Obituaries

Diane Marie Osieck of Spring Lake Heights, died June 25 from a sudden illness at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. She was 65.

She was a devoted wife and mother to three children and a friend to all who knew her. She was the Director of Religious Education and a Eucharistic minister lector for many years at St. Catharine’s, Spring Lake.

Diane was predeceased by her parents John and Doris Andrews and her beloved husband of 41 years Alfred S. Osieck Jr.

Surviving are her three children; Amy Osieck Hoffner and her husband William of San Diego, Calif., Allan Osieck and his wife Lynn of Farmingdale, Amanda Osieck Zaremba and her husband Paul of Concord, N.C., and three beloved grandchildren; Ryan, Dylan and Katherine Zaremba.

Visiting will be Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at the O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall. A Funeral Mass will be offered Friday, 11 a.m. at St. Catharine’s Church, Spring Lake. Burial will follow in St. Anne’s Cemetery, Wall. I

n lieu of flowers donation may be made in his name to St. Catharine’s Church Restoration Fund, 215 Essex Ave., Spring Lake. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com

Kenneth Christopher Costello, of Spring Lake Heights, passed away on Sunday, June 24. He was 44

Kenny was born on December 5, 1967 in Long Branch. Kenny grew up in Middletown, where he graduated from St. Mary’s Grammar School and Christian Brothers Academy. Ken received his degree in Psychology from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

While in college, Ken spent a semester studying abroad in London, England, where he drove horse drawn carriages. Ken traveled throughout Europe before returning to NJ to begin his career in social work at CPC Behavioral Healthcare. Ken was also employed at Bristol Myers Squibb as well as The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. Proud of his Irish heritage, Ken enjoyed dual citizenship of Ireland and USA. Forever the traveler, literacy volunteer, and good guy, Kenny recently returned to NJ after living in California while attending graduate school after his acceptance to the Peace Corps Masters International Program. Ken was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2009.

A self taught guitarist, Ken enjoyed writing and listening to music. Kenny is a Charter Member of the Widdis Wisenheimer’s softball team, captained by Teddy Maloney.

“Kenny the Great”, as he has signed every greeting card since 1972, will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Kenny was predeceased by his mother, Marian E. Costello, his father, Raymond D. Costello, Sr., his sister, Karen Anne Costello and his niece and littlest BFF, Sara Mae Scoras.

Kenny is survived by his brother, Raymond D. Costello and his wife Judy, his sister, Maureen and her husband Tripp, and his sister, Claudette Scoras and her husband John. Uncle Kenny will be greatly missed by his loving nieces and nephews, Marissa and Shaylynn Costello, Jillian, Connor and Ryan Dupree, and Alex and Nick Scoras.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 2pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm at John E. Day Funeral Home, Red Bank, NJ. A mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, June 29, 2012 at 10:30am at St. Mary’s Chapel in New Monmouth, NJ. Burial will be immediately following at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.

Harry M. Gray, lifelong resident of Manasquan, died Sunday, June 24 at Ocean Medical Center in Brick. He was 77.

Born in Neptune, he was raised in Avon, before moving to Manasquan.

Mr. Gray owned and operated Allens Plumbing and Heating in Manasquan for 50 years before retiring. He was a WWII veteran of the United States Army and was awarded the Purple Heart. Harry was also a member of the VFW and Elks Lodge, both of Manasquan.

Mr. Gray is pre-deceased by his wife Yoshiko "Betty" and is survived by his son, David and his wife Jennifer and his daughter, Linda Hawkins and her husband Allen, all of Manasquan; one sister, Nancy Woolley of Wall; three grandchildren, Michelle, Jason and Nicole, two great grandchildren, Jayden and Chase and a nephew, Mark Woolley.

Visitation will be on Thursday, June 28, 2012 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Neary-Quinn Funeral Home in Manasquan.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday evening at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Humane Society or St. Jude Childrens Hospital.

For more information or to post a tribute, please visit www.neary-quinnfuneralhome.com

Alfred N. Biondi, of Spring Lake, passed away peacefully on June 24 at Sunrise Assisted Living in Wall. He was 85.

Alfred moved to Spring Lake many years ago from Newark. He was employed by the City of Newark before retiring.

Alfred was predeceased by his parents Alfred and Theresa Biondi, his brother Harry Galella, and his sisters Anna Centanni and Antonette Anastasia.

Mr. Biondi is survived by two nieces.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Catharine Catholic Church, Spring Lake. Interment will follow in St. Catharine Cemetery, Wall. Visiting will be on Thursday from 9:30 — 10:30 a.m. at O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall. For more information or to send condolences to the family, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.

Merlyn Elizabeth [Clifford] Gilchrest, formerly of Brielle, died on June 20, in Albany, N.Y. after a brief illness.

