William J. Spanton
William J. Spanton, died at home Saturday, April 25, 2020, surrounded by his immediate family when he passed.
Born Nov. 24, 1946, in Hoboken of the late James and Eleanor Sheehy Spanton, a devout Catholic all of his life, he was a graduate of Memorial High School, where as a junior he held the Hudson County High School baseball batting title.
A United States Army veteran, he served his country from 1966 to 1968.
He moved his family to Kearny, where he coached Little League baseball in the Southern Division for 25 years. He also coached KURC football.
Bill was an avid NY Mets and NY Giants fan, and he was often found at horse race tracks with his brother Jimmy, where they owned and raced at the Meadowlands, Freehold, Yonkers and many others locations.
He was a loving and caring husband, father, pop-pop, uncle and friend who will be deeply missed
He is survived by his wife Carole, his son William, his daughter-in-law, Michelle, his three grandchildren, Julie, Billy and Breanna, his sister Eileen and her husband Frank, nephews, Donnie and Ryan, niece, Kelly, and friend/family James Thompson, wife Heather and their son Anthony.
He was predeceased by brother James and friend/family Anthony Evaristo.
Because of the circumstances regarding the pandemic, a memorial service and Mass will scheduled in the future.
Catherine Rincon
Catherine Rincon of Harrison died at home Wednesday, May 6, 2020, after a courageous battle with lung cancer. Cathie was a non-smoker.
Private funeral services are under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison.
A life-long resident of Harrison, Cathie was a true, born and bred Harrisonian.
Cathie is survived by her loving mother Yolanda and her father Epifano; siblings Olga Rincon (David) and Damien Rincon; cherished fur baby, Maizy; and many cousins, aunts and uncles as well as a host of other friends and extended family members.
Read more or send a condolence message to her family at www.mulliganfh.com.
Michelle Clark
Michelle Clark of Kearny, formerly of Harrison, died at Clara Maas Medical Center, Belleville, Monday, May 4, 2020.
She was 59.
Private funeral services are under the direction of Mulligan Funeral Home, 331 Cleveland Ave., Harrison.
Predeceased by her husband Donald and her son, Timothy, Michelle is survived by her loving children, Joshua Clark, Kelly Mooney and Christopher Clark.
To send a condolence message to her family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.
James V. Rovi
James V. Rovi, a World War II veteran who survived the Battle of Guadalcanal as well as malaria, died peacefully in his sleep at the N.J. Veterans Home in Paramus on May 4.
He was 100.
The cause of death was COVID-19.
To know him was to love him. He was loving, sweet, intelligent, hard-working and creative. He was a man of unquestioned integrity.
Jim was born and educated in Newark. His parents, Rosaria and Joseph Rovi, were Sicilian immigrants. During the Second World War, he served in the South Pacific Theater in the U.S. Army’s then newly formed Americal Division, which earned a citation for its support of the U.S. Marine Corps.
After the war, he married Christine Marrazzo. The couple settled in North Arlington and raised three children. A gifted landscaper with an artist’s eye, he co-owned Rovi Landscaping with his brother Anthony.
In the fall and winter, he drove a truck for Petro Oil Company.
He was the 1992 Elk of the Year, and served the Elks as trustee, secretary of the board and chairman of numerous events.
He was predeceased by Christine and his second wife, Millie Sacco.
He was the loving father of daughters Susan Rovi Mach (Laurence) and Rosalyn McWatters (Kevin) and daughter-in-law Sue D. Rovi. He was predeceased by his son, Robert Rovi. He was the loving step-father of Thomas Sacco, Vincent Sacco (Maryann) and Melanie Sacco. He also leaves behind six grandchildren plus numerous nieces, nephews and close family friends.
Jim was a man of immense compassion. Those wishing to make a donation in Jim’s honor should visit the home page of Feeding America at www.feedingamerica.org.
Sadie T. Sergio
Sadie T. Sergio (nee Randazzo), 99, died May 4, 2020.
Born in New London, Connecticut, she was raised and lived in Jersey City before moving to Kearny in 1973.
She was a 1938 graduate of Snyder High School in Jersey City. She later attended St. Mary’s Hospital Nursing School in Passaic and graduated in 1942.
She went on to work for many years as an operating room nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital in Passaic and then at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in East Orange.
She married Mario Sergio on June 4, 1960, in Jersey City, and he died in 1977.
In 1961, she completed her studies at Seton Hall University, South Orange, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Later in her career, she worked as a self-employed private home-care nurse.
Sadie was the devoted mother of Ann Marie Meissner and her husband Paul; the cherished grandmother of Angela and Paula Meissner; the dear sister of the late Nancy DeJianne and Sal Randazzo; and the loving aunt of Joseph DeJianne and many other loving nieces and nephews.
Private funeral services were handled by the Parow Funeral Home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington.
Memorial services will take place at a later date.
Donations in Sadie’s memory may be made to Queen of Peace Church, 10 Franklin Place, North Arlington, N.J. 07031.
Mary Garippa
Mary Garippa, nee Maio, 94, of Haddonfield, formerly of Kearny, died May 4, 2020.
Mary was born in Benevento, Italy, in 1925, before emigrating to the United States in 1935, where she lived in Brooklyn and Kearny before settling in Haddonfield.
Mary was the devoted wife of the late Joseph Garippa for 47 years. She was predeceased by her daughter Paula and her two sisters Cesarina Gennace and Angelina Maio.
Mary was a loving wife and caring mother. Her talents in baking cooking and entertaining were legendary and allowed her to connect with many people throughout her life. She led by example as she maintained her faith through the most challenging times in her life. She always had a moment to talk and advise her family and friends, including the four-legged ones she adored.
Mary worked for many years as a teacher’s aide at the Bancroft School, Haddonfield.
