Dennis J. Smith
Dennis J. Smith died June 4.
He was 71.
Dennis lived most of his life in Kearny.
Private arrangements were handled by the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny.
Dennis had been an ironworker in New York City and most recently bartended at Hartley’s in Kearny. He served in the U.S. Army from 1964 to 1966. He was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He is survived by his children Shannon Kulka (Allan), Brendan Smith (Sandy), Meghan Cross (Matt) and Timothy Smith. Brother of David and Winifred Smith and Bernadette Morissey, he is also survived by eight grandchildren and his pals Peter Casey and Mary Beth Rutherford — along with many more friends.
Custodia Baltazar
Custodia Baltazar died June 11.
She was 72.
Born in Portugal, she lived in Kearny before moving to Paramus five years ago.
Visiting was Thursday, June 16, at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Mass was celebrated Friday, June 17, at St. Cecilia’s Church, Kearny. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Custodia was devoted to her family and embraced her Catholic religion deeply. She immigrated to the United States when she was in her 20s and worked hard to help bring her mother and brothers, Manuel Marquez and the late Aquiles Marques, to this country.
Through hard work and faith, she built a better life and eventually met and married Adelio Baltazar and had two sons, Andrew and Edward.
Andrew eventually married Maria Victoria and Edward married Nikki.
She loved her role as grandmother and cared for her grandchildren Marissa and Gabriella.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to Alzheimer’s research.
Mary Szpiech
Mary Szpiech, 85, of Toms River, died Tuesday, June 14, at home.
Born in Newark, she lived in Kearny before moving to Toms River in 1994.
Mary was a hairdresser at Charm Beauty Shop in Newark for many years.
Mary was always at her best when around family and friends. She was a caring person who always believed in family first and her door was always open to all. She will be greatly missed by family and friends.
She was predeceased by her husband, Jacob Szpiech, in 1989, her parents Mary and Kenneth LaPoint and her brother Kenneth LaPoint.
Mary is survived by her children James Szpiech and his wife Marisa of Toms River; Catherine Szpiech of Toms River; Mary Ann Ferrarelli of Brick; Mike Farrarelli of Nutley and Roseann Szpiech of Toms River; a sister Roseann Gaydos of Toms River; two grandchildren James Szpiech and his wife Nicole of Toms River and John Szpiech of Toms River; and two great-grandchildren Mikayla and Ryan Szpiech. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
The Timothy E. Ryan Home for Funerals, Toms River, was in charge of arrangements. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Saturday, June 18, at St. Justin Roman Catholic Church, Toms River. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary may be made to St. Jude Children’ s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105 or at www.stjude.org.
Kay Marie ‘Cookie’ Ferro
Kay Marie “Cookie” Ferro (nee Anderson), of Kearny, died Dec. 6, 2015, at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville.
She was 71.
Kay was born in Jersey City and lived most of her life in Kearny.
Kay was predeceased by her husband, Gus Carl, in 2008.
She was an avid bingo player and domestic homemaker.
She is survived by her loving family, daughter Deborah Garcia and sons Gus Jr. and his wife Kimsu; Michael and wife Kathleen; and Carl; her brother Carl Anderson; and her grandchildren, Luis Garcia and wife Kelly, Alexis, Anthony, Brianna, Michael and Carl.
A belated memorial service will take place Monday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. A private cremation has already taken place.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.
Gus Carl Ferro
Gus Carl Ferro, of Kearny, died March 17, 2008, at St. Michael’s Center, Newark.
He was 69.
Gus was born in Jersey City and lived most of his life in Kearny.
Gus was the beloved husband of Kay Marie (nee Anderson).
He was a steelworker for many years at Kenny Steel Treating Corp., Kearny, before retiring in 1999. He was an avid CB radio user, remembered by many as his handle (radio name) “Wolfman.”
He is survived by his daughter Deborah Garcia; sons Gus Jr. and his wife Kimsu, Michael and wife Kathleen and Carl; his brother Edward and wife Ruth; and his grandchildren, Luis Garcia and wife Kelly, Alexis, Anthony, Brianna, Michael and Carl.
A belated memorial service will take place Monday, June 27, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison. Interment will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. A private cremation has already taken place.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn., 38105.
Cora L. Brown
Cora L. Brown (nee Jeannotte), of Kearny, entered into eternal rest at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, June 15.
She was 73.
The funeral will be conducted from the Mulligan Funeral Home 331 Cleveland Ave. Harrison, on Wednesday, June 22, at 9:45 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Harrison, at 10:30 a.m. Her entombment will be in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, North Arlington.
Friends may call on Tuesday, June 21, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 a.m., and Wednesday, June 22, from 9 a.m.
For directions or to send condolences to her family, visit www.mulliganfh.com.
Born in Belleville, she lived in Kearny for the last 30-plus years. Prior to that, she had lived in Bloomfield and Belleville. She worked as a teacher’s aide for Kid’s Place, Belleville, for many years. She loved traveling, especially cross-country road trips.
Cora is survived by her beloved husband of 25 years Herbert J.; her loving children Jennifer Battershill (Ryan) & William Stark; her cherished grandchildren Kyle, Connor, Finnley and Faelynn; her dear brothers Richard Jeannotte (Diane), George Jeannotte (Marge), Robert Jeannotte (Ginny), Raymond Jeannotte (Marie) and Bill Jeannotte (Maureen); and her sisters Peggy Schifano, Carol Klima, Joan Jeannotte and Donna Sebilia.
She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
The family also wishes to send a special thank you to Cora’s nephew, Chris Reid, for his help during a very difficult time.
She was predeceased by her sisters Shirley Reid and Eleanor Matysik.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society, in care of the funeral home, in loving memory of Cora.
Ramon Lopez
Ramon Lopez, of Harrison, entered into eternal rest at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville, on Friday, June 17.
He was 72.
The funeral will be conducted at the Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave. Harrison, on Tuesday, June 21, at 9:15 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, Harrison, on Tuesday at 10 a.m. His interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.
Friends may call Tuesday, June 21, from 8:45 a.m.
For directions or to send condolences to his family, visit www.mulliganfh.com.
Born in Riveira La Coruna, Spain, Lopez lived in Harrison for the last 40 years. He worked as a lasher for A & G Shipping, Port Newark/Elizabeth, for many years, retiring in 2006.
Ramon is survived by his loving siblings, Maria Muniz, Juan Lopez and Carlos Lopez; his dear niece and nephews Juan Carlos Lopez, Santos Lopez, Jose Lopez, Carlitos Lopez, Rocio Lopez, Jesus Muniz, Juan Carlos Muniz and Miguel Muniz; cherished grandnieces and nephews Carli Muniz, Nikki Muniz, Ava Muniz, Xavier Muniz and Alyssa Muniz.
He is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
