago. He was a retired truck dispatcher for Elizabeth Iron Works. He was a member of the Freemasons of Matawan and Elizabeth. His hobbies included amateur radio, and he belonged to an amateur radio club based in both Matawan and Elizabeth. He was predeceased by his wife Rose Smukler; his son, Ralph Smukler; three brothers; and two sisters. He is survived by his daughter, Sharon Heddon of Colonia; five grandchildren, Patricia Foder of Edison, Kathi Heddon of Colonia, Lisa Misak of Levittown, Pa., Alan Smukler of Los Angeles, and Leslie Smukler of Sarasota, Fla.; and two great-grandchildren. A service was offered at Temple Shalom, Aberdeen; followed by interment at Cloverleaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge. Memorial donations may be made to Temple Shalom, Ayrmont Lane and Church Street, Aberdeen 07747.
CHARLOTTE J. HAVENS, 81, of Union Beach died Feb. 24 at home. Born in Matawan, she resided there until moving to Union Beach several years ago. She was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach, where she was also a life member of the Altar Rosary Society and a member of Holy Family Golden Age. She was predeceased by her husband, Gerald "Pat" Havens. She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth "Betty" Smith of Union Beach; her son, Robert G. Havens of South Carolina; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Feb. 27 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at Day Funeral Home, Keyport. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. Entombment will be at Holmdel Cemetery.
VINCENT LEE PITTS, 42, of Freehold died Jan. 25 at home. Born in Neptune, he was a lifelong resident of Freehold. He was a butcher for McMannan and Freeman Discount Meat Center, Englishtown. He was a member of the Bible Way Pentecostal Church, Freehold. He is survived by two daughters, Shannon Stevens of Asbury Park and Alexis Gresham of Freehold; his parents, Jessie McKensley Pitts and Ceola Bonner Pitts, with whom he lived; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Anthony Pitts, at home, Nathan and Daniele Pitts of Manchester Township, and McKenzie Pitts of Asbury Park; two sisters, Rose Calhoun of Matawan and Aldertha Pitts of Freehold; his maternal grandmother, Eula Bonner of Freehold; a grandson; his former wife, Melissa Gresham Pitts of Freehold; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held at the New Hope Baptist Church, Freehold, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.
MARGARET WOOD, 89, of Holmdel died Feb. 20 at Regency Park Nursing Home, Hazlet. She was predeceased by her husband, Walter Wood, in 1960. She is survived by her son, Walter Wood; and three grandchildren. Interment was at St. Raymond’s Cemetery, the Bronx, N.Y.
RAYMOND S. CAPATI, 76, of Union Beach died Feb. 13 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he resided in Union Beach the past 38 years. He was a laborer for Local 595, Matawan, for 20 years. He also served as a merchant seaman in the Merchant Marines for 20 years. He was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. He served with the U.S. Navy during peacetime. He is survived by his wife, Arleen Bellaran-Capati of Union Beach; two daughters, Denise Capati of Red Bank, and Michele Brenner of Manasquan; two brothers, Daniel Capati of Philadelphia, and Donald Capati of Georgia; and two grandchildren. A funeral service was offered at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach.
JEANNETTE GEURTSE, 82, of Middletown died Feb. 20 at home. Born in Greenhite, England, she resided in The Netherlands and moved to the United States in 1948. Before moving to Middletown, she lived in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, and in Hazlet. She was predeceased by her husband, John G. Geurtse Sr., in 1994. She is survived by her son, John G. Geurtse Jr. of Port Monmouth; two daughters, Jeannette Gipson of Prattville, Ala., and Dorothy Burnett of Port Monmouth; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
JOSEPHINE R. LAMBERTI, 85 of Hazlet died Feb. 20 at Bayshore Health Center, Holmdel. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she lived there prior to moving to Hazlet three years ago. She was a pediatric psychiatry clerk at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital for 25 years, retiring in 1985. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Knights of Columbus, as well as the Rosarian Society, both in Brooklyn. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph Lamberti in 1990. She is survived by her daughter, Vivian Rocco of Matawan; her son, Dominick Lamberti of Aberdeen; two sisters, Theresa DeSabato of Queens, N.Y., and Rose DeMeo of Brooklyn; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.