OBITUARIES, Dec. 2, 2005

Samuel Hamill, Damien Dixon, Emilio Castaneda, Michael D. Carolus, Mary L. Torre, Sylvia G. DePiano, The Rev. Stanley M. Taylor

Samuel Hamill
Princeton, Maine resident
   
Samuel Hamill of Tremont, Maine, and Princeton died Nov. 16 at a friend’s home in Ellsworth, Maine. He was 29. He had struggled for many years with an addiction to heroin and other drugs.
   Until the spring of this year, he had been a regional manager for LoveSac Inc., a Minneapolis furniture manufacturer and retailer in Minneapolis and Memphis, Tenn. In the summer of this year, he formed a partnership with two friends, The Sullivan Granite Co. Located in Sullivan, Maine, its purpose is the quarrying of granite and finely crafted granite construct.
   He graduated from Tabor Academy, Marion, Mass., and attended the College of the Atlantic and the Audubon Expedition Institute for one year each.
   In addition to his many friends on Mount Desert Island, Maine, and elsewhere, he was devoted to his large and close-knit families in Princeton and Wawa, Pa. He gained support from several Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups in and near Mount Desert Island and elsewhere. For recreation, he was devoted to travel, skiing, snow-boarding and motorcycling.
   He is survived by his sister, Natalie Hamill, and his father, Samuel M. Hamill Jr., both of Lawrence; and grandmothers Annis Lee Townsend of Wawa, Pa., and Margaret LaFarge Hamill of Lawrence.
   A memorial service was held in Princeton Nov. 28. He will be buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Lawrence.
   Memorial contributions may be made to The MDI Alcohol and Drug Group Inc., a nonprofit group that works to mitigate the effects of alcohol and drug abuse, P.O. Box 616, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.
   Arrangements were by Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home, Somesville, Maine.
Damien Dixon
Electrical engineer, musician
   
Damien Dixon of Princeton died Nov. 25 at University Medical Center at Princeton after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 29.
   A lifelong musician, he grew up in Lawrence Township, where his musical talents were recognized early. He began piano lessons at age 5.
   He won the Baldwin National Piano Competition at age 15 and is still the only musician from New Jersey to receive the award.
   After graduating from Lawrence High School, he attended Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and worked several years as an electrical engineer at Sarnoff Corp. in West Windsor. He then returned to music, spending the past four years as a piano teacher and accompanist at Westminster Choir College.
   Son of the late Fredrick and Marthallese Dixon, he is survived by his grandmother, Annellese Sister; sisters Liese and Dee Dee Dixon; niece Lella Dixon; and girlfriend Rebecca Holden.
   The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, 2688 Main St., Lawrence.
   Calling hour is scheduled for 10 a.m. until time of service at the church.
   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Princeton HealthCare System Foundation, 253 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08540.
   Arrangements are by Hughes Funeral Home, Trenton.
Emilio Castaneda
Owned painting company
   
MONTGOMERY — Emilio Castaneda died Tuesday at University Medical Center at Princeton. He was 67.
   Born in Cosio, Santander, Spain, he was a Princeton-area resident since 1967.
   He was the founder and owner of Emilio’s Painting Co., serving the area for the past 38 years.
   Mr. Castaneda is survived by his wife of 36 years, Huguette Castaneda; sons Emil Castaneda of St. Paul, Minn., and Richard Castaneda of Montgomery; sisters Tomasa, Sophia and Carmena, all of Spain; brothers Antonio and Jesus Castaneda of Rocky Hill; granddaughters Chloe, Aurora and Sophie Castaneda; and several nieces and nephews.
   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. today at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 214 Nassau St., Princeton.
   Memorial contributions may be made to University Medical Center at Princeton, Oncology Department, 253 Witherspoon St., Princeton, NJ 08540 or Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.
   Arrangements are by Kimble Funeral Home, Princeton.
Michael D. Carolus
Chemist
   