Most recently, she lived at Atria in Guilderland, N.Y. after being a long time resident of Brielle. She was the loving wife of the late Gordon F. Gilchrest and is survived by a daughter, Susan [Gilchrest] Klug of Guilderland, N.Y., son Charles Gilchrest of South Dartmouth, Mass., three grandchildren, Andrew Klug, Conrad Gilchrest, and Julia Gilchrest and a sister in law, Janet [Gilchrest] Everett of Oriskany, N.Y.

She was born in New York City in 1923 to the late Charles Clifford and Julie [Elges] Clifford. Her early years were spent in Palm Beach, Fla. and Hot Springs, Va., settling in Westchester County, N.Y. where she graduated from Davis High School in Mt Vernon, N.Y.

Mrs. Gilchrest received a BA in Psychology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1945 and was an active member of the American Association of University Women. After the Second World War, Mrs. Gilchrest worked at the Institution for Rehabilitation in New York City. She was to meet Gordon Gilchrest on vacation in Nantucket and wed in 1950. Mrs. Gilchrest became a homemaker and after a family move to Greenwich, Conn., she also worked as a substitute school teacher in the Greenwich Public Schools. The family then moved to Brielle, NJ in 1970.

A member of the Manasquan River Golf Club in Brielle along with the Brielle Seniors, Merlyn enjoyed playing golf, participating in literature groups and the arts, visiting museums, attending ballet, gardening, and travelled in the US and Europe.

Memorial will be private and in lieu of Flowers, donations may be made in Merlyn’s name to the Guilderland Library Foundation, 2228 Western Ave, Guilderland, NY 12084; Ohio Wesleyan University, Development Service, 61 E Sandusky St. Delaware, OH 43015; or AAUW Funds, 1111 Sixteenth St NW, Washington, DC 20036.

George J. Landers, formerly of Spring Lake, passed away suddenly at his home on Tuesday. He was 71.

Born in Newark, he grew up in Belleville, South Orange, and Spring Lake. He raised his family in Succasunna before retiring to the shore. He graduated from St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Penn., and then earned his Masters Degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange.

George spent his career as an educator in the Newark school system. In addition he was very involved with the Roxbury Recreation summer program. He also directed the W.E.B. DuBois program at Princeton University.

Upon retirement, George fully enjoyed traveling with friends and spending time with family. He devoted his life to his children. There was nothing more important to him than family. George was a man of honor who will be greatly missed.

George was predeceased by his loving wife Sheila in April of 1990, brother Michael Landers, and his parents, George and Mary.

He is survived by his adoring children, Megan and her husband Jason Henne of Kernersville, N.C., Julia and her husband John Wallace, of Morris Plains, and Sean Landers, of Boston.; his cherished grandchildren, Brooke, Brielle, Kaylie, and Dominic; his siblings Patricia Landers Gilligan, of Wall, Peter Landers and his wife Karen, of Wall, Mary Cannonand her husband Dan, of Spring Lake, and his sister in law Michael Erbe Landers, of Spring Lake, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Arrangements were under the direction of the O'Brien Funeral Home in Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Catharine's Church in Spring Lake. Burial took place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated to St. Benedict's Prep, 520 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd, Newark.

For more information and condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com.

Patricia H. Smith, with family in Wall, passed away in the early morning on June 21 at Riverview Medical Center with her husband at her side and having had her son and daughter and her special canine friend, Faith, present the prior evening. She was 81.

She was born in South Orange on Jan. 31, 1931 to George and Loraine Hipp. She grew up in South Orange and graduated from South Orange High School. She subsequently graduated from Bradford College in Massachusetts.

She was predeceased by her parents and her bother Judd Hipp.

She is survived by Larrabee, her devoted husband of nearly 59 years, daughter Donna, of Holmdel, son Geoffrey, daughter-in-law Janine and grandchildren, Blake, Shannon and Spencer, of Wall Township.

She moved, with her family, to Holmdel from Morris Plains, in 1961. She loved her family, friends, needlework, painting and travel. Before illness limited her activities, she was an avid tennis player and her husband frequently tells stories of how she could throw a baseball like a man.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Holmdel Funeral Home Holmdel. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either of her favorite charities, Convenant House in New York City or Lunch Break in Red Bank.

Jean Murphy Benham, of Spring Lake, passed away peacefully of old age on June 20 at her home in Texas. She was 99.

Born Florence Jeanette Murphy on Feb. 15, 1913 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jean was a much-loved daughter of William R. Murphy and Florence Lauber. Jean lived in the Price Hill section of Cincinnati and enjoyed childhood summers in Les Cheneaux Islands near Mackinac Island, Mich. She also spent part of each winter in Miami and Havana, Cuba. As a five year old, Jean remembered 1918 Armistice Day fireworks as a 4th of July in November.

