The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 19

NEWS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2004 C-3 OBITUARIES Francis G. Bekus, accountant BRANCHBURG Francis G. Bekus, 79, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at home. Born in Piscataway, he formerly resided in Hillsborough before moving to Branchburg 17 years ago.

He served an enlistment in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Francis was an accountant for Johns-Manville Corporation in New Brunswick and an engineer with Parker Hannifin Engineering of New Brunswick for years until his retirement in 1983. He was a member of the Johns-Manville Quarter Century Club and the Loyal Order of Moose, Raritan Lodge No. 1965, and the Honor Legion of the Police Departments and engineer State of New Jersey.

Surviving are his dear daughters, Kathleen Ashmore and husband, William, of Three Bridges and Patricia Lynch of Livermore, and his loving grandson, Michael Ashmore of Three Bridges. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 US Highway 202 Branchburg. Interment will follow in the St. Bernard Cemetery, Bridgewater.

Visitation hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.branchburg funeralhome.com. Albert T.

Manovill loving husband and father and WWII veteran BRIDGEWATER Albert T. Manovill 92, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at home. Born in Staten Island, he resided in Somerville before moving to Bridgewater in 1950. Mr Manovill enjoyed the summer at Manasquan for many years.

He was employed with James Condo and Son, Somerville. He was a former dispatcher for Elmer Brewer Oil Company in Somerville. Albert was an Army veteran of World War II, who served in the European and Pacific Theaters and retired in 1952 as a captain in the Army Reserves Corps of the Engineers. Blessed He was Sacrament a mercherch in Martinsville. Surviving are his wife of 57 years, Veronica (Condo) Virginia M.

Hurford, secretary Hurford, 70, of Union Township died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) at the Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Township. She was born April 7, 1934, in High Bridge and had lived in Annandale before moving to Union Township four years ago. She was the daughter of the late Steve and Matrona Laskevich Gronsky. Her husband, David M.

Hurford, died Nov. 14, 2003. She was a secretary and had worked for both Leahy Archives in Whitehouse and Edna Mahon Department of Corrections in Clinton. She was a member of the O.E.S. Hobart Chapter No.

63 High Bridge. Survivors include two sons, Stephen and wife, Mary Beth, of Jutland and David A. and wife, Noreen, of Pattenburg; three brothers, Steve Gronsky of High Bridge, Michael Gronsky of Clinton Township and Nicholas M. Gronsky of Bethlehem Township; and four grandchildren. Funeral services are 10 a.m.

Wednesday at the ScarponiBright Funeral Home, 26 Main St. Lebanon. Interment, Prospect Hill Cemetery, Flemington. Calling hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday with Eastern Star Services at 5:30 p.m.

UNION TOWNSHIP Virginia M. Manovill; a daughter, Judy Beckwith and husband, James, of Somerville; a son, A. Timothy Manovill Jr. and wife, Donya, of Manasquan; grandchildren, Michael Alan and Katherine Ann Beckwith and Libby Manovill. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place 10 a.m.

Tuesday at Blessed Sacrament Church, Washington Valley Road, Martinsville. Interment, Somerset Hills Memorial Park, Mt. Airy Basking Ridge. Visitation will be held 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

today at Cusick Funeral Home in Somerville. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Memorial and Honor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942. Frank Ogonowski, welder SOUTH BOUND BROOK Frank Ogonowski, 53, passed away Friday (Nov.

26, 2004) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. He was born in Germany and lived most of his life in South Plainfield before moving to South Bound Brook 10 years ago. Frank was a welder for Harris Steel in South Plainfield. He was an Army medic during the Vietnam War. Surviving are his fiancee, Arlene Schmid of South Bound Brook; his son, Matthew F.

Ogonowski of South Bound Brook; and his brothers, Casimer, Joseph and Marian, all of South Plainfield. A service will be held 8:30 p.m. Tuesday during the 7 to 9 p.m. visitation at the Middlesex Funeral Home, 528 Bound Brook Road, Middlesex. Final disposition will be private.

Visitation hours are 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m Tuesday at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of the James W. Conroy Funeral Home in South Plainfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, New York City, NY 10098.

