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.
STEPHEN S. RINALDI, 47, of the Lincroft section of Middletown, died Nov. 15 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. He was a lifelong resident of Lincroft. He was employed at the Asbury Park Press. He was a communicant of St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, Lincroft. He was a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy, and attended Brookdale Community College, both Lincroft. He was predeceased by his father, Samuel A. Rinaldi, in 1970. He is survived by his mother, Jane A. Rinaldi of Lincroft; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Lo Lo and John Joyce Jr. of Jackson, and Serena and Christopher Adams of Middletown; an aunt; one nephew; and several friends. Memorial donations may be made to the Monmouth County Historical Association, 70 Court St., Freehold 07728.
EUGENE W. SODEN, 84, of Freehold, died Nov. 18 at The Manor, Freehold Township. Born in Spring Lake Heights, he was a lifelong resident of Freehold. He was the owner of M&S Oil Heating, Freehold, retiring in 1978. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945 as a flight instructor in combat training, and was a member of the Navy League, World War II Glider Pilots Association. He was a member of the board of trustees of First Baptist Church of Freehold; a 45-year member and past president of the YMCA board of trustees; a member and past president of the Freehold Borough-Freehold Township Lions Club; and served on the Freehold Borough Housing Authority. He was predeceased by a brother, Edward. He is survived by his wife, Ruth (Chickie) Soden; three daughters and a son-in-law, Barbara Palant of Ocean Township, Linda Soden of Tinton Falls, and Ellen and Michael Camacho of Lakeville, Mass.; a sister, Clare Machu of Farmingdale; a grandson; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at First Baptist Church. Memorial donations may be made to the YMCA, 470 E. Freehold Road, Freehold, 07728; the Freehold Lions Club, c/o John Allen, 48 Hampton Drive, Freehold, 07728; the Freehold First Aid Squad, 18 Spring St., Freehold, 07728; or First Baptist Church, 81 W. Main St., Freehold 07728.
HELEN M. VENA, 89, of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen, died Nov. 20 at Bayshore Health Center, Holmdel. Born in Woonsocket, R.I., she was a lifelong resident of Cliffwood. Mrs. Vena was a waitress at the Molly Pitcher Inn, Red Bank, for 30 years, as well as the Buttonwood Manor, Matawan, retiring in 1980. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Cliffwood Fire Company. She was predeceased by two sisters, Frances Barrett and Grace Ryan. She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Joseph Vena of Cliffwood; three daughters, Margaret Crist of Foxborough, Mass., Sharon Malysa of Jackson, and Nancy Nienstedt of Pittstown; two sons, Joseph Vena Jr. and Eugene Vena, both of Cliffwood; her brother, Eugene Barrett Jr. of Keyport; her sister, Katherine Britten of Florida; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Burial was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.
JOHN STEPHEN DiMAIO, 35, of Brick, died Nov. 7 in Community Medical Center, Toms River. He was an independent carpet installer. Born in Point Pleasant, he lived in the Shore area all his life. Surviving are two brothers, Alan DiMaio of Lakewood, and Anthony DiMaio of Brick; three sisters, Sharon Coryell and Andrea DiMaio, both of Brick, and Denise DiMaio of Toms River; his former wife, Maria DiMaio of Toms River; and several aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Toms River.
NANCY TROTTA, 59, of Jackson, died Oct. 27 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold. She was born in Keansburg and had lived in Englishtown before moving to Jackson 34 years ago. She was a unit secretary at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, for 24 years. She was a member of the Jackson United Methodist Church, Jackson. She was predeceased by two brothers, David and William MacDougall. Surviving are her husband, Jack Trotta; three daughters and a son-in-law, Jill and Carol Trotta, both of Jackson, and Barbara and Joseph Linke, Brick; her mother, Viola MacDougall, Jackson; three brothers, Robert MacDougall of Riverview, Fla., the Rev. Edward MacDougall of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Gerald MacDougall of Spring Lake; two sisters, Mary Jane Welz and Shirley Reed, both of Jackson; and five grandchildren. Services were held at Jackson United Methodist Church, Jackson. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
ROBERT LaMARR, 94, of Howell, died Nov. 10 in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Manhattan and had lived there before moving to Howell. He had worked in the maintenance department at Allied Signal in Manhattan, retiring in 1967. He was a WWII Army veteran, serving under General George Patton. Surviving are his wife, Lillian LaMarr of Howell; a son, Robert Milton LaMarr of Lakewood; two daughters, Lois Weidlich of Toms River, and Louise Batdorf of Arlington, Va.; and five grandchildren.
JOSEPHINE A. JOHNSON of Howell died Nov. 15 in CentraState Medical Center, Free-hold Township. She was born in Derby, Conn., and had lived in North Hanover and Mount Laurel before moving to Surrey Downs in Howell in 1997. She was predeceased by her husband, Raymond H. Johnson, in 1987. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Judith Anne and Ron Goldsmith of Farmingdale; a brother, Louis Velleco of Ansonia, Conn.; a sister, Julia Landona of Seymour, Conn.; and three grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, Farmingdale. Interment was in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery, Arnytown.
SAMANTHA AMELIA MORALES, 9, of Jackson, died Oct. 26 in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Born in Lakewood, she lived there before moving to Jackson five years ago. She was a student at the Rosenauer Elementary School, Jackson. For all the lives she touched, may she always be in their hearts. She was predeceased by her maternal grandmother, Amelia Pica. Surviving are her parents, Jose and Rachael Morales of Jackson; three sisters, Mariangeli and Priscilla Morales, and Kayshla DeJesus, all at home; two brothers, Jesus Morales and Jose DeJesus, both at home; her paternal grandmother, Edda Sepulveda; her paternal grandfather, Wilfredo Morales; a step-grandmother, Olga Lamboy; a great-grandmother, Rachael Pica; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. A Mass was offered at Holy Family Church, Lakewood. Interment was in St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lake-wood.