Isaletta Candeliere
Isaletta Candeliere (nee Nastri) died at home on July 28. She was 91.
Born in Italy, she lived in Harrison before moving to Kearny 55 years ago.
Arrangements were by the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Cecilia’s Church, followed by entombment in Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave online condolences, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Wife of the late Dominick, she is survived by her children John Candeliere, Rose O’Donnell and Angela Porcelli. Also surviving are her grandchildren Patrick, Michael, Heather, Lisa and Christina and her great grandchildren Quinn and Molly.
William J. Devine
William J. Devine died July 27 at Clara Maass Hospital. He was 75.
Born in Jersey City, 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 Queen of Peace Church, followed by entombment in Holy Cross Cemetery. To leave online condolences please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Bill was the owner of William J. Devine and Son Trucking in Kearny for many years.
He is survived by his wife Lynne (nee Wardell), his children and their spouses Christine A. and Larry Triguero and William J. Jr. and Ellen Devine. Brother of Carol Synnott and brother-in-law of Barbara Morrell, he is also survived by his grandchildren Noel Triguero and William J. Devine III, along with many nieces and nephews.
William S. Garry
William S. Garry died July 31 in Mountainside Hospital. He was 72.
Born in Irvington, he lived many years in Bloomfield before moving to East Orange two years ago.
Memorial visitation will be on Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Armitage and Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, in Kearny, followed by a private cremation. To leave online condolences and view more details please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Bill leaves behind his sisters, brother and their spouses Barbara and Bill Sweeney, Judy and Joe Schubert, Deborah Garry and Steve Gabel and Philip and Lorraine Garry.
In lieu of flowers, please consider The N.J. Audubon Society.
George Henry McCafferty
George Henry McCafferty, of Howell, passed away on July 23, surrounded by his loving family, at Kimball Acute Specialty Hospital in Lakewood. He was 75.
George was born in Jersey City and was raised in Kearny before he moved to Howell 45 years ago.
George was a salesman of office furniture before entering the banking industry where he worked for Wachovia and Wells Fargo.
George was a standout athlete at St. Cecilia’s High School, Kearny, where he earned 12 varsity letters while captaining the baseball, basketball and soccer teams before graduating in 1957. George was recruited by and had a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
He attended Norwich University in Vermont before transferring to Rutgers College where he earned a B.S. in business.
George was devoted to the game of ice hockey and was the former president and coach of the Brick Hockey Club where he coached his three sons. He was also involved in many other hockey clubs and coached for the Monmouth Hawks, the Toms River Black Hawks, the Shore Point Sharks, the American Eagles and the Red Bank Generals. In 2014 the N.Y. Rangers awarded George their coveted Emile Francis Award, which he accepted on the ice of Madison Square Garden during a Rangers game this past February. George was nominated by the youth hockey community for this award, which is given to the individual who exemplifies selfless community outreach, integrity and passion for the growth of youth hockey, and generously gives their time to the next crop of NHL hopefuls.
George is predeceased by his beloved son George H. McCafferty Jr. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Elaine (Ryan); his daughter and sonin- law, Diane Strawinski and Stefan of Manchester; his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Ryan J. McCafferty and Trisha of Wall Township; his son Christopher Connor McCafferty of Red Bank; and his three sisters, Margaret Magulliam of Spring Lake Heights, Betty McCartin of Toms River, and Joan Luchese of Watersound. Fla. He will be dearly missed by his 12 grandchildren, Stefan and Shannon Strawinski, Erin, Helen, Harry, Mary Elizabeth, Jack and Grace McCafferty and Katie, Meghan, Erin and Connor McCafferty.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated on July 31 at St. Elizabeth’s Church, Avon. Arrangements were by the Reilly- Bonner Funeral Home, 801 D St., Belmar. Entombment was in St. Anne’s Mausoleum, Wall Township. In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Charities, 383 W. State St., Trenton, N.J. 08618 would be greatly appreciated.
Albert ‘Al’ Zarbetski
Al Zarbetski entered into eternal rest on Sunday, July 27 at his home in Harrison, surrounded by his loving family. He was 84.
Born in the small town of Plymouth, Pa., to Jennie and Ignatz, Al headed east in 1950 in search of a better life following the tragic deaths of his father and stepfather in the coal mines. While working as a silk-screen printer in Newark, Al was drafted into the Army, where he served the U.S. during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he landed in Harrison where he found a job at RCA and, more importantly, Irene – the “love of his life.” In 1955, Al and Irene married, embarking upon a month-long cross-country honeymoon that turned into a 59- year adventure.
In order to better himself and provide for his growing family, Al worked at RCA during the day and attended Seton Hall University at night, pursuing a degree in education. In 1964, he started his second career as a teacher for the Harrison Board of Education, which lasted 29 years, during which he taught 8th grade and Introduction to Vocations. Countless former students fondly remember their time in Mr. Z’s class, and many still have the “spoon rings” they made 30 years ago. A proud Harrisonian for over 60 years, Al also served as the “official” photographer to Mayor Frank E. Rodgers, during which he met many politicians including former Gov. Thomas Kean, and he even ran his own darkroom.
Al was always up for an adventure with his family. At the drop of a hat he would take a ride to Bear Mountain or the Delaware Water Gap or Lake Wallenpaupack. If he was driving, he was happy, and often wound up in interesting places (such as the runway at Newark Airport). Al was a bit of a Renaissance Man—he was a woodworker, a jewelry maker, a leather crafter, a painter, a fisherman, a cook, a photographer, and a metalsmith, just to name a few. Always a sharp dresser, Al prided himself on dressing his best for every occasion. He became an avid fresh water fisherman later in life, often towing his small boat in the early morning dark and hitting the lake just as the sun rose. In true Al fashion, he even made his own fishing poles and lures.
Above all else, Al loved his “Irene,” his six children, and his seven grandchildren. His love of his family was legendary –there was nothing he would not sacrifice for his beloved family. As his body gave out in his later years, “Grandpa” always got a smile and had his spirits lifted by the grandkids. After family, Al’s passions included Atlantic City and Cape May, Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy. Although Al could not drive towards the end, he did not miss a beat, as Al Jr. and Mary took the wheel and continued the “road trips.”
Al’s philosophy of life was summed up by the song “What a Wonderful World,” and Irene sang this to him during his final hours.
Al is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Irene (nee Kohanski), his loving children Albert and his wife Maryanne, Richard and his wife Lara, Mary McManemin and her fiancé Victor, Lisa, Paul and his wife Anne-Marie, and his cherished grandchildren Jillian and Christine McManemin, Julia, Edward, Paul, Averi and John Zarbetski, and several loving nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his dear sister Mary Lullman.
He was predeceased by his son Christopher Zarbetski and son-in-law Robert McManemin.
Funeral services were under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, Harrison. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Kearny. His interment took place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
For information, please visit www.mulliganfuneralhome.org.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to: Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance (www.tsalliance.org) 801 Roeder Road, Suite 750, Silver Spring, Md. 20910 or Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 136 Davis Ave., Kearny, N.J. in memory of Al.
