Obituaries

Clara Maurer

Mrs. Maurer, 98, of East Brunswick, formerly of Minersville, Pa., died July 29, 2007, in Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick. She was predeceased by her husband, George W. Maurer; by a son, John Maurer; and by a grandson, John D. Martz. Surviving are two daughters, Georgine Orlick, and her husband, Edward, of Minersville, and Claire Martz of East Brunswick, with whom she lived; six granddaughters and three grandsons; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Private services were under the direction of Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. A memorial service will be held in Minersville at a date to be announced. Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick.

Joan Sharp Legaster

Mrs. Legaster, 75, of Spotswood, died July 29, 2007, in Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center, Edison. Prior to her retirement in 1992, she was a part-time waitress at the Wooden Nickel Restaurant, North Brunswick. A son, Louis Mika, died in February. Surviving are her husband, Joseph Legaster; three daughters, Linda Mika of Plainfield, Debra Agugliaro, and her husband, Anthony, of Monroe and JoAnn Nelson, and her husband, Fred, of Spotswood; and four grandchildren. Arrangements were under the direction of Spotswood Funeral Home. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Central New Jersey Region, 2600 Route 1, North Brunswick, NJ, 08902, online at www.cancer.org; or to Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center, 65 James St., Edison, NJ 08818.

John David Martz

Mr. Martz, 52, of East Brunswick, died July 27, 2007. Surviving are his mother, Claire Martz; a brother, Calvin Martz of Freehold; two sisters, Debbie Moore of Poquoson, Va., and Jocelyn Matikonis of Monroe; his maternal grandmother, Clara Maurer; and two nieces and two nephews. Private services were under the direction of Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick.

Agnes M. Knell

Mrs. Knell, 96, of Lancaster, Pa., formerly of East Brunswick, died July 17, 2007, in the Hospice of Lancaster County, Lancaster. Her husband, Roderick Knell, died in 1996. Surviving are two daughters, Kathleen Valeri of East Petersburg, Pa., and Geraldine Young of Denville; and two granddaughters, Michele Valeri-Groff and Jennifer Young. A Mass was offered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park Mausoleum, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of Lancaster County, 685 Good Drive, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604, or to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 Michigan Ave., 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601.

Margaret Yanas Nizolek

Mrs. Nizolek, 85, of the Melrose section of Sayreville, died July 18, 2007, in Briarwood Care Center, Parlin section of Sayreville. Prior to her retirement, she was a seamstress with Komar's, South Amboy. Her husband, John, died in 1991. Surviving are four children, John, and his wife, Marsha, of Sayreville, Thomas, and his wife, Rosanna of Melrose, James, and his wife, Diane, with whom she lived, and Carolyn Letteriello, and her husband, John, of South Amboy; six siblings, Sally Huff, Tekla Kowalski, Matthew Yanas, Theodore Yanas, Edward Yanas and Gertrude Spezzi; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Sacred Heart Church, South Amboy. Interment was in New Calvary Cemetery, Sayreville.

James Schroeder

Mr. Schroeder, 80, of East Brunswick, died July 21, 2007, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. His wife, Marie DeBenedetto Schroeder, died in 1992. Surviving are a daughter, Leann Schroeder, and a son, Thomas Schroeder, both of East Brunswick; a brother, Jerry Schroeder Lancaster of Pennsylvania; two sisters, Dorothy Vorek of the Parlin section of Sayreville and Joyce Vernburg of North Brunswick; two grandchildren; and a great-grandson. A service was held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was private.

Anna Hlivak Szur

Mrs. Szur, 94, of East Brunswick, formerly of New Brunswick, died July 21, 2007, at home. Her husband, Steven Szur, died in 1964. Surviving are a daughter, Dr. Marie Parnell of East Brunswick; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Hlivak of North Brunswick; a niece, Karen Pitman, also of North Brunswick; a great-niece and a great-nephew. A Mass was offered at St. Bartholomew's Church, East Brunswick. Interment was in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Marie Parnell Scholarship Fund for Sayreville War Memorial High Graduates, c/o 4 Vandeventer Court, Sayreville, NJ 08872.

Matthew J. Widuta Sr.

Mr. Widuta, 86, of South River, died July 27, 2007, in Barbara E. Cheung Memorial Hospice, Edison. Surviving are his wife, Mary Kuczynski Widuta; three sons, Robert, and his wife, Christine, of South River, Dr. Stephen, and his wife, Linda, of Denville and Matthew of Johnson City, Tenn.; two sisters, Veronica Johansen of Hudson, Fla., and Jean Stankowicz of Port Richie, Fla.; and four grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Joseph R. Ruffo

Mr. Ruffo, 63, of Spotswood, died July 27, 2007, at home. Surviving are his wife, Judith Ann Ruffo; two daughters, Lauren Ann Ruffo of New York City and Lynette Ruffo of Keansburg; and three sisters, Joy Ann Maglori of the Whiting section of Manchester and Judith M. Ruffo and Janet Sue Schmidt, both of Omaha, Ark. A Mass was offered at Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

Alina Gromadzky Rutkoski

Mrs. Rutkoski, 80, of East Brunswick, died Aug. 1, 2007, in Barbara E. Cheung Memorial Hospice, Edison. Her husband, Frank Rutkoski, died in 2003, and a brother, Lucjan Gromadzky, died in 2006. Surviving are a brother, Andrzej Gromadzky; a sister, Anna Kochanska; and a niece, Lucyna Wojcik, and her husband, Jerzy. A funeral liturgy was offered at Holy Trinity Church, Helmetta. Arrangements were under the direction of Crabiel Parkwest Funeral Chapel, New Brunswick.

Eleanor Shapter

Mrs. Shapter, 90, of Old Bridge, died July 11, 2007, in Old Bridge Manor. Prior to her retirement, she was employed by the East Brunswick Board of Education as a food-service manager at East Brunswick High School. She also worked as a cafeteria manager at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Her husband, Thomas Shapter, died in 1999. Surviving are three sons, Thomas Shapter, and his wife, Diane, of Monroe, Kenneth Shapter, and his wife, Theresa, of Delaware and Richard Shapter of Pennsylvania; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. Interment was in Forest Green Park Cemetery, Morganville section of Marlboro.