Theodore W “Ted” Miller passed away on February 2, 2025. He was 86 years old. Ted was born in Manhattan, NY before moving to West Orange at age 5. He would go on to star in baseball, earning MVP honors on the 1955 Essex County championship team and be named 1st team all-county and 3rd team all-state as a second baseman in 1955. He was inducted into the West Orange Hall of Fame in 2002. He was also an accomplished bowler and golfer, winning numerous awards over the years. He served in the army from 1956 – 1958.
He started his real estate career in 1965 and moved to Roxbury Township in 1971 with his young family. He opened his own real estate company, Ted Miller Realty, the following year. The company, based in Roxbury, would eventually affiliate with ERA Real Estate and would become the #1 ERA company in New Jersey in 1981. It would remain successful until his retirement in 2000 when it was merged with Burgdoff Realtors.
His family meant everything to him. He enjoyed coaching his children in multiple sports over the years. He was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Joan (Kushner) Miller and his parents, Theodore G Miller and Elizabeth. He is survived by his 2 children, Theodore G Miller II and his wife Deborah of Succasunna as well as his daughter, Tammy K Brunskill and her husband Kenneth of Randolph. He also leaves behind 3 grandchildren, Susan Miller, Hayley Miller and Bode Brunskill
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna, New Jersey 07876 (973-584-7264) on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025 from 3 – 7 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at 6 pm, at the Funeral Home.
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Mt. Olive Township, Mrs. Maria Ann DiMarco, 86, died peacefully at home on January 30, 2025. She was born in Bethlehem, Libya and moved to Abruzzi, Italy and then came to the United States after she married Eraldo DiMarco, in 1960. She was a homemaker and moved to Mt. Olive Twp. 24 years ago. She was a parishioner of St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna. She loved being a homemaker and being with her family. She also loved knitting, gardening, and was an avid reader. Her greatest joy was being with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband Eraldo DiMarco in 2019, and by her sisters; Lucia Macalle in 2021, and Yolanda Grasso in 2020. She is survived by her 3 children; Anna “Lisa” DiMarco and Ray Bellini of Hackettstown, Josephine DiMarco of Mt. Olive Twp, and Dante DiMarco of Mt. Olive Twp. She also leaves her 4 grandchildren; Michael and Ashley Bellini, Maria Katherine Schwarz, and Nicole Lee Schwarz, 3 great grandchildren; Leia Sky Bellini, Arya Marie Bellini, and Elsie Rose Hill, and her 2 sisters; Joanne “Giovanna” Forcella, and Leonilda Trautvetter.
Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna, New Jersey (07876) on Sunday, Feb. 2 from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Therese Roman Catholic Church, 151 Main St., Succasunna at 10 am, on Monday. The Entombment will follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.
Stephen J Chapkovich passed away peacefully in his home on January 27, 2025. He was 80 years old. Steve was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut in April 1944. He moved to Hackettstown, New Jersey and then to Mine Hill in 1955. He graduated from Dover High School in 1963. He moved to Roxbury in 1967 and worked for McWilliams Forge as a Die Sinker for 32 years. He then worked for the Roxbury Department of Public Works for another 18 years before retiring.
Steve enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping. He joined Roxbury Fire Company 1 in 1968. He served as Company Chief and Department Chief and celebrated his 50th anniversary there in 2023.
He is survived by his grandchildren: Stephen and his partner Bryanna, and Danielle and her husband Aaron Flint. He is survived by his devoted wife of 34 years, Sandra. Additionally, he leaves behind three stepchildren and five step-grandchildren: Debra and her husband Vito Cortese; Jennifer and her husband Bill MacKinnon, along with their children Iain and Jack; and William Foote and his wife Sarah, together with their children Connor, Logan, and Noah. He is also survived by his sister Barbara, her husband Joseph Szoke, and their children Eric (and wife Lori) and Karen (and wife Dana).
He is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen in 1982 and Olga in 2011.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Steve’s memory to the Roxbury Volunteer Firemen’s Association Co#1, 122 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 07876.
Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna (973-584-7264) on Friday, January 31, from 3 to 8 pm. The Exempt Fireman’s Service will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday at 7:30 pm. The Funeral Service will be held on Saturday at 2 pm, followed by the Last Call at the Roxbury Fire House at 2:45 pm. His family will then have a repass in the Fire House Hall.
Roxbury Township. JACQUELINE GWEN EHRGOTT (“Jackie” or “Jack”), age 66, left our family on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. She was born in Dover and grew up in a large, loving family in Succasunna. Her late, devoted parents were Ruby and Don Ehrgott.
In her early years, Jackie attended a secretarial school and a cosmetology school when she resided in Vermont. She also worked as a nurse’s aide years ago at Merry Heart Nursing Home and at Welkind Rehabilitation Center. She was proud of her jobs working with elderly people.
Jackie had a BIG heart, and gave BIG hugs. Jackie was smart, kind, funny, and generous. She remembered all her siblings’ birthdays every year and sent them cards, often weeks prior to the date; it was one of Jackie’s endearing qualities. Jackie faced many challenges during her lifetime, and she persevered through all of them. She was a strong, tough woman.
