Mary Margaret Montague Catena
Mary Margaret Montague Catena was born in New York City on Jan.25, 1936. She was the middle sister to Nellie and Florence, and older sister to the youngest in the family, Douglas. She is survived by her brother Douglas Montague of Lakewood.
Private arrangements are by the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny
As a little girl, she loved visiting Central Park and the museums and her beloved grandfather at the building where he worked as a doorman. The family moved to Kearny while she was still very young and that is where Mary spent her life. She loved Kearny and no matter where she went, there was, to her, no place like home. She attended Kearny High School. She worked at a Kearny Savings Bank as young woman.
She met and married the love of her life Raymond Catena Jr. by the time she was 19.
They enjoyed 41 years of marriage and lived a very happy life together. The couple had many friends and relatives and threw many parties. They enjoyed their pool and barbecuing. Mary was also an amazing cook and was famous for her meatballs, gravy and manicotti, recipes taught to her by her beloved mother-in-law Antoinette Catena.
Mary lost her beloved Raymond in 1996, when he lost his battle with lung cancer.
Mary loved Broadway so much she incorporated her love for it into a business called Mary’s Theater Parties in the early 1980s. Mary’s Theater Parties provided a bus to New York, a wonderful meal and great and affordable show tickets to many happy customers who then became lifelong friends. She had such a passion for her business that she expanded her services to travel.
Everyone loved Mary, and always had fun with her as their guide, whether going to see a Broadway show, or to see their favorite entertainer or to Atlantic City, Wildwood or Europe. Wherever she went, Mary brought the fun.
She loved life, loved to laugh and always looked on the bright side.
Mary was never one to sit back and let life pass her by. Later in life, she met her best friend Marie Davis. The two liked to call themselves the “M&Ms.” They loved to dance and sing and travel together with Mary’s extended family.
Loved by her many nieces and nephews and their friends, old and young, Mary was everyone’s Aunt Mary. Her laugh, her smile, her positive outlook and love for everyone will never be forgotten. There has never been, nor will there ever be, anyone like Mary Catena.
God rest her lovely soul.
Please consider donating to ASPCA as Mary and her husband were lifelong animal lovers and rescuers and their children were all fur babies. A memorial service and celebration of her life will be announced in the coming months as a result of the current Covid-19 restrictions.
John Henry Sands
John Henry Sands of Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, died after 95 wonderful years of life, having been born July 9, 1924 to John Sands and Sarah (Cooper) Sands in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
It was there that he met the love of his life, who survives him, Catherine (Decker) Sands, his “Cath,” whom he married during wartime 76 years ago this January.
Together with their three young children, John and Cathy immigrated to the U.S. in 1950, ultimately settling in Kearny, where John pursued his passion and skill for soccer on a semi-professional basis. He also continued his kinship with those from the “Old Country” through his membership at the Ulster Club of Kearny and trips back to visit family and friends.
His family was the pride and joy of this most gentle of patriarchs. For nearly 40 years, well into his 80s, John worked at A. Santini Moving & Storage, which is owned by his sons, serving as controller as well as office golf putting champion. That’s if, in the later years, he and Cathy weren’t enjoying winters in Florida with some of their dearest friends.
John was happiest when surrounded with family, including his seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who adored their “Poppi.” The many memories his family and others will carry in their hearts are of his gentle nature, his loving words, watching and playing soccer games, a glass of Scotch raised, his faith, laughter and so much more.
John is survived by his wife Catherine; his children Charlie (Valerie), Catherine Hiler (John) and John (Adrianna); his grandchildren Marcus Sands (Rose Ann), Heather Sands, Carey Michaels (Andrew), John Sands (Nora), Alison Isaacson (Nathan), Caitlin Schott (Jake) and Morgan Hiler; and his great-grandchildren George and Amber Sands, Amanda and Mateo Jimenez, Landon and John Sands and Reagan Schott.
He was preceded in death by his siblings Richard, Sarah O’Rourke, George and Charlotte Kempson.
A private memorial service will take place at a later date.
Donations in John’s memory may be made to Butterfly Wishes 67 Walnut Ave., Suite 205, Clark, N.J. 07066 or to Seabrook Benevolent Care Fund, 3000 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, N.J. 07753. For online condolences, please visit John’s memorial page at www.bongarzonefuneralhome.com.
John ‘Dee Jay Wolfie’ Wolf Jr.
John Wolf Jr. “Dee Jay Wolfie,” died Sunday, March 22, 2020, in Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville.
He was 74.
Born in Newark, Mr. Wolf lived in Kearny for the last 37 years.
He served in the United States Army from 1964 until 1966.
John was a mechanical supervisor for NJ Transit Rail for 37 years before his retirement in 2005.
Mr. Wolf was a 29-year member of the Knights of Columbus Queen of Peace Council No. 3428 and a 27-year member of the Msgr. Peter B. O’Connor Assembly No. 1543, both of North Arlington, and the Bergen County Knights of Columbus Federation & Chapter.
