The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • 13

TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1998 home News Iribune PAGE B5 GOP ASSEMBLYWOMAN DIES AT 64 NICHOLAS PELLY AGE: 63 JEFFERSON Nicholas Pelly died Friday at home. He was 63. He was born in New Brunswick and lived there before moving to the Azzolina on the Assembly ticket in 1987 and 1989. Ironically, since last June 2, Smith found herself in much the same condition as some of the frail elderly of the Senior Center, after suffering a brain aneurysm. But whenever she was awake, she still displayed the concern and awareness she was known for.

The last time he spoke to her, Azzolina said she ad "She always said what she thought, stood up for what she believed," Cannon said from her office yesterday. "I'm very saddened by her death. She was a very special lady, a real hard worker, and caring person." Cannon said she admired the way Smith attended to her family's needs while working and holding elected office. "She always had time to bake pies and take care of her husband. She was able to combine the different aspects of her life and make it work." In January, Assemblyman Sam Thompson, R-Monmouth, Middlesex, who replaced Smith on the ticket, read her the resolution the Legislature passed in her honor.

"It was rather lengthy," Thompson said. "I wasn't even sure she was even aware what was going on. So I asked her if she wanted me to continue, and she shook her head yes." Smith had already decided to retire after 12 years in the Assembly, to spend more time with her children and grandchildren, when she was stricken. "She was supposed to meet me in Old Bridge, outside another senior center, and I couldn't understand why she wasn't there," Azzolina recalled. Democratic senatorial aide Patrick Gillespie called that "the saddest part" that she had so little time with her family before becoming ill.

Gillespie, Old Bridge Democratic chairman, ran against her in her last campaign in 1995. Having grown up in Perth Amboy, Smith was steeped in the best of the old-style constituent-oriented politics, which made it hard to score political points JOHN P. CONNOLLY AGE: 64 BRIDGEWATER John P. Connolly died Sunday at home. He was 64.

He was born in New York City and lived in The Bronx, N.Y., before moving to Bridgewater 32 years ago. He was a payroll manager in accounting for the Princeton Regional School District for five years. Previously, he was a vice president in the accounting department of City Federal Savings and Loan, Piscataway, for many years. He was a member of the National Association of Accountants for more than 25 years. He served in the Army during the Korean War and served in the Army Reserve until 1962.

He is survived by his wife of 36 years, the former Joan Treubert; twin daughters, Karin and Donna, at home; two sons, Christopher of Belle Mead and Brian of Hillsborough; a brother, Michael of Jackson; a sister, Kathleen Biglin of Glendora, and a grandson. Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Branchburg Funeral Home, 910 Route 202 South, Branchburg, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass at Holy Trinity R.C. Church, Bridgewater.

Burial will be at St. Bernard's Cemetery, Bridgewater. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 600 First Raritan, NJ 08869. DOROTHY GERBER AGE: 84 LINDEN Dorothy Fluger Gerber died Sunday at Raritan Extended Health and Care Center, Raritan. She was 84.

She was born in Elizabeth and lived in Linden from 1940 until she moved to Raritan three years ago. She was a member of Congregation Anshe Chesed, Linden, and its sisterhood. She was also a member of the Linden chapter of Hadassah and the Hilda Gould Chapter of Deborah. Her husband, Max, died previously. She is survived by a son, Dr.

Norman Gerber of Colorado Springs, and a daughter, Ellen Gerber of Edison. Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Iselin section of Woodbridge. Arrangements are by Kreitz-man's Memorial Home, 1500 Morris Union. FLORENCE GIORDANO AGE: 69 UNION BEACH Florence C.

Craggan Giordano died yesterday at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. She was 69. She was born in Newark and lived there before moving to Union Beach 35 years ago. She retired in 1997 after 15 years as a sensory tester at IFF, Union Beach, and 15 years as a secretary at Prudential Insurance Newark. She was a communicant of Holy Family R.C.

Church, Union Beach. Her husband, John died in 1973. She is survived by two daughters, Lois of Keansburg and Maryann Burke of Union Beach; two sisters, Eleanor Mahon of Keansburg and Catherine Conery of North Middle-town, and five grandchildren. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Family R.C.

Church. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. I JEAN NOE against her, Gillespie said. "She made it to all the local events, remembered everyone's name, things like that," Gillespie said. "She had the touch, you could say." Smith was born in Perth Amboy and lived in Old Bridge since 1955.