Mary is loved and remembered by her niece Deborah Lynch, nephew Samuel Gennace, the Garippa Family, the Femino Family, devoted friend Phil Grygo, cherished nieces, nephews, cousins and wonderful friends and neighbors.
Interment was private.
The Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny, was in charge.
In lieu of flowers, kindling consider a donation to a charity of your choice in Mary’s name.
Anna Rossi
Anna Rossi died May 3, 2020.
She was 88.
Born in Newark she moved to North Arlington 22 years ago.
Private burial arrangements in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, were under the direction of the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny.
Anna had been a supervisor for Verizon in Newark before her retirement.
Anna was the last of eight siblings and is survived by many loving nieces and nephews along with their families.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a donation to Autism Speaks.
Alice J. Crist
Alice J. Crist (nee Hawkins) died April 29, 2020.
She was 92.
Born in Newark, she was a lifelong Kearny resident. Private arrangements were by the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home in Kearny.
Wife of the late Frank Crist, she is survived by her children Janice Ferrara and John Crist. Sister of the late James Hawkins, John Hawkins and Eleanor Brennan, she is also survived by her grandchildren Alexis Paige, Madison Rose and Jonathan Francis.
Irene Koziel
Irene Koziel (nee Howell), 93, of Galloway, formerly of Kearny, died peacefully of natural causes on May 2, 2020, with her daughters by her side.
While living in Kearny, Irene had been an active parishioner of St. Cecilia Church, where she was a member of the Cecilian Seniors and had served as treasurer and then President of the group.
She had been a longtime resident of Kearny until moving to Galloway Twp. in 2002.
Mrs. Koziel had lived at Seashore Gardens Living Center for the past five years, where she always greeted everyone with a smile.
Irene was predeceased by her husband, Stanley, and her siblings, Roberta Kelsch and Henry Howell.
Surviving are her children, Helen Koziel Snigier, Stephen Koziel and Mary Koziel; as well as her grandchildren Stephen Snigier, Michelle Snigier Connolly, Laura Koziel Peterson and Stephen Ryan Koziel.
She also leaves behind three great-grandchildren, who always made her laugh and put the biggest smile on her face: Abby, Katie and Emily Connolly.
Private services were entrusted to the care of the Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny, www.condonfuneralhome.com.
Donations may be made to Seashore Gardens Living Center, 22 West Jimmie Leeds Road, Galloway, N.J. 08205.
Josephine DiLorenzo
Josephine DiLorenzo died at Clara Maas Hospital in Belleville on April 30, 2020.
She was 91.
Josephine was born Oct. 17, 1928 in Formia, Italy. She came to the United States when she was 21 to live with her extended family. She met her husband Giacomo DiLorenzo, through love letters and photographs.
They got married both in Italy and at the Nativity Church in Ozone Park, New York, on June 29, 1952. They began their journey together in Brooklyn. Giacomo died in 1976.
Josephine continued living in Queens, and finally moved to Kearny, where she lived the rest of her life. Her kindness, love and zest for life was felt by everyone she encountered. She embraced everyone as part of her family and easily became everyone’s “nonna.”
Josephine is survived by her loving children John DiLorenzo, Joseph DiLorenzo and Mary Frasca and her son-in-law, John. She was the proud nonna (grandmother) of Angela and Jaclyn.
Because of social distancing restrictions during this Coronavirus pandemic, all funeral services will be private. She will be laid to rest in Cypress Hills Cemetery in Brooklyn May 28, 2020.
Loretta G. Pannullo
Loretta G. Pannullo died April 27, 2020.
She was a resident of the Waterview Nursing Home in Cedar Grove.
Her parents were Raphael and Mary Farese. Her husband, Octavius (Sonny) Pannullo predeceased her, as well as her siblings, Antoniette Nardone, Vito Farese and Joseph Farese.
Originally from Newark, and late of Belleville, Loretta was very active with the senior citizens groups and was a hairdresser for many years. She was active with her church groups and served the Lord by serving others.
Loretta leaves behind many nieces and nephews and will be remembered by many.
Interment was private through SW Brown & Son Funeral Home.
William G. Lupkovich
William G. Lupkovich of Harrison died Wednesday, April 29, 2020.
He was 81.
William was born Feb. 16, 1939, to William and Mary Lupkovich of East Newark.
William grew up in East Newark and attended Harrison High School. He served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1956 to 1959.
After serving, he worked at Tool Co., for most of his career and then Eagle Affiliates up until his retirement.
William is survived by his loving wife of 60 years Maureen “Moe” (Smith) and his devoted children Theresa Lupkovich, Cynthia Lupkovich, William Lupkovich, Michael Lupkovich and John Lupkovich Sr and his wife Lisa Lupkovich.
He leaves 12 adoring grandchildren, Jessica Lupkovich (caregiver to William) and her husband Jimmy Bittle, Deanna Lupkovich, William Lupkovich, Alicia Lupkovich, John Michael Lupkovich, Michelle Lupkovich, John Lupkovich Jr., Matthew Lupkovich, Michael Lupkovich, Daniel Lupkovich, Ayvriella Lupkovich and William Lupkovich.
He leaves five adoring great-grandchildren, Dashia Lupkovich, Amonique Lupkovich, Kavon Lupkovich, Callen Lupkovich and William Lupkovich Jr.
He was pre-deceased by his brother Michael Lupkovich of South Jersey.
Due to the current COVID-19 virus restriction on public gatherings, services will be private for immediate family. Funeral arrangements will be at Mulligan Funeral Home in Harrison. The burial will take place in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.
To offer online condolences to the family, please visit www.mulliganfh.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the John Hopkins COVID19 response. More information can be found at www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/giving.html.
