Obituaries

Edward H. Schroeder Jr.

Mr. Schroeder, 71, of Hazlet died July 5 at home. Born in Queens, N.Y., he resided in Comack, N.Y., before moving to Hazlet 42 years ago. He was a retired boiler-room operator at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, where he was employed several years. He served with the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Mr. Schroeder is survived by his wife of 50 years, Katherine Alexander Schroeder; five daughters and three sons-in-law, Eve and Joe Findeis of Lakewood, Calif., Janet and Gerard Pomar of Whiting, Leslie Schroeder of Hazlet, Laura and Frank Cristell of Wall, Mary Schroeder of Jackson, and Kelly Schroeder of Hazlet; a son and daughter-in-law, Edward and Cassie Schroeder of Hazlet; three sisters, Edith Van Liew of West Palm, Fla., Eileen Jamison of Brick, and May Kerr of Whiting; and eight grandchildren. Visitation will be July 9 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral service will follow at 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Ignatius Valenczius

Mr. Valenczius, 81, of Spring Hill, Fla., formerly of Freehold, died May 5 at home. Born in Freehold, he had lived there before moving to Florida 12 years ago. He was a member of the Improved Order of Red Men of New Jersey and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge No. 2229, Old Bridge, for which he was also a past exalted ruler. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Cecelia; two daughters and a son-in-law, Jo Ann Valenczius of Freehold, and Mary V. and Walter Hines of Hillsborough; a nephew, Charles Yoczis of Washington state; and a niece, Patricia Yoczis of Howell. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Cecelia Russo Sestito

Mrs. Sestito, 85, of Long Branch died July 4 at St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Long Branch. Born in Asbury Park, she had been a resident of Long Branch since 1944. Mrs. Sestito was a toll collector for the Garden State Parkway before her retirement. Prior to that, she was employed by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. She was a communicant of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Long Branch. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank Sestito, in 1974; and a sister, Ann Martone, in 1999. Mrs. Sestito is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Rose and Howard Kingsley of Long Branch; a son and daughter-in-law, Vincent J. and Adele Sestito of Point Pleasant; three brothers, Anthony Russo of Whiting; Joseph Russo of Deal; and former Sen. John F. Russo of Toms River; two sisters, Theresa Freda of Neptune City and Carol Marzarella of Lakewood; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held July 9 at 8:30 a.m. at Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church. Interment will be at Woodbine Mausoleum, Oceanport. Memorial donations may be made to St. Barnabas Hospice Care Center CW6, 300 Second Ave., Long Branch 07740.

Michael Fostek Jr.

Mr. Fostek, 63, of Lakewood died June 14 at home. Born in Passaic, he had resided in Seaside Park before moving to Lakewood three years ago. He was a self-employed carpenter and a member of Seaside Park’s Berkeley Striper and Fly Fishing clubs. Surviving are his wife, Linda; a son, Richard Fostek of Hackensack; and a brother, Steve Fostek of Jackson. A funeral service was held at Faith Lutheran Church, Lavallette, followed by interment, which was private. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, New Jersey Memorial Processing Center, P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160.

William Francis Nelson

Mr. Nelson, 78, of Manalapan died June 13 at home. Born in Georgetown, Guyana, South America, he lived in Roselle before moving to Manalapan five years ago. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mr. Nelson is survived by his wife, Eileen Nelson; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Timothy of St. Louis, Mo., Raymond and Denise of Manalapan, Michael and Myrne of Jackson, Brian and Connie of Piscataway, and Dale and Mitchell of Scotch Plains; a daughter and son-in-law, Norma and James Dunne of Somerset; two brothers, Rudolph Desouza of Hartford, Conn., and Vincent Gabriel of Georgetown, Guyana; a sister, Theresa Alleyne of Georgetown, Guyana; and 15 grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment at Hollywood Memorial Park Mausoleum, Union. The Freeman Manalapan-Marlboro Funeral Home, Manalapan, was in charge of arrangements.

Robert J. Lynch III

Mr. Lynch, 54, of Jackson, died June 6 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Neptune Township, he was a lifetime resident of Howell and a 1969 graduate of Howell High School. He was an extruder operator at Tubed Products, Inc., Freehold Township. He was also an avid fisherman who loved to cruise on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle. He was pre­deceased in 1978 by his father, Robert J. Lynch Jr. Surviving are his mother, Catherine Lynch of Jackson; two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert J. IV and Jennifer Lynch of How­ell, and Karl and Christine Lynch of Brick; a brother, James Lynch of Jackson; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Noreen and James McBride of Jackson, and Estelle and Fred Carpenter of Cream Ridge; four grandchildren; an aunt, Rose Suttors of Forked River; many nieces and nephews; a great-niece; and cousins Raymond and Lisa Scott of Powells Point, N.C., and Mark and Jackie Scott of Brick. A funeral service was held at Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold. Interment was June 14 at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Free­hold Township.

