Obituaries

Elizabeth Meehan

Mrs. Meehan, 93, of East Brunswick, died Nov. 24, 2006, in Care One, East Brunswick. Her husband, William L. Meehan, died in 1972. Surviving are a daughter, Elizabeth A. Healy, and her husband, Richard, of Lakewood; three grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Bartholomew's Church, East Brunswick. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

John M. Koslowski

Mr. Koslowski, 61, of Spotswood, died Nov. 27, 2006, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was the owner and operator of Kay Bee Builders, Spotswood, for the past 40 years. Surviving are his wife, Jacqueline Koslowski; two sons, John M. Jr. of Jackson and Joseph M. of Sayreville; a daughter, Jennifer Lawless of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick; three brothers, Steven Koslowski of Spotswood, Frank Koslowski of East Windsor and Richard Koslowski of Easton, Pa.; and five grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Johanna Zipf

Mrs. Zipf, 99, of Freehold Township, died Dec. 11, 2006, at home. Born in Germany, she came to the United States in 1935 and settled in Newark before moving to Freehold Township in 1949. A homemaker, Mrs. Zipf started a walking club in Freehold Township and was also instrumental in obtaining a bus for seniors. She was predeceased in 1975 by her husband, Henry. Surviving are three nieces and nephews in Germany and close friends Joan and Richard Prusak of Jackson.

Eileen Ricci

Mrs. Ricci, 84, of Howell, died Dec. 8, 2006, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Covington, Ky., she had resided in Freehold before moving to Howell two years ago and had previously lived in Detroit. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. A talented artist, she enjoyed painting in her spare time. Mrs. Ricci was predeceased in 1989 by her husband, Aborio. She is survived by a son, William Ricci of Howell; two daughters, Marina Ricci of Augusta, Maine, and Regina LaBella of Howell; a brother and sister, William Barker and Elizabeth Decker, both of Orlando, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. 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. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Harriet Jeanette Leahy

Mrs. Leahy, 75, of Howell, died Dec. 26, 2006, at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Plainfield, she had resided in Freehold Township before moving to Howell 20 years ago. She was a member of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck, and the Mary and Martha Guild. Mrs. Leahy was predeceased by a brother, Henry Carolus. Surviving are her husband, Richard; two sons, Richard Leahy Jr. of Washington, D.C., and Robert Leahy of Maple Shade; two daughters, Susan Birk of Westport, Conn., and Patricia Witte of Northville, Mich.; two sisters, Margaret Sferra of Bound Brook and Mabel Ventriglia of Plainfield; and a granddaughter, Gillian. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Mary's Church. Interment was private, with the Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160; or the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852.

Robert J. Pfleger Sr.

Mr. Pfleger, 81, of Lakewood and Pompano Beach, Fla., and formerly of Howell, died Nov. 23, 2006, at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. He was the owner of several businesses in the Monmouth County area, including the AdVisor Newspaper in Middletown; Adventure Travel, Middletown; and Rotary Offset Printing, Long Branch. Mr. Pfleger was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving during both World War II and the Korean War, where he served on the first night torpedo squadron. He was a founder and board member of Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel; a communicant and past trustee of St. Catharine's Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel; a member of the Knights of Columbus; a member and past president of the Middletown Lions Club; and a member of the Middletown Chamber of Commerce. He was voted Man of the Year at Camp Happiness, Leonardo. He was on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America and was honored with the Silver Beaver Award. He was also a member of the Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racket Club and the Corinthians, both of Lighthouse Point, Fla. Mr. Pfleger was predeceased by a granddaughter, Courtney. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Madeline Braun Pfleger; four sons and three daughters-in-law, Robert and Michele, Martin and Ruthann, Richard and Annette, and Daniel; a daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Chuck; a brother, Edward; a sister, Dorothy Toliver; a brother-in-law and his wife, Victor and Waltraud Braun; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Visitation and funeral services were held at the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Catharine's Church, with burial at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations can be made to the New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community (COSAC), 1450 Parkside Ave., Suite 22, Ewing 08638. Letters of condolence may be e-mailed to pflegerfh@aol.com.

Edna M. Lawson

Mrs. Lawson, 96, of Howell, died Dec. 17, 2006, at the John L. Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township. Born in Pittsburgh, she had lived in Jersey City before moving to Howell in 1972. She was a concert pianist and played the organ at many churches in Pittsburgh. Mrs. Lawson was predeceased by her husband, David, in 1964. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, David and Arlene Lawson of Howell, and a granddaughter, Wendy. A graveside service was held at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, with Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, in charge of arrangements.

Charles Poskonka Jr.

Charles Patrick Poskonka Jr., 68, of Manalapan, died Dec. 20, 2006, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Newark, he had resided in Manalapan for the past 42 years. He was also a part-time resident of Kiawah Island, S.C. Prior to retiring in 1995, Mr. Poskonka was an engineer for the Ford Motor Co., Edison, where he was employed for 30 years. He was a communicant of St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Manalapan. He attended Newark College of Engineering and Rutgers University. Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Olivia Tiberi Poskonka; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Jacqueline Poskonka of Colts Neck; two daughters and sons-in-law, Laura and Joseph Estenes of Toms River, and Nicole and Robert Arent of Jackson; a brother, Richard Poskonka of Newton; two sisters, Barbara Varga of Wall Township and Sophie Lodato of Nutley; and 10 grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Thomas More Church followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.

James J. Walling Sr.

Mr. Walling, 90, of Howell, died Dec. 22, 2006, at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Freehold Township, he had resided in Howell for the past 40 years. He was a 1937 graduate of Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. He was a bookkeeper for the A&M Karagheusian rug mill, Freehold, and then an office manager for Rapp Farms in Howell before he retired. A World War II U.S. Army veteran, he was a member of American Legion Post No. 54 and a member and past commander of Catholic War Veterans Post No. 760, both of Freehold. He was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church, Freehold Township. Mr. Walling was predeceased by his wife, Lillian, in 1991; three brothers, Jacob, William and Wesley; and a sister, Hannah Hanaway. Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, James J. Walling Jr. and Timothy and Peggy Walling, all of Howell; a daughter and son-in-law, Diane and Bobby Tilton of Manasquan; and three grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township. Freeman Funeral Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905.

Sylvia E. Buyer Fox

Mrs. Fox, 84, of Elizabeth, died Dec. 25, 2006, at Trinitas Hospital, Elizabeth. Born in Paterson, she had lived in Lakewood before moving to Elizabeth four years ago. Prior to retiring, Mrs. Fox was a bookkeeper for the Devonshire Melba Toast Co., Carlstadt. She was a member of the Workmen's Circle, Golden Chain and Bialystock Jewish organizations. Mrs. Fox was predeceased by her husband, Irving, in 2002, and two brothers, Teddy and Max Buyer. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Addie and Marshall Goldberg of Monroe, and two grandsons, Brandon and Darren Goldberg. Graveside services were held at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, with Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels Inc., East Brunswick, in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the N.J. MultiCare Center of Workmen's Circle, 4400 Route 9 South, Freehold 07728.