Eleanor Whitehead
Eleanor Ferguson Whitehead, 87, of Bangor, died Jan. 11 at Ross Manor.
She was born in Portland, Maine, on March 16, 1917, a daughter of Dr. Franklin A. Ferguson, and Maud Faulkner Ferguson, and was a graduate of Portland High School, class of 1934.
She graduated from Swarthmore College in 1938.
She worked as a book editor with D.C. Heath & Company in Boston.
She married the late E. Harlan Whitehead in 1957 at the State Street Congregational Church in Portland. They resided in Lawrence, where she worked at ETS and raised her family. She later lived with her daughter Priscilla and recently moved to Ross Manor in Bangor.
She was predeceased by her two sisters, Priscilla Ferguson and Barbara F. Titherington; her brother, Dr. Franklin F. Ferguson; and a niece, Sally Eagles.
She is survived by her daughter, Priscilla A. Whitehead and husband, Drazen Gardilcic, and grandchildren, Alexandra Ellie, Danova, Katina, and Nikolas; and by her son, Timothy J. Whitehead and wife, Dena, and grandchildren, Natalie and Zachary; and by her step-son Charles E. Whitehead, and wife, Lydia, and grandchildren, Amanda, Molly, Anna, and Catriona; as well as her niece and nephews, Archie and Angus Ferguson; Geoff, Greg, and Jeanne Titherington and their children.
A funeral was held Monday at State Street Congregational Church, Portland, Maine.
Burial was in the family plot at Ewing Church Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Ross Manor, 758 Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401.
Helen Corboy
Helen Anne Corboy, 57, died Jan. 11 in Princeton Township.
Born in Trenton, she resided most of her life in Lawrence Township.
She retired in 2002 as an administrative assistant for Lucent Technologies in Hopewell Township after 30 years of service.
She was a 1965 graduate of Notre Dame High School and was an avid supporter of the St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital.
Daughter of the late John F. Corboy Sr. and Anna Davis Corboy, and sister of the late Richard J. Corboy.
She is survived by a brother, John F. Corboy Jr. and his wife Joyce; two nieces, Justine and Kelly Corboy; two nephews, J. Richard Corboy and Michael Corboy.
Also surviving is her lifelong best friend Barbara Pouria.
Mass of Christian Burial was offered Saturday in the Church of St. Ann.
Burial was in the Ewing Church Cemetery
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.
Arrangements were under the direction of Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrenceville.
Anthony Rugghia
Anthony S. Rugghia, 68, died Jan. 11 at Capital Health System at Fuld, Trenton.
Born in Johnstown, Pa., he resided in Levittown since 1965.
He was employed by Paris Desserts, Hamilton Township for the past 12 years. He was formerly employed by Bucks County Weights and Measures, Doylestown, Pa., for 15 years until 1992, and Hibbert Printing Company, Trenton for 15 years until 1966.
He served 28 years with the New Jersey National Guard and was honorably discharged in April of 1985. He served with pride with the 4th BN, 112th Field Artillery. His achievements and medals awarded include the Army Achievement Medal, Armed Services Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, New Jersey Medal of Merit, and the New Jersey Medal of Honor.
He was a member and past president of the Levittown American Athletic Association and was associated with the Pennsbury High School baseball team. He was a Sgt. of Arms for the Pennsylvania State Weights and Measures, and was an actively involved booster for the Truman High School football and basketball teams.
Son of the late Mario and Angelina Taverna Rugghia, brother of the late Rose Marie Ceccarini, he is survived by his wife Maryann Clem Rugghia; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Mario A. Rugghia and his fiancée Colleen Hawthorne of Levittown, Pa., and Anthony M. and Ellen Rebecca Rugghia of Groveport, Ohio; sisters and brothers-in-law, Amelia and Giacomo Sallustio of Weehawken, and Genevieve and David Erkoboni of Lawrence Township; his mother-in-law, Anna Rebecca Muckey; brother-in law Cesare Ceccarini of Lawrence Township; sisters-in-law and their spouses, Donna Eve Merriman, Sandra and Bruce Daub, Rebecca and Brian Nemeth, and Mona and Victor Gallo; 10 grandchildren, Mario Jr., Michael, Brian, and Angelina Rugghia, John Hawthorne, Matthew and Daniel Cantalicio, Brandon Broe, Jason and Shawn Clymer; two great-granddaughters, Kailin and Ashlyn Clymer; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral was held Tuesday from the Brenna Funeral Home, 340 Hamilton Ave., Trenton. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at Saint Joachim’s Church, Butler Street, Trenton.