Virginia A. Cooper

Mrs. Cooper, 86, of Red Bank died June 15 at her home at Navesink House. Born in Passaic, she resided in Delray Beach, Fla., and Middletown prior to moving to Red Bank. She was a budget analyst at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, retiring to raise her sons after her first husband was killed during World War II. She was a communicant of St. James Roman Catholic Church, Red Bank. She was predeceased by her first husband, Frank B. Maloney, who died during the invasion of Normandy; her second husband, Thomas W. Cooper; a sister, Mary Messich; and a brother, Robert Malkmus. Mrs. Cooper is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, Frank J. and Sally Maloney of Lakewood, and John T. Maloney of Brielle; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. James Church, followed by interment at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank. Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Mercy, St. James Convent, 25 Drummond Place, Red Bank 07701; or Tom Lalli Athletic Scholarship, c/o Red Bank Catholic High School, 112 Broad St., Red Bank 07701.

Ricky A. Wagner

Mr. Wagner, 41, of Jackson died June 16 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Neptune, he was a lifelong resident of Jackson. He was a draftsman at Abington Associates, Howell, for 22 years and was also a member of the Abington Softball League. He was predeceased in 1982 by a brother, Richard. Surviving are his parents, Joan and Arthur Wagner of Jackson; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Victoria and Benjamin Colagrosso of Toms River, and Valorie and Robert Cattonar of Whiting; and four nieces. A funeral service was held at C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia section of Howell, with the Rev. Nancy Schrieber officiating. Interment followed at Adelphia Cemetery, Adelphia.

Brian John O’Brien

Mr. O’Brien, 70, of Ocean Township died June 17 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Queens, N.Y., he resided in the Lincroft section of Middletown before moving to Ocean Township three years ago. Mr. O’Brien was a consultant psychologist for numerous local firms, and owned and operated his own practice in Lincroft. Prior to that, he was director of counseling at Seton Hall University, East Orange. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He coached Lincroft Little League and enjoyed golf. Mr. O’Brien was predeceased by his wife of 40 years, Mary Patricia McCarthy O’Brien, in 2000. He is survived by two sons and one daughter-in-law, John B. and Katie O’Brien of West Long Branch, and James D. O’Brien of Hyattsville, Md.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary K. and Keith Brown of Reading, Conn., and Susan M. and Jeff Paley of Howell; a brother, the Rev. Eugene O’Brien, S.J.; a sister, Maureen O’Brien, O.P.; and nine grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Leo the Great Roman Catholic Church, Lincroft. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. The John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 19 Schoolhouse Road, Somerset 08873.

Victor Walter Mead

Mr. Mead, 49, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died June 17 at home. Born in Astoria, N.Y., he resided in Atlantic Highlands before moving to Port Monmouth 10 years ago. He was employed with the Middletown Township Road Department the past 15 years. Mr. Mead served with the U.S. Army. He was past commander of the American Legion, Leonardo New Jersey Post No. 338, and a member of the Sons of The American Legion. He was predeceased by his father, Victor Mead; and a granddaughter, Miranda Mead. He is survived by his wife of five years, Lillian Daly Mead; his mother, Barbara Mead of Atlantic Highlands; a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Mark Parker of Manchester; a son, James Mead of Lakewood; a sister and brother-in-law, Lucille and Steven Trimarchi of Middletown; a brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Donna Mead of Middletown; and four grandchildren. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. The John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702; or American Heart Association, 25450 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902.

Marinda J. DiDia

Mrs. DiDia, 71, of Freehold Township died June 17 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Newark, she had lived in Belleville and Howell before moving to Freehold Township earlier this month. Mrs. DiDia was a cook at Georgian Court College (now University), Lakewood, for 20 years, before retiring in 1999. She was a parishioner of St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church, Farmingdale. She was predeceased by her husband, Baldassare, in 1993. Surviving are two sons, Salvatore DiDia of Jackson and Anthoardner of Woodbridge, Sharon Iorio of Freehold Township; a sister, Anna Carom of Ringoes; and six grandchildren. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Catherine of Siena Chapel, with the Rev. Michael Vona officiating. Interment followed at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls. The C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia section of Howell, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Foundation, 19 School House Road, Somerset 08873.

Edward A. Malone

Mr. Malone, 74, of Manalapan died June 16 at home. Born in Jersey City, he had lived in Ridgefield before moving to Manalapan more than a year ago. Mr. Malone was a warehouseman for Railway Express, Hoboken, for 15 years before retiring in 1974. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Mr. Malone is survived by three cousins, William F. Riepe of Manalapan, Richard Tarrant of Saddle River and Donald Tarrant of Jackson. Interment was at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. The Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge, was in charge of arrangements.