Obituaries

Feb 25, 2023

Robert Neil O’Keefe, Jr., 41, died February 25, 2023.

Born in Somerville, Rob was raised in Bridgewater and went on to graduate from Bridgewater Raritan High School class of 2000. He was active in sports and especially excelled at football, lacrosse and ice hockey.

He went on to join the family...

Feb 23, 2023

Joan Ostrowski, 94, died peacefully on February 23, 2023.

She was born and raised in Jersey City to the late Chester and Mary Tuchalski (nee Hyjek). She was a graduate of Ferris High School in Jersey City and attended Spencers School of Business. She married the late Ralph J. Kowalik in 1949 and especially enjoyed...

Feb 17, 2023

Matthew Gregory Kemper, 46, died on February 17, 2023.

Born in Seoul, South Korea he was lovingly adopted by Gregory and Dianna Kemper (nee Munley) on August 28, 1980 and was raised in Bridgewater. He graduated Immaculata High School, Class of 1994 where he was Varsity in Cross-Country and adored by his classmates. Matt went...

Feb 17, 2023

Entrepreneur, devoted husband, father, and grandfather Andrés Arribas of Whitehouse Station passed away on February 17, 2023 at the age of 79 surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Madrid, Spain on October 22, 1943, he grew up in a small cold water flat during the challenging years that followed the Spanish Civil War. An...

Feb 14, 2023

Mary Bridget "Casey" O'Connor died on Valentine's Day at the Harmony Village Memory Center in Paramus.

Casey was 87 years young and lived a full and fruitful life.

She married Thomas J. O'Connor in 1956 and had six children- Thomas O’Connor (Alice), Kathleen O’Connor (Brad McAdam), Siobhan Pesciotta (Michael), Brigid O’Connor...

Feb 5, 2023

Rodney Thirion, 66, of Branchburg, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2023.

Born in Somerville to the late Richard and Alice Thirion, nee Cook, he was a lifelong resident of Branchburg. He went on to operate his Dad’s gas stations which were the Chevron in Branchburg, the Mobile at the Somerville Circle, and...

Jan 27, 2023

Vincent James Giardina, Jr., 61, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 27, 2023.

Born in Philadelphia to the late Vincent Sr. and Angela Giardina (nee Turchi), he was raised in Somerville and a former resident of Bridgewater.

Vincent, known best as Vinny, was a self-taught information technology professional. His...

Jan 22, 2023

Francine O'Connor passed away peacefully on January 22, 2023, at the age of 80.

She was a doting mother & grandmother who loved her family. She was born and raised in Belleville, NJ, with her parents and 3 siblings. After a chance meeting on the back of his motorcycle, she married the love of her...

Jan 21, 2023

Claire A. Mandeville, 95, died peacefully on January 21, 2023.

Born in Newark to the late John and Genevieve Mandeville (nee Kennedy). Her family settled to Flagtown when she was thirteen. Claire was a graduate of Somerville High School where she was able to showcase her beautiful soprano voice and love of singing. She went...

Jan 13, 2023

Joyce Yvonne Clark, 80, died peacefully on January 13, 2023, at home.

First born child of the late Floyd and Dolly Clark (nee Draper), she was born and raised in Somerville, New Jersey. Joyce was a graduate of Somerville High School, Class of 1961. She went on to meet and marry the love of her...

Jan 12, 2023

Charles Jasper Vullo, Jr., 92, died peacefully on January 12, 2023.

Born in Buffalo, New York to the late Charles, Sr. and Anna Vullo (nee Urban), he was raised in Lackawana, New York. He went on to meet the love of his life, Gloria Guerino, and settled in Kenmore where they raised their family. Mr....

Jan 12, 2023

Mr. William J. Meehan, 95, died peacefully on January 12, 2023.

Born in New York City to the late Joseph and Helen Meehan, he traveled and became a master carpenter. He settled to Neshanic Station, New Jersey and proudly turned his house into an extensive workshop. He worked with wood and metal alike, creating furniture...

Jan 8, 2023

William T. Kelleher of Somerville, NJ, aged 98, passed away on January 8, 2023.

Bill was born in Somerville on July 14, 1924 and attended Somerville public schools through middle school until his family moved to Hastings on Hudson, NY. He graduated high school from the Dwight School, and received an appointment to the U.S....

Jan 4, 2023

Luigia DiSario, nee DeRosa 93, died peacefully on January 4, 2023.

Born in Prata di Principato Ultra, Province of Avellino, Campania, Italy to the late Antonio and Maria DeRosa (nee Barbati), she met and married the love of her life, Joseph DiSario in 1958. The DiSario’s settled to New York City where they raised their daughter, and Luigia worked...

Jan 1, 2023

Isobonye Allwell-Brown, “Soso”, 36, died peacefully surrounded by the love of her family on January 1, 2023.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, the Allwell-Brown’s moved to Somerville, New Jersey in 1991. Soso was a graduate of Somerville High School, Class of 2004. She attended Seton Hall University and began her career in banking, before settling to...

Jan 1, 2023

Leroy Elliston Barry, born May 17, 1938, passed away at the age of 84 in his Bridgewater, NJ home on January 1, 2023.

He is survived by his wife Danielle Barry, 74; daughters Meredith Barry, 39, and Millicent Barry, 34; granddaughter Della Piperata, 10; sister Catherine Eggolt, 94; and twin brother Robert Barry, 84.

Dec 30, 2022

Helen Elizabeth Grill, 95, died peacefully on December 30, 2022.

Born in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey to the late Alfred and Ida Emmons (nee Huff), she was a graduate of the former Flemington High School. She met and married the love of her life, James Grill, and settled in Somerville where they raised their family. Mrs. Grill worked at...

Dec 27, 2022

Emanuel “Ned” Licitra, 93, died peacefully on December 27, 2022 at his home in Boca Raton, Florida.

Ned was born in 1929, in New York City to the late Salvatore and Santa Licitra. In the early 1930’s his parents took the family back to their home in Sicily where Ned resided until the age of...

Dec 23, 2022

Walter V. Swartz Jr., 86, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 23, 2022.

He was born on January 15, 1936 to the late Walter V. Swartz, Sr. and Bertha Gaudreau Swartz. Walter was the oldest of four children. His sister Carol Coe lives in Mississippi with her husband Larry. His brother Bob passed away in...

Dec 18, 2022

Thomas M. Nee, Sr., 83, died peacefully on December 18, 2022.

Born in Brooklyn, New York to the late William and Elizabeth Nee (Jennings), he was a graduate of St. Augustine High School and went on to serve his country in the United States Army. Thomas then received his undergraduate degree at Fordham University in...