Mary Dombrowski
Mary Dombrowski (nee Szymanski), 91, of Harrison and Toms River, entered into eternal rest on Dec. 7 at home, surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Kearny, she lived most of her life in Harrison, before retiring to Toms River. Mary was a member of Our Lady of Czestochowa Seniors and Rosary Society and the Holy Cross Seniors.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 65 years, Frank Dombrowski. She was the loving mother of Teresa of Toms River and Walter of Long Beach Island, and his wife Ellen. She was the devoted grandmother of Mark & P.J. and great-grandmother of Jackson and Declan and aunt to numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, Harrison. A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison. For information or to send condolences to the family, please visit mulliganfuneralhome. org.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Mary @ www.stjude.org.
Peter J. Forte
Peter J. Forte died Dec. 10 in Wayne. He was 82.
Born in Newark, he lived many years in Kearny before moving to Lincoln Park 20 years ago.
Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Stephen’s Church, followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Peter was a retired chemical operator from Hoffman LaRoche and a Korean War veteran, having served in the Army. He was a member of the V.F.W.
Husband of Eileen “Lynn” (nee Schermond), he is survived by his daughters and their husbands Cynthia and Lennie Greene and Joni and Keith Lewin; he was the brother of Josephine Tracy (late William), Lee Falcone (Frank), Rudy Forte (Joyce) and Anna Forte. Also surviving are his grandchildren Jessica and Nina and many wonderful nieces and nephews and their families.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project.
John A. Hopko
John A. Hopko, 77, of the Brookfield Glen section of White Township, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 7, at his home.
Born in Wilkes Barre, Pa., on March 2, 1936, he was the son of the late Anthony and Eudora Lewis Hopko. John was raised and lived in Harrison before moving to White Township in 2004.
John was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Harrison, before retiring. He was a parishioner of St. Patrick Church, Belvidere. He had served on the building and grounds committee at Brookfield Glen. The most important thing in John’s life was his family.
In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by his wife of 45 years, Mary Ann Santamassino Hopko; a son-in-law, Mark Turker; and a brother, Anthony Hopko.
Surviving are two sons, John Hopko Jr. of Harrison, and Matthew Hopko and his wife Tara of Oxford; a daughter, Valerie Turker of Belvidere; four grandchildren, Anthony and Maria Turker, Madelyn and Alexandra Hopko; three brothers, Jerome and his wife JoAnn, James, and Donald; a sister, Barbara Polk and her husband John.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on Dec. 11 at St. Patrick Church, Belvidere, under the direction of MacFadden Funeral Home, Belvidere.
Online condolences may be sent to www.MacFaddenFuneralHome.com.
In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested to be made to the family, c/o MacFadden Funeral Home, 325 Hardwick Street, Belvidere, N.J. 07823.
Edward Karolasz
Edward Karolasz died Dec. 14 in St. Michael’s Hospital. He was 83.
Born in Gdynia, Poland, he lived in Switzerland before moving to Kearny 55 years ago.
Visiting is on Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 5 to 9 p.m., at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison, and burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. Edward will be laid to rest next to his son SSG Edward Karolasz, who killed on Nov. 19, 2005 in Iraq.
Ed was a retired machinist from Chase Pharmaceutical in Newark. He was a member of the Polish National Home and was the superintendent for 10 years at the Lithuanian Catholic Community Center.
He is survived by his wife Krystyna, his children and their spouses Donna and David Kornas, Kristine and Paul Lancha and John Jastrzembski. Brother of the late Zofia Maziarka, he is also survived by his grandchildren Brianna, Sofia, Logan and Kenzie.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Wounded Warrior Project.
Norman J. Salvesen
Norman J. Salvesen died at home on Dec. 11. He was 65. Born in Jersey City, he lived in Lyndhurst before moving to Somerset three years ago. Private funeral arrangements are by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Norman was a self-employed carpenter. He was an active member of the Lyndhurst Masonic Club and the N.J. Police Square Club.
Husband of the late Nathlie, he was the stepfather of Walter, Joseph, Marie and Monica. He was also the brother of Edward Salvesen, Joan Marques and the late John Salvesen.
Alice Stang
Alice Stang died on Dec. 11 in Richmond, Va. She was 84.
Graveside prayers were held in Arlington Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny.
Alice was an accountant for Paul Mellon and Company in New York City before retiring. She had been a member of the First Presbyterian Church in North Arlington.
She was the daughter of Henry and Dorothy (nee Rightmire) Stang. She is survived by her brother William Killorn and his family.
Angela Tano
Angela Tano died on Dec. 14 in Kearny.
Visiting will be on Wednesday, Dec. 18, starting at 9 a.m. in the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Dr., Kearny. Her service will be at 11 a.m. at St. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 80 Laurel Ave., Roseland. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Angela was a cashier at Tops Diner in East Newark for many years. She is the wife of the late Frank J. Tano. She is survived by her daughter Kalistagne “Mary” Welsh and her grandson Frank J.
In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to your own favorite charity.
