Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

WILLIAM J. GARDENER SR., 81, of Howell, died April 19 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Freehold, he lived there before moving to Howell 30 years ago. Mr. Gardener was an evaporator operator for the Nestle Co., Freehold, for 30 years until his retirement 19 years ago. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and the American Legion Post No. 54, both in Freehold. Mr. Gardener was predeceased by his wife, Edwina Coley Gardener, who died in 1988; and a daughter, Linda L. Gardener, in 1999. Surviving are three sons, William J. Jr. of East Windsor, John J. of Howell and Timothy J. of Jackson; a daughter, Nancy L. Wittenburg of Howell; a brother, Albert J. of Escondido, Calif.; a sister, Edith V. Gardener of Freehold; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at St. Peter’s Church, followed by interment at Maplewood Cemetery, Freehold Township.

LILLIE C. WOODS, 63, of Manalapan, died April 23 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Marianna, Fla., she was a longtime resident of the Englishtown-Manalapan area. Mrs. Woods was a certified nurse’s assistant at Pine Brook Care Center, Manalapan. She formerly attended the Old Ship of Zion Baptist Church, Englishtown. Mrs. Woods was predeceased by three children, William Garrett, Karen Woods and Betty Woods. She is survived by three sons, Robert and Charles, both of Newark, and Duane of Asbury Park; two daughters, Sharon and Gloria Woods, both of Asbury Park; her mother, Bertha Lee Maples of Florida; three brothers, William and Frank Garrett, both of Florida, and Henry Garrett of North Carolina; four sisters, Lessie Ellington of Perth Amboy, Bertha Williams of Neptune, Roberta Walker of Toms River and Theresa Johnson of Lakewood; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

LEOBA C. LACKEY, 72, of Freehold Township, died May 2 at Applewood Healthcare Center, Freehold Township. Born in Jefferson City, Mo., she lived in Newark before moving to Freehold 43 years ago. Mrs. Lackey was a book cataloguer in the children’s department of the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, where she was employed for 30 years before her retirement two years ago. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. Mrs. Lackey is survived by her husband, John K.; three sons, Kevin T. of Huntsville, Ala., Keith J. of Howell and Kenneth N. of Brick; a daughter, Maura A. Leahey of Howell; two brothers, Charles and Wilbert Niekamp, and a sister, Mary Owens, all of Jefferson City; and 10 grandchildren.

JOHN "JACK" WISH, 65, of Freehold, died May 6 at home. Mr. Wish was a liquor salesman for Federal Wine & Liquor, Kearny, and previously was a bus driver for Lincoln Transit. He was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, a member of Freehold Council No. 1672 Knights of Columbus, a member the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 54, all of Freehold. He was also a member of the Foresters Club of Lakewood. Mr. Wish is survived by his longtime companion, Janet Piontek of Freehold; three sons and two daughters-in-law, John of Freehold, James and Pamela of Farmingdale, and Jeffery and Ann of Howell; a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Patricia Wish of Englishtown; two sisters, Patricia McKeanna of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Dorothy Breese of Freehold Township; and two grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, followed by interment in the parish cemetery, Freehold Township. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

VIVIAN S. RUSSELL, 94, of Point Pleasant, formerly of Farmingdale, died May 7 at Clairemont Care Center, Point Pleasant. Born in Freehold, she lived in Farmingdale before moving to Bricktown in 1976. Mrs. Russell was a telephone operator for New Jersey Bell, Freehold, for more than 20 years, retiring in 1965. She was a former member of the Farmingdale Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. She was a member of the Forthnightly Club, the Telephone Pioneers of America, and the Red Bank-Freehold LM Club. Mrs. Russell was predeceased by her husband, Frederick G. Jr., who died in 1977; and a son, Frederick G. III, in 2000. She is survived by a son, Ronald W. of Bedford, Va.; a sister, Marguarite Carr of Fair Lawn; eight grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held at Evergreen Cemetery, Farmingdale.