Jackie especially enjoyed being around her family and all the many friends she made throughout her lifetime. She loved listening to music and singing Karaoke, and enjoyed reading. Jack wrote heartfelt letters, notes, and cards to people. She was a self-described “phone-a-holic” – Jackie LOVED calling people at all times, both day and night! She liked going places and hanging out with her late friend Jeffrey Vage – they were good buddies for over 25 years.
She spent her last few months at Morris View Healthcare Center, Morristown. Jackie was diagnosed with colon cancer and fought it for over two years. She was SO strong, and SO brave. She never gave up until she grew too weak. Yet she still knew and spoke to her family, both in person and on the phone (of course!) until she left us.
We were all blessed with Jackie’s love and spirited presence in our lives, and she provided us with many funny stories to remember and share. We were all very lucky to know and love her.
Jack was always fortunate to have kind, dedicated people in her midst who took excellent care of her. A few of the organizations that cared for her were Mental Health Association (formerly MHA of Essex & Morris), Community Hope, New Bridge Services, and SERV Behavioral Health System. Jackie’s family would like to express their deep and abiding appreciation for the people who work for these organizations. We know that Jackie would also want us to thank Pastor Donald Kirschner of the Boonton United Methodist Church, who served as a calming, steady presence in Jack’s life.
Jackie is survived by her loving and loved birth daughter, the light of her life, Aileen Barry, and her husband Scott Barry and their three sons, Dean, Owen, and Evan; her brother Glenn Ehrgott and wife Claudia, her nieces Kristin and Danielle, and great nephews Jaxon and Lucas; her sister Wendy Pett and husband Bob, and her nephew David and his wife Tina; her brother Wayne Ehrgott and wife Debbie, her niece Nicole and husband Adam Haslett, and great nephews Harrison and Hudson; and her nephew Donald Ehrgott. Also surviving Jackie is her Big Sister, Cheryl Ehrgott, who honored her promise to their amazing Mom Ruby and became Jackie’s primary family caregiver for over 19 years. Cheryl did her best to advocate for Jack, be there for her when needed, keep her safe, and love her. Families make the best, caring advocates.
Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna (973-584-7264). She will be buried at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Chester, NJ. A private service will be held with her family at the cemetery. Future plans include a Celebration of Life for Jackie in March around her birthday.
Eleanor Narby Dyrness, 89 passed away on January 20, 2025 after a short illness. She was born in Kenvil, and remained a lifelong resident of Roxbury Township. After graduating from RHS with the Class of 1953, she went to work at Prudential Insurance until she stayed at home raising her two daughters. She later worked at The Roxbury Medical Group in the billing department. She loved to bake, was an avid reader, enjoyed counted cross stitch and doing puzzles. She kept in touch with high school classmates, former co-workers, and church friends, and enjoyed meeting with them for lunch on a regular basis. She was a member of Succasunna United Methodist Church where she volunteered at the Thrift shop from 2001 until 2014. She belonged to The Ever Young Seniors of Roxbury.
She was predeceased by her husband John, her parents, Martha and “Stub” Narby and sisters Edna Narby and Vada LaFalce. She is survived by her two daughters, Susan (Brad Basile) Maywood and Laura (Kevin Large) Succasunna as well as one brother, Selbern Narby (Elaine) of Netcong, two sisters, Judy Stover (Bob) of Hendersonville, NC, Martie Lou Little (Merle) of High Point, NC and her brother-in-law Frank LaFalce of Netcong. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews. She also leaves behind two step grandsons, Darren Large (Jessica) and Douglas Large (Karin) and three great grandchildren, Lily, Tyler and Maddy.
Visiting will be at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna (973-584-7264) on Friday, January 24th from 3:00 to 6:00PM. The funeral will be held at the Succasunna Methodist Church, 91 Main St., Succasunna on Saturday, January 25th at 10:00AM. Cremation will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Succasunna United Methodist church in her memory.
Alice Marie Lavitt, 95, of Sarasota, Florida, passed away on January 18, 2025.
Alice was born in Kearny, New Jersey to John A. and Alice (nee O’Rourke) Callanan on December 6, 1929. She graduated from Lady Cliff College, Highland Falls, New York, in 1950. She worked as a chemist for Picatinny Arsenal, Rockway Township, New Jersey, and as assistant to the vice president for research at Apollo Technologies in East Hanover, New Jersey.
Alice was an active volunteer at the Senior Friendship Center for many years after moving to Sarasota in 2000 from Succasunna, New Jersey. She also was a member of the Women’s Club at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sarasota, and the Catholic Daughters of America, Court No. 881, Wharton, New Jersey, where she held several offices.
Alice was preceded in death by her parents, John Austin Callanan and Alice (nee O’Rourke) Callanan, her husband, Joseph William Lavitt, and her brother, Col. John A. Callanan.