She was a community investment officer for the Amboy National Bank in Old Bridge. She spent 12 years as a teacher at the Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School before entering the banking business in 1972. She was a councilwoman and zoning board member in Old Bridge and one of the founders of the Old Bridge Economic Development Corp. She was a Republican committee member since 1961 and served the Old Bridge Republican Organization as both recording secretary and vice chairwoman. In addition to her husband, Smith is survived by two daughters, Judith Leonard of Long Branch and Valerie of Jamesburg; a son, James D.

Jr. of Hazlet; two brothers, Arthur Belkowski of Trenton and Robert Belkowski of Woodbridge, and four grandchildren. Services will be 9:15 a.m. Friday at the Kurzawa Funeral Home, 338 Main South Amboy, followed by a 10 a.m. Mass at St.

Stephen's R.C. Church, Perth Amboy. Burial will be in Rosedale Memorial Park, Linden. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bayshore Senior Center, 100 Main Keansburg, N.J. 07734.

Staff Writer Dore Carroll contributed to this report. STANLEY E. SHUMSKY AGE: 77 SOUTH PLAINFIELD Stanley E. Shumsky died yesterday at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, Plainfield. He was 77.

He was born in Oyster Bay, N.Y., and lived in Plainfield before moving to South Plainfield 44 years ago. He retired in 1988 after 30 years as a carpenter for the New Jersey Carpenters Union, Local 155, Edison. He was a 1944 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy, Kings Point, N.Y. He was a navigation officer for the Coast Guard during World War II.

He was an avid golfer and a member of the Plainfield West Nine. He is survived by his wife, the former Genevieve Mazin; two daughters, Lisa of South Plainfield and Lauren Greenspan of Jamesburg, and a grandson. Services will be held at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the James W. Con-roy Funeral Home, 2456 Plainfield South Plainfield, followed by a 10 a.m.

Mass at Our Lady of Czesto-chowa R.C. Church, South Plain-field. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains. By DAVID M. LEVITT STATEHOUSE BUREAU Joann H.

Smith, the never-flashy, constituent-oriented Republican assemblywoman, died yesterday at her Old Bridge home. She was 64. A fiscal conservative by political nature, the six-term assemblywoman was remembered, however, by both colleagues and opponents as a fighter for the disabled, for senior citizens, and for such very local causes as equipment for the firehouses and ambulance squads in her Bayshore district. In 1985, she and her running mate, Assemblyman Joseph Azzo-lina, R-Monmouth, Middlesex, took control of what had been a swing district. With help from a 1991 redisricting, the 13th district has remained solidly Republican ever since.

As a member of the Assembly appropriations committee, she was part of the GOP vanguard that fought Gov. Jim Florio's $2.8 billion tax hike, helping pave the way for her party's sweep of the 1991 legislative election. She also opposed Florio's ban on assault weapons. She had served as deputy speaker. "A great lady," said Azzolina yesterday.

"Tough, but kind also." Almost everyone interviewed brought up Smith's dedication to the Bayshore Senior Day Care Center in Keansburg, finding excess state funds to keep that program afloat. "She was single-minded in trying to affect things for the positive there," recalled Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, R-Mon-mouth, Middlesex, who replaced RUTH ENTENBERG AGE: 73 LINDEN Ruth Sunday Winkler Entenberg died at Rahway Hospital. She was 73. She was born in Elizabeth and lived in Linden for the past 60 years.

She was a member of Congregation Anshe Chesed, Linden, and its sisterhood. She was a volunteer for 20 years at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Elizabeth. She also was a volunteer for the Cerebral Palsy League, Union County. Surviving are a daughter, Maxine of Linden; a son, Edward H.

of Toby-hanna, and a sister, Bertha Winkler of Linden. Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Beth Israel Memorial Park, Woodbrige. Arrangements are by Kreitzman's Memorial Home, Union. STELLA RUTECKI AGE: 77 MAIWILLE Stella Rutecki died Sunday at home.

She was 77. She was born in Sugarloaf, and lived in South Bound Brook before moving to Manville 45 years ago. She was a group leader for Gavin Electronics in the Somerset section of Franklin for more than 20 years, retiring in 1981. She was a member of Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Manville.

