Arthur W. Anderson
Arthur W. Anderson, of Kearny, died July 5, in University Hospital in Newark. He was 83.
Memorial visitation will be on Wednesday, July 9, from 4 until 8 p.m., at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 10, at 11 a.m. from the funeral home. Entombment of his ashes will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com
Arthur served in the United Sates Navy. He was a firefighter in Kearny and retired as a captain. He was a member of Copestone-Ophir Lodge, the F.M.B.A. and had coached Pony League Baseball all in Kearny.
Husband of Patricia Ann (nee Veasey) and father of Cynthia, William E., Arthur J. and Lynda Anderson. He is also survived by his sister Lillian Hedden and his grandchildren Mitchell, Erik, Zachary, Amanda, Max, Alexis and Nicholas.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
John J. Kaletka
John J. Kaletka, of Kearny, died June 24 in The Alaris Health Care Center at Belgrove. He was 94. He was a lifelong Kearny resident. Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, 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.
John was a paratrooper during World War II. He saw much action in Italy, France and Belgium. He was a Purple Heart recipient and also served in Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s security detail. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus and was active with the St. Stephen’s Seniors, The Benstead Center and had been vice president of The Lithuanian American Citizens Club. Husband of Frances (nee Tunkavige) and brother of the late Anna Mack, he is also survived by nieces and nephews Diane Moroses (late Jack), George Moroses (Carol) and Carolyn Moroses along with their families. John also leaves behind his best golf buddy Frank Gonzalez.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to your own favorite charity.
Jean L. Metcalf
Jean L. Metcalf (nee Laidlaw) died peacefully on July 3 at home. She was 89. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., she lived in North Arlington and Lyndhurst before moving to Hackettstown five years ago. Arrangements are by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral service will be on Tuesday, July 8, at 11 a.m. from the funeral home. Private cremation will follow. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Jean had been a para mutual clerk at the Meadowlands Sporting Arena for many years.
She was wife of the late James Metcalf; mother of Frank (the late Karen) Metcalf, John (Janice) Augustine, Harriet (Larry) Raymond, James (Barbara) Augustine, and William Metcalf; sister of Margaret Lower, John Laidlaw and the late Thomas Laidlaw. She is also survived by her grandchildren Cara, Katie-Rose, JR, Stacey, Kelly, Kyle, Rebecca, Alyson, Brittany and James and her great-grandchildren Trevor, Jesse and Brody.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, in Kearny.
Robert James Oldknow
Bob Oldknow, 83, passed away peacefully on June 30.
Born to James and Lillian Oldknow on August 29,1930, he was a longtime resident of Kearny. He graduated from Kearny High in 1948 and joined the U.S. Army, serving with the Army Occupation Forces in Germany before returning to Bordentown, where he served until 1955. Bob joined the Kearny Police Department, serving until 1962, when he joined the Kearny Fire Department as a firefighter and finally assistant to the chief before his retirement in 1990.
Bob was committed to his community, and was an active member of the West Hudson South Bergen Optimist Club. He was elected and served with distinction as governor of the Optimist International for the State of N.J. from 1987 to 1988. He was a member of the Copestone-Ophir Masonic Lodge and served as the Lodge Master Mason. He also had a great passion for local politics. He was a member of the Third Ward Harry S. Truman Club, the Tantaqua Club and was an elected Hudson County Democratic Committee member for over 25 years.
Bob’s second home was Ocean Grove where he ultimately retired with his beloved wife of 59 years, Frances, who predeceased him in November 2013. He made many friends in Ocean Grove, among them was his group of coffee buddies who met every morning on Main St. and landed the group a part in the opening scene of Hillary Duff’s movie filmed in Ocean Grove. Bob had a great sense of humor and loved to talk to everyone he met, making friends wherever he traveled. Bob is survived by his son, Keith Oldknow, Indianapolis. Ind., granddaughters, Meredyth (husband Josh), Katie and great granddaughter, Zoe, daughter Sharon Marshall (husband Steve) Anchorage, Alaska, son, Kent R. Oldknow (wife Joan) Windham, N.Y., grandsons, Bryan, Sean and Kent II (Kerry), daughter, Marlynn Haslund (husband Leif), Tacoma, Washington state, grandchildren, Leif Andrew, Anna, Peter, favorite nieces Missy and Maura, nephews, Mark and Michael and many, many friends.