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4027 Joseph M. Ketrow, husband, father BRIDGEWATER Joseph M. Ketrow, 48, died Friday (Nov. 26, 2004) at home. He was born Somerville and resided in Bridgewater for 28 years.

He was employed in the Grounds Maintenance Department of the Bridgewater Board of Education, since 1983, primarily at Hillside School working closely with students and teachin their ecological and backyard habitat. Survivors are his wife, Sharon; his son, Frederick Ketrow; his daughter, Jennifer Ketrow; and father Frederick Frazee, all of Bridgewater. A private funeral service will be held on Thursday. Visitation will be held 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday at Cusick Funeral Home, Somerville. Sister Barbara Ann Pavlik, Sister of Mercy WATCHUNG Sister Barbara Ann Pavlik (former Sister Mary Jeremy), 67, died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) at McAuley Hall Health Care Center, Watchung, after a long illness. Sister Barbara Ann was born in Perth Amboy and entered the Sisters of Mercy in 1955. Sister Barbara earned a bachelor's degree in English from the Georgian Court College in 1969 and a master's in education from Monmouth College in 1973.

For more than 15 years, she taught in elementary schools in the Trenton Diocese. She then served as principal of Saint Francis School, Metuchen, for two years and principal of Saint Cecilia School, Iselin, for five years. Sister Barbara had a commitment to Mercy education and shared her values with students and teachers alike. In 1998, Sister Barbara was elected to a leadership position within the Regional Community of the Sisters of Mercy. She continued in this role until her ill- Grace Genevieve Barnes, RINGOES Grace Genevieve Barnes, 78, died Nov.

11, 2004, at home. She was born in Summit on Oct. 23, 1926. She lived in Ringoes for more than 30 years. Her previous residence was in Bridgewater.

Mrs. Barnes worked for the Bridgewater-Raritan School District for 25 years. She was the secretary to the athletic director and was still working at the time of her death. Her previous employer was Ortho Pharmaceuticals. Mrs.

Barnes was a member of the Raritan Valley Country Club, where she loved to play golf. She also volunteered her Ruth Manning, 84, character actress LOS ANGELES (AP) Ruth Manning, a veteran character actress who gained recognition playing Aunt Harriet in Kraft Real Mayonnaise TV ads in the 1980s, died Nov. 19. She was believed to be 84. Manning died of heart failure while auditioning for a television role, said her agent, Greg Mayo.

She was best known as bossy Harriet in the 30-second Kraft commercials. The first ad found Harriet admonishing her innocent cohort Aunt Martha. BUYING Coins And Paper Money 1630 Since 1981 Doelger's Gallery of Coins Warren, NJ (732) 469-0446 READINGTON Countryside Funeral Home 724 Rt. 202 North Three Bridges, NJ 08887 908-782-2121 John R. Zalewski, Mgr.

NJ Lic. No. 2820 www.countrysidefuneralhome.com SOMERVILLE Bruce C. VanArsdale FUNERAL HOME 101 N. Gaston Ave, Somerville, NJ 08876 908-725-3111 Bruce VanArsdale, Mgr.

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3230 James Dir. NJ Lic. No. 3227 CROSS FLAG AMERICAN LEGION ROTARY MARINES BITUARIES Special tributes purchased by family and friends To place an obituary: Fax (908) 722-1126 Monday to Friday 9 am to 7 pm Saturday to Sunday 3 to 7 pm You also may call (908) 707-3177 during those hours For Billing Inquiries please call (908) 707-3050 9.5 place an in memoriam or card of thanks: Call (908) 707-3188 or Fax 908-707-3213 be received 3 days prior to publication) Joseph Ruggieri SCOTCH PLAINS Mr. Joseph Ruggieri of Scotch Plains died Sunday (Nov.

28, 2004). A complete notice will follow. Arrangements are by the Rossi Funeral Home. ness in 2004, when she moved to McAuley Hall Health Care Cen- ter. She is survived by he her sister, Jeanne O'Leary and her husband, Tom, of Jackson; two brothers, Jeff Pavlik and his wife, Michele, of Hillsborough, Joseph Pavlik and his wife, Lois, of South Amboy; and many nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents, Joseph and Viola Pavlik; her brothers, Thomas, Gerald and Jonathan Pavlik. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 a.m. Wednesday from Mount Saint Mary, Immaculate Conception Chapel. Burial immediately follows Mass in New Calvary Cemetery, Washington Road, Sayreville. Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m.

