William R. Jones Jr.
Mr. Jones, 78, of Southern Pines, N.C., died March 20, 2007, at home. He was born in Freehold on June 11, 1928, to William and Lillian Emmons Jones. Mr. Jones was a land surveyor for Birdsall Engineering, Belmar. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He served on the Freehold Borough Council from 1974-77 and was a former member of the borough’s housing authority, Shade Tree Commission and Planning Board. He was a member of American Legion Post No. 54, Elks Lodge No. 1454 and the Freehold Fire Department Exempt Firemen’s Association, all of Freehold, as well as a former member of the Good Will Hook and Ladder Company of the Freehold Fire Department. In North Carolina, he had belonged to the Hyland Hills Country Club in Southern Pines. Mr. Jones was predeceased by his wife, Janice Elaine Howell Jones, in 2002, and three sisters, Lillian Lepley, Elsie Jones and Loretta Cassidy. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Lela K. and Alan Spekin of Brockton, Mass.; a son, William E. Jones of Southern Pines; two granddaughters, Hallie LeBlanc and Jenise Leggatt; and several nieces and nephews. Graveside services were held at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township, with Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen, Va. 23058-5216.
Joseph Donald Ruddy
Mr. Ruddy, 86, of Freehold Township, died March 21, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. He was born in Archbald, Pa., and had lived in Newark for many years before moving to Freehold Township 29 years ago. Prior to retiring in 1979, he was employed by the Newark Board of Education for 26 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, during which he served in the 3rd Armored Division. He was a member of the 3rd Armored Division Assoc-iation, South Bend, Ind. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1672, Elks Lodge 1454, American Legion Post 54 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4374, all of Freehold. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Madelyn Laggner Ruddy; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Margaret Ruddy of Rock Hill, S.C.; a daughter and son-in-law, Cath-erine and Craig Nelke of Fishers, Ind.; a sister, Mary Moyle of North Arlington; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Mausoleum, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702; or to St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, 16 McLean St., Freehold 07728.
Milton Berger
Mr. Berger, 90, of Englishtown, died March 22, 2007, at home. He was born and raised in East Nassau, N.Y., and had lived in Englishtown for the past 80 years. Prior to retiring in 1985, he was the founder and president of Washington Forge Cutlery, English-town, for 40 years. He was a member of Congregation Sons of Israel, Manalapan. He was a member of the Lions Club of English-town, a past president of the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education and a past vice president of the Bank of Manalapan. Mr. Berger was predeceased by a daughter, Deborah Berger. Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Victor and Susan Berger of Las Vegas, and Joel Berger of Austin, Texas; two daughters and a son-in-law, Karen and William Moskowitz of Manalapan, and Linda Berger of Edison; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A service was held at Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manal-apan, followed by interment at Congregation Sons of Israel Cemetery, Englishtown. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association at either 2250 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902 or 1 Union St., Robbinsville 08691.
Anibal Perez
Mr. Perez, 80, of Freehold Township, died March 23, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, he had resided in Freehold Township for the past 22 years. He was a social worker for the Monmouth County Board of Social Services, Freehold Township, for 24 years. He had also been employed at Macy’s, Eatontown, for 24 years. Mr. Perez is survived by his wife, Jennie Perez; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Elif Perez; and a granddaughter, Mina. Graveside services were held at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township, with Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements.
Sarah J. Hankins
Mrs. Hankins, 92, of The Orchards at Bartley, Jackson, died March 23, 2007, at home. Born and raised in the Adelphia section of Howell, she had lived in Freehold for 60 years before moving to Jackson in 2002. She was a graduate of Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. She worked for F.W. Woolworth, Freehold, in the 1930s. While a homemaker during the ’40s and ’50s, Mrs. Hankins was also a foster mom for the Monmouth County Organization for Social Service (MCOSS). She was employed by Brit’s, Freehold, from the 1960s to the ’70s, which is when she retired. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Freehold for more than 60 years and taught Sunday school as well. She was predeceased in 1995 by her husband, Cecil B. Hankins, and in 1964 by a brother, Harold I. Johnson. Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, James Byron Hankins and Rosemarie Hankins of Man-chester Township, and Roger A. Hankins of Freehold; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a great-great-granddaughter. A funeral service was held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, followed by interment at Adelphia Cemetery, Adelphia.
Helen Rose Glynn
Mrs. Glynn, 69, of Manalapan, died March 30, 2007, at home. Born in Northampton, Pa., she had lived in the Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Manalapan 15 years ago. She was a shift manager at Wawa, Union Hill Road, Manalapan. She was a communicant of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan. Mrs. Glynn is survived by her husband, Michael; three sons and a daughter-in-law, Steven Glynn of the Bronx, Louis Glynn of Manalapan, and Michael and Katherine Glynn of Poughquag, N.Y.; two brothers, Joseph and Edward Geider; and seven grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Thomas More Church. Interment was private. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.
Frederick Roberts Cooper Jr.
Mr. Cooper, 67, of Freehold, died March 31, 2007, at home. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had resided in Freehold for the past five years. Prior to retiring, he was an engineer for Giamboi Brothers Inc., a contracting firm in Brooklyn. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. Mr. Cooper was predeceased by a sister, Helen Gilligan. He is survived by a son, David Cooper; a daughter, Elizabeth Cooper; and a sister, Virginia Bryan. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold.
