Roxbury Township, Mr. David W. Stulen, 72, died on November 25, 2025 at Morristown Medical Center. My Dave started to write me a letter which he entitled “The Story Of Us” which sadly he never finished. So instead, I hope with his permission to finish it with a few changes starting with the title to “It’s a Wonderful World” because that is how Dave always saw life.

He was born in Boonton, NJ on July 17, 1953 to Foster Stulen, a lead scientist at Curtis-Wright and Ruth Welheimer.  He had a very happy childhood in a home filled with love and eccentric inventions his father created for him and his older brother. Sadly, his father died suddenly when he was 10 and his mother 8 years later. After High school he was accepted into Rider College but instead opted to attend Morris County College so he could stay close to home to care for his ailing mother and aging grandmother who died a year after his mother. He was one credit short of graduating but with these turn of events he was forced to start working full time. He started his career working at Chiani’s Auto Body Shop in Boonton where he later became Proprietor and a familiar face to all in Boonton for many years. But David always had an advantageous entrepreneur spirit and later started a new career with Hyperion Pool Company, where he was Foreman and a skilled Excavator bringing his 2 CAT machines into the business. When I met Dave he was taking night classes at Denville’s Vo-Tech for welding. I think whoever was graced to have known Dave could honestly say how he enriched their lives. Someone recently compared my Dave to the character George Bailey  in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Anyone who had a problem, needed advice or financial support knew they could go to Dave and walk away with a solution.

He is survived by his wife Catherina (nee Martinovich), brother Foster Stulen and (wife Tamara), their children Samatha and Trey, nephews Sam and Christopher Martinovich, their mother Marsha Martinovich (late Sam Martinovich father) my sweet niece Stephanie Frederick and her wonderful husband Marc who have always been there for us, and their children Julia, Tyler, and Amanda. Through all the hardships we faced together you always saw the glass as half full and always gave thanks to God. I am sure you were met with the words “Well done my good and faithful servant”. Every task you ever undertook was always done with perfection. You always considered yourself a craftsman. When we married you undertook the job of being a husband, provider, friend, lover and you did it all with your craftsman perfection. I feel blessed and honored to have been called your wife, you were a wonderful husband and I will always miss you till we are together again.

With Love Always and Forever,
Cathy

Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ,
973-584-7264 on Thursday, December 4th, from 3 – 6 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 5th, at 1 pm, at St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna.

Michele Gumeny (Ernst) passed away on November 23, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Jamaica, Queens to Baldwin and Alice Ernst. She grew up in Succasunna, New Jersey.  After graduating from Roxbury High School, Michele enlisted in the US Army where she proudly served for three years. She graduated from Dover Business College before working at BASF for more than 40 years as a Senior Human Resources Systems Specialist retiring in 2020.

Michele was the biggest fan (and toughest critic) of the Jets and Mets, and she never stopped rooting for them. She was quick with a joke, had a twinkle in her eye, and always had a story ready to share. Michele was always the first to volunteer to help a friend or family in need, always thinking of others before herself. Her happiest places were in Antigua, where she vacationed for more than 25 years, and relaxing on her boat “Twisted Sisters” on Lake Hopatcong, usually with a gin and tonic in hand.

In her younger years she was mischievous, sneaking out of her bedroom window to joy ride with friends, leaving her siblings to cover for her. However, she grew into the matriarch of the family, always looking out for everyone else and bringing people together. She had a way of truly feeling what you felt, celebrating your wins like they were her own, and sitting with you on your hardest days.

The word “Aunt” doesn’t do her justice. It was never just a title to her, it was a role she poured her heart into. With 10 nieces and nephews and 12 great nieces and nephews, she had a special relationship with each one. She was a confidant, a friend, a second mother, and she always took your side. If something important was happening, Michele was there. Birthdays, school plays, recitals, sporting events (cheering loudly), graduations, or just a friendly visit, she showed up; typically with her famous chocolate chip cookies. She was her happiest when her family was all together, talking, laughing, and drinking a little red wine. Michele leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humor and love.

Michele is survived by a sister Jeri Sibel and husband Vincent; brother Steve Ernst and wife Debbie; sister Claudette Fox and husband Jeff; and brother Phil Ernst and wife Shirley. Michele is also survived by many dear friends and extended family who were fortunate to have been touched by her life.

