GRACE BIVONA
Grace (Gratzo) Bivona, 90, died on Sept. 11 in the Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny on Wednesday Sept. 19, at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery North Arlington. Visiting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 7 to 9 p.m. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com
She was born in Old Forge, Pa., and lived in Harrison and Kearny before moving to Belford 35 years ago.
Grace is survived by her children Charles Bivona (Maureen) and Deborah Smith; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Charles “Ducky” Bivona and her granddaughter Theresa Nieves.
HAROLD “BUDDY” ECCLES
Harold “Buddy” Eccles, 81, of Toms River Township died on Monday, Sept. 10, at home.
Born Dec. 25, 1930 in Jersey City, he lived in Kearny, before moving to Toms River in 1980.
Harold served in the U.S. Army during World War II and Korean War. He worked as a truck driver for Tose Trucking in Jersey City for 28 years, retiring in 1978.
He was a member of the Teamsters local 641 Jersey City, American Legion George Vanderveer Post 129, Toms River, The Old Guard, East Dover and the Dover Senior Center. Harold was also an instrumental member of the committee to change the name of Dover Township to Toms River Township. He was a huge Eagles Fan.
Harold is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Rose M. (nee Blakitis); three daughters: Linda Gonzalez of Dover, Janice Ramos and Donna Tancordo, both of Toms River; a brother David A., of Lake Hiawatha, and a sister Jane Pezzino of New Mexico. He also raised three of his 10 grandchildren.: John, Christine, Jason, Michael, Christian, Sandi, Roseann, Diane, Jessica and Daniel and had 16 great-grandchildren who all loved him dearly.
Arrangements were by the Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Toms River. His service and entombment were held on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at the funeral home and Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River, respectively. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.ryanfuneralhome.com
WILLIAM P. HEDDERMAN JR.
William P. Hedderman Jr., of El Paso, Texas, passed away on Aug. 13.
Born Dec. 24, 1939 in Newark, he was the son of the late William P. Hedderman Sr. and Margaret Hedderman (nee Gassert). Mr. Hedderman was raised in Harrison. He attended Holy Cross School and graduated in 1958 from St. Cecilia’s High School, Kearny.
Bill relocated to El Paso in the mid-1960’s. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1967. He was an octane specialist and petro-chem engineer for Standard Oil (Chevron), retiring in 1999 after 32 years of service for the company. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years. After his retirement, he continued to enjoy the outdoors, hunting and fishing, while traveling in his RV. He cherished time with friends and family, and loved to reminisce about dates and events.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Frances Hedderman (nee Tracy); children William Hedderman III (Leann), Joseph Hedderman (Lidia) and Michele Hedderman (April). He was the proud grandfather of Joseph Jr., Jason, Ashley, Justin, Amanda (Kevin Devenport), and Elisabeth, and great-grandfather of Madalyn Devenport and Cameron Devenport; survived by his sister, Margaret Powell (Thomas) of Harrison, sisters-in-law Josie Tracy and Mary Ann Spohn, cherished nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, many cousins, his dear aunt Rosemary Moore of Harrison and uncle Joseph Kelley of Naples, Fla.
After services at St. Raphael’s Church, El Paso, his final resting place is Fort Bliss National Cemetery.
LOIS E. (FIELD) SMITH
Lois E. (Field) Smith, 89, a lifelong resident of Savannah, Ga., and most recently of Parkersburg, W.Va., passed away Sunday, Sept., 9, at Ohio Valley Health Care in Parkersburg, W.Va.
Lois was born Feb. 10, 1923 in Kearny, a daughter of the late Amos and Sarah (Nichols) Field. She was a graduate of Kearny High School and also the Jersey City School of Nursing. She served in the Cadet Nursing Corps during World War II and spent most of her life as a public health nurse. She was also a homemaker who loved gardening, the ocean, and traveling. She was a Girl Scout leader for many years in Savannah, Ga. and a member of the Savannah Garden Club. She was Episcopal by faith.
She is survived by her sister, Ruth Duggan of Parkersburg, W.Va., along with numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and great-greatnieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Samuel W. Smith III; sister, Evelyn Johnston; brother, Robert Field, and nephew, David Johnston.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m., Monday, Sept. 24, at Arlington Cemetery, Kearny. Services were held previously at the Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg, W.Va.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.leavittfuneralhome.com
EDWARD F. STYPUL
Edward F. Stypul died on Sept. 15 in St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 90. Born in Harrison, he lived many years in Kearny and Florida before moving to Clifton two years ago.
Visiting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. Service and entombment will take place in Largo, Fla. under the direction of Moss Feaster Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Ed served in the Navy during WWII and went onto a career with the Department of the Air Force as a supply agent. He later worked for the Veteran Administration in Florida.
Husband of the late Alice (nee Collins), he is survived by his sons Ronald (Desa) Stypul and Bryan Stypul; his grandchildren Matthew (Sara), Amanda and Jason Stypul and Melissa (Matthew) Corey.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the Polish National Home, 215 Cleveland Ave., Harrison, N.J. 07029.
