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Michael P. Massanero
VERNON — Michael P. Massanero, 78, died Thursday, March 23, 2006, at Saint Clare's Hospital in Sussex.
Born and raised in Paterson, Mr. Massanero lived there before moving to Sussex County in 1970. He was a textile worker and had retired as a machinist from Bon Chef in Lafayette at age 65.
Mr. Massanero was predeceased by his daughter, Karen Neidig, in 1985.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Margaret (Moore); three daughters, Michele Paugh, of Warwick, N.Y., Debra Gaughan, of Vernon, and Filomena Spatt, of New Jersey; his sister, Rose Piatti, of Buena Vista; 10 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at the Pinkel Funeral Home, 31 Bank St. (Route 23), Sussex Borough, on Monday at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at North Hardyston cemetery. Friends may pay their respects to the family on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
David M. Matheson
VALENTINE, Neb. — Col. David M. Matheson, formerly of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., died Oct. 10, 2005. His ashes will be interred on April 8 at 2 p.m. at The Presbyterian cemetery in Shawnee-on-Delaware, Pa. The Rev. Karl Viernstein will officiate the graveside service. Refreshments and fellowship will follow in the Christian Education Building.
Col. Matheson taught physics at Newton High School from 1967 through 1976.
Please call his daughter, Hedda Matheson at (402) 376-1339 or (402) 322-0114 with questions or for more information.
Melissa C. DeBonis-Rothe
NEWTON — Melissa C. DeBonis-Rothe, 32, died Saturday, March 18, 2006 at home.
She was born in Belleville, lived in Harrington Park from 1976 to 1999, and moved to Stillwater in 2000.
She was the beloved daughter of Frank and Lois Sue DeBonis, loving mother of Evan DeBonis, the sister of Frank C. DeBonis and his wife Shari Noble and their three children, and the beloved wife of Jeffrey Rothe.
A family memorial service was held at the Iliff-Ruggiero Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 22.
Friends may make contributions in her memory to Camp Auxilium, 14 Old Swartswood Road, Newton, N.J. 07860.
Edward G. Ellis
SPARTA — Edward G. Ellis, 71, died peacefully on Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at his home in Sparta while surrounded by his loving family.
He was born in New York City and had lived in Sparta since 1975. Mr. Ellis was a graduate of The Cooper Union in New York City, Class of 1956 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. He received his M.B.A. from Rutgers University in Newark in 1963. He worked as an engineer for Exxon Research and Engineering Co. in Florham Park, retiring in 1994 after 38 years. He was a charter member of the Men's Beefsteak Committee at Our Lady of the Lake Church, Sparta. He converted to Catholicism on March 16. He was a former member of the Sparta Kiwanis Club, former member and past president of the Sparta Rotary Club, and he was a volunteer with the Sparta First Aid Squad and Birth Haven Inc. Mr. Ellis was a member of the Exxon Annuitants Club.
He was the beloved son of the late Arthur and Freda Ellis and son-in-law of the late John and Catherine Sebring.
Mr. Ellis was the beloved husband of Gerri (Sebring) Ellis, devoted father of Loretta Clinton and her husband Bill, Valerie Peterson, Matthew Ellis and his wife Laurie, John Ellis and his wife Sue, and Steve Ellis and his wife Yamila Fournier. He was the grandfather of Ryan and Melina Clinton, Jenny and Rebecca Peterson, Greg and Tim Ellis, and Jacob Ellis; the brother of Barbara Magnas and her husband Howard and their six children; brother-in-law of Ronnie Rose and Cath Gazzola, uncle of Noelle; cousin of Mary Keiper and the late John Keiper and their children, John, Scott, and Vicky.
A funeral Mass will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m., at Our Lady of the Lake Church, 294 Sparta Ave., Sparta. Interment will follow at Sparta cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Birth Haven Inc., 6 Academy St., Newton, N.J. 07860.
Rachel L. Jensen
NEWTON — Rachel L. Jensen, 61, died Sunday, March 19, 2006.
Born in Newark, she lived in Tewksbury and Mountainside before moving to Newton 15 years ago. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Jensen was predeceased by her mother, Theresa Vernacchio Molinaro.
She is survived by her husband, Oliver Jensen; her father, Nicholas L. Molinaro Sr.of Reading, Pa.; two brothers, Dr. Nicholas Molinaro of Mendham, and Neil Molinaro of Cranford; four nieces, Noel Molinaro Greene of Florida, Amy Molinaro Wells of Pennsylvania, and Javonna and Taziana Molinaro of Cranford. She is also survived by two grand-nephews and one grand-niece.
Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham. The funeral service will be held on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will be private.
For those desiring, donations may be made to the Rachel Jensen Memorial Fund, in care of the funeral home.
Paul Decker
SPARTA — Paul Decker, 80, died Tuesday, March 21, 2006, at home.
Born in Rockaway to Eliza and Frank Decker, he was a lifelong resident of Sparta. Mr. Decker attended Newton High School before entering the United States Marine Corps in 1942 and served in the Marine Raider Battalion during World War II. He received two Purple Heart awards before being discharged in 1945.
He then worked for Arthur D. Crane Co. in Sparta until 1957, when he began Double D Builders in Sparta, which he owned and operated with his partner, Ford Dennis, until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Decker was a 59-year member and former chief of the Sparta Fire Department. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sparta, Lake Saginaw Beach Club in Sparta, the United States Marine Raider Association, and a life member of the Sussex County Marine Corps League.
