Obituaries

Mr. Viiroja, 93, of Lakewood died Dec. 23 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Keila, Estonia, he had previously lived in Germany and Estonia. A self-employed builder in Lakewood for many years, he was active within the Estonian community. He was married to his late wife, Aime, for 65 years. He is survived by two daughters, Ene-Mai Kvell of Lancaster, Va., and Ulle Holt of Wellesley Hills, Mass.; two granddaughters and a grandson; and a great-grandson. A funeral service was held at Holy Ghost Estonian Lutheran Church, Lakewood. Cremation was private. Memorial donations may be made to the Estonian Archives Inc. or the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 607 E. 7th St., Lakewood 08701.

Tessie Struyf

Mrs. Struyf, 84, of Manalapan, died Dec. 25 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Scranton, Pa., she had lived in Freehold before moving to Manalapan 48 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. She was predeceased in 1979 by her husband, Henry J. Struyf. Surviving are a son, William H. Struyf of Des Moines, Iowa; two daughters, Peggy M. Moore of Manalapan and Joan Ann Tvaroha of Howell; a brother, Frank Ginko of Lakewood; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Donald J. Kazlauskis

Mr. Kazlauskis, 78, of Jackson died Dec. 25 at home. Born in Freehold, he had resided in Jackson since 1956. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he worked as an inside salesman for Weyerhaeuser Co., Freehold, for 30 years before retiring in 1990. He is survived by his wife, Helen Saulich Kazlauskis; a son, Kenneth Kazlauskis; a daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Raymond Davis; and two sisters, Sophie Layton of Freehold and Alice Lamont of Englishtown. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Shirley A. Hurle

Mrs. Hurle, 75, of Manalapan died Dec. 30 at home. Born in Newark, she had lived there before moving to Manalapan in 1983. She was a telephone operator for the New Jersey Bell Telephone Co., Newark, and later worked as a game attendant at Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson. She was also a volunteer for Unified Vailsburg, Newark. She was predeceased in 2002 by her husband, Eugene P. Hurle. Surviving are four sons, John Hurle of Manalapan, Kevin Hurle of Parlin, Dennis Hurle of Bayonne and Eugene Hurle of Jackson; three daughters, Kathy Petrone of Union, Jean Ruggiero of Manalapan and Colleen Adinolfi of Freehold Township; a brother, Charles Gauweiler of Jensen Beach, Fla.; a sister, Patricia DiIonne of Churchville, Pa.; 17 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church in Manalapan, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan.

Theresa Cocuzza

Mrs. Cocuzza, 80, of the Colonia section of Woodbridge died Dec. 26 at the Highlands Nursing Home, Edison. Born in Newark, she lived in Irvington before moving to Colonia in 1972. Mrs. Cocuzza worked as a tube tester for Tungsaw, Newark, for many years before retiring. She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Cocuzza in 1983. Mrs. Cocuzza is survived by a son, Michael Cocuzza, Colonia; a daughter, Marlene Brewster, Colonia; a brother, An­thony Savino, Howell; and four grandchildren. Services were held at the Gosselin Funeral Home, Edison, followed by a blessing at St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia. Memorial dona­tions can be made to the American Cancer So­ciety.

Agnete Hjort Schmidt

Ms. Schmidt, 86, of Lyndhurst, died Dec. 26 at Colts Neck Village, Colts Neck. Born in Perth Amboy, she had resided in Lyndhurst before moving to Freehold Township in 2001. She was employed by Western Electric as an executive secretary for 42 years until her retirement in 1982. She was an active member of the former Second Presbyterian Church in Newark. She is survived by a sister, Marion Weber of Freehold Township; a niece, Laurie Klesitz of Howell; two nephews; two great-nieces; and four great-nephews. A funeral service was held at the First Presbyterian Church, Freehold, with Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, 118 W. Main St., Freehold 07728.

Raymond A. Brundage

Mr. Brundage, 66, of Howell, died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Newark, he had lived in Union Beach for most of his life before moving to Howell one year ago. He was a truck driver for Sunshine Biscuit, Parlin, for 15 years before retiring in 1996. Prior to that, for 10 years he was a police officer in Union Beach. A U.S. Army Korean War veteran, he was a member of American Legion Post 0023, Keyport. He is survived by his wife, Judy; a son, John Brundage of Old Bridge; two daughters, Stacey Smith of Howell and Missy Panella of Jackson; and seven grandchildren. Services were held at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge, followed by entombment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Ronald E. McCallum Sr.

Mr. McCallum, 73, of Holiday, Fla., formerly of Freehold, died Jan. 1 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Rahway, he had lived in Freehold before moving in 1993 to Holiday, Fla., where he was a member of the Community United Methodist Church. A mechanic, he worked for Straub Lincoln Mercury, Keyport, for 16 years before retiring in 1991. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Virginia Fraser McCallum; four daughters, Victoria West of Silver City, N.M., Rene Helmes of North Springfield, Va., and Valorie Stinton and Robin Sanchez, both of Howell; three sons, Mark McCallum of Lakehurst, Michael McCallum of Freehold and Ronald McCallum Jr. of Howell; 16 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood. Cremation was private. Memorial donations may be made to Order of the Eastern Star, Molly Pitcher Chapter No. 198, c/o Dorothy Procknow, 238 Stillwells Corner Road, Freehold 07728.

