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.
HELEN MICKEY BROWN, 67, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown died May 3 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, she resided there until moving to Port Monmouth seven years ago. She was a retired licensed practical nurse at Harborview Geriatrics, Jersey City, where she worked for two years. Prior to that, she was the owner and operator of Maple Grocery and Deli, Jersey City. She was a former communicant of St. Mary’s Byzantine Church, Jersey City. She was a 1988 graduate of Jersey City Medical Center. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles Brown in 1994; her daughter, Maureen Michele Brown in 1971; and her brother, John Fedorchak in 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Helen Brown of Port Monmouth; two brothers, Peter Fedorchak of Westwood, and Gregory Fedorchak of Freehold; two brothers-in-law, Fred Brown of Jersey City, and Richard Brown of Matawan; and her cousin. Visitation will be May 8 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral gathering will be May 9 at 8 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a funeral liturgy at 9 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial will be at Bay View Cemetery, Leonardo section of Middletown.
JOAN ELLIN GLEASON, 74, of Middletown died May 5 at home. Born in Bridgeport, Conn., she resided in Middletown the past 47 years. She was a retired teacher at Middletown North High School for 30 years. She was a graduate of Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. Her activities included choreographing plays at the high school, and spending time with her dog, Lady. She is survived by her husband, Chet Barshewski of Middletown; two sons, Steven F. Gleason of Atlanta, Ga., and Richard D. Gleason of Eatontown; two daughters, Cathy L. McMillan of Eatontown, and Barbara J. Devine of Shrewsbury; and two grandchildren. A funeral service will be May 8 at 9:30 a.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, followed by burial at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
GERALD HAJIAN, 62, of Holmdel died May 4 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York City. Born in Newark, he lived in Cary, N.C., prior to moving to Holmdel 7 1/2 years ago. He was a biostatistician for Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, for seven years. Prior to that, he worked for Boroughs Welcome Research, Triangle Park, N.C. He received his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctor of philosophy degrees from New Jersey College of Engineering, Rutgers University, and Columbia University, New York, respectively. He is survived by his wife, Patricia F. Foster Hajian of Holmdel; his daughter and son-in-law, Eleanor and Reuben Hajian Saroukhanian of North Carolina; his brother, John Hajian of Virginia; his step-daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Howard Krovetz of North Carolina; and three grandchildren. A funeral liturgy will be offered May 8 at 10:30 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Middletown. Burial will be at Raleigh Memorial Park and Mausoleum, Raleigh, N.C. Memorial donations may be made to Christ Episcopal Church, 90 Kings Highway, Middletown 07748.
GAIL A. SELLERS, 54, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown died May 5 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Red Bank, she lived in Rumson and Fair Haven prior to moving to Port Monmouth 30 years ago. She was a retired secretary for Family & Children’s Service, Long Branch, where she worked for several years. Prior to that, she worked for Riverview Medical Center. She was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, North Middletown. She was a volunteer for the Port Monmouth First Aid Squad for several years. Her activities included bowling, and she was a member of several leagues. She was predeceased by her father, Harry Lyons. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, Joseph E. Sellers Jr. of Port Monmouth; her mother, Grace Lyons of Middletown; her son, Joseph E. Sellers III of Ephrata, Pa.; her daughter, Dawn Riley of the Navesink section of Middletown; her brother, Garry Lyons of Phoenix, Ariz.; her sister, Mary Maline of Middletown; and five grandchildren. Visitation will be May 8 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral gathering will be May 9 at 8:45 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a funeral liturgy at 9:30 a.m. at St. Catherine’s Church, North Middletown. Burial will be at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
DONALD C. WRIGHT, 58, of Matawan died May 1 at his daughter’s home in the Lincroft section of Middletown. Born in Niagara Falls, N.Y., he lived in South Amboy, and Burnside, Pa., before moving to Matawan 38 years ago. He was the owner and operator of Wright-Cal Company, Matawan, the past 14 years. He was a member of the Long Range Gun Club, Chester. He was predeceased by his mother, AnnaBelle Rainey, and his father, George I. Wright. He is survived by his stepfather, Robert Sweely of Glen Campbell, Pa.; his wife, Wilma Kreps Wright of Matawan; three daughters, Claudia McPherson of Belleville, Theresa Fairlio of Aberdeen, and Darleen Schild of Lincroft; two brothers, Irving E. Wright of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Randal Wright of Union Beach; his sister, Diana Huey of Glen Campbell, Pa.; his stepbrother, John Fornadell of California; and four grandchildren.