A memorial visitation will be held at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna on Friday, December 12^th from 10am – 12pm. Fr.Lem will do a religious service at 10:30 am. There will be Military Honors at 11:45 am. To honor Michele’s life and legacy, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made (via the donation page below) to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) or METAvivor to fund critical metastatic breast cancer research.
give.bcrf.org/MicheleGumeny
donate.metavivor.org/MicheleGumeny

Robert Bergman of Danville, PA passed away on November 14, 2025 in Mendham, NJ.  Robert was born on May 28, 1944 in Madison, NJ to Josephine and Robert Bergman.

Robert was a 1963 graduate of Madison High School.   After graduation he attended Manhattan Medical Assistant’s School where he received his diploma as a Medical Laboratory Technologist.  He started his career at All Soul’s Hospital.  In 1969 he moved to Miami to attend Barry College where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree.  During his time in Florida, he worked in the lab at various hospitals.  In 2002, he moved to Danville, PA and worked at Geisinger Medical Center where he finished his career until retirement.

Robert was a member of St. Joseph’s Church in Danville and Milton.

Robert will be remembered as an amazing man full of life with a wonderful sense or humor. He enjoyed traveling, going out to dinner, trips to the casinos, and visiting family in NJ.   He was a fantastic uncle and had a heart of gold and was always happy to lend a hand to anyone who needed it.

He is predeceased by his husband and life long partner of 49 years, David Mottern, his parents, and his sister Antoinette Altamura.  He is survived by his nieces Lisa O’Leary and husband Christopher of Succasunna, NJ and Antoinette Shiel and her husband Paul Shiel of Madison, NJ, and his two beloved nephews Clayton & Derek O’Leary  He is also survived by his dog Brady who he loved very much.

Friends are invited to a graveside memorial service on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at St. Joseph Cemetery, Milton, PA at 12 Noon.  Funeral arrangements are being handled by Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, Succasunna, NJ.

Uncle Bob, you will be sorely missed but never ever forgotten.

Henry R “Hank“ Van Handle, 75, passed away on November 12, 2025 at Copperman Barnabas in Livingston, NJ. He was born in Passaic and lived in Succasunna, NJ for 50 years. He is a member of St. Therese parish.

He earned his Undergraduate and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ.  He was an Engineering Manager for Conoco Phillips Refinery in Linden, NJ.

He is survived by his wife Mary Lou of 55 years, sons Stephen and David; Daughter-in-Laws Jennifer and Colleen and Grandchildren Emma, Sean and Olivia.

He lived his life to its fullest.  Early on he played squash, basketball and softball, leading to his love of sports and time spent coaching recreational teams. His hobbies included skiing, bridge, folk and bluegrass music, photography and traveling – he visited all 7 continents and numerous countries around the world. He was known for his love of trying new and different foods, especially spicy ones.  His final trip with his entire family was to the Galapagos. This trip will always stay in the memories of those who were there.

He loved hanging with the grandkids, attending lots of their soccer and softball games, musical and dance performances, as well as cooking and playing card games with them.

Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264, on Sunday November 16^th from 2-5pm and on Monday from 3-6pm.  The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, at 10am, at St. Therese Church in Succasunna, NJ followed by the interment at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester.

A luncheon will follow at Cinder’s Wood Fire Grill, 319 US Highway 46, Mine Hill, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Community Food Bank of NJ, 31 Evans Terminal, Hillside, NJ 07205.  Donations can also be given online at cfbnj.org.

Mine Hill, Mr. John H. Gunther Jr., 84, died on Monday, October 27th, 2025. He was born on November 26, 1940 in Dover, NJ and grew up in Randolph, NJ before moving to Dover and Long Valley before moving to Mine Hill for 40yrs.

After graduating from high school, he was drafted into the army and served as a Field Artillery Specialist during the Vietnam Era. Upon completion of his service, he went onto working for Picatinny Arsenal where he worked in the Transportation Department driving explosives until his retirement after 37 years. John, loved NASCAR, loved the outdoors and his garden, which he would share his bounty with others. He was an avid weather observer. He loved his Yankees. He was a member of the NARFE & William J. Ryan, Chapter No., 424.

He is predeceased by his wife Daisy D Gunther of 47 years, his parents John and Daisy (Hand) Gunther, his daughter Sharon Lesko, Allentown and Grandson Brendan Goldman, West Monroe, NY. He is survived by his remaining 3 children; Mark Morrison, Flanders, Bonnie Gunther, Mine Hill, NJ and Deborah Mifsud, Hopatcong, NJ, 9 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held graveside at Locust Hill Cemetery on Friday, October 31, 2025 at 11:00am. Arrangements are being made through Davis and Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ. (973-584-7264).

