Ellen M. Losso Longstreth
Mrs. Longstreth, 78, of North Brunswick, died Sept. 6, 2007, at home. Born in New Brunswick, she had resided in Highland Park before relocating to North Brunswick in 1967. She was a secretary at Instant Alarm Service Inc., Edison, for 23 years, retiring in 1993. She was a former member of the Edison and North Brunswick PTAs and an assistant cheerleader coach for the North Brunswick Indians and Pop Warner Football Squad. She was a member and past president of the Smarty Birds Bowling League, and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Italian American Social Club of North Brunswick, the North Brunswick Pioneers, and the North Brunswick Little League Ladies Auxiliary, where she served as secretary. Mrs. Longstreth was predeceased by her husband, Dale S., in 1999; and a brother, Louis Losso. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Sharon and Raymond Adamo of Miami, and Patricia and Brian Foley of West Windsor; a son and daughterin law, Gary and Lisa Longstreth of Jackson; a sister, Ines Apel of Allentown; and six grandchildren. Arrangements were by Selover Funeral Home, North Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Memorial Processing Center, 6725 Lyons St., P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057-0007.
Casilda Gonzalez
Mrs. Gonzalez, 93, of Freehold, died Sept. 7, 2007, at home. Born in Forcadela, Spain, she moved to the United States in 1934. She and her husband operated the Country Inn, Freehold Township, from 1948-49, as well as the Freehold Deli on East Main Street. They were both employed at the Horsemen’s Kitchen at Freehold Raceway and at Granada Inn, Asbury Park. Casilda Drive in Freehold Township was named for Mrs. Gonzalez, with the township’s Ramon Boulevard named for her husband. She was predeceased by her husband, Ramon Gonzalez, in 1995. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Ramon Jr. and Mary Gonzalez of Freehold; four grandchildren, Ramon Gonzalez III of Texas, Ronald Gonzalez and Stephen Gonzalez, of Freehold, and Marysue Vang and her husband, Robert, of Jackson. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Mausoleum, also Freehold.
Joanne M. Fischer
Mrs. Fischer, 62, of Manchester, formerly of Manalapan, died Sept. 4, 2007, after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was a graduate of Bayley-Ellard High School in Madison and the Berkeley School of Business. Upon graduation, she worked as an executive secretary for the vice president of John Robert Powers cosmetics company. After raising her children, she was a business manager for Dr. Kenneth Ordene in Freehold for 18 years. Mrs. Fischer retired as a result of her illness. She loved cooking, gardening, camping and sewing. She was predeceased by a daughter, Stacie, as well as her parents, Frances and Joseph Payack. Surviving are her husband of 40 years, Peter Fischer; two sons and daughters-in-law, Sean and Kristine Fischer of Howell, and Eric and Katy Fischer of Jackson; a brother and sister in-law, Joseph and Paige Payack of Newbury Park, Calif.; two granddaughters, Brynlee and Delaney Fischer of Howell, and a grandson, Cameron Fischer of Jackson; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan, followed by entombment at St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, Marlboro. Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.
Esther K. Dice
Mrs. Dice, 83, of Freehold, died Sept. 3, 2007, at Ocean Medical Center, Brick. Born in Baltimore, she had lived there and in Farmingdale before moving to Freehold three years ago. Mrs. Dice was a coil winder for Frequency Engineering, Farmingdale. She was a member of the Farmingdale First Aid Auxiliary and was also a den mother. She was predeceased in 2001 by her husband, Garrett. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, “Buzzy” and Carol Ann Dice of Farmingdale; two daughters and a sonin law, Mary L. and Raymond Layton of Howell, and Patricia Ann Jenkins of Maryland; a brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Ceil Blumberg of Baltimore; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, with the Rev. Harvey Kelley officiating. Interment was private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.
Theodore “Ted” A. Bongartz
Mr. Bongartz, 50, of Howell, died Sept. 9, 2007, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Yonkers, N.Y., he had lived in Long Island City, N.Y., before moving to Howell in 1993. He was a salesman for Haddon House Food Products Inc., Medford, for 18 years, covering the Manhattan, N.Y., territory. Mr. Bongartz was a parishioner of St. Veronica’s Roman Catholic Church, Howell. Mr. Bongartz was predeceased by his mother, Anne Mullen Bongartz; his mother-in-law, Josephine Liccione; and a sisterin law, Catherine Kantor. Surviving are his wife of 21 years, Cecilia Bongartz; two sons, Dylan and Dane Bongartz, both at home; his father, Theodore Bongartz of Yonkers; three sisters, Tina Rabin of White Plains, N.Y., Barbara Kuthe of Yonkers and Anita Bellucco of Bethel, Conn.; a brother-in-law, Frank Liccione of Manhattan; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Veronica’s Church. Interment was private. The Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township, was in charge of arrangements.
Ruth M. Dravneek
Mrs. Dravneek, 93, of Wall Township, died Sept. 8, 2007, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Gasport, N.Y., she had resided in Monmouth County for many years. Prior to retiring in 1976, she was a nurse at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, for 15 years. She was a member of Ardena Baptist Church, Howell, and the Howell Senior Citizens Club. Mrs. Dravneek was predeceased in 1978 by her husband, William R. Dravneek, and 1943 by a daughter, Barbara C. Conrad. Surviving are two sons, John C. Conrad of Wayside and James P. Conrad of Lakewood; a daughter, Julia M. Smith of Freehold; a stepson, the Rev. Bruce Dravneek of North Carolina; 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, Freehold Township. Interment was private. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury, NJ 07702.