PIROSKA MUHAY SZEKELY, 81, of East Brunswick, died April 27 at home. Her husband, Sandor, died in 1985. Surviving are a daughter, Gabriella Pall, with whom she lived; a son, Alex of Jackson; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Ladislaus Church, New Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the East Bruns-wick Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 7171, East Brunswick 08816.

RICHARD JOSEPH YUHAS, 56, of Jack-son, died April 16 at home. He was born in Englishtown and had lived in Millstone prior to moving to Jackson in 1990. He was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, Manalapan, for the past 29 years. He was a member of the National Rifle Association. He was a graduate of Freehold High School, class of 1963. He was predeceased by his father, James Joseph in 1988 and his sister, Patty Ann Yuhas. Surviving are his mother, Cassy Kelich Yuhas; eight brothers, James of Jackson, David of Pennsylvania, Michael J. of Englishtown, Philip of Virginia, Victor of Freehold, Frederick of New York, Vincent of Englishtown, and Anthony of Manal-apan; four sisters, Barbara Stevens of Tucson, Ariz., Stella Earp of Pennsylvania, Dorothy Lamberson of Englishtown, and Ann Marie Yuhas of Mount Holly; and many nieces and nephews. Interment was in St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold.

MICHAEL MONETTI, 80, of Jackson, died May 1 in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold. He was born in Newark and lived in the Parlin section of Sayreville and Howell Township before moving to Jackson 20 years ago. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He was a parishioner of St. Aloysius Church, Jackson. He was a member of the AFL-CIO, Local 3127. He worked as a truck driver for Midhattan Woodworking, Old Bridge, for 20 years, retiring in 1984. He was predeceased by a daughter, Michelle Pucciarello, in 2000. Surviving are his wife, Carmella Monetti; two sons, Matthew of Baldwin, Ga., and Michael Jr. of Parlin; two daughters, Charlotte Bongiovanni of Flemington and Angela Juganne of Vero Beach, Fla.; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

STEPHEN CASELLA, 77, of Howell, died May 2 at Kessler Institute, West Orange. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had lived in Lakewood before moving to Howell 25 years ago. He was a communicant of St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood. He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving during World War II in the European Theater. He was a former member of the Teamsters, Local No. 560. He was a truck driver for Eastern Freightways in Carlstadt and New Brunswick until his retirement in 1975. Surviving are his wife, Philomena Casella; a son, Dennis Casella, and a daughter Janet Zerilli, both of Howell. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Church, Lakewood. Interment was in Brigadier General William C. Doyle New Jersey Veterans Cemetery, Arnytown.

MARIAN CHEESEBROUGH, 67, of the Adelphia section of Howell, died May 2 at home. She was born in Pottsville, Pa., and had lived in Erie, Pa., before moving to Howell in 1968. She was a former member of the Adelphia Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary. She was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Pottsville, Pa. She worked at Hubers Road Stand and Cicone Farms, both Howell. Surviving are her husband, Thomas R. Cheesebrough; a son and daughter-in-law, Thomas R. II and Kim Cheesebrough of Jackson; two brothers, William Thompson of Pottsville, Pa., and Robert Thompson of Sanford, Mich.; four sisters, Betty Ryndock of Minnersville, Pa., Ruth Livingston of York, Pa., Doris Kreps of Friedensburg, Pa. and Kathryn Schaeffer of Ping Grove, Pa.; and two granddaughters. Interment was in Pottsville, Pa.

SHIRLEY IDA S. GREENFIELD, 80, of Berkeley, died May 3 in Tallwood Care Center, Bayville. Born in Newark, she resided in Piscataway and Lakewood, and wintered in Ocala, Fla., before moving to Bayville. Mrs. Greenfield was a former member of Deborah Heart and Lung Foundation. She was predeceased by her husband, Edwin W., in 1999. Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Leslie Greenfield of Freehold Township; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rona and Kenneth Oshin of Forked River, and Michelle and William Kelley of Washington Township; two sisters, Sophie Magod and Anita Feuer, both of Florida; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Interment was in Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge. Memorial donations may be made to the Rett Syndrome Association, 9121 Piscat-away Road, No. 2B, Clinton, Md. 20735.