Burial with military honors followed in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, North Hanover.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to the Truman High School Basketball Team, c/o Coach Stock, 3001 Green Lane, Levittown, PA 19057.
James Wood
James W. Wood, 62, died Jan. 10 at the Capital Health System at Fuld Campus.
Born in Trenton, he was a lifelong Trenton and Lawrence Township resident. He was a classic car enthusiast.
He was son of the late Charles K. Wood, and nephew of the late John Walter and William Hludzinski and Jane Heath and Bertha Janeczek.
He is survived by his mother Adele B. Hludzinski Wood of Ewing Township; his brother and sister-in-law, Vincent C. and Doris G. Wood of Titusville; his aunt Jessie Carbonneau of Yardley, Pa.; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
The funeral was held Saturday from the Winowicz Funeral Chapel, 865 Brunswick Ave.
Funeral Liturgy was celebrated Saturday in St. Michael’s Church. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are to be made to the St. Michael’s Church, 1130 Brunswick Ave., Trenton, NJ 08638.
Kathryn Selzer van Zonneveld
Kathryn Selzer van Zonneveld, 93, died Jan. 11 at the home of her daughter Penny Hendrickson.
Daughter of Fred E. and Kathryn H. Bird, she was a native of Ewing Township. She was well-known throughout the area as the proprietress of the Bliss Shop, a bridal boutique that was located on Pennington Road. She also operated a shop in Spring Lake.
She was the wife of George J. Selzer, a pianist, who died in 1965. She later married Karel van Zonneveld of the Netherlands, who died in March 2004.
She is survived by a sister, Lillian Bird Detweiler of Penfield, N.Y.; a daughter, Helen Selzer Burke and her husband Robert J. Burke of Seaside Park; a daughter, Kathryn Selzer Orrick of Columbia, S.C.; a daughter, Penny Selzer Hendrickson and her husband, Lee Hendrickson of Lawrenceville; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren with two more on the way.
A private service was held at the convenience of the family and interment was at Ewing Cemetery.
Donations may be made to Ewing Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements were under the direction of Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrenceville.
Irene Joan Fandel Gersten
Dr. Irene Joan Fandel Gersten, 59, died Friday at St. Francis Medical Center.
Born in New York City, she resided in Lawrenceville for more than two decades.
Daughter of the late Al Fandel, she earned her Ph.D. in American and English Literature from SUNY Binghamton, where she also taught American literature and inaugurated a course in myth and literature. Her work career included the writing and editing of many educational text books.
She spent time as a staff writer for the Anti-Defamation League and focused her energy on combating bigotry and prejudice. As a project director at the educational division of Reader’s Digest, she compiled materials for adult literacy programs.
She was an adjunct professor of English at Mercer County Community College and Rider University. More recently she was a professor of English at The College of New Jersey where she had been the director of the writing and rhetoric programs. She also volunteered as an English instructor at the Edna Mahan Prison, teaching women prisoners autobiographical writing and helping them find their inner-voices.
Also a gourmet cook, she brought the entries in countless cookbooks to life as she nourished and entertained a multitude of family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Gersten; her children, Ari Benjamin and Bianca Sarah; her mother, Adele Ludin; her sister, Michelle Schreier; and her step family, Marcia Fandel and Lynne Levine, all of whom will carry on her generosity of self and spirit in their hearts.
Funeral services and burial were private.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Fox Chase Cancer Center at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton, N.J., or the New York Public Library.
Funeral arrangements were by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel, 1534 Pennington Road, Ewing Township.
Dora Lopez
Dora Lopez, 99, died Friday in Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton.
Born in Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, she resided in New York City for many years before moving to Lawrenceville 10 years ago.
Mother of the late Miriam Melendez, mother-in-law of the late Charles Winter, and sister of the late Ramona, Antonia, Maria Louisa and Carmen; she is survived by her daughter, Digna Winter; four grandchildren, Robert Melendez and his wife Sandra, Elisa Johnson and her husband Archer, Patricia Winter, and Christine Masterson and her husband Kevin; a niece, Iris Bofile; a nephew, Tony Peterson; a great-niece, Virginia Otto and husband Bob; nine great-grandchildren, including Bryan and Leah Masterson; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were Tuesday at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville.
