OBITUARIES

From the July 12 edition

Betty T. Nolan
   BURLINGTON — Elizabeth (Majofsky) Nolan, 88, of the Masonic Home in Burlington died Saturday.
   Daughter of Frank and Catherine Majofsky, she lived most of her life in Trenton and Bordentown before moving to the Masonic Home 11 years ago. She served as the Worthy Matron of Bordentown Chapter No. 257, Order of the Eastern Star in 1977-1978 and in her retirement years she began to paint, leaving many paintings showing her gift.
   Predeceased by her husband, Thomas J. Nolan, she is survived by one son, Thomas F. Nolan and his wife Kathy; two grandchildren, Melissa B. Nolan and Thomas P. Nolan and three great-grandsons, Andrew Philip Nolan, Christopher Joseph Straccia and Timothy Carl Nolan.
   There was a Memorial Mass celebration at the Masonic Home of New Jersey and the Bordentown Chapter conducted an Eastern Star service. Interment was in the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover.
   Arrangements were under the direction of the Peppler Funeral Home, Bordentown.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Masonic Home of New Jersey, 908 Jacksonville Road, Burlington, NJ 08016.
Eleanor M. Byard
   BORDENTOWN — Eleanor M. Byard, 90, died Saturday at the Marcella Center in Burlington Township.
   Ms. Byard was a lifetime resident of Bordentown. She was a graduate of William McFarland High School and served as a member of the Air Observer Corps during World War II. She retired from the state Department of the Treasury and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bordentown.
   Daughter of the late Carl and Viola Rogers, and wife of the late Arthur Byard, she is survived by son Wayne Byard of Chesterfield; grandsons and their wives, Carl Byard of Delran, Brian and Stacy Byard of Bordentown, and Daniel and Amanda Byard of Bordentown; and five great-grandchildren, Emma, Colin, Dylan, Ryan, and Julia. Ms. Byard is also survived by her friends, Helen and Marilyn Frazier of Bordentown, Louise Bunting of Chesterfield, and Claire DiGaetano of Clark.
   Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Huber-Moore Funeral Home in Bordentown. Burial will follow at Bordentown Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call today, Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Bordentown, 200 Prince St., Bordentown, NJ 08505.
Helen Lebeda
   BORDENTOWN — Helen (Rusnak) Lebeda, 92, died Friday at Mercerville Nursing Center.
   Born in Roebling, she lived in Bordentown most of her life. She was formerly employed by Home Rubber Company, the State of New Jersey, Dunham’s and NADE. Ms. Lebeda attended Rider College and was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Ladies Auxiliary.
   Wife of the late Michael Lebeda and daughter of the late Michael and Mary Hornyak Rusnak, she is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, George and Susan Lebeda of Chesterfield; her daughter and son-in-law, Maryann and Ronald Ellicott of Venice, Fla.; her sister, Mary Rusnak of Hamilton; her grandchildren, Scott and Mark Lebeda, Laura and Mark Kemble, and Dale Ellicott; and one great-grandson, CJ Kemble.
   Funeral services were held at Kutch Funeral Home in Trenton and Office of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church.
   Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, 411 Adeline St., Trenton, NJ 08611.
George F. Burkley
   BORDENTOWN — George F. Burkley, 90, died Friday at his daughter’s home.
   Born in Fieldsboro to the late Florence and Frederick Burkley, he lived in the area all of his life. Mr. Burkley was retired from US Steel in Morrisville and was a member of the Bordentown Senior Citizens.
   Preceded in death by his wife, Helen, and his grandson, Richard, he is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Margaret and James Twigg; grandson and his wife Edward and Meg Gaynor, all of Bordentown; granddaughter and her husband Carol and George Walton of Jacobstown; three great-grandchildren, Erica, Lauren and Meagan; and many nieces and nephews.
   A funeral service was held at the Huber-Moore Funeral Home in Bordentown and burial was in the Bordentown Cemetery.
Lena M. Viragh
   FLORENCE — Lena M. Viragh, 86, died July 5 at Alterra Clare Bridge Assisted Living in Westampton.
   Born in Bordentown, she was a lifelong Bordentown resident before moving to Florence four years ago. Ms. Viragh was a homemaker, but in her earlier years had worked as a clerk for the NJ Motor Vehicle Commission in Trenton. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bordentown and its Altar and Rosary Society. She enjoyed baking, cooking, reading, and watching television.