Tuesand 8:30 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Arrangements are by the Higgins Home For Funerals, Watchung. Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy, Mount Saint Mary, 1645 Route 22, Watchung, NJ 07069. beloved aunt time to the local soup kitchen.

Mrs. Barnes is survived by her nieces, Laura Grindlinger and Ellen McKissick, and her nephew, Robert Shahnazarian, and their children, Adam, Meredith, Scott, Lauren, Megan, David and Stephen. We all miss her dearly. A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Thursday at the North Branch Reformed Church, Route 28, Somerville.

Arrangements are by Speer Van Arsdale Funeral Home, 10 West End Somerville. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the North Branch Reformed Church of Somerville. Anastazia Wanat, enjoyed gardening NESHANIC Anastazia died Saturday (Nov. 27, 2004) at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. She was born and raised in Elizabeth and lived in Garwood before moving to Neshanic in 1972.

Anastazia worked for the Somerset County Courthouse as a criminal case secretary for more than 14 years, retiring in 2000. She was a member of the Hillsborough Senior Citizens Chapter A and also was a Rosie the Riveter during World War II, working in the General Motors Plant in Linden. She also enjoyed gardening. Mrs. Wanat was predeceased by her husband, Harry, in 1972 and her son, Wesley, in 2002.

Surviving are her sons, Gregory Wanat of Neshanic and Kenneth of West Palm Beach, her daughter, Laurel Wanat of Bordentown; her brother, Daniel Stec of Clark; her sister, Anna Maksymowich Miami, and her grandchildren, Daniel and Melissa. A funeral service will be held 8:45 a.m. Thursday in the Hillsborough Funeral Home, 796 Route 206, Hillsborough, followed by a 9:30 a.m. Mass in Mary Mother of God Church, Hillsborough. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Westfield.

Visitation will be 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday. Memorial contributions may be made in Anastazia's memory to your favorite charity. FIRST ANNIVERSARY In Loving Memory of NAOMI LAURIA April 6, 1941 November 29, 2003 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Timothy 4: 7-8 We all miss you Rosalind, Sylvia, Emily, Patricia, Beatrice, Yvette, Grandchildren, Brothers Sisters, Nieces, Nephews, Family Friends GANNETT NEW JERSEY PHOTO Hjalmar Johansson, left, of Montville and Bernard Cytryn of Randolph discuss meeting years after being in the same place during World War 11.

Decades later, chance unites prisoner, POW By MATT MANOCHIO Gannett New Jersey Bernard Cytryn wasn't allowed to say his own name doing so meant instant death by Nazi rifle for a Jewish prisoner. "I was told that if I were to ever mention my name, I'd be shot," said Cytryn, a Polish native who now lives in Randolph. Instead, he was known as B-2973, a number forever tattooed in blue ink on his left forearm, a cruel reminder of his stay in the Auschwitz death camp in 1943 when he was 16 years old. mother, brother and grandmother didn't live to see he would become. "My family was murdered, all of them," said Cytryn, 77, who a year later was put to work as a slave laborer at a refinery.

That was only the beginning of hardships, triumph and a chance encounter that would bond two strangers more than 50 years later. Hjalmar Johansson, now a Montville resident, was 19 years old in 1944. That year, he was a nose-gunner aboard a U.S. Air Force B-24 bomber that was one of 400 planes on a mission to destroy a synthetic oil refinery in Trzebinia, Poland. Johansson was a New York City native who volunteered to be a part of a 10-member crew to fly missions over Europe.

The Nazis needed fuel to power their tanks and planes and were running low. A strike on the refinery would be a crucial blow to Hitler's forces during the late stages of the war. Before his plane could drop a payload of firepower onto the refinery, Johansson and his crew came into the enemy's sights. "On the way to the refinery, think we were hit before we fell out of formation," Johansson said. None of his crewmates were killed four managed to escape Nazi capture via parachute before the plane crashed.

