Roxbury Township, Judith E Kwiecien, 74, died on March 1, 2024 at the Regency Grande Center in Dover. She was born in Morristown and lived most all of her life in Succasunna. She was a 1968 graduate of Roxbury High School and later earned her Teaching Degree from Trenton State Teacher’s College. She then taught in the Stanhope school system for many years. She was a life member of the Succasunna United Methodist church. For many years she rode her motorcycle with the Mine Hill American Legion.
She was predeceased by her husband Anthony Kwiecien in 2006. She is survived by her brothers Roy A Cooper (and Gayle) Cooper of Rockaway Township, Brother David (and Jeannine) Cooper of Christiansburg, VA. She also leaves her 2 step-son’s David Kwiecien of CO, and Jeff (and Sara) Kwiecien of PA, many nieces, nephew, grandchildren, and by her companion Rick Easterling.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Friday, March 8th, from 5 – 8 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, March 9th at 10 am, at the Funeral Home, followed by the internment at the Succasunna Methodist Cemetery.
Roxbury Township, Mrs. Stella A “Gigi” DeStefano, 93, died on February 24, 2024 at the Bristol Glen Center in Newton. She was born in Brooklyn and lived in Netcong before moving to Succasunna 67 years ago. She graduated from Netcong High School at the age of 16, and later earned her Teaching Degree from College of St. Elizabeth’s in Convent Station at the age of 20. She was a beloved teacher in the Roxbury Township School System for 38 years and was the first recipient of the N J Governor’s Teacher Award, founding member of the Roxbury Women’s Club, and founding member of St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna. She loved hosting and shopping and had a keen sense of style and fashion. Her favorite colors were jewel tones. Visitors can feel free to wear color.
She was predeceased by her husband Nicholas J DeStefano in 2016, her sister Frances Tardive and her brother Joseph Ferrucci. She is survived by her children; Mary Frances DeStefano of San Francisco, CA, Catherine Ann DeStefano (and Ray) Keough of Sparta, Phyllis (and Bill) Tonnesen of Branchville, and Philip (and Christine) DeStefano also of Branchville. She also leaves her 7 grandchildren; Lauren, Nicholas, Katie, Sara, Taylor, Giancarlo, and Philip, and 9 great grandchildren; Astrid, Liesl, Elsa, Tristan, Hawkon, Aryanna, Noah, Olive, and Hugo. She also leaves many nieces and nephews. Grandchildren were her joy. You could be sure to find her at the baseball game or at the football field or basketball court.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Wednesday, February 28th, from 3 – 5 & 7 – 9 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday, February 29th at 10 am, at St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna, followed by the internment at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.
Lake Hiawatha, NJ. Mr. Crescent Joseph Lanzisera, 94, died on February 19, 2024 at the Morristown Post Acute Center. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and lived in Kenvil for many years before moving to Lake Hiawatha 2 years ago. He was a retired Insurance Producer for the Joseph Held Insurance Company in New York City. He was a deacon at the Lady of the Lake Church and at St. Therese R C Church
He was predeceased by his wife Diane Farraro-Lanzisera in 2020 and is survived by his 5 children; Lisa Lanzisera, Joseph (and Karen) Lanzisera, Mary (and Jon) Shachov, Christine (and Andy) Jegutzki, and Michelle Lanzisera. He also leaves his 6 grandchildren; Joe, Daniel, Sarah, Jonathan, Mark, and Xander, and by his brother Joseph (and Micky) Lanzisera, and sister-in-law Celia Lazisera.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Friday, February 23rd, from 9 – 11 am. The Funeral Service will be held at 11 am, at the Funeral Home, followed by the internment at the Succasunna Presbyterian Cemetery.
Blairstown, NJ. Mr. Patrick John Deming, Jr. ,51, passed away suddenly on February 13, 2023. He was born in Fort Dix, NJ while his father was in the U S Airforce. He later lived in Mine Hill, and later in Netcong before moving to Blairstown 4 years ago. He was a self -employed Carpenter and contractor and began working with Lyman and Ryerson Electric. He was an avid fisherman and loved his dog Lexi. He always helped everyone. His hard work and professionalism are his legacy. A PROUD member of the Deming family and his humor and bluntness will be remembered by us all.
He is survived by his mother Phyllis E Deming of Succasunna, and by his 2 sisters and 2 brothers: Suzanne Deming (Brian Schengrund) Steven Deming (Cheryl A. Deming), Karyn Landis (Gary Landis), James Deming (Natalie Deming).