Bernards Township,   Mr. Robert Francis Ames, 84, died on October 25, 2025 at his home. He was born in Plainfield, NJ and lived in North Plainfield, before moving to Bernards Township in 1958. He was the owner and operator of a Used Car Lot in Plainfield.

He was predeceased by his parents Dorothy and Robertof Flemington, nephew Ted Hildum Ames and is survived by his brother Richard Ames of Scotch Plains, NJ, and sister Priscilla Hildum of Rochester, MI. He also leaves his nephew Geoff F Ames of Succasunna, NJ nieces Valerie Giacomo of Denville and Vicki Terelle of Flemington, nephew Ted Hildum of San rancisco, CA, Nephew Rob Hildum oBend, Oregon, and Nephew David Hildum of Cambridge, MA.

Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 on Tuesday, November 4th, from 4 – 6 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at 5 pm at the Funeral Home.

Joseph “Joe” Raymond Morodan passed away on October 24, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Tewksbury to Julius and Camilla Morodan, grew up in Belleville, and later moved to Succasunna to raise his family.

“Hilltop,” he would say every time he picked up the phone — a cheerful echo of the gas station he owned for decades and a small, steady reminder of a life built on hard work. He carried that same spirit into everything he did — loyal to his family, supportive of his friends, and always ready to lend a hand or share a story.

Joe was the kind of man you could tell anything to — kind and endlessly giving. He cared for his wife of 50 years, Sylvia (predeceased), in ways no one else could, and his love for her never faded. According to Joe, they never had a fight… that he won.

Their home was a place of refuge — filled with warmth, food, and unconditional acceptance. There was always so much love at the Morodans’. Joe and Sylvia built a life that welcomed everyone, but their hearts belonged most to their daughters, Nicole and Jennifer. In the early years, Joe drove them to school in everything from tow trucks to limousines, depending on which car he was road-testing that day. Later, he’d wait up in his recliner until the girls made it home safe.

To his three grandchildren — Riley, Hailey, and Chloe — he was Poppy. Poppy would do anything for his girls, always making sure they were spoiled beyond measure.

To many people, he was simply “Uncle Joe.” When his niece, Michelle, opened her bagel shop in Mount Arlington, he was there from the start — fixing, lifting, encouraging. He poured (and drank) a lot of coffee, swept floors, and ate more than his share of bagels, earning himself the namesake Uncle Joe sandwich. In that shop, surrounded by laughter and customers who loved him as much as family did, he became everyone’s uncle.

Joe had a love–hate relationship with the New York Giants. “This is what they do,” he’d say as they went from a near shutout to losing the game, shaking his head. He loved family trips to Wildwood, gambling runs to Atlantic City, and Jersey corn, peaches, and tomatoes in the summer. He could eat pasta for every meal, sit on the porch for hours with Rocky and Little Joe sipping a glass of vino, and was happiest surrounded by food, laughter, and the people he loved. Whether he was making zeppoles with Sylvia or sharing one of his classic sayings — “It is what it is,” “Let me tell you something,” or the unforgettable “I’m falling through my a$$” — Joe brought humor and heart to every situation.

Even in his final years, when life grew difficult, Joe never stopped giving. He remained the same generous soul who welcomed everyone — the friend who sat at hospital bedsides, the man who bought too much pasta and Rao’s sauce, and the one who always said yes when someone needed help.

Joe leaves behind a legacy of kindness, humor, and love — carried on by his daughters Nicole (and Rich) Fachet of New Providence, NJ, and Jennifer (and Avery) Kowalski of Wallingford, CT; his grandchildren Riley Kowalski, Hailey Fachet, and Chloe Fachet; his many nieces and nephews, including Scott Smith, Michelle (and Eric) Fowler, Talia and Gregory Colananni; great-nephews Anthony and Bailey Smith, Stephen and Nicholas Fowler; great-niece Sierra Smith; sisters Anne Holl and Barbara Melillo, and the countless people lucky enough to have known him.

We find peace in knowing that Joe and Sylvia are together again — making zeppoles, watching the Giants blow another lead, and shaking their heads, saying, “This is what they do.”

A memorial service and mass will be held at St. Therese Church,151 Main St, Succasunna, NJ, on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 10 am. In honor of Joe, please donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com)