Obituaries

Catherine Mary Billings

Mrs. Billings, age 90, of Long Branch, died Sept. 13 at St. Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Long Branch. Born in New York, she resided in Howell prior to moving to Long Branch 11 years ago. She was a cafeteria worker at Howell Township Public School System, retiring in 1976. She was predeceased by her husband, James Raymond Billing in 1992; and a granddaughter. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, David and Kate Billings of Long Branch, and Robert and Jean Billings of Sparta; a daughter and son-in-law, Doris and William Kolesar of Port Charlotte, Fla.; a brother, Billy Norton of Texas; two sisters, Margaret Bowe of Howell, and Helen Whales of New York; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be Sept. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch, followed by interment at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. Memorial donations may be made to the Monmouth County SPCA, 260 Wall St., Eatontown 07724.

Alice Mershon Muller

Mrs. Muller, 86, of Tinton Falls, died Aug. 29 at home. Born in Prospect Plains, she resided in Tinton Falls and Lakewood, prior to moving back to Tinton Falls in 2003. She was the Tinton Falls municipal court clerk, retiring in 1981. Prior to that, she and her husband were the owner and operators of Monmouth Dairy, Tinton Falls, for several years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Order of the Eastern Star. She was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, LeRoy A. Muller in 1981. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Dean P. and Ann Muller of Williamsport, Pa., and Glenn E. and Mary Muller of Urbana, Ill.; a sister, Helen Ely of Burlington; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are by Braun Funeral Home, Eatontown. Memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury, 22 S. Main St., Cranbury 08512.

Frances Hirschhorn

Mrs. Hirschhorn, of Lakewood, died Aug. 30 at home. Born in Galveston, Texas, she later moved to Manhattan, N.Y., and also resided in the Bronx, N.Y., and Flushing, N.Y., where she had spent much of her life before retiring to Lakewood 25 years ago with her husband. A homemaker, she enjoyed costume design and interior design work. Mrs. Hirschhorn was predeceased in 1996 by her husband of 57 years, Leon. Surviving are two daughters and sons-in-law, Anita and Michael Toubin of Freehold, and Sheila and Howard Meyer of Eatontown; four grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at Riverside Cemetery, Saddle Brook. Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309; or Deborah Heart and Lung Center, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills 08015-0820.

Dorothy A. Durland Gardner

Mrs. Gardner, 80, of Hazlet, died Sept. 11 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she had resided in Long Island, N.Y., before moving to Hazlet four years ago. Mrs. Gardner was a homemaker. She was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Vincent Gardner, in 1994, and a son, Vincent Gardner, in 2003. Mrs. Gardner is survived by three sons, Robert Gardner and William Gardner, of Bradenton, Fla., and John Gardner of Highland Mills, N.Y.; four daughters, Barbara Vickers of Bradenton, Susan Auletta of Manalapan, Kathy Muren of Jackson, and Theresa Ferreira of Hazlet; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph’s Church, followed by burial at the church cemetery, Keyport. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, was in charge of arrangements.

Margaret A. Creighton

Mrs. Creighton, 75, of Keansburg, died Sept. 13 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, she resided there prior to moving to Keansburg 40 years ago. She was a factory worker at Charles of the Ritz, Holmdel, for 20 years, retiring in 1992. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, William Creighton; three sons and daughters-in-law, William and Colleen Creighton of Middletown, Robert and Laurie Creighton of Atlantic Highlands, and Kevin and Peggy Creighton of Carteret; two daughters and one son-in-law, Margaret McDonald of Keansburg, and Bernadette and Kevin Woodworth of Jackson; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, Keansburg. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.

Frederick D. Smith Jr.

Mr. Smith, 63, of DeBarry, Fla., died Sept. 14 at home. Born in Red Bank, he resided in Rahway and Matawan prior to moving to DeBarry three years ago. He was a traffic manager at Sea Land Services, Port Elizabeth, for 32 years, retiring in 1999. He is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Lesa Smith of Jackson; two nieces; and two nephews. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.

Hetty M. Lee Farenga

Mrs. Farenga, 74, of Holmdel, died Sept. 16 at Geraldine Thompson Care Center, Wall. Born in Raleigh, N.C., she resided in Middletown prior to moving to Holmdel 12 years ago. She was the owner/operator of Lee’s Restaurant, Hazlet, for 25 years, retiring in 1985. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph, in 1978; a sister, Gladys Matera, in 2002; and her father, Jesse Atkins. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Jessica and William Laurer of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, and Maria and Michael Brennan of Howell; a brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Lorraine Atkins of Mesa, Ariz.; a sister, Ruby Radino of Mesa; her mother, Emma Atkins of Keansburg; and four grandchildren. Entombment was at Fair View Mausoleum, Middletown. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.

Ruth Noll

Mrs. Noll, 79, of Jackson, died Sept. 7 at home. Born in Marlboro, she had lived in Lakewood before moving to Jackson seven years ago. She was a direct descendant of Pocahontas and a member of the Pamunkey Indian tribe, King William County, Va. Prior to retiring, she was employed by Garden State Bank, Jackson. She was a member of the Old Brick Reformed Church, Marlboro, and a vice president of the Oak Tree Mobile Homeowners Association, Jackson. Mrs. Noll was predeceased in 1993 by her husband, Joseph T. Noll. Surviving are three sons and a daughter-in-law, James R. and Kathleen Noll of Lakewood, John T. Noll, also of Lakewood, and William H. Noll of Jackson; a daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Walter Burke of Freehold Township; a sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Dewey Holmes of Marlboro; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, followed by interment at the Old Brick Reformed Church Cemetery, Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the Deborah Heart and Lung Center, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills 08015; or the Old Brick Reformed Church, 490 Route 520 east, Marlboro 07746.

Vernon “Wally” Walling

Mr. Walling, 83, of East Brunswick died Aug. 29 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to his retirement in 1983, he was employed at Hercules Inc., Parlin section of Sayreville, where he worked for 36 years. A son, Kenneth Walling, died in August. Surviving are his wife, Irene Molnar Walling; a brother, Henry Walling of Jackson; four sisters, Alice Metz of Parlin, Alma Crick of Edison, Jane Walling of South River and Lois Walling of Monroe; three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Services were held at Eckman Funeral Home, Spotswood. Interment was in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.