He is also survived by 9 Nieces and Nephews: Johanna (David), Emily, Connor, Samantha, Amanda, Benjamin, Kaitlyn, Ellie Mae.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Thursday, February 15th, from 4 – 7 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, February 16th at 10 am, at the Funeral Home, followed by the internment at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Wharton.
Bernard A. Mack, 82, of Succasunna, NJ, passed away suddenly on February 12, 2024.
Bernard, fondly known as Bernie, was born to Peter and Doris Mack on May 7th, 1941 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he lived throughout his childhood and high school years. He then attended Pennsylvania State University and graduated in 1963 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. Following graduation, Bernie began his long career as a civil servant working at Frankfurt Arsenal (Philadelphia) as an Engineer in Fire Control Systems making many significant contributions over the years to the United States Army Artillery. In 1978 he moved to Picatinny Arsenal, Rockaway, NJ to continue his federal service working in the development of field artillery systems until his retirement in May 2001. Over 20 years later, Bernie is fondly remembered as meticulous, analytical, detail oriented and a mentor for many younger engineers that came after him. Of the many awards Bernie received throughout his career, he was most proud to be the recipient of the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara (patron saint of artillery men) award for recognition of those who have displayed exceptional professional competence and significant contributions to field artillery systems.
Bernie is survived by his wife of 56 years, Eileen, their 3 children, Wendy (Dave), Kevin (Maureen) and Brendon and 5 grandchildren, Zackery, Chase, Cole, Dylan and Kelsey. He is also survived by his sister Dorie, sister-in-law Donna and pre-deceased by his brother, Jerry. Bernie will be remembered as the very best husband, Dad, Poppy and friend who could always be counted on no matter what the situation, lovingly called Mr. Fix It for his ability to repair literally anything. His favorite activity was spending time with his family and friends at the beach or his pool enjoying the simple things in life – good food, good drinks and good conversation. He loved his 1968 Oldsmobile 442, cruises, all things Penn State (especially football), bad Dad jokes, and every dog he ever met. He will be sorely missed by all the dogs that loved him as much as he loved them – George, Brenda, Ann and Zeke.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St, Succasunna, NJ on Monday, February 26th from 5-7 pm. The Funeral Liturgy Mass will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, February 27th at St. Theresa RC Church, 151 Main St, Succasunna, NJ. Interment will be private on Wednesday, February 28th at Resurrection Cemetery, Bensalem, PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Warrior Canine Connection in Bernie’s name. Donations can be made at warriorcanineconnection.org or mailed to Warrior Canine Connection at 14934 Schaeffer Road, Boyds, MD 20841.
Roxbury Township, Mrs. Donna Marie Hamfeldt (Maiden name Starr), who grew up in Rockaway, died on February 8, 2024 (64 y/o) at Morristown Memorial Hospital. She was born on September 21st 1959 and moved to Succasunna in 2001. She was a home school mom for her children, home maker, and a member of Faith Center for the Arts.
She is survived by her husband Albert Digby Hamfeldt of 35 years, by her 3 children: Albert (spouse Brittany), Christopher, and Melissa; 3 grandchildren: Andrew, Joshua, and Jonathan, her mother Madeline Starr, and her sister Valerie.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Tuesday, February 13th, from 4 – 7 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, February 14th at 10 am, at the Funeral Home, followed by the internment at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, in Chester.
Jelena Kova?evi?, age 48, passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis at Morristown Post Acute Rehabilitation Center in Morristown, NJ.
Born on November 17,1975 in Subotica, Serbia (formerly Yugoslavia) she was the daughter of Ernest and Vukosava Kova?evi? (Djordjevi?). Her father and mother were born in Subotica and Šugrin, Serbia respectively.
She was a very precocious child and showed many talents at an early age, ranging from painting, crafts, and cooking to academics and sports. She enjoyed skiing throughout most of her life, played volleyball and tennis in high school and loved riding her motorcycle.
Mathematics was Jelena’s strong suit. She scored perfectly on the math portion of the SAT’s, and her acumen ultimately led to a successful career in information technology.
Jelena had a strong, outgoing personality. With a warm smile and an easy laugh, she easily made friends wherever she found herself. Her greatest quality was being a giver. Whether it was a souvenir from a trip or some homemade cupcakes, nothing gave her more pleasure than providing for others.
Jelena was predeceased by her father Ernest. She is survived by her loving mother Vukosava, her beloved son Carl, her brother Djordje and wife Kelli, her niece and nephew Maya and Neven and her husband Brian Powers.
Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com).
