Obituaries

Josephine Seltsam Dittmyre

Mrs. Dittmyre, 95, of Spotswood, died Sept. 11 at home. Prior to her retirement in 1970, she was employed at Marion Dress Co., South River, where she worked for more than 20 years as a trimmer. Her husband, James F. Dittmyre, died in 1972. Surviving are two sons, James M. of Spotswood and Robert H. of Florida; a brother, Walter Seltsam of Union; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, St. Peter’s University Hospital, 254 Easton Ave., New Brunswick, NJ 08903.

Maria Elena Genovese Sadofski

Mrs. Sadofski, 62, of Monroe, died Sept. 6 at home. Prior to her retirement in 1995, she was a teacher at St. Mary’s School, South River. Surviving are her husband, Joseph E. Sadofski, a retired state Superior Court judge; two daughters, Kristen Curcio of Freehold and Kathryn Hulings of East Brunswick; and three grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. James the Less Church, Jamesburg. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick.

Irene M. Wenta

Ms. Wenta, 77, of South River, died Sept. 4 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 1996, she was a technician and nurse’s aide at St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, where she worked for 30 years. Surviving are a sister, Dolores Kuncevich of Brielle; and two brothers, Joseph Wenta Jr. of South River and John Wenta of the Franklin Park section of Franklin. A Mass was offered at St. Mary’s Church, South River. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 2680, North Canton, OH 44720.

Rose Pirozzi Ausiello

Mrs. Ausiello, 85, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Sept. 9 in The Highlands at Edison Care Center. She was predeceased by her husband, Dominic Ausiello. Surviving are four nephews, Richard Nuzzo of Bridgewater, John Nuzzo of Syracuse, N.Y., Edward Nuzzo of South River and Thomas Pirozzi of Westfield; and two nieces, Suzanne Pallarino of Port Washington, N.Y., and Marie Barrella of California. Services were held at Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, Parlin. Interment was in New Calvary Cemetery, also Parlin.

Chester Halka Sr.

Mr. Halka, 80, of Millstone, formerly of South River and Old Bridge, died Sept. 11 in Monroe Village Healthcare Center, Monroe. He was the founder of Halka Nurseries, Millstone, which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary on Mr. Halka’s 80th birthday. His trees are planted all over the country at national historical monuments, including the White House and the Statue of Liberty. Surviving are his wife, Elsie Halka; a son, Chet Halka Jr. of Millstone; a daughter, Jan Waters of Middletown; two sisters, Irene Livak of Millstone and Sally Masley of the Fords section of Woodbridge; and nine grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Joseph’s Church, Perrineville section of Millstone. Interment was in the parish cemetery, Perrineville. Memorial contributions may be made to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111.

Ralph N. Irish

Mr. Irish, 92, of Old Bridge, died Sept. 10 at home. Prior to his retirement in 1976, he was employed with the buildings and maintenance department of the Old Bridge Township Board of Education. His wife, Edith Haase Irish, died in 2002. Surviving are a son, Donald Irish of Sussex; three daughters, Joan Weglarz of Monroe, Helen Carroll of the Lawrenceville section of Lawrence and Edythe Monek of Bayville; a brother, Floyd Irish of Kinder Hook, N.Y.; two sisters, Shirley Lecuyer of Windsor, Mass., and Bertha Higgins of Cummington, Mass.; 11 grandchildren; and 26 great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Hospice, 141 Bodman Place, NJ 07701-9978.

Victor Losik

Mr. Losik, 57, of East Brunswick, formerly of South River, died Sept. 8 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to his retirement in May, he was employed at E.I. DuPont Photo Products, Parlin section of Sayreville, where he worked as a processing technician. Surviving are his wife, Gloria Bovingdon Losik; three sons, Sean of South River and Daniel and Paul, both of East Brunswick; two sisters, Alina Lysiuk of the Whiting section of Manchester and Alina Dubiago of South River; a granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. A service was held at St. Mary of Zyrovicy Byelorussian Autocephalic Orthodox Church, Highland Park. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Rachel J. Ferri Calabro

Mrs. Calabro, 78, of South River, died Sept. 4 in CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was an administrative assistant for the South River Office on Aging for the past 20 years. Her husband, Martin, died in April. She also was predeceased by five brothers and sisters. Surviving are a brother-in-law, Victor Munger; two sisters-in-law, Helen Ferri and Mary Ann Pisa Ferri; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass was offered at Corpus Christi Church, South River. Interment was in Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Milan Blagojevic

Mr. Blagojevic, 69, of Bayonne, died Sept. 10 in Calvary Hospital, the Bronx, N.Y. Surviving are a dear friend, Alexandra Mozes, and her son, George Mozes, both of Queens, N.Y.; a brother, Savo Blagojevic of East Brunswick; a sister, Leposava Prokic of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in St. Vladimir Russian Orthodox Cemetery, Jackson.

Karen Reppert “Nana” Ayers

Ms. Ayers, 61, of the Dayton section of South Brunswick, died Sept. 10 at home. Born in Joplin, Mo., she resided in the South Brunswick area for several years. She was employed at UMG Family Medicine, New Brunswick. She was a communicant of St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, South Brunswick. She was a member of the Ya Ya Sisterhood, North Brunswick. She is survived by her mother, Constance Reppert of Monroe; a son and daughter-in-law, John and Nikeela Ayers of Nevada; three daughters and one son-in-law, Susan McKee of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, Nicole Ayers of Clinton, and Audrey and Adam Belitz of Dayton; and four grandchildren. A funeral service was held at St. Barnabas Church. Arrangements were by Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 846 Main St., Fords 08863.

Mamie Pollard Schmidt

Mrs. Schmidt, 93, of Sayreville, died Sept. 9 in Care One, East Brunswick. Prior to her retirement, she was employed as a cafeteria worker for 32 years with the East Brunswick school system. Her husband, Willie Schmidt, died in 1977. Surviving are a son, Willie R. Schmidt of Spotswood; a daughter, Betty Podlesny of Sayreville; a sister, Martha Sharp of Richmond, Va.; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in Franklin Memorial Park Cemetery, North Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to Camp Quality Children’s Cancer Camp, P.O. Box 351, Adelphia, NJ 07701.