Thomas J. McNiff, Robert J. Russin, Mary I. Field, Helen M. Howard, Kathy Jaeger, Dorothy S. Kent
Thomas J. McNiff
EAST WINDSOR Thomas J. McNiff, 80, died Nov. 23 at University HealthCare System at Princeton.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., his life was devoted to service for his country through military, law enforcement and community organizations. His commitment to the Navy during World War II culminated with the rank of lieutenant (JG).
After a brief teaching endeavor at St. Francis Preparatory High School in Brooklyn, Mr. McNiff invested 26 years as a special agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation in various field offices across the country and at the national headquarters in Washington, D.C. His professional career concluded while employed for the New Jersey State Ombudsman’s Office in Trenton.
A lifelong fan of athletics, Mr. McNiff played several sports in high school, varsity basketball and baseball at St. Francis College (Brooklyn), and coached for many years for various youth athletic programs. He also actively served the Catholic Church throughout his life.
Mr. McNiff was preceded in death by his wife, Joan A. McNiff. He is survived by their six children, Jeanmarie of Japan, Timothy of Virginia, Chris and Rod of Maryland, Tom of New Jersey and Terry of Ohio. Mr. McNiff remarried and leaves behind his wife, Helen V. McNiff; her three children, Frank and Dan Rohan and Rueith Velleca; his siblings, Philip McNiff and Veronica Broderick; and four daughters-in-law, Maggie, Dana, Jean and Jean. He was the grandfather of 10 grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Monday at Glackin/Saul Funeral Home, Hightstown. A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown.
Burial followed in the Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Robert J. Russin
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP Robert J. Russin, 66, died Nov. 22 at the Kindred Hospital in Philadelphia.
Born in Hazelton, Pa., and a former resident of Roebling, he lived in Hamilton for 41 years. He graduated from Florence High School and attended Rutgers University.
He spent his entire career at McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. He was one of the "originals," who began working at the Hightstown complex in 1958. After 45 years of service he retired as facilities manager.
He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the McGraw-Hill Recreation Association and served as a Little League coach for the HTRBA.
Mr. Russin was a former staff sergeant with the New Jersey National Guard.
He was an avid Eagles and Phillies fan. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and traveling whenever he could. He especially enjoyed his trips to Ireland and Bermuda.
He was predeceased by his father, John Russin, a sister-in-law, Marcia Solack and nephews Darryl Webber and Richard Solack. He is survived by his loving wife of 41 years, Audrey Russin; his two sons, Robert Russin Jr. and his wife, Erin, and Christopher Russin; his daughter, Adrienne Martin and her husband, Ian; and two grandchildren, James Russin and Gavin Martin. Also surviving are his mother, Eva Wandinshin Russin; a sister, Shirley Webber; his mother-in-law, Stella Solack; his brother-in-law, Francis Solack and his wife, Denise; a sister-in-law, Joan Greenjak, and her husband, Joseph; a brother-in-law, Juergen Lorenz; a niece, Vanessa Irizarry; a grandniece, Angel Irizarry; and a grandnephew, Max Zelenevich.
The funeral was held Monday at Poulson & Van Hise funeral home, Lawrenceville. A mass was celebrated Monday in St. Raphael’s Church, Hamilton. Entombment was in Ewing Church Cemetery Mausoleum, Ewing.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Martin House, 802 E. State St., Trenton, NJ 08606.
Mary I. Field
MONROE TOWNSHIP Mary I. Field, 86, died Nov. 25 at the Cranbury Center in Monroe Township.
Ms. Field was born and raised in Hightstown and was a graduate of Hightstown High School, Class of 1936. She also graduated from Centenary Jr. College, Beaver College, and the Latin American Institute at New York.
Ms. Field was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving as a specialist second class at Banana River, Fla. She was employed for a number of years with the former Hightstown Rug Mill, Schanek and Field Inc. of Hightstown and the Sunnyfield Nursing Home of Cranbury.
Her lifetime love of animals led her to devote tireless hours caring for and feeding cats and dogs who had no home. She worked along with local agencies to have many cats and dogs spayed and neutered and given proper medical care at her own expense.
Predeceased by her parents, Harry R. and Alberta P. Field, a sister, Edith Ely, and a niece, Susan F. Wood, she is survived by her brother, Warren E. Field and his wife, Janet D.; eight nieces and nephews, Warren R. Field of Felton, Del., Linda Gaspar, David N. Field of East Windsor, George P. Field of Hamilton Square, Judith F. Johnston of Horseheads, N.Y., W. Keith Field of Lake Worth, Fla. and Stuart M. and J. Scott Field of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Graveside services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the direction of the A.S. Cole Funeral Home, Cranbury.
Memorial contributions may be made in Ms. Field’s memory to the American Cancer Society, 3076 Princeton Pike, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648.
Helen M. Howard
RHODE ISLAND Helen M. Howard, 77, died Nov. 22 in Rhode Island at the home of her daughter.
Born in Union City, she was a resident of Hightstown for many years before moving to Rhode Island last year.
Mrs. Howard was employed at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church for many years. She retired in 2003 from the Mercer County Housing Department. She was a member of the St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church and their Altar Rosary Society, the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary No. 148, and the 40/8 of Hightstown.
Daughter of the late Constantine Bowling and Maria De Los Delores Zermeno and wife of the late William F. Howard, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Anne D. and Charles W. Catalfio of Rhode Island; her sons and daughters-in-law, Stephen B. and Tina of Texas and John Z. and Kim R. of New Jersey; her granddaughter, Amanda; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Beth Bowling of East Windsor, Charles and Marie Bowling of Bayonne and John and Jean Bowling of California.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Glackin/Saul Funeral Home, Hightstown. A funeral mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Anthony of Padua, Hightstown. Interment followed in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery, Arneytown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Charities, 383 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08618 or to any local hospice program.
Kathy Jaeger
ADELPHIA Kathy Jaeger, 49, died Nov. 21 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick.
Mrs. Jaeger was born in Trenton and had lived in Carteret, Hightstown and Adelphia. Mrs. Jaeger was a bookkeeper for AMEC Civil LLC, Shark River Project, Belmar.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Jaeger of Adelphia; one son, Michael Ray Jaeger at home; and one daughter, Casey Sue Jaeger, at home.
Arrangements were private and under the direction of the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township. For condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.
Dorothy S. Kent
MERCERVILLE Dorothy A. Schaffer Kent, 73, died Nov. 23 at home.
Born in Trenton, she was a lifelong area resident. Mrs. Kent was a member of the Pearson Memorial United Methodist Church in Hamilton.
Daughter of the late Pemberton and Ellen Layton Schaffer, she is survived by her husband of 55 years, William T. Kent Sr.; a son and daughter-in-law, William T. Jr. and Annamarie Kent of Mercerville; two daughters and sons-in-law, Sharlene and Michael Eriksen of Gettysburg, Pa. and Diane and Jeffrey Forman of Hightstown; a sister, Bessie Schroeder of Yardville; six grandchildren, Lori and Michael Eriksen, Renee Griffith and husband Tim, Christina, Jennifer and Kimberley Kent; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday at the Buklad Memorial Home, Hamilton. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