Mr. Decker was the beloved husband of 54 years of Mary Decker; loving father of John R. Decker and his wife Debby of Dallas, Texas, Julia M. Decker and her husband David of Plantation, Fla., and Patrick M. Decker and his wife Kathleen of Sparta; devoted grandfather of Patrick Decker, Nicole Decker, and Eric Buckley; cherished brother of Robert Decker of Jensen Beach, Fla., Hewitt Decker of Hardyston and the late Francis Cofod.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation on Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main St., Sparta. A fireman's service will be held Friday at 8 p.m. A funeral service will celebrate Mr. Decker's life on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Sparta.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sparta Fire Department Building Fund, 141 Woodport Road, Sparta, N.J. 07871.
Ruth K. Wilson Masel
WEST ORANGE — Ruth K. Wilson Masel, 90, formerly of Hampton Bays, N.Y., died Monday, March 20, 2006, at St. Cloud's Health Care Center, West Orange.
Mrs. Masel was a homemaker and a member of the South Hampton Golf Club in New York.
She was the beloved wife of the late August J. Masel, and devoted mother of Richard Masel, Karin Smith, and the late Bruce Masel.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the graveside service at Good Ground cemetery, Hampton Bays, N.Y., on Friday at 1 p.m. Visitation will be held at the Jacob A. Holle Funeral Home, 2122 Millburn Ave., Maplewood, on Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m.
For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.jacobhollefuneralhome.com.
Wilfred K. Barker
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Wilfred K. Barker, 94, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 16, 2006.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 24, 1911. He later moved to Wood-Ridge, then Montague and retired to Wanchese, N.C. He spent the last year in Canton, Ohio, and Columbia with family.
Mr. Barker was a U.S. Navy SeaBee veteran of World War II and was a member of the Guadalcanal Veterans of America, SeaBee Veterans of America, American Legion Post No. 44 and a lifetime member of VFW Post 10144. He was employed as a waterproofer in Montague before his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; daughters Joan Wheeler and her husband Roger, of Columbia, Gilda Heller and her husband Donald of Port Jervis, N.Y., Loretta Sheridan and her husband Allen of Ohio, and his stepdaughter, Joanne McCook; five grandchildren, Jackie Dasen and her husband Ken, Shawn Amato and her husband Rich, Kelly DeStefano, Melissa McCook and Amanda McCook; great-grandchildren Ron DeStefano, Michael and Josephine Amato; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Kohler Funeral Home, 280 Hackensack St., Wood-Ridge. Interment will follow at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus. Visitation will be on Wednesday, from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m., at the funeral home.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Ridgeway Health and Rehabilitation Center in Ridgeway.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the VFW Memorial Post 3616, 407 Center St., Wood-Ridge, N.J. 07075.
Catherine Koppenaal Prall
BLOOMINGBURG, N.Y. — Catherine "Cathy" Koppenaal Prall, a homemaker and an office administrator at Orange County Community College's Kindercollege, and a longtime resident of the area, died tragically Sunday, March 19, 2006, at home. She was 38.
She was born May 2, 1967 in Paterson. She was the loving daughter of Richard A. Koppenaal and Mercedes L. Koppenaal. Mrs. Prall grew up with her family at Kemah Lake in Hampton and was active in 4H and 4H National Congress. She was a graduate of Kittatinny Regional High School.
Mrs. Prall was a devoted mother, loving wife and caring sibling. She was past president, fund-raising chairwoman and board member of the Circleville Elementary School PTA; former director of Family Ministries; director of Vacation Bible School and an active minister at Family of Faith Lutheran Church. She also worked as a substitute teacher for the Pine Bush Central School District, at Blue Cross Blue Shield in Middletown, and was interim Church Council secretary and a senior Youth Group leader.
Mrs. Prall is survived by her husband Stephen; sons Jacob, Andrew and Philip, all at home; her father Richard A. Koppenaal Sr. and stepmother Maudie of Sidney, N.Y.; brothers William J. and Richard A. Koppenaal Jr., both of Branchville, and their wives Torri and Kimberly, respectively; and seven nieces and two nephews.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at Family of Faith Lutheran Church, 240 Midland Lakes Road, Middletown. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday in the church.
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Family of Faith Lutheran Church, Eagle Scout/Memorial Project, 240 Midland Lakes Road, Middletown, N.Y. 10940.
Arrangements under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., Middletown (www.applebee-mcphillips.com).
Helen J. Semanchik
ASBURY — Helen J. Semanchik, 88, died Sunday, March 19, 2006, at the Country Arch Care Center in Union Township.
She was born Nov. 25, 1917, in Detroit, Mich., and had lived in Plainfield before moving to Asbury 18 years ago.
She was the daughter of the late Marian and Katherine Suchania Firuta. Her husband John died in 1979.
Mrs. Semanchik was a seamstress for the Markay Bags Co. in Plainfield and also a woodworker for Green Brook Industries in Green Brook.
She was predeceased by her sister, Wanda Cockman, of Hackettstown, and one grandson, Greg Sulimenko, of Asbury.
Survivors include a daughter, Alice D. Sulmenko, of Bethlehem, Pa., one sister, Jennie Pittinger of Andover; one granddaughter, Laura Pham, of Falls Church, Va., and one great-grandson, Nicholas Pham, of Falls Church.
Calling hour is on Saturday, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Scarponi-Bright Funeral Home, 26 Main St., Lebanon.
Memorials may be made to Tabby's Place, 1100 U.S. Hwy. 202, Ringoes, N.J., 08551, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 5940 Hamilton Blvd., Suite F, Allentown, Pa., 18106.
Karen Leslie Betts
DALY CITY, Cal. — At peace, Karen Leslie Betts, 48, died Monday, Feb. 27, 2006.
Ms. Betts graduated from Newton High School and attended Pennsylvania State University. She was employed as the director of information technology at Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa., and network administrator for Jostens Yearbook Publishing.
At her request, private services were held.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
