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.
ELEANOR POWELL COURTNEY, 78, of Middletown died May 28 at the Jersey Shore Rehabilitation Center, Eatontown. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she lived in New York City prior to moving to Middletown in 1960. She worked a various nursing positions in New York and New Jersey. Prior to that, she was a lieutenant in the Navy Nurse Corps during World War II, and served in Bethesda Naval Hospital, Maryland, and Dublin, Ga. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Her hobbies included reading and spending time with her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Courtney, in 1991. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas and Trenia Courtney of Newtown, Pa., and James and Patricia Courtney of Howell; her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Robert Halligan of Rumson; and nine grandchildren.
DIANE MARIE FANNING ECKERT, 67, of the Belford section of Middletown died June 1 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Newark, she lived in the West Keansburg section of Hazlet prior to moving to Belford 48 years ago. She was a bookkeeper at George C. Koeppel and Sons, Atlantic Highlands, the past 30 years. Her hobbies included reading and devoting time to her family. She was predeceased by her sisters, Delores Vanderbilt and Agnes "Bab" Fanning. She is survived by her husband of 48 years, Richard Eckert of Belford; her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Joseph Pace of Middletown; and two grandchildren. A funeral gathering will be June 5 at 8:45 a.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral liturgy will follow at 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
JoANN FILAN, 62, of Whiting died June 2 at home. Born in Newark, she resided in West Orange, Brick and Middletown prior to moving to Whiting in 1998. She was a homemaker. She was a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church, Whiting. She was predeceased by her husband, Francis Filan in 1995. She is survived by her son, Daniel F. Filan of Hazlet; five daughters, Nancy J. Filan of Jackson, Mary C. Hamernick of Freehold Township, Barbara A. Von Oeson of Ocean Township, Linda J. Filan of Whiting, and Sandra J. Hoagland of Keansburg; her mother, Mary Forrest of Union; two sisters, Roberta Murphy of Maplewood and Diane Liccese of Orland Park, Ill.; and seven grandchildren. Visitation will be June 5 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia. A Rite of Committal will be June 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church, Jackson. Interment will be at Adelphia Cemetery.
WILLIAM J. MARTIN, 66, of Hazlet died June 2 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, he lived there prior to moving to Hazlet 18 years ago. He was a laborer at Corona Lightoiler, Edison, for 45 years. He served with the U.S. Navy. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Riedinger Martin of Hazlet; two sons, William T. Martin of Neptune, and Edward Martin of Hazlet; his daughter, Mary Cermak of Union Beach; four sisters, Mary Gormley of Beachwood, Helen Farrell of Manchester, Patricia Crawford of Missouri, and Kathleen Losardo of Beachwood; and four grandchildren. A funeral service will be June 5 at 10 a.m. at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.
ARTHUR E. PILGRIM SR., 76, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown died June 1 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Hoboken, he lived most of his life in Hoboken, moving to Port Monmouth 7 years ago. He was employed at Eisen Brothers Furniture and Maxwell House Coffee, both Hoboken, retiring in 1976. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a former member of the Knights of Columbus Council 159, Hoboken. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Eileen Finnerty Pilgrim of Port Monmouth; two sons and daughters-in-law, Arthur and Patricia Pilgrim Jr. of Middletown, and Robert and Mary Pilgrim of Point Pleasant; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral gathering will be June 5 at 9:30 a.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral liturgy will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.
LOUIS FRANCES MONTESANO, 47, of Farmingdale died May 28 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Staten Island, N.Y., for seven years prior to moving to Farmingdale in 1987. He was a senior property manager at Cushman & Wakefield, New York City, for more than 30 years. He was a communicant of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, Farmingdale. He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local No. 94, New York. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Montesano of Farmingdale; his two sons and daughter, Louis D., Christopher, and Danielle Montesano, all at home; his brother, Robert J. Montesano of the Lincroft section of Middletown; his sister, Linda M. Montesano of Hudson, Fla.; and his mother, Virginia L. Montesano of Hudson. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, Farmingdale. Interment was at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.
ROSE ELIZABETH RICHARDS BRADY, 81, of Hazlet died May 29 at home. Born in Weehawken, she lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., prior to moving to Hazlet 41 years ago. She was a homemaker. She was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. She was predeceased by her husband, James Brady in 1977; and a son, Thomas Brady in 1942. She is survived by seven sons, James Brady of Hazlet; John Brady of Union Beach; Dennis Brady of Aberdeen; William Brady of Brick; Kevin Brady of Maudlin, S.C.; Patrick Scott Brady of New Port Richey, Fla.; and Robert Brady of Aberdeen; two daughters, Elaine Neary of Middletown, and Maureen Haman of Hazlet; 16 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. Entombment was at Woodbridge Memorial Gardens.
GREGORY T. CREAN, 42, of Middletown died May 29 at home. Born in Rockville Center, N.Y., he lived in Old Bridge prior to moving to Middletown in 1995. He was a treasury bond broker at Liberty Brokerage, New York City, the past 10 years. He was a communicant of St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Susan Crean of Middletown; two sons, Kevin T. Crean and Thomas "Tommy" S. Crean, both of Middletown; his father and mother, Thomas and Dorothy Barry Crean of Long Island, N.Y.; two brothers and one sister-in-law, Steven Crean of Rhode Island, and Peter and Stef Crean of New York; and his sister and brother-in-law, Dory and Frank J. Fitzgerald of Pennsylvania. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Catharine’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Crean Family Trust Fund, c/o 16 Minton Court, Red Bank 07701.