Her husband, Anthony, died in 1971. Surviving are her companion of many years, Clark Dilley of Manville; three daughters, Patricia Ric-cardi and Lucille Starzynski, both of Manville, and Bernadette Linds-trom of Somerville; five sisters, Caroline De Marco and Helen Fedor, both of Manville, Anna Pongratz of South Bound Brook, Sophia Brill of Philadelphia and Mary Gimble of Flint, six grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 8:15 a.m. Friday from the Ketusky Funeral Home, Manville, followed by a 9 a.m. Mass at Sacred Heart R.C.

Church. Burial will be at Sacred Heart Cemetery, Hillsborough. Donations may be made to Sacred Heart Church, P.O. Box 924, Manville, NJ 08835 or Somerset Valley Visiting Nurse Association, 586 E. Main Bridgewater, 08807.

Place Your I In Memoriam ad, Call Flo at (732)246-5500 ext. 7414 dosing: Working Day Wor to PubScatoi Milton section of Jefferson 47 years ago. He was a self-employed ice cream salesman. nis iamer, mcnuias, uieu iso. ii' n.

i .1 .1 He is survived by his mother, jane unver reuy oi Muuown anu a brother, Frank, of the Normandy ueacn section oi Dover i ownsnip. Services will be held at 10 a.m. gin R.C. Church, New Brunswick. Burial will be at St.

Peter's Ceme: tery, New Brunswick. MARSHA SF.CZNEY AGE: 47 SOUTH BRUNSWICK Marsha Ida Patrick Seczney died Saturday at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Bruns-'1 wick. She was 47. She was born in New Brunswick and lived in the Little Rocky Hill section of South Brunswick. She was a nurse.

Her mother, Joan McKee Patrick, died in 1975. She is survived by a son, Keith, of Little Rocky Hill; a daughter, Lisa 1 Seczney of Costa Rica; her parents, John Hank and Carmen Patrick of Old Bridge; two brothers, John Patrick Jr. of North Carolina and Daniel Patrick of Missouri; a stepbrother, James Bonanno of Free-'J hold, and two step-sisters, Margaret Guzikowskie of Chesterfield and -Cindy Weiler of Monroe. Private services will be held at the Rezem Funeral Home, 457 Cran-bury Road, East Brunswick. A memorial service will be held1 May 30, at 6 p.m., at St.

George Episj copal Church, Helmetta. WILLIAM A. SERITTI AGE: 57 NORTH BRUNSWICK William A. Seritti died Sunday at home. He was 57.

n.mnn He was born in Mahanoy and lived in Milltown for years before moving to North, Brunswick in 1990. He was a forklift operator for 17," years at Okonite Cable North Brunswick. 1 "A He is survived by his wife, the" former Karin Neumann, and aj daughter and son-in-law, Michelle. and Thomas Scarpa of North Bruns-1 wick. Private services were held yester-, day under the direction of Selover" Funeral Home, 555 Georges North Brunswick.

1 Donations may be made to the' North Brunswick Police Depart-' ment, 710 Hermann Road, North Brunswick. ELIZABETH SILVERSTEIN AGE: 51 SOUTH RIVER Elizabeth Marich Silverstein died Sunday at home. She was 51. She was born in New Brunswick and lived in Highland Park before. moving to South River 11 years ago, She is survived by her husband, Zachary, and a sister, Patricia Suz-novich of North Brunswick.

Services will be held at 10 a.m.' Thursday at the Gowen Funeral1: Home, 233 Somerset New Bruns-. wick. Burial will be at Oak Lawn Cemetery, South Brunswick. SILVERSTEIN Elizabeth Marich, on' Sunday, 51798 in South River, N.J. Funeral services will be held on Thurs day, 52198 at 10 a.m.

at the Gowen Funeral Home, 233 Somerset New Brunswick, N.J. Burial will follow at Oak Lawn Cemetery in South Bruns'" wick, N.J. VISITORS MAY CALL AT THE. FUNERAL HOME ON WEDNESDAY 7 P.M.-9 P.M. SMITH Joann 64, of Old Bridge orr May 18, 1998.

Services will be 9:15 a.m. Friday at the Kurzawa Funeral" Home, 338 Main South Amboy, i followed by a 10 a.m. Mass at St, Stephen's R.C. Church, Perth Amboy. Burial will be at Rosedale Memorial Park, Linden.

