JOSEPH GAJ, 78, of Freehold died July 16 at home. Born in Otalez, Mielec, Poland, he lived in Germany before moving to Freehold in 1951. Mr. Gaj was a maintenance employee at the 3M Co., Freehold Township, for 25 years before retiring 17 years ago. Before that, he was a custom weaver for the A&M Karagheusian Rug Mill, Freehold. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mr. Gaj is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anna Kirkitcha Gaj; two sons and daughters-in-law, Marian and Kathy Gaj of Millstone, and Paul and Donna Gaj of Howell; a sister, Cecilia Sienkowski of Allentown; and four grandchildren. Interment took place at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.
MARY BOKNOSKI FORTNER, 84, of South River died July 7 at home. Prior to her retirement in 1983, she was employed for 30 years as a machine operator at Leedall Co., Milltown. Her husband, Clayton Fortner, died in 1997. Surviving are a son, George Stauch of Allentown; two sisters-in-law, Isabel Fortner of North Brunswick and Dorothy Dziedziak of the Toms River section of Dover; two granddaughters. Lisa Benedetti of the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence and Christine DiBennedetto of Asheville, N.C.; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A service was held at Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, South River. Interment was in the church cemetery.