William C. Obert, Susanna Waldowski, Kathleen Powers Caines, Cynthia M. Knapp, John Pogranicy, Ethel T. Moore, William G. Wolensky, Szczepan Kulis, Phyllis R. Butera, Charles C. Mertz Sr., Joseph L. Bocchini Sr.
William C. Obert
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP William C. Obert died Saturday in Care One at Hamilton.
Born in Trenton, Mr. Obert had been a resident of Robbinsville for more than 50 years and spent many childhood summers at his home in Harvey Cedars.
He was a graduate of Rider College, where he received his bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Mr. Obert retired as comptroller of Griffin Pipe in Florence after more than 30 years of service, and was a former member of the Bordentown Elks.
He was a wonderful artist and loved painting, drawing and wood carving. He also was an avid fisherman and enjoyed playing golf.
Predeceased by his parents, Godfrey and Henrietta (Moore) Obert, and a sister, Catharine O. Hess, he is survived by his wife of 63 years, Huberta (Callery) Obert; a son and daughter-in-law, William G. and Bonnie Obert of Virginia; a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Joseph O’Donnell of Robbinsville; four grandchildren and their spouses, Lynn and Kevin Krall of Florence, Terri and Joseph Petrullo of Hamilton Square, Sherri and Paul Diaz of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Larry and Vonnie Braasch of Carney’s Point; eight great-grandchildren, Kevin and Christopher Krall, Isabella and Alexandria Petrullo, Hannah and Gracie Diaz and Evan and Lydia Braasch; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will begin at 8:30 a.m. today at the Saul Colonial Home, 3795 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. from St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square.
Entombment will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery Mausoleum, Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church, 4620 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Square, NJ 08690.
Susanna Waldowski
UPPER FREEHOLD Susanna Waldowski, 85, died Nov. 19 at her home.
Born in Trenton, she was a lifetime resident of Hamilton Township before moving to Cream Ridge nine years ago.
Mrs. Waldowski was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Robbinsville Elks 2580 BPOE. She enjoyed crocheting and trips to Atlantic City.
Wife of the late Joseph Waldowski, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Earl and Marlene Dey of New Egypt; two daughters and sons-in-law, Susanna and Vincent Ryel of Seminole, Fla., and Patricia and Henry Moeller of Cream Ridge; a brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Evelyn Oravsky of Trenton; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral servicee were held Friday at the Peppler Funeral Home, Allentown. The Rev. Patrick Castles officiated.
Interment followed in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Kathleen Powers Caines
PLUMSTED Kathleen Powers Caines, 56, died Nov. 19 in the Compassionate Care Unit, St. Francis Medical Center, Trenton.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mrs. Caines lived in Hamilton Township for more than 15 years before moving to New Egypt 15 years ago.
She retired after more than 25 years with the State of New Jersey Judicial Department, where she was a budget analyst.
Daughter of the late Kathleen Francis Powers, she is surived by her husband of 32 years, Douglas Caines; a son and daughter-in-law, Jason and Kathleen Caines of Middletown Township, Pa.; a daughter, Leslie Caines of San Diego, Calif.; her father, James W. Powers Jr. of Hamilton Township; a brother and sister-in-law, James W. III and Alice Powers of Arlington, Texas; her mother-in-law, Nancy Caines of Gaithersburg, Md.; and several nieces and nephews.
Burial was in the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Arneystown.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurses Association, 171 Jersey St., Suite 201, Trenton, NJ 08603.
Cynthia M. Knapp
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Cynthia "Cyndee" M. Knapp, 56, died Nov. 24 at home.
Born in Baltimore, Md., Mrs. Knapp had been a longtime area resident and a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Trenton.
Predeceased by her mother, Florence M. Hoffman, and her father, James T. Shenk Sr., she is survived by her husband of 36 years, John S. Knapp, Sr.; her father, Kenneth J. Kelly; a daughter, Alicia A. Knapp and her boyfriend, Tim Jeffery; and a son, John S. Knapp Jr. and his fiance, Lindsay Decker, all of Washington Township; her siblings and their spouses, Sheri and Steve Harhigh of West Windsor, Kathleen and Robert Harmon, Beatrice and Kenneth Kapple, and James T. Jr. and Kathy Shenk, all of Maryland, and Claudia and Chas Taylor of San Diego, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Tuesday from the Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square.
Interment followed in Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
John Pogranicy
UPPER FREEHOLD John Pogranicy, 85, of Upper Freehold died Nov. 18.
Born in Philadelphia, he was raised in Upper Freehold Township from the age of 4 and remained a resident his entire life.
Mr. Pogranicy was farming when he met his wife, Anna Chrzanowska of Trenton. They married at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church in Trenton and celebrated 61 years of marriage. After farming he owned and operated the Log Cabin Service Station in Upper Freehold Township and also worked at Trenton State College, maintaining the athletic fields.