   Daughter of the late Andrea and Pasqua DiNicola Massari, sister of the late Lucy Clark and Tito Massari, sister-in-law of the late Isabelle Massari and Raymond Clark, wife of the late John Viragh, and aunt of the late Joey Massari, she is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, John A. and Rose Viragh of Florence; a grandson and his wife, John M. and Teresa Viragh of Ocean, N.J.; and a brother, Bruno Massari Sr. of Bordentown. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Ruby Massari of Levittown, Pa.; nephews, Bruno Massari Jr., Raymond Clark, Robert Massari, and Michael Massari; and nieces, Mary Ann Curcio, Natalie Polios, Cynthia Guire, and Arleen Sereni.
   The funeral service was held from the Dennison Funeral Home in Florence, Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bordentown, and interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association and can be sent to the Dennison Funeral Home for forwarding.
Mary Gazell
   COLUMBUS — Mary Gazell, 82, died July 2 in Bordentown.
   Ms. Gazell was born in New York City, N.Y. She resided in New Port Richey, Fla. for 35 years before moving back to New Jersey two years ago. She spent her free time playing bingo, reading, and was an active member of the Bordentown Senior Center. Anyone who met her enjoyed her fun loving personality and loyalty.
   Wife of the late Norman Gazell, she is survived by four children and spouses, her daughter Barbara Forkel and husband Robert, daughter Ginny Bennett and husband Harold, son Tom Gazell and daughter Nancy Adams; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Jim and Kelly Forkel, Christina and Jaime Caceres, Patty Roberts, Leslie Stephen, Beth Lacey, Eric Gazell and Nicole Stephen; and her 11 great-grandchildren, Meghan, Ryan, Caitlin, Jennifer, James, Ben, Cody, Caleb, Emily, Abigail and Lauren.
   Services were held at the Bordentown Home for Funerals and interment will be at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Fla. with her husband.
Ronald W. Cheesman Sr.
   BORDENTOWN — Ronald W. Cheesman Sr., 68, died July 2 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa.
   Born in Trenton, he had lived in the Fairless Hills, Pa. area for the last 35 years. He was a production worker for Stokes Battery, of Trenton, and was a little league coach with the Levittown Pacific Little League. Mr. Cheesman was an avid Eagles fan.
   Son of the late Russell and Susan Cheesman, he is survived by his wife, Harriet C. Cheesman (nee Trush); two daughters, Rachel Moore and Tammy Doan, both of Fairless Hills; two brothers, Elmont Cheesman of Yardley, Pa. and Richard Cheesman of Whiting; two sisters, Janet Woodward of Fieldsboro and Sandy Aaronson of Trenton; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.
   Funeral services were held at the Peppler Funeral Home in Bordentown and interment was in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Florence.
Samuel L. Duncan Jr.
   EWING — Samuel L. Duncan Jr., 83, died July 2 at Compassionate Care Hospice in Trenton.
   Born in Paulsboro, he was a resident of Mercer County for 48 years. He served 3½ years in the U.S. Navy Air Corps during World War II. He attended Princeton University, the University of Michigan, University of Pennsylvania and Texas A. & M. and graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Electrical Engineering.
   Mr. Duncan was an electrical engineer with Mobile Oil, Pennington until his retirement in 1985. He taught physics, mathematics and electronics at Mercer County Community College. He was a lifetime member of the Paulsboro/Swedesboro Masonic Lodge No. 157 and was an avid fisherman and bowler.
   Father of the late Robert D. Duncan and brother of the late Naomi Foltz, he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Dan Breese of Hamilton and his son and daughter-in-law, James E. and Patricia Duncan of Jacobstown; a sister, Marea Patterson of Whiting; his former wife and good friend Dorothy Duncan of Pennington; and five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
   A private family service will be held at Pennington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Blackwell Memorial Home, Pennington.
   Memorial contributions may be made to the Humane Society of the U.S., PO Box 97015, Washington, D.C. 20077.
Ralph E. Burdick Jr.
   MIDDLEBURG, Fla. — Retired Sgt. Ralph Edward Burdick Jr., 65, died June 29.
