Gertrude Balducci
Gertrude Balducci (nee Messina), 95, passed away on Monday, Nov. 30.
Born in Orange, she resided with her beloved husband of 49 years, the late Leonard Balducci, in both Kearny and Belmar, and since 1985 had been a permanent resident of Ocala, Fla.
During World War II, she served as a Red Cross nurse’s aide and, until her marriage in 1948, worked as assistant to the president of Lionel Trains in New Jersey. Her extensive community involvement included: past-president of the Arlington Women’s Club; pastpast- president of the Rotary Ann Club and as a member of St. Stephen’s Rosary Society; lifetime member, Catholic Daughters of America, Court Cecelia 811; Women’s Auxiliary, West Hudson Hospital, all of Kearny; charter member and secretary, Bayley-Sexton League of Seton Hall Prep; a member of the Mother’s Club of Queen of Peace High School and Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Ocala Christian Women’s Connection, Blessed Trinity Council of Catholic Women.
She is survived by her children Leonard Balducci III and Lisa Balducci Brook; and her sister Marie ‘Mimi’ Uricoli. Also surviving are her grandchildren Lora Brooks Iosa, Lane Brooks and Michael, Gina, and Che Balducci and her great-granddaughters Addison and Harper Iosa.
In lieu of flowers or Masses, please make donations to The LoveLady Center, 7916 2nd Ave. So., Birmingham, Ala. 35206. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Countryside Funeral Home, Anthony, Fla.
Joaquim G. Canhoto
Joaquim G. Canhoto, 97, of Kearny, died on Nov. 30 at home.
Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Born in Aldeias, Gouveia, Portugal, Mr. Canhoto lived in Newark and North Arlington before moving to Kearny 20 years ago.
Mr. Canhoto worked at Napp-Grecco Construction, Newark, for more than 35 years. He was a member of the Heavy and General Construction Laborers Union, Local 472, Newark. He was the husband of Emilia Morgado Canhoto for more than 70 years; father of Idilia C. Mauricio (Jose M.) and Joaquim Canhoto (Sara); brother of Antonio and the late Manuel Canhoto; grandfather of Claudia, Michael, Nicole and Monica; and great-grandfather of Andrew.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the St. Barnabas Cancer Center, Livingston, would be appreciated.
Julian Jacek
Julian Jacek, 80, of Kearny, passed away at home unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 27.
Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. The funeral Mass was held at St. Casimir’s Church, Newark, followed by internment in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Born in Nowa Wies, Poland, Mr. Jacek served in the Army before immigrating to the United States in 1966. He lived in Newark before moving to Kearny in 1980. He worked at the Federal Pacific Electric Company in Newark and, after that, he was a shipping clerk for P & K Pole Products in Newark, finally retiring when the company closed.
He was also a faithful parishioner of St. Casimir’s Church.
Julian is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jozefa Jacek (nee Barc); son, Bruno (formerly married to Tracy Youst); daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Patrick Porcaro Jr.; son, Richard; and brother, Antoni Jacek. Also surviving are his grandchildren Adam and Dale Jacek and Jessica Porcaro. He was predeceased by his parents, Agnieszka Jacek and Jozef Kucharzyk and brothers, John and Walenty Jacek.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Casimir’s Church.
Anthony M. Scocozza
Anthony M. “Ski” Scocozza passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Dec. 1. He was 85. His burial was on Dec. 5 in the Frankford Plains Cemetery in Frankford. To view his complete obituary or leave an online condolence please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Ski is survived by his wife Gloria (nee Illardi), his children and their spouses Lynn and Bobby Oelz, owners of “Signs By Lynn,” John and Maggie Scocozza and Nancy and Chris Lackey. He was predeceased by his daughter Donna. Also surviving are his grandchildren Michael, Matt, Ryan, Sam, Will, Ben, Melissa and Anna.
Jo Anne Bernadette Yaremko
Jo Anne Bernadette Yaremko, of Truro, Mass., and Vieques, Puerto Rico, died at first light on the morning of Dec. 1. She had struggled with breast cancer since 1999, and was without pain, unafraid and in the embrace of her husband and daughters when she fell asleep in the Lord.
Jo Anne, daughter of Joseph and Rose Caruso of Hasbrouck Heights, held degrees in education and speech from Fordham University. She was an early childhood teacher in Madison Township and Ridgefield, Conn., where she also operated a 200-student dance studio for more than a decade.
She was a dancer, actor and choreographer of numerous theater productions, including the title role in the premiere of “Lady Kay.”
Since 1995, she had served as vice president of Executive Media, Inc., where she produced corporate events and video programs. Among her many blue-chip clients were IBM, John Hancock, Knoll Pharmaceuticals, the New Jersey Education Association, the New York Society of Association Executives, Pepsi-Cola, Hitachi, Humana and Siemens.
Jo Anne’s interests were many and far-reaching: bicycling, snorkeling, crosscountry skiing, raising koi, and collecting antique dolls, salt dishes and Inuit sculpture.
Jo Anne is survived by her husband of 50 years, Peter; two daughters, Wendy, of Madison, Conn., and Julie, of Stratford, Conn.; three grandsons, Erik, Connor and Andrew; her brother, John, of Buford, Ga.; and sister, Felicia, of Monroe, N.Y.
Funeral arrangements were managed by Gately McHoul Funeral Home, 94 Harry Kemp Way, Provincetown, Mass. A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Peter the Apostle Church in Provincetown. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.
Friends who wish to make a donation on Jo Anne’s behalf in lieu of flowers may consider her favorite charity, St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
Expressions of condolence for the family may be left in the guest book at gatelyfuneralservice.com.