Mt. Arlington, NJ – Mr. Philip Michael Susa, aged 84, passed away peacefully on February 1, 2024, at the Chatham Hills Care Center in Chatham. Phil was born in Sharon, PA, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Susa and was one of 5 children. He moved to New Jersey in 1966, where he built a life filled with love and accomplishment, while residing in Roxbury for over 50 years.
Phil proudly served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam Era, a testament to his steadfast commitment to his country. His journey of lifelong learning led him to earn an MBA in Personnel Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1973. Phil was a pioneer of his time, exploring the concepts of mindfulness and the benefits of a 4-day workweek long before they became mainstream.
His career as a Personnel Director was marked by significant achievements, beginning with the International Paper Company and leading to roles with Boonton Electronics, Dranetz, SKC, and Right Management. Known for his work ethic, integrity, and leadership, Phil was held in high esteem by colleagues and friends, universally respected without a single detractor.
An accomplished tennis player in his youth, Phil later turned his passion to golf, celebrating a coveted ‘hole in one’. His hobbies showcased his quiet kindness, modesty, and an understated persistence. His love for food and gatherings is a testament to his ability to find joy in life’s small moments. Phil’s quiet sense of humor was as delightful as it was witty, often catching those around him by surprise with his clever observations.
Survived by his wife of 59 years, Suzanne Susa, and their three children; Tony, Dave, and Jeannie, Phil’s legacy lives on. Affectionately known as Poppy to his 8 grandchildren; Mason, Josh, Kayden, Trey, David, Lily, Kyle, and Samantha, who brought immense joy and pride into his life. He is also survived by his siblings, Mary Beth, Paula, and Bonnie. His guidance, wit, and wisdom will be profoundly missed.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Knights of Columbus or the charity of your choice. As we bid farewell, we also celebrate the life of a man who touched many hearts. May we aspire to embody the kindness, humility, and dedication Phil exemplified every day.
The Funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton R.C. Church in Flanders at 10:30 am, on February 12th. Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com),
Roxbury Tp. Mr. Clarence “Clarky” G Clark, 98, died on January 29, 2024 at the Holly Manor Home in Mendham. He was born at home, across the street, in Succasunna where he lived all of his life. He served in the U S ARMY from 1943 – 1946 during WW II in the Aircraft Battalion in the Pacific. He was a retired equipment supervisor for Roxbury Township where he worked for 25 years. He was also an Exempt Member of the Roxbury Fire Company #1 since 1955, member of the Kenvil VFW Post #2833, and long standing member of the “S A R” Son’s of the American Revolution, Jockey Hollow Chapter.
He is survived by his wife Bernice “Pat” (Haggerty) Clark of 77 years and by his son William D (and his wife Deborah) Clark of Wharton. He also leaves his 3 grandchildren; Stacey Clark of MD, Karen (and Sean) DeBree of PA, and Stephanie (and Adam) Brink of CT, 7 great grandchildren; Kimberly (and Brendan) Hallissey, Lauren Kerwein, William Kerwein, Samantha DeBree, Kristina DeBree, Evelyn Brink, and Archer Brink, a great -great granddaughter Charlotte Hallissey, sister Carolyn (and James) Decker, and daughter-in-law Mariann Clark. He was predeceased by his son Thomas G Clark and grandson Sean Thomas Clark.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com), on Friday, February 2nd, from 5 – 8 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, 10 am, at the Funeral Home, followed by the interment at the Succasunna Methodist Cemetery, with Military Honors. Donations may be made in his name to the Muscular Dystrophy Association at MDA.org
Mary Beth MacDowell, aged 39, passed away unexpectedly and suddenly on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. Mary was born July 6, 1984 in Dover New Jersey and lived in Morris County for her entire life. She attended Mount Olive Public Schools. Her son, Jaren Pabalan was born on June 30 2012. She and Jaren’s father, Lester Pabalan were married on April 29, 2018.
Mary worked for several years at Daytop New Jersey in Mendham in the adolescent substance abuse program. She truly loved helping adolescents as they navigated the path to recovery. Being the beautiful spirit that she was, she was very gratified to be able to help these young women and guide them to a better path in life. She was working toward her degree in Childhood Development.
Mary was loved dearly by her family and friends who will always remember her sense of humor, her flair for style, her taste for the finer things in life and above all else her love for her son.
Mary is survived by her son, Jaren Pabalan, her husband Lester Pabalan, her mother, Suzanne MacDowell, her three sisters, Brandy, Melody and Stephanie.
A celebration of her life will be held Sunday, January 28, 2024 at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) , 96 Main Street in Succasunna, NJ from 2 – 4 pm.
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