Joseph Minnella Jr.
Joseph Minnella Jr., 82, of North Arlington, formerly of Clifton, died on Sept. 26 at home.
Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral service was held at the funeral home, followed by a private cremation.
Son of the late Joseph and Mae Minnella, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Vatert Minnella. He was the father of Christine (Jay) Durner, Susan (Lou) Testone, Sandra (Dave) Haut and Lisa Minnella; brother of Arlene Carole Nostrame and the late June Minnella; grandfather of seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three nephews and one niece.
Mr. Minnella was a former salesman with C & J Glass, North Arlington, and served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was an avid hobbyist whose interests included photography, tropical fish and remote control airplanes. He was a member of the Tropical Fish Club of North Jersey, North Jersey Aquarium Society and Lakeland Radio Control Airplane Association.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Barnabas Hospice, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange, N.J. 07052, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Robert Edmund Torrance III
Robert Edmund Torrance III, 81, of Encampment, Wyo., and Daytona Beach, Fla., died early Saturday morning, Sept. 24, at Florida Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born on Jan. 30, 1930, in East Orange, to Robert Edmund Torrance Jr. and Gladys Worsley Torrance. He lived in Kearny, for most of his life, moving to Encampment 15 years ago and spending winters in Daytona Beach. He graduated from Kearny High School in 1948, attended Farleigh Dickinson University earning an associate’s degree and then graduated from Maryville College in Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in business in 1956. He married Carol Louise Schade on June 28, 1958.
Bob worked for many years in the engineering department of Acme Supermarkets, purchasing store equipment. He then worked in real estate and ran a bookkeeping business from his home before retiring. He was very active in the First Presbyterian Church in Kearny, serving as elder, choir member and treasurer. He was a member of the West Hudson Optimist Club for 15 years. After moving to Wyoming, he was active in the Encampment Presbyterian Church as elder and finance committee chairman. He enjoyed singing in the Encampment Community Choir, the Lion’s Club and volunteering at the Grand Encampment Museum where he served on its board of directors. His interests included keeping up with current events over morning coffee with his friends at the Sagebrush Senior Center in Encampment. He had an undying love for all things related to airplanes. A recent highlight of his life was a ride on a WWII B17 Bomber in Rawlins, Wyo.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carol, his three children, Robin Wintersen-Stock of New Mexico, Robert E. IV of Ocean, and son John with wife Gina, of Colorado. His grandchildren are Mike Machado, Mamina Cordova, Sidhu Wintersen-Stock and Emmet and Teague Torrance. He has three great-grandchildren, with a fourth on the way. His surviving sister, Carol Lundquist, is of Glen Rock.
A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington at a later date.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Grand Encampment Museum, P.O. Box 43, Encampment, Wyo. 82325.
Ernesto Paulino Pita
Ernesto Paulino Pita, 73, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 29, at Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark. He was born in Murtosa, Portugal, and came to the Ironbound in Newark in 1966 and has been residing in Kearny since 1978.
He was a laborer for Local 472 of Newark for 30 years, retiring in 1994. He was a member of the Sport Maritimo Murtoense and Club dos Cacadores, both of Newark.
Beloved husband of Alda Oliveira (Nee Vieira) Pita; devoted and loving father of Fred Pita (Marianne), Jaclyn Pita and Ernie Pita (Kathy); brother of Avelino Pita of Portugal, Deolinda Pita Viuva of Venezuela, Miguel Pita (Deolinda) of Venezuela and Amandio Pita (Silvina); dear grandfather of Bryannah, Zach, Brooke, Julianna; brother-in-law of Carminda Vieira Martins, Maria Vieira Rocha and Alfredo Vieira (Maria); also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements were by the Buyus Funeral Home, 426 Lafayette St., Newark. A funeral Mass was held in Our Lady of Fatima Church, Newark. Entombment was in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.
Dolores Landry
Dolores Landry died on Sept. 27 in Clara Maass Medical Center. She was 64. Born in Newark, she was a lifelong Kearny resident. Dolores was a retired nurse. Arrangements were by Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. Burial will be at Arlington Cemetery.