WEST WINDSOR — Michael D. Carolus died Tuesday at University Medical Center at Princeton. He was 38.
   Born in Virginia Beach, Va., he was a graduate of Princeton University, obtaining a doctorate degree.
   Mr. Carolus was a chemist at Evans Analytical Group, East Windsor.
   He was a lieutenant junior grade in the Navy, serving in the Gulf War.
   Son of the late Roger Carolus, he is survived by his mother, Karen Walsh Carolus; wife Julia Owen Carolus of West Windsor; son Augustus Carolus; brother Jacob Paulson; and sisters Tami Audeh and April Johnson.
   The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday at Princeton University Chapel.
   Arrangements are by Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.
Mary L. Torre
Princeton resident
   
Mary L. Torre of Princeton died Tuesday at Clare Estate, Bordentown.
   Born in New York City, she was a member of the National Republican Committee.
   Daughter of the late William and Elizabeth Lynch Driscoll, wife of the late Thomas Paul Torre Sr., she is survived by sons and daughter-in-law William J. and Marianne Torre of Princeton and Thomas P. Torre Jr. of Robbinsville; sister Elizabeth Riebe of Southberry, Conn.; and granddaughters Caitlin and Alisha Torre.
   The funeral is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, 616 Ridge Road at New Road, South Brunswick.
   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:15 a.m. Saturday at St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, 45 Henderson Road, South Brunswick.
   Burial will follow in Bound Brook Cemetery, Bound Brook.
   Visiting hours are 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Sylvia G. DePiano
Longtime West Windsor area resident
   
WEST WINDSOR — Sylvia Garruto DePiano died Tuesday at home. She was 82.
   Born in Red Bank, Mrs. DePiano lived in the West Windsor area for more than 50 years.
   Daughter of the late Michael and Carmella Ferrara Garruto, sister of the late Edward Garruto, and wife of 52 years to the late Anthony DePiano, who died in 2004, she is survived by sons and daughter-in-law Anthony F. DePiano of West Windsor and Edward and Diane DePiano of Hamilton; daughter and son-in-law Joanne and Bernie Cunningham of Leesburg, Va.; grandchildren Jessica and Cara DePiano and Mark and Mary Cunningham; and several nieces and nephews.
   A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 3816 East State St. Extension, Hamilton.
   Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton.
   Calling hours will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today and from 8:15 to 9 a.m. Saturday at the Hartmann Memorial Home, 2830 Nottingham Way, Hamilton.
   Christian wake services will be held Friday evening at the funeral home.
The Rev. Stanley M. Taylor
Former Princeton resident
   
GRAND BLANC, Mich. — The Rev. Dr. Stanley M. Taylor died Monday at West Hickory Haven Nursing Facility in Milford, Mich. He was 93.
   Born and raised in Detroit, he also resided in Harbor Springs, Mich., St. Louis, Princeton and New York City.
   A Presbyterian minister, he served many churches throughout his life before returning to Detroit, where he ministered at the Gratiot Avenue Presbyterian Church for over a decade. After his last permanent tenure in New York, he retired to the Detroit area and still remained active, often filling in at churches.
   He was a graduate of North Western High School in Detroit in 1931 and then began working odd jobs, including work with a Detroit newspaper, saving for enrollment at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He continued his study at Union Theological Seminary in New York, where he completed his doctorate in divinity.
   He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and a member with the Detroit Puppeteers Guild. He enjoyed reading books on theology, philosophy, science and poetry, wrote his own poems and achieved mastery in the art of weaving.
   Son of the late Claude and Edna Hamilton Taylor, preceded in death by seven brothers, he is survived by his wife of 67 years, Maxine; daughter and son-in-law Julie and Bob Bernstein of Florida; grandchildren Joseph, Ryan, Jamie and Robbie Bernstein; brother-in-law George Niepoth; and many nieces and nephews.
   The funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Tyrone Community Presbyterian Church, 9141 Hartland Road, Fenton, Mich.
   Visiting hours are 2 to 9 p.m. today at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home, 404 E. Liberty Street, Milford, Mich.