A 1931 graduate of Western Hills High School, she attended Ward-Belmont College in Nashville, Tenn. where she was voted Most Exquisite by her classmates. In 1936, she received a degree in botany from the University of Cincinnati and in 1976 earned her MA in Human Development from Fairleigh Dickenson University.

Jean moved to Spring Lake in 1950 when her husband, Bob, was appointed VP of John Robert Powers Cosmetics and Modeling, then the oldest modeling agency in New York City. Jean was an avid outdoors woman who enjoyed golfing, swimming and walking. She was also a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan.

She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother and grandmother who will be remembered for her hospitality and generosity. When her children were young, she was active in PTA, Scouting and Spring Lake Little League. Her grandchildren have fond memories of summers spent at her Jersey Shore home.

In 1961, after many years as a homemaker, Jean entered the workforce as a fourth grade teacher at Allenwood School in Wall, retiring in 1983 as a reading specialist. In retirement, she delivered Meals on Wheels and volunteered at Jersey Shore Medical Center.

Jean was a former member of The Spring Lake Golf Club and First Presbyterian Church in Manasquan. She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and the NJEA.

Jean was predeceased by her parents, her infant sister, Evelyn and her devoted husband of 50 years, Robert, who was a Director of Development for Monmouth University and a founder of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council.

She leaves to cherish her memory, a daughter, Susan Benham Rickards [Jeremy], New Brunswick, Canada, and two sons, Robert M. Benham Jr. [DeDe] Oklahoma City, Okla. and William T. Benham [Barbara] The Woodlands, Texas and Spring Lake Heights.

Seven grandchildren also survive her: Karen Harpp, Moscow, ID, Emily Harpp-Meulbroek [Peter], Pittsburgh, Penn., Col. [USAF] Michael R. Benham [Julie Ross], Panama City, Fla., Elizabeth Benham Shinn [Ron], Edmond, Okla., Lt. Cmdr. [USN], William T. Benham Jr. [April], Bellevue, NE, John M. Benham, Houston, Texas and Anne Benham Willson, [David], Greenville, SC.

She is also survived by her great-grandchildren: Ted, Everett and Avery Shinn, Zeke and Dessa Meulbroek, Olivia and Ethan Benham, Margaret and Eleanor Willson and Rachel and Taylor Ross.

Memorials in honor of Jean may be made to The International Red Cross 2025 E. Street NW, Washington, DC 20006 or to your local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Funeral arrangements were conducted by Forest Park in The Woodlands, Texas. Private services and burial were held at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati.

Clarence E. Haggerty, Jr., of Wall, passed away on Thursday, June 21. He was 91.

Mr. Haggerty was an insurance broker for Motor Club Insurance Company before retiring 1984. He served in the 29th Division of the United States Army during WWII from 1942-1945. He landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. He graduated from Seton Hall University in 1948 with Bachelor of Science in Social Studies.

Mr. Haggerty was born in Newark and lived in Scranton, Penn., Chicago, Omaha, Neb., Newark, and Irvington. He resided in Neptune and Neptune City from 1955 -1988 before moving to Florida. He returned to New Jersey in 2009.

He was predeceased by his former wife Betty Haggerty in 2011; brothers John and Roland; and sisters Mary and Anne.

Surviving are his son Timothy E. Haggerty and his wife Barbara, of Wall; brothers Joseph D. Haggerty, of Belle Meade, and The Honorable James C. Haggerty of Basking Ridge; two grandchildren, Nicole Haggerty and Michelle Burns, her husband David; as well as two great grandchildren Zachary and Sarah Burns.

Arrangements were under the direction of the O’Brien Funeral Home in Wall. Donations may be made in his name to a charity of choice. For more information or to send condolences please visit www.obrienfuneralhome .com

Ruth R. DeCristofaro, of Belmar, passed away on June 25 at Geraldine Thompson Care Center, Wall with her family by her side. She was 79.

She was born in Staten Island, N.Y. and lived in Middletown and Brick before moving to Belmar in 1992. She was a communicant at The Church of St. Rose in Belmar, a member of it’s Altar Rosary Society, The Belmar Women’s Club, and the past president The Lady’s Auxiliary Old Village Fire Company in Middletown.

She was predeceased by her husband Salvatore in 1987. Surviving are her children Joseph DeCristofaro and his wife Rosemarie Reilly of Belmar, Anthony DeCristofaro and his wife Mary of Fairfax, Va., and Anna Halton-Yaschur and her husband Vincent of Shark River Hills; her three sisters, Helen Landi of Homdel, Marie Ponterio of Orlando, Fla., Dorothy and her husband William Downes of Liverpool, N.Y. and five grandchildren Morgan Halton, Regina, Sarah, Jay and Michael DeCristofaro.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Orender Family Home for Funerals in Manasquan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am Thursday, June 28, at Church of St. Rose, Belmar. Interment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice. To send condolences to the family or obtain directions to the funeral home please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.com