John would present each year a $100 gift card to the family who welcomed the first baby in Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville, on Columbus Day.
He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 139 in Lyndhurst, B.P.O.E. Lodge 1050, Kearny, and the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 22, Belleville. He also volunteered at HANDS of North Arlington.
As “Dee Jay Wolfie,” he played music for the summer concert series in Lyndhurst and North Arlington and most years, at the Kearny Senior Citizens picnic.
John is survived by his wife, Joyce (nee More) Wolf; siblings, Janet Holder and Frank Wolf and several nieces and nephews.
Because of the restrictions placed on occupancy in public spaces throughout the country in the ongoing efforts to limit the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), John’s funeral arrangements are private.
It is the family’s hope to schedule John’s memorial funeral Mass at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny, in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus Queen of Peace Council No. 3428 service and Military Honors on Sept. 20, 2020.
Francis (Frank) T. Mahon
Francis (Frank) T. Mahon, 82, of Kearny, died Saturday, March 21, 2020.
He was born in Jersey City to the late Francis & Elizabeth Mahon. He was a graduate of Seton Hall Prep of West Orange. He was a life-long resident of Kearny.
He was in the Army Reserves and worked at Exxon Chemical for 35 years.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Janet (Schumacher-Honor) and his children, Mary Beth Citarell (William) of Hopewell Junction, New York and Robert Mahon (Lorraine) of Kearny. Also surviving are his stepchildren, Barbara Haley (Michael) of Bloomingdale and Thomas Honor of Hasbrouck Heights. Also surviving are his sister Grace Hoefing of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition, he leaves his beloved grandchildren, Maggie & Robert Mahon, Marissa & Samantha Citarell, Ava Haley & Briana Honor, as well as nieces, nephews & friends.
Frank loved his family, friends, Kearny and anything Scottish. To know Frank was to love him. He will be deeply missed by all.
A memorial service will take place for family and friends at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kearny Volunteer Emergency Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 419, Kearny N.J. 07032 — or to your favorite charity.
Marilyn Ann Teagno
Marilyn Ann Teagno died peacefully March 19, 2020 in her home with her son by her side.
She was 78.
She is survived by her son Joseph John Teagno, daughter Kathy Ann Teagno and her cherished granddaughter Kate Ann Blainey.
Marilyn was born in Carbondale, Pennsylvania and moved to Kearny at the age of 2.
She graduated from nursing school at the head of her class while independently raising her two young children. Her nursing career was spent caring for stroke and head trauma patients at Kessler Institute of Rehabilitation.
She then cared for her beloved long-term client Robert Monzo, and the two shared an exceptional bond.
A creative and spiritual soul, Marilyn was a talented artist who expressed herself through drawing and painting.
Marilyn had a passionate lifelong interest in baseball, which she shared with her son, her favorite team being the Yankees.
She had a love of travel and had the good fortune of visiting a dozen-plus countries across the globe.
She spent long periods in Australia, sharing precious time with her daughter and granddaughter.
Marilyn was loved by many and her loss is felt immensely.
Private burial for immediate family took place because of the current global pandemic. Her family and many friends look forward to a memorial service to be announced at a later date.
Lawrence J. ‘Turnpike Larry’ Cimirro
Lawrence Cimirro died peacefully March 25, 2020, after a long illness.
He was 78.
Private arrangements were by the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. There will be a celebration of his life at a later date.
Larry was an Air Force veteran and worked for the NJ Turnpike Authority for 23 years as a toll collector.
He is survived by his wife of 38 years Mary (Doran) and his son Larry (Rene) and three grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister-in-law Pat (Lou) and brother-in-law James (Helen), six nieces and nephews and 16 great nieces and nephews.
James Boyle
James Boyle died Tuesday, March 24, 2020, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was 84.
He was born in Jersey City and grew up in Kearny. James had lived in Cedar Knolls since 1977.
James served his country proudly with the United States Army from 1956 until being honorably discharged in 1962.
He was a route salesman for Bond Bread Company in Clifton for many years before retiring.
James was a member of Notre Dame of Mt. Carmel Roman Catholic Church in Cedar Knolls.
He was pre-deceased by his brother Colin Boyle and his cousin Alex Gilmour.
Survivors include his loving wife Carol Ann (nee-Halpin); his son James R.; his daughters Sue Ellen Appleby & Sharon E. Boyle; his brother Douglas and his wife Sheila; his grandchildren Amanda Appleby & Brandon Alboum, Emily Appleby, Curtis Appleby and Kevin Appleby. And, James is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Par-Troy Funeral Home, Parsippany. Visit www.partroyfuneralhome.com.
His family will gather privately for services and interment. We ask that you keep them in your prayers during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his memory to Saint Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, P.O Box 159, Madison, N.J. 07940.