Martin Bolger
Martin J. Bolger, 89, of Freehold, died March 28, 2007, at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, he had lived in Bronx, N.Y. before moving to Freehold in 1973. He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during World War II. Mr. Bolger was an elevator operator with Building Service Local No. 32BJ, New York City. Surviving are his wife, Catherine Flatley Bolger of Freehold; a son, Thomas Bolger of Dallas; a daughter, Kathy Ann Bolger of Manalapan; and two grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the ARC of Monmouth County, 1158 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls 07724.
Josephine Drapczak Egner
Mrs. Egner, 96, of Bear, Del., died March 24, 2007, at the Franciscan Care Center at Brackenville in Hockessin, Del. Born in New York City, she had resided in Manalapan before moving to Delaware in 1983. She was predeceased by her husband, George Egner, in 1981, as well as a daughter, Joann Truszkow-ski; a brother, Andrew Drapczak; and a sister, Lari Brudnick. Surviving are a daughter, Trudy Wilson of Bear; a brother, Stanley Drapczak of Toms River; two grandsons, Robert J. and William G. Truszkowski; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.
Frank Joseph Gulan
Mr. Gulan, 91, of Freehold Township, died March 31, 2007, at Bartley Manor, Jackson. He was born in Yonkers, N.Y., and had resided there before moving to Freehold Township 25 years ago. Prior to retiring in 1981, he was a custodian for the U.S. Postal Service in Tuckahoe, N.Y., for 19 years. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served during World War II as a medical technician, as well as a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 4374, Freehold Township. Mr. Gulan was predeceased in 1989 by his wife, Ruth Jorger Gulan. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Rita S. and James Wilson of Yonkers, and Dolores A. and Paul Pugsley of Freehold Township; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Yonkers. VFW services were also held.
Patsy S. Guadagno
Mr. Guadagno, 87, of Freehold, died March 24, 2007, at New York University Medical Center, New York City. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived there for most of his life before moving to Freehold seven years ago. Prior to retiring, Mr. Guadagno was a motor vehicle operator for Local Union No. 983, New York City. He had also previously worked as a movie theater manager in Brooklyn. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mr. Guadagno was predeceased by his wife, Victoria, in 1993. Surviving are three sons and two daughters-in-law, Carl Guadagno of Brooklyn, Nicholas and Linda Guadagno of Marlboro, and Pat and Patricia Guadagno of Howell; a brother, Anthony Guadagno of Lakewood; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at Calverton National Cemetery, Calverton, N.Y. Freeman Manal-apan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.
Girolama Padron
Mrs. Padron, of Silvermead, Freehold Township, died March 26, 2007, at Centra-State Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived there for most of her life before moving to Silvermead 12 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. Mrs. Padron was predeceased by her husband, Manuel, in 1985. Surviving are six daughters and sons-in-law, Annette and Greg Crysler of Hopatcong, Frances and Peter Graffagnino of New Port Richey, Fla., Michele and Drew Gunnison of Brewster, N.Y., Anita and Tom Forde of Manalapan, Geraldine and Peter Pabon of Aberdeen, and Janet and Randy Marash of Manalapan; three brothers, Frank, Eugene and Michael Mongelli; two sisters, Marie Pinto and Anne Protin; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Clement’s Roman Catholic Church, Matawan, followed by interment at The Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn. Free-man Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, New Jersey Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, Ct. 06150-1160.
Marion Butkowsky
Mrs. Butkowsky, 90, of Toms River, died March 30, 2007, at Arbors Care Center, Toms River. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had resided in Colts Neck and Key West, Fla., before moving to Toms River in 1988. Mrs. Butkowsky was predeceased by her husband, Willis Treat, in 1984. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Noreen and Bill Boychuk of Toms River. A graveside service was held at Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel, with Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Animal Birth Control Inc., P.O. Box 353, 407 Motor Road, Pine Beach 08741.
Helen “Cha-Cha” Krystoff Dunn
Mrs. Dunn, 90, of Marlboro, died April 1, 2007, at home. Born in Wading River, N.Y., she had resided in Marlboro for the past 60 years and was a communicant of St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro. Mrs. Dunn enjoyed cooking and baking. She is survived by her husband, Walter Dunn, as well as two sisters, Mary Cyrta of Marlboro and Alice Dugan of Freehold. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at Our Lady of Poland Roman Catholic Church, Southampton, N.Y., followed by interment at Sacred Heart Cemetery, also Southampton. Higgins Memorial Home, Free-hold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Meridian Hospice, 1340A Campus Parkway (Monmouth Shores Corporate Park), Neptune 07753.
Lillian Vasile
Lillian Vasile, 94, died April 3, 2007. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph. Surviving are a daughter, Vivian Ancona of Manalapan; a grandson; and two great-grandsons. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan was in charge of arrangements. A funeral service was held at St. Thomas More Church, Manalapan, followed by interment at Moravian Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y.
Mary Falcone Mercurio
Mrs. Mercurio, 79, of Marlboro, died March 30, 2007, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Orange, she had lived in Bloomfield and Livingston before moving to Marlboro in 1985. She was a teacher for the Clifton public school system for 17 years. She taught English and foreign language in the Marlboro school district from 1985-90. Mrs. Mercurio was predeceased by her husband, Dante, in 2000. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Dante and Patricia Mercurio of Verona; a daughter, Lucia Mercurio of Niantic, Conn.; a brother, Domenic Falcone of Livingston; and three grandchildren, Anthony Lockhart, Gabriela Mercurio and Dante Lockhart. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Gabriel’s Historic Church, Marlboro, followed by interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.