   Born in Schenectady, N.Y., he was a longtime resident of Trenton and lived in Jacksonville and Middleburg, Fla. for the last five years. Mr. Burdick was a member of the U.S. Property and Fiscal Office (USP&FO) for New Jersey as a member of the N.J. Army National Guard. He was assigned to the 4th/112th Field Artillery in Lawrenceville. He was also a member of the N.J. Army National Guard Colonial Color Guard and retired in 2001 as a member of the Joint Force Headquarters in Fort Dix.
   Son of the late Ralph Edward Burdick and Jeanne Phyllis Etchells (nee Fargo), he is survived by three sons and daughters-in-law, Terry and Farina Burdick of Brooklyn, N.Y., Craig and Sylvia Burdick of Manchester, N.H., and Tom and Adrienne Haas of Chesterfield. He also had two daughters and one son-in-law, Christine and Manuel Farrugia of Manhattan, N.Y. and Donna M. Haas of Hamilton Township. Mr. Burdick had eight grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
   A funeral was held at Jones Funeral Home in Schenectady, N.Y., followed by a military burial in Parkview Cemetery. A memorial service was also held at the National Guard Armory in Lawrenceville.
Leonard R. Camiso
   FIELDSBORO — Leonard R. Camiso, 73, died June 29 at Samaritan Hospice in Mount Holly.
   Born in Trenton, he was an area resident all of his life. Mr. Camiso retired from the New Jersey Department of Corrections as a senior corrections officer with 30 years of service. He then worked for Sieck-Wright Floral Products in Hightstown. A U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War, he served on the USS Macon.
   Mr. Camiso is survived by his wife of 41 years, Alice Sindora Camiso; four daughters and a son-in-law, Diane and Greg Proulx of Hamilton and their three daughters, Dinea, Adrienne, and Bethany; Donna Camiso of South Carolina and her three sons; Nichole Camiso of Fieldsboro and her son Derrick B. Clegg Jr.; and Candice Camiso of Bordentown and her three daughters, Adyaina, Brielle, and Amore. Also surviving are his two sons and a daughter-in-law, Richard and Traci Camiso of Burlington, and Michael Camiso of Houston and his daughter Sierra, and many friends.
   Calling hours were held at the Kingston & Kemp Funeral Home, Hamilton and interment was in the Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown.
   Memorial contributions may be made to Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.
Helen P. Tams
MEDFORD – Helen (nee D’Arcy) Tams, 91, died July 4 at the Mount Holly Center in Lumberton.
Ms. Tams was born in Trenton and lived in Bordentown before moving to Medford 25 years ago. She was a communicant of Saint Mary of the Lakes Roman Catholic Church, and member of the Mt. Carmel Guild and the St. Vincent DePaul Society. She retired in 1978 as a customer service representative for the former Trenton Trust Company.
Ms. Tams was preceded in death by her husband James and is survived by children, Evelyn Babbitt of Medford, and William Tams of Mount Laurel; brother, William D’Arcy formerly of Hamilton; sisters Catherine Vickers of Monroe Township and Julia Smetanka of Hamilton. She is also survived by grandchildren, Sean, Timothy and Amy Babbitt, Christopher and Matthew Tams and Gene Burgess, and great-grandchildren, Tucker Morris, and Lauren and Ryan Burgess.
The Funeral Liturgy was celebrated at Saint Mary of the Lakes Roman Catholic Church in Medford and interment was in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Hamilton. Services were under the direction of the Mount Laurel Home for Funerals.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Delaware Valley Chapter, 100 N. 17th St. 2nd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103, or Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.
Elisabeth M. Walker
WESTAMPTON – Elisabeth M. Walker (nee Omlor), 81, died July 3.
Born in Germany, Ms. Walker was a resident of Westampton for the last 42 years.
Wife of the late David H. Walker, Ms. Walker is survived by her son, Alfred Walker and daughter-in-law, Susan E. Walker; grandchildren Michelle L. Bunting (nee Walker) and husband Charles M. Bunting III of Jobstown, Alfred Walker Jr. of Westampton, Elisabeth Walker of Westampton; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Martin Omlor, and sister-in-law Maria Omlor of Kuebelborg, Germany.
A memorial service was held at Lighthouse Tabernacle Church and interment was in the Princeton Memorial Park, Robbinsville. Arrangements were under the direction of the Lee Funeral Home, Mount Holly.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, or call 1-800-ACS-2345.