Obituaries

Louis J. Toto Sr.

Mr. Toto, 73, of the Columbus section of Mansfield, formerly of East Brunswick, died Nov. 27 in St. Agnes Medical Center, Philadelphia. He was one of the founding members of Toto Brothers Inc., East Brunswick. A son, Christopher, died in 1991. Surviving are his wife, J. Bernadette Marsicano Toto; two sons, Louis J. Toto Jr. of Millstone and James Toto of the New Egypt section of Plumsted; a daughter, Loretta VanMiddlesworth of Lake Worth, Fla.; a brother, Antonio Toto of East Brunswick; a sister, Mafalda Nervegna of Astoria, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Our Lady of Peace Church, North Brunswick. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to Second Chance Inc., c/o Brunswick Memorial Home, P.O. Box 104, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.

Thomas Francis Hodges

Mr. Hodges, 72, of Lakewood died Dec. 2 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he had moved to Lakewood five years ago. Before retiring in 1997, for 20 years he was a motor vehicle operator for New York City. He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Rose Mitchel Hodges. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, Lakewood, followed by burial at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, also in Lakewood. D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to Original Leisure Village Foundation Health Center, 19 Buckingham Drive, Lakewood 08701.

Florence DeMor

Mrs. DeMor, 85, of Lakewood died Dec. 5 at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood. Born in New Rochelle, N.Y., she had lived in Lakewood for most of her life. Since 1979, she was a factory worker for DPT Industries, Lakewood. She was predeceased in 1972 by her husband, Albert, and is survived by many nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, Lakewood, followed by interment at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery, also in Lakewood. D’Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood, was in charge of arrangements.

Ruth E. Boardman

Mrs. Boardman, 81, of Freehold Township, died Dec. 16 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Clifton, she had lived in Pompton Plains before moving to Freehold Township in 1965. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold, and a member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Rose of Lima No. 737. She had volunteered more than 1,000 hours of service to CentraState Medical Center. She was predeceased by a daughter, Gail Dericks, in 1976. Surviving are her husband, William M. Boardman; three sons and two daughters-in-law, William M. Boardman of Salt Lake City, John and Patricia Boardman of Pompton Plains, and Michael and Eileen Boardman of Wells, N.Y.; three daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth Ann and Gregory Baumbach of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Joan and William Meade of Manahawkin, and Cynthia and Robert Adamczyk of Jackson; two brothers, Harold Coyle of Whiting and James Coyle of East Greenwich, R.I.; 21 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren. The funeral liturgy was celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold, followed by entombment at St. Rose of Lima Mausoleum, Freehold Township. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. Rose’s Home, 71 Jackson St., New York, NY 10002.

Mildred E. Descafano

Mrs. Descafano, 76, of Lakewood died Dec. 20 at Community Medical Center, Toms River. Born in Garfield, she had lived there most of her life before moving to Lakewood in 1996. Prior to retiring, she was a teacher at Holy Name School, Garfield, for 25 years. An active member in church activities, she was a parishioner of St. Mary of the Lake Roman Catholic Church, Lakewood, and a former parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Virgin Church, Garfield. Surviving are a sister, Catherine Rendini of Whiting; two nieces, Linda Descafano and Nancy Cucci; two nephews, Joseph Descafano and Frank Rendini; a great-niece and two great-nephews. A funeral Mass was offered at St. Mary of the Lake Church, followed by interment at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Saddle Brook.

Loretta Verdi Asaro

Mrs. Asaro, 86, of Ocean Township died Dec. 19 at Jersey Shore Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had lived in Staten Island for 50 years before moving to Ocean Township nine years ago. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Design, she was a seamstress for Gembar Associates in New Dorp, Staten Island, for 25 years until she retired in 1983. For 50 years she was a communicant of Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, New Dorp, where she was also a volunteer. The great-great-grandniece of the Italian operatic composer Giuseppe Verdi, she enjoyed home cooking and creating clothing and costumes for her children and grandchildren. She was predeceased in 1999 by her husband, Charles. Surviving are two sons and a daughter-in-law, Frank and Carol Asaro of Jackson and Joseph Asaro of Arrochar, Staten Island; a daughter and son-in-law, Camille and Al Lambert of Staten Island; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Gabriel’s Roman Catholic Church, Marlboro, followed by entombment at Marlboro Mausoleum, Marlboro.

Joseph C. Cooney

Mr. Cooney, 78, of Hazlet died Dec. 6 at home. Born in Newark, he resided in Orange prior to moving to Hazlet 34 years ago. He was a clerk at Railroad Express Inc., Newark, for several years, retiring in 1974. He was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. Mr. Cooney was a member of the Hazlet Board of Education. He was a coach for the Hazlet Youth Athletic League and was an avid bowler. He was predeceased by his wife, Josephine Cooney, in 1993; four brothers, Al Cooney, Peter Cooney, James Cooney and William Cooney; and two sisters, Alma Cooney and Agnes Cooney. He is survived by four daughters, Noreen Sturgeon of Highlands, Joanne McMenamie and Cynthia Cruz, both of Jackson, and Margaret McGinnis of Long Branch; four sons, Joseph Cooney of Middletown, Patrick Cooney of Dunellen, John Cooney of Lake Ariel, Pa., and Paul Cooney of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; 18 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Arrangements were by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

Michael J. Kucher

Mr. Kucher, 39, of Bradley Beach died Dec. 6 at home. Born in Neptune, he lived there before moving to Bradley Beach three years ago. He was a graduate of Manalapan High School and the DeVry Institute, North Brunswick, where in 1988 he earned a bachelor of science degree in electronics engineering. He was a Web site developer who operated New Jersey Cyber Service. Mr. Kucher had served in the U.S. Navy’s submarine service and was a member of the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Commission, as well as the Raritan Bay division of the U.S. Power Squadron. Surviving are his father, Leonard George Kucher of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; his mother, Rosemary Skord Kucher of Lakewood; a brother, Leonard Kucher of Spring Hill, Fla.; four sisters, Suzanne Muller of Flemington, Lillian Davis and Carolyn Trimmoli, both of Lee’s Summit, and Marianne Tammera of Belvidere; eleven nieces and nephews; and his fiancée, Joann Walsh, with whom he had lived. A funeral liturgy was celebrated at the Stella Maris Retreat Center in Elberon, followed by interment at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

Alfred W. Adams

Mr. Adams, 60, of Jackson died Dec. 9 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he had lived in Sayreville and Freehold for 20 years before moving to Jackson in 1999. He was a 1961 graduate of Sayreville High School and a 1965 graduate of Monmouth College (now Monmouth University), West Long Branch, where he earned a degree in mathematics and where he was also a member of Sigma Phi Omega. He received a master’s degree from Kean College, Union, and was a math and computer teacher at Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge. Surviving are his wife of 36 years, Phyllis Adams; a daughter, Toby Adams of Freehold; his mother, Anna Ankudowicz of West Melbourne, Fla.; and a sister, Eleanor DeLucia of Manahawkin. A funeral service was held at the C.H.T. Clayton & Son Funeral Home, Adelphia section of Howell, followed by interment, which was private. Memorial donations may be made to Project Eat, Freehold Open Door, 39 Throckmorton St., Freehold 07728.