Chester C. Conklin
Chester C. Conklin died Feb. 8 at Clara Maass Medical Center. He was 73.
Born in Newark, he lived in Kearny before moving to Belleville in 1981.
Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Church in Nutley, followed by burial in Arlington Cemetery in Kearny. (www.armitagewiggins.com)
Chester was a member of Teamsters Local 641 and drove a truck for many years for L.J. Kennedy and Preston Trucking.
Husband of Carolyn (nee Young), he is also survived by his children and their spouses Michael S. Conklin, Jeff Conklin (Caroline) and Donna L. Conklin (Joe Besterci), his grandchildren Eric, Hailey, Mackenzie and Amanda, and his best pal Casey.
Mary Corner
Mary Corner (nee Quigley) died peacefully on Feb. 10 at The Shorrock Gardens in Brick. She was 87.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, she lived many years in Kearny before retiring to Brick.
Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Sorrows, Kearny, followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. (www.armitagewiggins.com)
Mary and her late husband John Corner owned and ran Matson’s Tavern in Kearny for many years. She loved her family, friends, heritage and Our Lady of Sorrows.
She is survived by her daughter and son Ann Marie Deichman (Daniel Sr.) and John Corner (Carolyn), her grandchildren Daniel (Jessica) and Jeremy (Natalia) and great-grandchildren Madilyn Rose, Daniel Marc, Lilyahna and Luke Jeremy.
Julia T. Dunaj
Julia T. Dunaj (nee Agentowicz), of North Arlington, died peacefully on Feb. 8. She was 95.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral Mass was held at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. For information, or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.
Born and raised in Eynon, Pa., she lived in North Arlington for the past 57 years. Julia worked as a product scheduler for RCA in Harrison for many years, retiring to raise her two children. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Czestochowa Church and a member of Rosary Altar Society, a member of the Senior Harmony Club of North Arlington, and a charter member and treasurer of the Young Women’s Club of Harrison. She was also the Financial Secretary of Lodge 3187 of the Polish National Alliance (PNA) District 5 and took part in many activities as well as being involved in multiple PNA committees.
Predeceased by her husband, Stanley J. Dunaj, Julia is survived by her loving children Patricia A. and Stanley M. Dunaj, her dear sister Jean A. Kozmor, her sisters-in-law Ann Dunaj and Bernadine Janusz as well as loving nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests Mass intentions to be offered from Our Lady of Czestochowa Church, Harrison or Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, or a donation to a charity of choice would be appreciated in care of the funeral home in loving memory of Julia.
Rafael Anthony Egoavil
Rafael Anthony “Tony” Egoavil, of Buffalo, N.Y., formerly of Newark, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 6. He was 42.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral service was held at the funeral home. His cremation was private. For information, or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.
Born and raised in Newark, he lived most his life there before moving to Buffalo in 2004. Rafael worked for Ford Motor Company for more than 20 years, first in Edison and most recently in Buffalo, N.Y.
He was a second generation employee as his father Rafael also worked for the Ford Motor Company. He was a member of the UAW Ford Local 897 in Buffalo, N.Y. An avid baseball fan, his favorite team was the N.Y. Mets. In his free time, Tony also enjoyed video games and graphic novels.
Tony is survived by his beloved mother Juanita, loving children Ashley Nicole and Ryan Matthew, dear brother Chris and his wife Heather, cherished niece and goddaughter Olivia and nephew Connor, godson Logan Gonzalez and the mother of his children Lydia Ivette Toyens. He was predeceased by his father Rafael (2014) and his sister Marisol (1982).
Hedwig A. Kasper
Hedwig A. “Gladys” Kasper (nee Rudnicki), 90, a lifelong resident of Harrison, died Feb. 11 at the Alaris Healthcare Center on Bergen Ave. in Kearny.
She worked as a secretary for the RCA Corporation in Harrison for many years before retiring 25 years ago.
She was the beloved wife of the late John and is survived by her nieces and nephews.
The funeral was from the Parow Funeral Home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington, on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a funeral Mass at Our Lady Czestochowa Church, Harrison. Interment followed in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Dominick F. Krusznis
Dominick “Yakie” F. Krusznis Jr., of Berkeley Township, formerly of Harrison, entered into eternal rest on Feb. 2. He was 81.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. A funeral Mass was held at Holy Cross Church, Harrison. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. For information, or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.
Born in Jersey City, Dominick was raised and lived in Harrison before moving to Berkeley Township in 2013. He worked for Driver Harris/ Harrison Alloy for many years, retiring in 1997. Prior to that, he worked as a truck driver for Leo Keller Corporation from 1952 to 1988. He also worked for the Harrison Post Office, where he began his employment as a young man. He served his country in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1962 and was honorably discharged.
Dominick graduated from Harrison High School in 1951. An avid soccer player/fan, he played on the Harrison High School soccer team that won back-to-back state championships in 1949 and 1950. His team had a 53-match winning streak that ended during the 1951 season. Following high school, Dominick continued his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, playing on for the Elizabeth Germans, as well as many other local professional soccer clubs, from 1952 through the late 1970s.
Predeceased by his wife, Ann P. Krusznis (nee Gray) and his son, Dominick W. “Dinny” Krusznis, he is survived by his loving children and their spouses, George Krusznis (Annmarie), Karen Flood (Kevin), David Krusznis (Annette), William “Red” Krusznis (Annie) and Michael Krusznis (Donna). He is also survived by 18 grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 26 Broadway, 14th fl., New York, N.Y. 10004 or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla. 73123-1718 in loving memory of Dominick.
Michael Raefski
Michael Raefski, 54, died on Feb. 10 at St. Michael’s Medical Center in Newark.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral service was held at the funeral home, followed by a private cremation. Condolences and memories may be shared at www. thiele-reid.com.
Michael was born in Belleville and was a lifelong resident of North Arlington.
Mr. Raefski was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Kearny.
He was a carpenter by trade and later worked at Home Depot.
Michael is survived by his brothers Joseph (Nancy), Frank (Mildred), and Richard Raefski and six nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his brothers James and John Raefski.
Jane Wilma Watson
Jane Wilma Watson died Feb. 5.
Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny. A memorial service was held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Toms River. To view the entire obituary, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