James Crotchfelt

Mr. Crotchfelt, 61, of Freehold, died Dec. 26 at home. Born in Neptune Township, he had lived in Freehold all his life and was an aide at the John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township. Prior to that, he was employed at Goetz’s Citgo Station, Freehold. Surviving are a brother, Robert Crotchfelt of Millstone, and a sister, Ann Heege of Jackson. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

Robert Soden

Mr. Soden, 69, of Jackson died Dec. 30 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Long Branch, he had lived in South Belmar be­fore moving to Jackson nine years ago. He was a self-employed roofer before his retirement 15 years ago. He was predeceased in 1994 by his wife, Marie Soden, and in 1993 by a son, Robert Frank Soden. Surviving are a daugh­ter, Muriel Roberta Schultz of Jackson; a step­daughter, Heather Ness; three sisters, Evelyn Gasko of Englishtown, Mary Burdge of Howell and Leona Bentz of Bordentown; four grand­daughters; two step-granddaughters; six great-grandchildren; and his former wife, Muriel Ar­lene Beams Soden. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Mildred Bernero Lupardo

Mrs. Lupardo, 91, of East Brunswick died Dec. 28 at home. She was predeceased by her husband, Jospeh in 1971; a son, Michael Lupardo in 1986; two brothers, Louis Bernero and Frank Spaltro; and a sister, Rose Irving. Mrs. Lupardo is survived by a sister, Theresa Restivo, Toms River; three grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Services were held at the Brunswick Memorial Home, East Brunswick, followed by interment at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial donations can be made to the Robert Wood Johnson University Children’s Hospital, 1 Robert Wood Johnson Plaza, New Brunswick 07901 or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospi­tal, P.O. Box 100, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148-0552.

Helen Clancy Hicks

Mrs. Hicks, 79, formerly of Freehold died Jan. 4 in Gloucester, Va., where she had moved to in 1980 and where for many years she also served as a lector at the Church of St. Therese. After a 16-year career as a legal sec­retary, she became a full-time homemaker. She was predeceased by a sister, Elizabeth Clancy, and by two brothers and a sister-in-law, Joseph Clancy, and S.T. and Geraldine Hicks. Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Earl Hicks; a daughter, Hilarie Hicks of Gloucester; a brother and sister, Edward Clancy and Margaret Clancy, both of Freehold; a sister-in-law, Mary Clancy of New Egypt; a brother-in-law, Robert Hicks of Texas; two grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Free­hold, followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. A memorial Mass also will be offered at the Church of St. Therese in Gloucester at 7 p.m. on Feb. 4, which would have been Mrs. Hicks’ 80th birthday.

Doris C. Hessler

Mrs. Hessler, 75, of Tuckerton, formerly of Old Bridge, died Jan. 1 at Sea Crest Village Nursing Home, Little Egg Harbor. Born in Queens, N.Y., she had lived in Old Bridge for most of her life before moving to Tuckerton five years ago. A homemaker, she was predeceased in 1994 by her husband, Gustave. Surviving are four sons, Dennis Hessler of Howell, Kevin Hessler of South River, Doug Hessler of Old Bridge and Bruce Hessler of Voorhees; a daughter, Linda Hugi of Tuckerton; 13 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Services were held at the Michael Hegarty Funeral Home, Old Bridge, followed by interment at Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Timothy J. Ryan

Mr. Ryan, 61, of Hazlet died Jan. 10 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Staten Island, N.Y., he reside there prior to moving to Hazlet 28 years ago. He was a heavy equipment operator at Governor’s Island, N.Y., for 26 years, retiring in 1996. He served with the U.S. Navy for four years during peacetime. He was a communicant of St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. He is survived by his wife, Lynn Nicolaisen Ryan; a son, Timothy F. Ryan of Hazlet; two daughters, Sherel Ryan of San Diego and Nancy Ryan of Bangor, Maine; and two sisters, Nancy Williams of Houston and Kathleen Wieber of Howell. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel, followed by interment at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, was in charge of arrangements.

Harold R. Ford

Mr. Ford, 64, of Manchester died Jan. 3 at Meridian Hospice, Brick, following a battle with lymphoma. Born in Perth Amboy, he resided in Woodbridge, Little Silver, and Wilmington, N.C., before moving to Manchester four years ago. Mr. Ford was a senior sales engineer at Barden Corp., Danbury, Conn., for 30 years, retiring in 2001. He was a member of St. Mary of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, Lakewood. He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline Campbell Ford; two sons and daughters-in-law, Douglas H. and Kim Daraghy Ford of Aberdeen, and John R. and JoAnn Healy Ford of Red Bank; a sister, Mary Jane Ford of California; and one grandson. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Church., followed by burial at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, Lakewood. Arrangements were by D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood. Memorial donations may be made to The Harold R. Ford Foundation, Seton Hall University, c/o John R. Ford, School of Business, KH622, 400 S. Orange Ave., South Orange 07079.

Agnes Grimbilas Wiesing

Mrs. Wiesing, 80, of Lakewood died Jan. 3 at home. Born in Newark, she had lived in Brick before moving to Lakewood six years ago. For 30 years, she was an owner and operator in the restaurant business, managing several establishments in Monmouth and Ocean counties until her retirement. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph III and Teresa Ann Galioto; a daughter and son-in-law, Virginia and Spencer van Gulick; a brother, John Grimbilas; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral service was held at D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood. Cremation was private.