VISITING WILL. BE WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY 2 P.M.-4 P.M. 7 P.M.-9 P.M. VenGRAITIS Catherine Acquaviva, 61, of Edison on Sunday. May 17, 1998.

Beloved wife of Anthony B. devot-' ed mother of Anthony B. Jr. and Mary. E.

Bendziewicz, loving sister of Leon-" ard and Robert Acquaviva, grandmother of four. Services will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday from the Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. (Route 27), Metuchen, followed fcy a 10 a.m. funeral liturgy at St.

Francis of Assisi Cathedral Metuchen. Interment will be at St. Gertrude Cemetery, Co-Ionia. VISITING WILL BE TUESDAY 2 P.M.-4 P.M. 7 P.M.-9 P.M.

Please make donations to St. Francis of Assisi Cathedral, 32 Elm Metuchen, NJ 08840. WOLFF Virginia Minghini, 94, cf Bridgewater and formerly of Highland Park, on May 18. 1998. Service Wilt be 11 a.m.

Thursday at the Quacken-( boss Funeral Home. 156 Livingston New Brunswick. Burial wilt be' private. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. MAY CALL WEDNESDAY 2 P.M.-4 P.M.

7 P.M.-9 P.M. AT THE FUNERAL' HOME. monished him not to forget her constituents at Keansburg. James D. Smith Sr.

recalled his wife's zeal for helping people. "She was a fabulous Smith Fighter woman, a great woman, adored in Trenton by everyone from the governor on down," Smith said yesterday, holding back tears. "Anything she could do to help anybody else, she did. She was there," he said. "She did so much for everybody.

She worked hard for everybody." Smith didn't become herself again after surgery late last year, her husband said. Then she suffered a stroke in March and was cared for at home until her death yesterday, Smith said. Old Bridge Mayor Barbara Cannon knew Smith for 25 years, and said yesterday she'll miss the "feisty, spunky lady." ANGEUQUE PEAK AGE: 24 EDISON Angelique Peak died May 9 in Florence, S.C., from injuries she received in an automobile accident. She was 24. She was a lifelong resident of Edison.

Surviving are her mother, Joanne Martin of North Edison; her father, Robert Howard of Georgia; three brothers, Tyree, Joseph and Marquis Martin, all of Edison; a sister, Victoria Richardson of Jacksonville, and her maternal grandparents, Inell and John Martin of North Edison. Services will be held at noon Wednesday at Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church, North Edison. Burial will be at Hillside Cemetery, South Plainfield. Arrangements are by Judkins Colonial Home, Plainfield. OLIVE ROSSI AGE: 77 PENNSYLVANIA Olive T.

Rossi died Saturday at home. She was 77. She was born in Barre, Vt, and lived in Monroe and South River before moving to Catasauqua, 11 years ago. She worked at Bristol Myers-Squibb, New Brunswick, for 15 years until her retirement. She was a member of the Catasauqua Senior Citizens.

Her husband, Arthur J. Bohn, died in 1960. She is survived by four daughters, Jacqueline Jagemann of Cran-bury, Margaret Juba of East Brunswick, Susan Sochocki of Excelsior Springs, and Deborah Oates of Bethlehem, a brother, James Tarras of Conyers, 13 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Long Funeral Home, 500 Linden Bethlehem, Pa.

Burial will be in Staten Island, N.Y. The Morten Family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the August Schmidt Funeral Home, Jim Gordon, Bart Brazinski, The Elizabeth Police Honor Guard, The Entire Elizabeth Police The Union County Sheriff's All our Loving Family, extended Family and Dear Friends and Neighbors for their unending, loving support, kindness and extreme generosity shown to us during this very difficult time. May God Bless All of You Antoinette, Robert and Daniel Merten ft if Services Additional Information PAUL PAVLAKOS AGE: 69 PERTH AMBOY Paul Pavlakos died Sunday at home. He was 69. He was born in Newark and moved to Perth Amboy 57 years ago.

He was a police officer in Perth Amboy for 25 years, retiring in 1981. He served with the patrol division for 16 years and the detective bureau for nine years. He was a member of the Policemen's Benevolent Association, Local 13, Perth Amboy. He was a member of St. Deme-trios Greek Orthodox Church, Perth Amboy.

