Chester Blaze
Chester Blaze, 73, of Kearny, died on Aug. 16 at home.
Visiting was at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home on Monday, Aug. 19. A Mass of Christian burial will be officiated on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison. Cremation will be private.
Born in Poland, Mr. Blaze lived in Newark before moving to Kearny 35 years ago. He was the owner of C.B. Industrial Contracting in Harrison for 40 years and he worked up until the time of his illness. He was past president and member of The Polish National Home, Harrison. He was a benefactor and avid supporter of The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina, where both of his sons graduated from.
He was the beloved husband of Honorata Siemiatkowska Blaze; father of Ron Mark (Verna) Blaze and Clark (Tracy) Blaze; brother of Richard Blaze and grandfather of Christian Chester Blaze and Mackenzie Ann Blaze.
In lieu of flowers, donations, to The Citadel Foundation, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, S.C. 29409 would be appreciated.
Marie DiMichele
Marie DiMichele passed away on Aug. 18 in Clara Maass Hospital. She was 86.
Born in Brooklyn, she lived in Rhode Island before moving to Kearny 45 years ago.
Visiting will be on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 11:30 a.m. in St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny. Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. To leave an online condolence please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Marie had been a food server for Meals on Wheels.
Wife of the late John J. Ryan and the late Gene DiMichele, she is survived by her daughters Rosemarie Kulish and Joann Ryan, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
James F. Furey Sr.
James F. Furey Sr., “The Flag Man,” died Aug. 13 in the N.J. Veterans Home in Menlo Park. He was 86.
Born in Newark, he moved to Kearny 61 years ago when he married “the Peg of his Heart” Margaret (nee Rainey). A funeral Mass was held in St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Jim served in the Army during World War II and was a past commander of American Legion Post 99 and the U.V.O. He was a member of The Old Guard and the Boxing Hall of Fame. He was past chairman of Americanism and was an honorary member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart. He was retired from Hoffman LaRoche.
Husband of the late Peggy, he was the father of Gail P. Furey, Maureen Furey-Lunetta and the late James F. Jr. Also surviving are his grandchildren Nicole, Allison, Gregg, James F. III and Daniel and his great-grandchildren Kelsey, Andrew, Tyler and Shaelynn.
If you care to make a memorial contribution, please consider Wounded Warriors Project.
Jean S. Martinez
Jean S. Martinez (Campbell), 79, died on Monday, Aug. 12, at the Genesis Healthcare Waterview Center, Cedar Grove.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral service was held in the funeral home, followed by interment at Arlington Cemetery, Kearny. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.
Jean was born and raised in Newark, then lived in Kearny for many years before moving to Cedar Grove in 2004.
She was a senior correspondent for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Newark for 43 years, retiring in 1997, and was an avid supporter and volunteer at Pathways to Independence in Kearny.
She is survived by her son Douglas C. Martinez, and one sister, Barbara “Bobbie” Martin. Jean was the beloved godmother and aunt of Helen Skirptunas and her companion Rob and the loving aunt of Roseann Katsios and her husband Jim and great aunt of Rebecca and Adriana Katsios.
Ms. Martinez was predeceased by her parents Nelson and Catherine (Dowd) Campbell, siblings Dorothea “Dorothy” Marion, Katherine “Kathy” Garber, Nelson Campbell and Harry “Dickie” Campbell and her dear friends Anthony and Ann Skirptunas.
Jean was an avid bingo player and thoroughly enjoyed arts and crafts.
The family would like to thank Dr. Rowen Diano, Genesis Healthcare Waterview Center, especially Donna Cory; Hong at Evercare and the Somerset Group Home staff who cared for Douglas.