Burial in the Ewing Church Cemetery was private.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mercer Adult Day Care Center, 433 Bellevue Ave., Trenton 08618 or to Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Francis Medical Center, 601 Hamilton Ave., Trenton, NJ 08629.
G. Scott Watson
G. Scott Watson, 53, died Sunday at home.
A son, father, grandfather and brother, he was born in Trenton. He had resided in Ewing and Hamilton Township before moving to Lawrence 30 years ago.
He was employed as a chemical technician at Hydrocarbon Technologies Inc. in Lawrenceville.
Son of the late George Leon Watson, he is survived by his mother, Doris Butterworth Watson; two sons, Jared Keith Watson and Josh Scott Watson; his daughter-in-law, Meghan; and a grandson, James Scott Watson.
Also surviving are three brothers, Jonathan Watson and his wife Jean, Erik Watson and Andrew Watson; a nephew, Jonathan Watson; a niece, Jenna Watson; and an aunt, Jean Kochta.
The funeral service and burial will be private.
Arrangements were by Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Donald White
Donald F. White, 71, of Yardville, died Monday surrounded by friends and loved ones at St. Francis Medical Center.
He was a self-employed painter and paper hanger for many years before retirement after which he worked for Hamilton Township Building and Maintenance out of the Hamilton Township Police Department.
Past organizations to which he belonged were White Horse Volunteer Fire Co., Yardville First Aid Squad, Sunnybrae Baseball League, and Hamilton Babe Ruth. He was also a member and usher at St. Vincent DePaul Church and an avid horse racing fan.
He was predeceased by his parents, Bertha and Walter White.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Alice Merritt White; a daughter, Donna Massei and son-in-law Robert Massei of Trenton; a son Jeffrey at home, and a son Steven White and daughter-in-law Sherry White of Lawrenceville; five grandchildren; one great-grandson; and godson, Trask Lyons of Bordentown.
He also is survived by his sister, Catherine Krasnansky of Hamilton and brother, William White, also of Hamilton; a sister-in-law, Evelyn Holt of Ewing; brother-in-law and his wife, William and Bette Danenhower of Trenton; sister-in-law, Barbara and her husband Thomas Horner of Groveville; several nieces and nephews; and best friends, Darl Barbalacci, Pat and Dick Seeds, Bill Gibson and Paula Lyons.
Special thanks to his niece, Sheila Krasnansky, for all her special care.
The funeral will be held 9 a.m. Friday from the Buklad Yardville Memorial Chapel, 30 Yardville-Allentown Road, Yardville.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St Vincent DePaul Church.
Burial will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery, Hamilton. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. today (Thursday) at the Memorial Chapel.
Donations may be made to Muscular Dystrophy Association National Headquarters, 3300 E. Sunrise Drive, Tucson, AZ 05718.
Ralph de Thomas
Ralph Luis de Thomas, 73, died Jan. 10 at home.
Born in New York City, he was a former Princeton resident.
He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950 to 1954. He was an airframe and engine mechanic and later was a librarian in various locales, including Tripoli, Libya.
He was a librarian at Gallup and Robinson in Princeton, serving as a mentor to many young people who worked with him.
He later worked for Princeton Community Phone Book for 10 years as an advertising designer and sales director.
After retiring from advertising he worked at Princeton House Behavioral Health transporting seniors and disabled clients.
His interests included watercolor painting and charcoal drawing, photography and keeping freshwater and saltwater fish. His interests also included literature, philosophy and classical and folk music. He was a regular user of the Princeton Public Library and his daily walks on Nassau Street made him a familiar presence in town. He also enjoyed cooking, cinema and armchair travel.
As a young man, his hobbies included hunting, fishing, camping and playing the guitar.
He was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, Princeton.
Son of the late Ralph J. and Carol Anna de Thomas, he is survived by daughter and son-in-law Rachel and Donald Allard of Warner, N.H.; son and daughter-in-law Dylan and Jennifer of San Francisco; brother Kenneth de Thomas of Mt. Marion, N.Y.; sister and brother-in-law Mari-Anna and Jay Tweed of Naples, Italy; grandchildren Silas and Ry Allard and Ruth de Thomas; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
A funeral Mass was held Jan. 15 in New London, N.H. Burial will be at a later date.
Condolences may be sent to Rachel de Thomas and family, 87 West Roby District Road, Warner, NH 03278.
Arrangements were by Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors, Lawrence.