Two brothers, George and Gus, and a sister, Pauline, died previously. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, the former Ma-toula Karounos; a son, Stephen of Lantana, a sister, Mary Cei-lia of the Sewaren section of Wood-bridge, and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday from the Greiner-Costello Funeral Home, 44 Green Wood-bridge, followed by a 11:30 a.m. Divine Liturgy at St.

Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. Burial will be at Alpine Cemetery, Perth Amboy. Parastas will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Donations may be made to St.

Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, Sadowski Parkway and Wisteria Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 or Heart of Hope Hospice at Raritan Bay Medical Center, 530 New Brunswick Perth Amboy, NJ 08861-3665. IN MEMORIAM In sad and loving memory of JOYCE HASKINS who departed this life 10 years ago this day, May la. ioo Up above where angels dwelleth, Where there is no night or pain We shall all be reunited, Happiness shall reign again, Sadly missed by, Son Dwayne and family IN MEMORIAM In loving memory of JOHN (Jack) SHREVE who departed this life 1 year ago this day Kfay Loving and kind in Allhis ways Upright and kind to the End of his day. Sincere and true in His heart and mind. Beautiful memories he Left behind.

Sadly missed by, Hannah, Children, Grandchildren, Relatives and Friends nx5 AGE: 63 POINT PLEASANT Jean M. Noe, died yesterday at home. She was 63. She was born in Bound Brook and lived in Greenbrook before moving to Point Pleasant in 1974. She was an executive secretary for Eastern Title Agency in Eaton-town, a division of K.

Hovnanian. She was a volunteer at the Jersey Shore Animal Center in Brick for 13 years. Her husband, Everett died in 1997. She is survived by a son, James of Brick; two daughters, Jane Conaty of Point Pleasant and Julie Gouveia of Lakewood; a brother, William McGrath of Pittstown; her mother, Edna McGrath of Martinsville, and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m.

Thursday at the Pable-Evertz Funeral Home, 901 Beaver Dam Road, Point Pleasant. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery, Brielle. Donations may be made to the Jersey Shore Animal Shelter, Brick. BLACK Anthony John, 64. of Metuch-en on May 17, 1998.

Loving husband to Dianne Tappen, caring son-in-law to Elizabeth and David Tappen, cherished friend to all. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday from the Koyen Funeral Home, 319 Amboy Metuchen. Interment will follow at the First Presbyterian Cemetery, Woodbridge. RELATIVES AND FRIENDS MAY CALL TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY 2 P.M.-4 P.M.

7 P.M.-9 P.M. AT THE FUNER-AL HOME. DRANSFIELD Laurence, 72, of Mill-town on May 16, 1998. Beloved husband of Jean. Loving father of Michael Dransfield and Leslie Toolin.

Grandfather of Michael and Ryan Dransfield. Brother of Derek Dransfield and uncle of several nieces and nephews. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at The Crabiel Home for Funerals, 170 N. Main St.

at Riva Avenue, Milltown. Burial will follow at Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick. FRIENDS AND RELATIVES MAY CALL AT THE FUNERAL HOME TUESDAY 2 P.M.-4 P.M. 7 P.M. -9 P.M.

Contributions may be made to the Milltown Rescue Squad. Acting Mayor Michael Skarzynski has declared flags flown at half staff until the day of the funeral. PEAK Angelique of North Edison on May 9, 1998. Daughter of Joanne Martin and Robert Howard, sister of Victoria Richardson, Tyree, Joseph, and Marquis Martin, granddaughter of Inell and John Martin. Services will be noon Wednesday at Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church, North Edison.

Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, South Plainfield. FRIENDS MAY CALL AT THE CHURCH 11 A.M. WEDNESDAY UNTIL THE TIME OF SERVICE. Arrangements are by Judkins Colonial Home, Plain-field. SERITTI William 57, of North Brunswick on May 17.

1998. Beloved husband of Karin. Loving father of Michelle Scarpa. Father-in-law of Thomas Scarpa. Also survived by Bebe, Louie and Trixie.

Private services were held Monday under the direction of Selover Funeral Home, 555 Georges Road, North Brunswick. MR. MANUEL J. CRUZ, son of the late CARMEN MARTINEZ who passed away on April 20, 1998 in Hormigueroz, Puerto Rico, wishes to announce a Memorial Service for his mother to be held on SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1998 at 11:15 at OUR LADY OF THE MOST HOLY ROSARY CHURCH, HOPELAWN..