A member of St. John’s Church in Allentown, Mr. Pogranicy was a charter member of the Allentown Knights of Columbus and its eldest member. He served with the Holy Name Society and was an usher for many years. Mr. Pogranicy was a member of the Benevolent Order of the Elks and he greatly enjoyed his Saturday morning breakfasts with his retired farmer friends.
He is survived by his wife, Anna; a daughter, Margaret Lister of Lumberton; a son, Thomas Pogranicy of Port Republic; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Anne Pogranicy and Sophie Foley of Upper Freehold; and several nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John’s Church, 1282 Yardville Road, Allentown.
Interment followed in the parish cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Allentown First Aid Squad, PO Box 252, Allentown, NJ 08501.
Ethel T. Moore
OCEAN GROVE Ethel T. Moore, 97, died Nov. 17 at Manor by the Sea.
Born in Leesville, she was a resident of the Lakewood and Jackson areas most of her life.
A graduate of Trenton Normal School, she retired from Jackson Township School District in 1971 after teaching for 44 years.
She was an active member of the Christ United Methodist Church of Lakewood for many years and enjoyed singing in the choir. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Teaching Society, the Jackson Township Senior Citizens and the Gloria Chapter 159 OES. She also was inducted into the Jackson Hall of Fame.
Wife of the late Charles H. Moore, she is survived by a step-son and his wife, Charles H. and Matilda Moore of New Egypt; a grandson, Jeff Emery of New Egypt; two great-grandsons; close friends Bill and Cathy Montgomery of Toms River; and many cousins and close friends.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Christ United Methodist Church of Lakewood.
Interment followed in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Jackson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Christ United Methodist Church, 678 Fifth St., Lakewood, NJ 08701.
William G. Wolensky
BEVERLY HILLS, Fla. William G. Wolensky, 75, formerly of Hamilton Township, N.J., died Nov. 18 in Inverness.
Born in 1930 to William and Mary Wolensky in Hamilton Township, he moved to Beverly Hills from the Yardville section of Hamilton in 1989.
He was employed as a tinsmith.
He was a member of Elks No. 2580 in Robbinsville, and the Volunteer Fire Department in Groveville. He was a coach and manager of the Sunnybrae Little League in Yardville.
He is survived by his wife, Catherine Wolensky of Beverly Hills; three sons, William Wolensky of Hamilton Township, N.J., Steven Wolensky of New Egypt, N.J., and Randy Wolensky of Beverly Hills; two brothers, Robert Stevens of Jensen Beach and Richard Wolensky of Inverness; a sister, Carol Baziow of Beverly Hills; and three grandchildren, Dyan Wolensky of Pennsylvania, and Nicholas Wolensky and Nathan Wolensky, both of New Egypt, N.J.
Arrangements were by Hooper Funeral Homes Inverness Chapel, Inverness.
Szczepan Kulis
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Szczepan Kulis, 85, died Nov. 22 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
Born in Poland, he was a longtime resident of Lodi before moving to Robbinsville five years ago.
Mr. Kulis was a factory worker for Pantasote Co. in Passaic for 20 years. He was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Passiac.
Predeceased by his wife, Czeslawa Kulis, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Vincent J. Koren of Hamilton; a grandson, Vincent J. Koren Jr. and his wife, Jennifer, of State College, Pa.; two granddaughters, Jennifer and Kimberly, both of Hamilton; a great-granddaughter, Emma; and two brothers and one sister in Poland.
Funeral Mass was celebrated Saturday at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, Mercerville.
Interment followed in St. Nicholas Cemetery, Lodi.
Arrangements were by Saul Memorial Home, Trenton.
Phyllis R. Butera
NEWTOWN, Pa. Phyllis R. Butera, 89, died Friday at Saint Mary Medical Center, Langhorne.
At the time of her death she was a resident of Pickering Manor Home in Newtown.
Mrs. Butera was a resident of Trenton, N.J., most of her life before moving to Washington Crossing five years ago. She was affectionately known to her friends as Skippy.
Mrs. Butera was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Charles D. Butera, who died in June. She was the daughter of Giaccobe and Catherina Carnevale Angelini, and sister of the late James Gerard, Julia Bianchi, Clara Franco and Yolanda Pampanini. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, Charles and Carol (Johnson) Butera of Robbinsville, N.J., Rita and Michael Strange of Washington Crossing, Pa., and Robert and Rose (Piacente) Butera of Yardville, N.J.; six grandchildren and their spouses; nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held Tuesday from Gruerio Funeral Home, Trenton. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. James Church, Trenton.
Entombment followed in St. Mary’s Mausoleum/Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel, Hamilton Township, N.J.
Charles C. Mertz Sr.