Visiting will be on Wednesday July 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m., at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive. A funeral Mass will be on Thursday, June 10, at 10 a.m., at St. Cecilia Church and the cremation will be private.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Optimist International organization would be greatly appreciated.
Joan M. Smith
Joan M. Smith, 80, died June 24 at the Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville.
Born in Newark, she lived in Kearny before moving to North Arlington in 1960.
In 1954 she graduated from the nursing program at Jersey City Medical Center, received a Bachelor of Nursing in 1973 and a master’s degree in nursing in 1976, both from Jersey City State College. She worked as a registered nurse at East Orange General Hospital from 1981 to 1992.
She was the beloved daughter of the late Ann (nee Martin) and late Alfred Smith, the cherished sister of the late Alfred Emmet Smith, the dear sister-in-law of Agnes P. Smith of Parsippany, the adored aunt of Kevin Smith, Brian Smith and his wife Anne, and the loving great-aunt of Cathryn Smith.
She was a member of the Jersey City Medical Center Alumni Association, a former member of the Parish Council of Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, and a member of the Literacy Volunteers of America at the Kearny Public Library.
The funeral was from the Parow Funeral home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington, on Friday, June 27, with a funeral Mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington. The entombment followed in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Queen of Peace Church Restoration Campaign, 10 Franklin Place, North Arlington, N.J. 07031
Viola Scott Thomsen
Viola Scott Thomsen (formerly Viola Mocarski) passed away at the age of 89, on June 20, at Lytton Gardens Senior Communities in Palo Alto, Calif. Her death was attributed to cardiovascular failure.
Visitation will be on Friday, July 11, at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A funeral service will take place at The Fewsmith Memorial Presbyterian Church in Belleville, 10 a.m., Saturday, July 12, with burial to follow in Crest Haven Memorial Park, Clifton.
Viola was born on August 8, 1924, and was raised in Walker Valley, near Pine Bush, N.Y. During World War II, she worked as a secretary at Stewart Field in upstate New York. She married Edward Mocarski, and they raised their three children in Belleville. Viola worked for many years in physician’s offices and then as executive assistant to the head of chemistry at Hoffman La Roche Pharmaceuticals in Nutley. After her marriage to Carl Thomsen, she lived in Sparta and later retired to Port St. Lucie West, Fla. Viola recently joined her children and their families in California, residing at Lytton Gardens Assisted Living in Palo Alto.
Throughout her life, Viola maintained many close relationships with family and friends. Wherever she lived, Viola was active in the Presbyterian Church, serving as an Elder at churches in Belleville, Sparta and Vero Beach. She loved to travel and enjoyed entertaining as well as the latest in fashion and design. Viola participated in social clubs, card clubs and dinner groups, as well as all aspects of the performing arts, regularly attending local and regional theater with friends. She loved decorating the house for every holiday. Over the last three decades, Viola became a regular golfer.
Wife of the late Edward S. Mocarski and the late Carl Thomsen, she is survived by her son, Dr. Edward S. Mocarski Jr., and his wife Dr. Christine L. Martens, daughter Nancy L. Zarra, daughter Susan J. Mocarski and her husband Darrell E. Elwell.
Also surviving are grandchildren Anthony J. Zarra Jr., Emily C. Mocarski, Shannon S. Lee, Cassandra L. Belt and Ryan C. Elwell.
Please consider a donation to the American Heart Association in honor of Viola.
To leave online condolences please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
