Peter F. Blair
Peter F. Blair, 73, died on Wednesday, April 23.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was a offered at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, followed by entombment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thielereid. com.
Peter was born in Kearny and raised in North Arlington. He later returned to Kearny where he lived for the last 45 years.
Mr. Blair was a graduate of Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington and later served honorably as an infantry sergeant in the New Jersey National Guard.
He was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, Springfield, and was employed as an operations manager for St. Johnsbury for 30 years. He later worked for Waste Management before retiring in 2000.
Mr. Blair was a proud member and former vice president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 7, Hudson County, and was named their “Irishman of the Year” in 2004. He also served as the Hibernian delegate to the United Irish Associations of West Hudson and served as secretary to the United Irish Associations. Pete was also a member of the B.P.O.E. No.1992, North Arlington, and was named their “Elk of the Year” in 2013.
Peter will be remembered as a devout Roman Catholic who attended Mass every day at St. Stephen’s Church. He thoroughly enjoyed helping clean the sanctuary.
He was a lifelong and devoted fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team. On more than one occasion Mr. Blair would personally call and speak to Cardinal John Joseph O’Connor and ask for a special prayer for a “Saturday afternoon win.”
Pete is survived by his beloved wife Mary Anne (nee Abate) Blair; his children Sharyne Blevins (Bill), Gregg Blair, and Peter Blair (Nancy); brother Raymond Blair; and grandchildren Billy, Gregg, and Blair Blevins and Nicholas, Erica, Anthony and Gina Blair. He was the beloved friend of the Rev. Sal DiStefano.
He was predeceased by his parents Raymond Sr., and Lillian Blair; two children Gerard and Darlene Blair; and three sisters Mary VanVolkenburg, Edna Guenther and Ann Blair.
Irish Heritage Park, Kearny, maintained by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, is flying the Irish flag at half-staff in honor of Pete.
Ethel G. Murphy
Ethel G. Murphy, of Harrison, entered into eternal rest on April 22. She was 81.
Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, Harrison. A funeral Mass was offered at Holy Cross Church, Harrison on Saturday.
Born in Newark, Ethel was a lifelong resident of Harrison. Ethel worked as a file clerk for Worthington Pump, a telegraph operator for Blue Cross/Blue Shield in Newark, and was also a housekeeper for Dr. Stanley Siwek. She was a parishioner of Holy Cross Church in Harrison.
Predeceased by her husband Thomas J. Murphy, she is survived by her loving companion James Chadwick, her beloved children and their spouses, Thomas (Coleen) and Tammy Blume (Steven); she was the cherished grandmother of Jessica Oldenburg (William), Thomas and Michele Murphy, and Steven and Kyle Blume. Ethel was the dear great-grandmother of Aimee and Ronald Oldenburg. She was the loving sister of Estelle Pipon and Raymond Scally. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Ethel was also predeceased by her parents John and Mabel Scally (nee Sulling) and her brother William Scally.
The family kindly requests donations to the Harrison Cancer League, P.O. Box 741, Harrison, N.J. 07029 in memory of Ethel.
Lottie Stavisky
Lottie Stavisky (nee Cilvick), 94, died April 18 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Wayne. Private cremation is being arranged through the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny.
Mrs. Stavisky is survived by her daughter Marie Snider and her son Jeffrey Stavisky. She is also survived by two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Eugene Zazzara
Eugene Zazzara died April 21 in Woodstock, Ga. He was 72.
Visiting will be on Friday, May 2, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, in Kearny. A funeral Mass will be on Saturday, May 3, at 10 a.m. at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, and burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Mr. Zazzara is survived by his children Jeffrey Zazzara and Michele Druding, his sister Carol Haraburda and five grandchildren.
