Harry Silvert
Mr. Silvert, 87, of Westlake, Jackson, and Lake Worth, Fla., died suddenly of cardiac arrest Oct. 20 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. In 1929, his father, Isadore Silvert, founded Silvert’s Furniture Store, where Harry began working after finishing college until he retired three years ago. After graduating from Freehold High School, Freehold Borough, he was a pitcher for a Freehold softball team and an avid tennis player into his early ’80s, as well as the Monmouth County Ping-Pong champion at age 21. Silvert attended Monmouth College (now Monmouth University), West Long Branch, and became an organizer of his high school class reunions. He also regularly visited and brought presents to residents of the John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township. He was the first sponsor of a drive for Israel Bonds and a longtime United Jewish Appeal chairman who was active in raising funds for various causes, including CentraState Medical Center. Mr. Silvert was the recipient of many honors from United Jewish Appeal, Israel Bonds, Congregation Agudath Achim and the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County. In addition, after a disastrous fire in Freehold in the 1960s, he and Al Sorcher of Al’s Bootery, Freehold, spearheaded a drive to raise money for an aerial ladder for the Freehold Fire Department. Mr. Silvert was a past president of Congregation Agudath Achim, B’nai B’rith and the Downtown Merchants Association, all of Freehold. He was a past trustee of the Greater Freehold YMCA and a member of both Asbury Jordan Lodge 142, Neptune, and the Western Monmouth Exchange Club. He was predeceased by a sister, Pearl, when he was 7 years old. Surviving are his wife, Evelyn; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Joan and Alan Kober, of Dresher, Pa., Ann Silvert, of Freehold, and Dale and Larry Iserson, of Freehold Township; a son, Glenn Silvert, of Manalapan, and his fiancée, Bella Erris; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Congregation Agudath Achim, followed by interment at Hebrew Benefit Society Cemetery, Freehold. Shiva was also observed at the family’s residence in Jackson. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to CentraState Medical Center, 916 Route 33, Suite 6, Freehold 07728.
Willie C. Jackson
Mr. Jackson, 62, of Manalapan, died Oct. 22 at home. Born in Sparta, Ga., he had lived in Irvington before moving to Manalapan 11 years ago. Prior to retiring in 2003, he was a transportation coordinator for Xerox Corp., Suffern, N.Y. He was a communicant of Franklin St. John’s United Methodist Church, Newark, where he served as an usher, and was also a member of the church’s United Methodist Men, as well as its Sanctuary and Men’s choirs. Surviving are his wife, Annie; a daughter, Valerie Jackson, of North Brunswick; two brothers, Nathaniel Jackson, of Newark and Douglas Jackson, of Van Nuys, Calif.; and two sisters, Doris Jackson, of Springfield, Mass., and Rose Eva Jackson, of Landover, Md. A funeral service was held at Franklin St. John’s Church, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.
Janet F. McCracken Gillum
Mrs. Gillum, 74, of Howell, died Oct. 25 at Jackson Center, Jackson. Born in South Amboy, she lived in Anaheim, Calif., returning to South Amboy before moving to Howell seven years ago. Mrs. Gillum had been employed as a computer technician for Calcomp, Anaheim, for 20 years. She was predeceased by a son, Barry Gillum, in 1988; two brothers, Richard and John Taylor McCracken; and two sisters, Joy McCracken and Phyllis Hutson. Surviving are two sons, Bruce Hydro and Randy Gillum; two daughters, Dawn Neff and Kara Bartoy; three brothers, Ronald McCracken, Gerald McCracken and Burt Savage; six sisters, Irene Houchens, Gloria Anderson, Georgine Rusin, Cassie Zulin, Judy Palmer and Lynn Gallo; a sister-in-law, Jane Baker; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Services were held at the Gundrum Service Home for Funerals, South Amboy, followed by interment at Christ Church Cemetery, South Amboy.
Louis Joseph Venti
Mr. Venti, 87, of Milton, Del., died Oct. 25 at Beebe Medical Center, Lewes, Del. Born in Vineland, he had lived in Freehold, New Egypt and Whiting before moving to Delaware in 1985. Mr. Venti was a truck driver for Fort Dix before his retirement. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II. He was a former communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, and an exempt member of Engine and Hose Company No. 1 of the Freehold Fire Department, both Freehold. He also was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, New Egypt Post. Mr. Venti was predeceased by his first wife, Mildred Smith Venti, in 1967. Surviving are his wife, Angelina Patanous Venti; three sons, Jack Venti of New Egypt, Raymond Venti of Morristown, and Tony Patanous of Mount Holly; three daughters, Patricia McIlvaine of Toms River, Grace Patanous of Guttenberg, and Ann Patanous of California; a brother, Samuel Venti of Freehold; a sister, Lucy DiMeo of Philadelphia; and five grandchildren. Services were held at the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.
Vickie Lynn Hance
Mrs. Hance, 48, of Howell, died Oct. 26 at home. Born in Washington, Pa., she was a longtime resident of the Freehold area. Mrs. Hance was employed in the billing department at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was a member and past president of the American Legion Post No. 54 Auxiliary, Freehold, and a member of the Great Eastern Balloon Association. Mrs. Hance is survived by a son, Timothy Hance, at home; two daughters, Jennifer Nelson, at home, and Tiffany Hance of Deerfield; her mother, Mary Lou Hull of Leigh Acres, Fla.; two brothers, George H. Hull Jr. and Robert J. Hull, both of Leigh Acres; a sister, Sue Ann Nimick of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; an uncle, Clarence H. Miller, and an aunt, Christine Naro; and one granddaughter. Services were held at the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.
Marion M. McCarthy-Sexton
Mrs. McCarthy-Sexton, 92, of Bordentown, died Oct. 26. She grew up on the family farm on Sweetmans Lane in western Monmouth County, moving to Bordentown in 1958. Mrs. McCarthy was a teacher in the Shrewsbury and Freehold school districts. She was a 1933 graduate of Douglass College, Rutgers University, New Brunswick. She was a member of St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Bordentown, and St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mrs. McCarthy-Sexton was predeceased by her husband, Robert L. Sexton, in 1986, and two brothers, Robert McCarthy and Thomas McCarthy. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Kim Sexton, and two grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by burial in the parish cemetery, Freehold Township. The Huber-Moore Funeral Home, Bordentown, was in charge of arrangements.