KATHERYN C. COLLINS, 92, of Holmdel died May 2 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in New York, she lived in the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen prior to moving to Holmdel. She was an executive secretary for Texaco, New York, for several years, retiring in 1957. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael H. Collins in 1979. She is survived by her late husband’s children, Margaret Collins, Robert Collins, Thomas Collins, William Collins and John Collins; her sister, Mary F. Madden; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.
META SCHMONSEES EICKMEYER, 93, of Middletown died May 2 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Bremerhaven, Germany, she moved to the United States in 1936 and lived in New York City, prior to moving to Middletown in 1984. She was the retired owner and operator of Otto’s Deli, New York and also worked at Hempstead High School, Long Island, N.Y. She was predeceased by her husband, Otto Eickmeyer in 1947. She is survived by her son, Otto Eickmeyer of Ocean Township; her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and David Waite of Middletown; and seven grandchildren. Burial was at Nassau Knolls Cemetery, Long Island, N.Y.
BERNARD J. MAYERS, 60, of the Cliffwood Beach section of Aberdeen died May 2 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born Carbondale, Pa., he lived in Parsippany before moving to Cliffwood Beach 34 years ago. He was a supervisor of technical information in research at International Flavors and Fragrances, Union Beach, for 31 years, retiring in 1998. He was a communicant of St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Laurence Harbor. He was a member of the American Chemical Society. He was predeceased by his mother, Mary O’Korne Mayers, in 1987. He is survived by his father, Joseph Mayers of Browndale, Pa.; his wife, Paulette Mayers of Cliffwood Beach; three sons, Dr. Timothy Mayers of Conestoga, Pa., Dr. Kenneth Mayers of Brownville, Pa., and Glen Mayers of Lake Ariel, Pa.; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Lawrence Roman Catholic Church, Laurence Harbor. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.
NATHANIEL JOHN ESTUS JOHNSON, 83, of Holmdel died May 3 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Franklington, N.C., he resided in Freehold, Summit, and Absecon prior to moving to Holmdel one month ago. He was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, Summit, for 24 years, retiring in 1983. He served with the U.S. Army during the European Theater, receiving the European-African-Middle Eastern Service medal, Victory medal, American Service medal, and Good Conduct medal. He was predeceased by a brother, Raymond Johnson. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elinor Johnson of Holmdel; three daughters and sons-in-law, Natalie and Warren Brown of Barneveld, N.Y., Roberta and Tom McKeon of Marlboro, and Judith and Leonard O’Brien of Long Valley; his sister, Clementine Howard of Freehold; five grandchildren; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Interment was at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold.
WILLIAM D. RYDER, 80, of Holmdel died May 3 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Carteret, he was a lifelong resident of Holmdel. He was employed by St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel, from 1981-99. Prior to that, he was employed by Stillwell Construction Company, Holmdel, and the former Special Police of Holmdel Township. He was also a self-employed boat builder in Keyport from 1945-63. He was a communicant of St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II during the Pacific Campaign. He was a life member of The Holmdel Fire Company No. 1, as well as a member of the Holmdel Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion, Keyport. He was predeceased by his wife, Helen Lambertson Ryder in 1985. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Wayne Applegate of Holmdel; his brother, Harry L. Ryder of Coraopolis, Pa.; and three grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment was at St. Gabriel’s Cemetery, Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to The Holmdel Fire Company No. 1, Box 5, Holmdel 07733.