Johansson and five others bailed out but were captured near the Hungarian-Czechoslovakian border. A chance meeting Cytryn and Johansson were two of 40 military men who visited Randolph High School this month for a Veterans Day ceremony, where each would tell his story to the students. They had never met each other until that day. Johansson heard Cytryn's accent and mistook it for German. Cytryn politely corrected him, explaining that it was Polish.

That's when Johansson said he flew a mission over Poland in 1944 to bomb a refinery. Cytryn began to weep. "I began crying, and I was all shaken up," Cytryn said of the meeting. "My whole body just shook up completely. We looked at each other, and we just hugged each other.

All the soldiers who were there were wondering what was going on. It's hard to explain. It was a very touchy situation. They asked questions, and we told them the story." Johansson described the encounter as serendipitous. "It sort of closed the circle in a way," Johansson said.

"It brought closure, if you will, to find someone who had actually been on the ground in the same place that I was during that hectic moment. It was unbelievable. I couldn't imagine finding someone like that." Johansson's meeting with Cytryn reminded him of the reason he joined the military more than 60 years ago. "I realized he was one of the reasons I went into the serviceto liberate poor guys like Bernard, who I didn't know at the time," Johansson said. Fated date It was Dec.

17, 1944. One man was in the sky, the other on the ground. Cytryn, who at that point was a Nazi slave laborer in the refinery, could hear the U.S. war planes coming. Both men recounted their experiences during the war at Cytryn's Chestnut Hill Road home.

"It was a beautiful day," Cytryn said, recalling the snowcovered ground and clear sky. He was barefoot, and his feet were frozen. His clothes were makeshift, stitched out of old rags and empty cement sacks. Cytryn and his fellow slaves were marching to work toward the refinery. He already had gotten under the Nazis' skins that day for scrambling to eat a rotten potato that was tossed by a woman from a nearby window.

All day he was beaten, kicked and spat upon by the Nazis. "I actually felt I was going to die that day," Cytryn said. "Then I heard a sound." The noise made by the approaching aircraft sounded like bees, he said. His imprisonment and time spent near military equipment had taught Cytryn to identify the types of equipment heading his way be they British, German or American. "Right away, I knew they were American planes," he said.

Cytryn ran to a tree to take cover. "All of the sudden, explosions," he said. A refinery tank blew up, sending a huge chunk of shrapnel hurtling toward his hiding spot. It wedged into the tree, above his head. Oil dripped onto his body.

Even though he wasn't liberated that day that moment would come the next year he was grateful for what the Americans were trying to do. "I was thankful for the American planes to go in," Cytryn said. The refinery was dysfunctional, and Cytryn and the rest of the laborers were given a bit of a reprieve. "I was able to relax," he said. "The refinery was on fire." Captured Johansson wasn't tortured when he was imprisoned by the Nazis.

He was interrogated in a prison camp in Germany. At one point, he and his prisoners of war were forced into a boxcar and taken by train to a camp in Berlin. "I wasn't Jewish, which was an advantage (Cytryn) didn't have," Johansson said. Russian forces eventually liberated the prison camp where Johansson was held in May 1945. Johansson and other prisoners were covered in lice and severely malnourished.

He shrunk from 150 pounds to 110. The Russians always carried vodka with them and 1 gave sips to the newly freed Americans, he said. Johansson eventually would move back to the New York City area and earned two engineering degrees through the GI Bill. He wound up designing, building and selling oil refineries. He has been to 67 countries throughout his career.

He married and had three children with his. wife, and now has a grandchild, too. Escaping death Cytryn still was a Nazi prisoner after the refinery bombing. He narrowly escaped death several times including a time at Auschwitz where he was in line for a shower and realized that the line actually led to the gas chambers. He said he looked into one of the buildings where the Jewish prisoners were being herded and saw people being burned alive in the ovens where gassed prisoners were incinerated.

A Nazi guard became distracted and Cytryn was able to slip away unnoticed and return to the place where he slept. "I saved myself from death, from being gassed," he said. Liberation came April 27, 1945. Cytryn had been taken on a death train from Poland to Germany and eventually wound up in Bavaria. The two men plan to spend more time together, share lunch every now and then, and live out their lives knowing that they've experienced something few people have.

"This will be for life," Cytryn said. "We're going to keep in touch.".