Duilio J. “Dewey” Paciaffi Sr.
Mr. Paciaffi, 86, of Freehold, died Sept. 12 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in New York City, he had resided there before moving to Freehold 55 years ago. Mr. Paciaffi was a warehouseman for Nestle Co., Freehold, for 28 years, retiring 22 years ago. He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II, where he served in the D-Day disarmament from Normandy Beach, France, through Italy. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 54, Freehold, and a past grand marshal of the Freehold Memorial Day parade. He played minor league baseball for the New York Yankees in 1939, and in the 1950s he played for the Jersey Shore Baseball League. He also played on the Nestle softball team. Mr. Paciaffi was predeceased by his wife, Mildred A. Paciaffi, in 1993; a stepson, Edmond Owens, in 1995; and a granddaughter, Keely Smith, in 2001. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Dewey J. Jr. and Janet Paciaffi of Englishtown; a daughter, Millicent Paciaffi-Allison of Sumas, Wash.; three stepchildren, Ronald Owens and his wife, Lori, of Jackson, Elizabeth Wilkins and her husband, Donald, of Surprise, Ariz., and Michael Owens of Virginia Beach, Va.; a brother and sister-in-law, Mario and Florence Paciaffi of Riverdale, N.Y.; two sisters, Carmela Paciaffi and Lillian Accurso, both of Riverdale; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. American Legion services were held at the Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2250 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902; or the American Red Cross, Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief, Jersey Shore Chapter, 830 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.
Stanley John Pruchnik
Mr. Pruchnik, 93, of Freehold, died Sept. 20 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Windber, Pa., he had resided in Ocala, Fla., before moving to Freehold in 2001. He was a coal miner in Windber and also worked for Bakelite Corp. in Piscataway for several years. With his brother Charlie, Mr. Pruchnik owned and operated the Boat House Tavern in Union Beach for 28 years. He pitched in the Industrial Baseball League for a number of years as well as in the Minor League for the Detroit Tigers in 1937. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Marian Council No. 5960, Ocala. Mr. Pruchnik was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Helen Skripko Pruchnik, in 1998; two sisters, Jane Klein and Wanda Cwiklinski; and a brother, Albert Pruchnik. He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Joan and Don Bielak of Freehold; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Kathleen Pruchnik of Hazlet, and Richard and MaryAnn Pruchnik of Sanford, N.C.; a brother, Casimir Pruchnik of Middletown; two sisters, Helen Skripko of Piscataway and Stella Smith of Beverly Hills, Fla.; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. The Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross Katrina Relief Fund, 399 West State St., Trenton 08618.