HAMILTON Charles C. Mertz Sr., 90, died Nov. 21 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton.
Born in Pennington, he was a lifelong resident of Hamilton.
He was a retired shipping clerk at Heinenann Electric Co. in Trenton with 17 years of service.
Mr. Mertz was a member of Christ Presbyterian Church.
Son of the late William A. and Theresa Rentner Mertz, husband of the late Rita Stoutenburg Mertz, and brother of the late Earl, Joseph and Elmer Mertz, Margaret Smith and Helen Rajesky, he is survived by his wife, Lillian A. Merritt Mertz of Hamilton; two daughters, Claire Biddulph of Ewing and Margaret "Peggy" Hayes of Pennington; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles C. Jr. and Deborah Mertz of Killingsworth, Conn.; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; four stepchildren and their spouses, Jean and Steve Pristas of Mercerville, Kenneth and Lois Merritt of Toms River, Robert and Shawne Merritt of Hamilton, and James and Bette Merritt of Robbinsville; 12 step-grandchildren; 23 step-great-grandchildren; four step-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at Christ Presbyterian Church, Hamilton.
Interment followed in Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Presbyterian Church, 746 Klockner Road, Hamilton, NJ 08619.
Joseph L. Bocchini Sr.
TRENTON Joseph L. Bocchini Sr., 83, died Nov. 21 at Capital Health System, Fuld Campus, after a prolonged illness.
Born in Trenton, Mr. Bocchini was educated in the Trenton School District and graduated from Trenton High School. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II from 1942 to 1945, originally stationed on a light ship in Newport News, Va., and later aboard the U.S.S. Gen. Randall in the European and Pacific theaters.
He was employed for 31 years by John A. Roebling Co. in the wire mill. Mr. Bocchini then served as a turn foreman for U.S. Steel in Trenton for 10 years. As a turn foreman, he was responsible for producing the largest steel rope in the world that, in single lengths, weighed up to 80 tons and revolutionized the coal mining and off-shore drilling industries.
Mr. Bocchini was an active member of the Italian American Sportsman Club spanning 67 years. He served as the club’s president in 1961 at which time the construction and opening of the club’s family pool was begun and completed was a trustee for six years, chairman of sports for three years and a member of the board of governors.
Mr. Bocchini loved and spent much of his free time hunting in the New Jersey Pinelands with his sons and the IASC, where he served as one of the IASC’s hunt captains, leading the Black Team for more than 40 years. He also participated in many of the IASC’s activities, including the annual cabaret night and bowling league, and was instrumental in the club’s hunting lodge located in the New Jersey Pinelands. In 1995, Mr. Bocchini was inducted into the IASC Hall of Fame in recognition of his lifetime of service to the club. His work at the IASC remains a lasting legacy to future generations of Italian-Americans.
Mr. Bocchini was a respected outdoorsman and sportsman who shared his love and knowledge of the outdoors with his family and generations of area sportsmen. He was a member of the Mercer County Federation of Sportsmen and was a volunteer deputy game warden in Mercer County for many years.
In addition to his love for the New Jersey Pinelands, Mr. Bocchini enjoyed the vast outdoors of the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Shingle Mill Hunt Club in Kidder Township.
Mr. Bocchini served as a sergeant-at-arms for the New Jersey State Senate for eight years, a Democratic Committeeman in Washington Township and a past member of the Washington Township Fire Police. He was an active member of the Democratic Party in Mercer County and worked on numerous political campaigns, including those of his son, Joseph Jr.
Mr. Bocchini also was active in local athletics, playing in the YMCA Church softball league for St. John’s Baptist Church as well as playing in the John A. Roebling softball and basketball leagues. He also participated in the John A. Roebling bowling league and was an avid bocci player. Mr. Bocchini also belonged to the Turkey Hill Country Club and enjoyed the many years spent at the family home in Point Pleasant Beach, where he was a member of the Point Pleasant Beach Surf Club.
He belonged to many other charitable, political and civic organizations. Mr. Bocchini was a member of the Allentown Presbyterian Church and previously served as a deacon and trustee of both St. John’s Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church.
Predeceased by his parents, Carlo "Boo Boo" and Guiseppina Bonanni Bocchini, a brother, Armando P. Bocchini, and two sisters, Sylvia Angelucci and Mary Bocchini, Mr. Bocchini is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret Grillo Bocchini of Hamilton; two sons, Joseph L. Bocchini Jr. of Hamilton and Robert F. Bocchini of Point Pleasant Beach; as well as several nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Funeral services were held Monday from Allentown Presbyterian Church, Allentown, with the Rev. Steven Heinzel Nelson officiating.
Interment followed in Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Allentown Presbyterian Church, 20 High St., P.O. Box 122, Allentown, NJ 08501.
Arrangements were by Saul Colonial Home, Hamilton Square.