She is survived by her children, Michael O. Lavitt and his wife, Carol, Robert G. Lavitt and his wife, Cory, and Louise I. Lavitt; her grandchildren, Katherine M. Lavitt, Erin Lavitt and Erin’s husband Kadeem Boothe, Joseph Lavitt, Cassandra Lavitt, Kyle Lavitt; and her great-granddaughter, Cosima Boothe Lavitt.
Viewing will be at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main St., Succasunna, New Jersey on Saturday, Feb. 1 from 9-10:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian Burial to follow at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, 151 Main St., Succasunna at 11 am. Interment will be private at a later date.
A celebration of life will be held in Sarasota at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Senior Friendship Center of Sarasota or St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Sarasota.
It is with great sadness that the family of Mr. Robert William Smith, 56, announce his passing on January 16, 2025 at the Morristown Medical Center. He was born in Lynchburg, VA and grew up in Raritan, N.J. before moving to Succasunna in 2015.
He was a construction worker for the High Tech Construction Company in Somerset, NJ, and recently became a member of the Succasunna United Methodist Church.
Rob was a great father, son, brother and friend. He will be sorely missed by the love of his life Hope Hornick of 21 years and his daughter Kira Madison Smith of Succasunna. He also leaves his mother Patricia A. Heckerman of Readington, N.J., his sisters; Kimberly A. Biely and her husband Frank of Bridgewater, N.J., their children, Travis, Callie and Austin and, Ellen M. Solarek and her husband Chris of Kunkletown, P.A., and their children; Michael, Rachel and Jacob. He was predeceased by his step-father LeRoy L. Heckerman and, brother Andrew Mahoney.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 25th, 2025 at the Funeral Home at 1:30 pm. Friends may visit from 12 – 2 pm at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ – (973) 584-7264
Donald “Duke” Snyder, 89, of Jefferson Township, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025.
Born in Greenville, NY, Duke served his country in the United States Army, stationed in Hawaii. He dedicated over 50 years to his career as a beer truck driver, a testament to his work ethic and dedication.
Beyond his professional life, Duke’s passions were many. He was a lifelong car enthusiast, serving as an NHRA Tech Inspector at Island Dragway for over 50 years. He was an avid NASCAR fan and cherished his near-daily breakfast and lunch visits to Bryan’s Luncheonette. His beloved dog Bailey was his loyal companion and brought him immense joy.
Duke leaves behind his loving wife of 22 years, Betsy. He is survived by his daughter, Deidre Lewis, and her husband, Scott; his son-in-law, Gary Snyder (predeceased by his daughter, Desiree); his granddaughter, Brittany Capriotti, her husband, Rob, and their children, Cooper and Carter; his granddaughter, Taylor Edgington, and her husband, Nick; his granddaughter, Kailey Lewis, and her fiancée, Tyler; his brother, Ken, and his wife, Carole; and his sister, Nancy Piechocki. Duke was also predeceased by his first wife, Dolores Joan Snyder.
He will be deeply missed by Betsy’s children: Kim Gallagher and her children, Dylan and Shea; Kerri Koch, her husband, Russ, and their children, Joey, Kameryn, and Carson; Kristin Benson and her partner, Liz; and Danny “Moe” Benson, his wife, Briana, and their children, Bodhi and Sunny.
Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ – (973) 584-7264
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Roxbury Township, Mr. Joseph Mascenik, 97, died on January 10, 2025 at St. Clare’s Hospital in Denville. He was born in Bayonne, NJ and moved to Succasunna 55 years ago. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Rutgers University. He was a Tax Accountant at Allied Signal in Morris Plains for many years. He then worked for the State of Louisiana as a Tax Accountant. He was also a founding member of the Holy Wisdom Byzantine Church in Succasunna.
He was predeceased by his wife Ruth E Mascenik in 2022, and by 3 sons; Robert, Mark, and Joseph. He is survived by his son David Mascenik of Succasunna, and by his 2 grandchildren; Mark and Kaleigh.
Friends may visit at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 from 4 – 6 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Wednesday, 10 am, at the Holy Wisdom Byzantine Church on Emmans Road, Succasunna, the interment will follow at the Succasunna Presbyterian Cemetery.
Eliseo L Valdes formerly of Kenvil, N.J. passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025 surrounded by his loving family.
He was born on June 18, 1930 in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba to Eliseo Valdes Alba and Maria L Abreu Alvarez. Eliseo migrated to the United States in 1971 in order to provide a better life for his wife and children. He worked as a custodian at Fairleigh Dickenson University in Madison for many years before retiring.
Eliseo is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Coralia (Cuellar) Valdes. He also leaves his 4 children, Henry Valdes (and Margarita), Silvio Valdes (and Kimberly), Maria Dudley (and Charles), George Valdes, 8 grandchildren, Jennifer, Heather, Diego, Mason, Emily, Sierra, Morgan, and Jalen, along with 4 great grandchildren.
The family will be celebrating Eliseo’s life in a private service on Monday January 6th at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Cemetery Mausoleum in Hackettstown N.J. where he will be laid to rest.
Arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home 96 Main St Succasunna, N.J.