Melvin J. Diehl
Melvin J. Diehl passed away on June 24. He was 89.
Born in Pennsylvania, he lived in Kearny before moving to North Arlington in 1974.
Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. www.armitagewiggins.com
Mr. Diehl served in the Army during World War II. He and his son co-owned Garden Deli and Liquors in Lyndhurst.
Husband of the late Margaret, he is survived by his children and their spouses Bruce and Linda Diehl and Kathie and Logan Williams. Also surviving are his grandchildren Brian, Amy, Logan and Kevin and his great-grandchildren Ryan, Arielle, Hannah and Avery.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to the American Cancer Society.
John E. Dunning
John E. Dunning, 34, formerly of Kearny, passed away peacefully on June 15 from complications of a long-term illness.
He was the devoted son of Edward J. Dunning Sr. and predeceased by his mother Donna Nisbet and cousin Juliana. He was the loving grandson of maternal grandfather John Nisbet and paternal grandmother Adeline Dunning.
He was a loving brother to Edward Jr., Andrew, Nelson, Casey, Alyssa, Nicole and Emily.
He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and devoted friends.
Sandra A. Fischer
Sandra A. Fischer (nee Montanaro) passed away on June 21. She was 74.
Born in Newark, she lived in Belleville before moving to Pennsylvania 25 years ago.
Arrangements were by the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was held at Holy Cross Church in Harrison, followed by burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.armitagewiggins.com.
Before her retirement, Sandra was a bookkeeper for Public Service. Wife of the late Robert Fischer and former wife of Frank Simone, she is survived by her sons and their wives Frank and Marybeth Simone, Marc and Angelica Simone and Sean and Jennifer Fischer. Sister of Joanne Ohl and the late Madeline Riccardi, she is also survived by her grandchildren Samantha, Frankie, Marc, Shane, Jake, Cole, Sean, Robert and Michael.
If you care to send flowers, they would be greatly appreciated. Or, if you prefer to make a memorial donation, please consider Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice in Fredon.
Irma M. Long
Mrs. Irma M. Long, a lifelong Kearny resident, died on June 20. She was 96.
The funeral Mass was offered at St. Stephen’s Church in Kearny on June 27, followed by interment in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum. The Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., (condonfuneralhome.com) was entrusted with the arrangements.
Mrs. Long was a registered nurse, having attended St. Michael’s School of Nursing. She was employed by St. Michael’s Hospital, Newark, and West Hudson Hospital in Kearny before going to work with her late husband Dr. John F. Long, managing his office.
Surviving are her children Frances Long, Margaret Cunningham, Edward Long (Judi), James Long, John F. Long (Dale) and Ann Long (William Testa); also surviving are 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as her beloved cousin Edna Rulis and her cherished friend Elsie Lane. Irma was predeceased by her husband Dr. John D. Long; her son Joseph Long; and two grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Fr. Washington Scholarship Fund, 141 Washington Ave., Kearny, N.J. 07032.
Thomas E. MacFarland
Thomas E. MacFarland, 94, died on Thursday June 25, at Brandywine Senior Living at Reflections in Brick.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny, followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thiele-reid.com.
Mr. MacFarland was born in East Newark and lived in Kearny for most of his life before moving to Manchester in 2003.
Tom served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as an aviation machinist’s Mate 1st Class. After being honorably discharged in 1945, he returned to service as a reservist during the Korean Conflict.
He was employed by Verizon as a third level supervisor of engineers for 35 years, retiring in 1982.
Tom was a member of Wilson-Gugelman Post 1302, VFW; the Joseph E. Frobisher Post 99 American Legion and the Rotary Club, all of Kearny, as well as the Knights of Columbus St. Cecilia’s Council 6928 and the Holy Name Society of St. Cecilia Church, Kearny.
He served the Town of Kearny as a Councilman in the First Ward and was instrumental in the construction of Spruce Terrace, a senior living facility in Kearny.
He is survived by his son Thomas MacFarland and his wife Joan; two sisters Dottie Arnt and Gloria Kelly; grandchildren Dawn White (Scott), Tom MacFarland (Nancy) and Alison Dagostino (Dave); great-grandchildren Scottie, Jake and Makayla White, T.J. and Ryan MacFarland and David, Tanner, Peyton and Harper Dagostino. He was predeceased by his wife Alice T. (Magee) MacFarland.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contribution to Grace Healthcare Services, 105 Fieldcrest Ave., Suite 402, Edison, N.J. 08837-0246. www.gracehealthcareservices.com
Marie V. Matturri
Marie V. Matturri (nee Trangone), 93, died on June 23 at the Lincoln Park Renaissance Rehab and Nursing Center in Lincoln Park.
Arrangements were by the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny. A funeral Mass was offered at Sacred Heart Church, Lyndhurst, followed by interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.thielereid.com.
Mrs. Matturri was born and raised in Harrison. She lived in Kearny for 49 years before moving to Lyndhurst in 2003.
She was a secretary at Franklin School in Kearny for many years and later served as a hall monitor at Kearny High School before retiring in 2011.
Marie served on the board of St. James Hospital in Newark for 20 years and also served as the auxiliary president.
She is survived by her daughter Linda Banasiak and her husband Henry. Marie leaves behind her nieces and nephews and will be deeply missed by her great-nieces and nephews and her great-great- nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her husband Anthony J. Matturri and her son Anthony Matturri Jr. and eight siblings.
