Califon, NJ.  Mrs. Alice Ogden, 90, died on August 25, 2024 at the Little Brook Nursing Home in Califon. She was born in Stanstead, Quebec, Canada and lived in Livingston for many years before moving to Califon 10 years ago. She was a retired Clerk & Postal Worker for the Morris County Services in Morristown, NJ.

She was predeceased by her husband Richard Ogden in 2008, and is survived by her nephew Kirk B Ogden of Nags Head, N C.

Friends  may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96  Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Friday August 30th, 2024 from 10 – 11  am. The Funeral Service will be held at the Marcella Cemetery in Rockaway Township at 11:45.

Roxbury Township,   Mr. Bernard “Bernie” Banks, 91, died on August 19,2024 at his home. He was born in Weehawken and grew up in Lake Parsippany, before moving to Succasunna in 1975. He was a 1951 graduate of Boonton High School and also served in the U S Navy. He worked at Gearhart Chevrolet in Denville, as a salesman, for many years.

He is survived by his wife Edna (Peterman) Banks of 49 years. He also leaves his son Bernie Banks, and sister Mary Kole.

Friends  may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96  Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Friday August 23rd, 2024 from 10 – 10:30  am. The Funeral Service will be held at the Succasunna United Methodist Church, 91 Main Street, Succasunna, at 11 am. A reception will follow at the Church Fellowship Hall.

Frederick Lorenz Thum Jr, 91, of Mount Arlington, NJ passed away on August 15, 2024 at Morristown Medical Center. He was born in Newark, NJ to Frederick L. Thum and Gertrude (Schoenknecht) Thum. Fred was raised along with his three siblings, Barbara, Kurt and Katherine in Union, NJ. He studied Fine Arts at Rutgers University and served in the Army during the Korean War as an art instructor for troops stationed in Japan. Upon returning to civilian life in the US, he spent the majority of his career as a graphic artist with Ciba-Geigy (now Novartis) in Summit, NJ. He married Eileen P. Schneider in 1968 and together raised their three children, Kathleen, Karen and Frederick III in Westfield, NJ.

Fred Jr. is predeceased by his parents, Frederick and Gertrude Thum, his sisters, Barbara and Katherine Thum and by his brother Kurt Thum. He is survived by his former wife Eileen P. Thum, his three children, Kathleen (Evangelos Courpas), Karen (Allen Ingling) and Frederick (Sejal Shah-Thum) and by his six grandchildren, William and Eileen Ingling, Maximos Courpas, Satya, Ruhi and Aarav Thum.

Fred was a sensitive, creative and artistic spirit who had tremendous talent in building, woodworking, painting, drawing and sculpture. He was an enthusiastic lover of classical music, identifying various composers by ear. Fred’s artistic talents and creative spirit live on in his three children and six grandchildren.

A funeral service with military honors will be held at Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ on Sunday August 25, 2025 from 2-5pm. The private interment will be held at a later date in Fairview Cemetary in Newark, NJ.

Do not stand
By my grave, and weep.
I am not there,
I do not sleep—
I am the thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints in snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle, autumn rain.
As you awake with morning’s hush,
I am the swift, up-flinging rush
Of quiet birds in circling flight,
I am the day transcending night.
Do not stand
By my grave, and cry—
I am not there,
I did not die.

—?Clare Harner, The Gypsy, December 1934

Port Charlotte, FL, Mr. John J O’Brien, 82, died on August 10, 2024 at the Douglas T Jacobson State Veterans Home in Port Charlotte, FL. Born in Dover, NJ, he joined the United States Air Force in 1960 after graduating from high school. He completed his service before attending King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, PA where he received his Bachelor’s degree.  John worked as a Loss Control Examiner at the Hartford Insurance Company in Rockaway, NJ for 25 years.  He spent his later years shuttling between Pennsylvania and Florida with his wife Elaine in their beloved RV.  John’s many hobbies included camping, dancing with his lovely wife, and spending many hours fishing.  He was a very handy fellow and loved collecting and using his many tools to build, modify, and fix the world around him.

Predeceased by his parents William and Helen, Aunt Shirley, his brother George, and his daughter Jennifer, John is survived by his wife Elaine (Moss) O’Brien of 25 years, by his children Daniel (wife Jeannette), son Michael, stepchildren Wendy (husband Will), Fred, Kim, David (wife Jaime), his brother Bill, sister Ruth Ann, and his 13 grandchildren Cameron, Chloe, Cala, Billy, Ryan, Brandon, Sydney, Steven, Nadia, Susannah, Julia, Mia, and Michael.

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Thursday (August 15th), from 10  –  11 am. The service will be held at the Funeral Home at 11 am,  followed by the internment at the Succasunna Methodist Cemetery, with Military Honors.

Sewell, NJ.   Mr. Michael P Farina, 85, died on August 6, 2024 at the Advanced Subacute Rehabilitation Center in Sewell. He was born in Orange, NJ and grew up in Newark, NJ where he had his extended family, later moving to the suburbs in Parsippany. As a family man, he spent much of his time at his daughter’s enjoying the company of his family; his wife Carol (nee Lalley) Farina, daughter Michelle “Shelley” Serra, son Vincent who died in 2010. He also leaves his grandson David L Serra (and his wife Kelly Blaszczyk) and granddaughter Lindsey Serra (and her boyfriend Mike Fortino). He was predeceased by his parents; Michael P. Farina and Harriet (nee Stone) Farina, and by his aunt Edith Farina.

He was a graduate of NCE, now NJIT, where he earned his Master’s Degree. He began his career with Bell Labs in 1960 and continued through it’s many changes ending with Nokia when he retired. He also served in the New Jersey National Guard. He will be greatly missed!

Private arrangements are by the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) The Entombment will be held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 11 am, at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Roxbury Township, Harry L. Gedicke, 93, died on August 6, 2024 in his home.  He was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA.  In 1953 he was drafted into the US Army and was stationed in Germany.  Upon his discharge, he worked at the family scrap iron business in Philadelphia before moving to Landing on Lake Hopatcong in 1962.  Harry was the Maintenance Supervisor for Plumrose Inc then Cameco Inc until his retirement in 1996.  He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna and was their Financial Secretary and an Elder.  He also served on the Cemetery and Building & Grounds Committees for the church.  He was the Past President and Treasurer of the Silver Springs Association.

Harry was predeceased by his wife of 66 years, Janet (Bertram) Gedicke in 2018.  He is survived by his three sons: Harry W Gedicke (and his wife Kim), Donald Gedicke (and his wife Priscilla Mueller), and Kenneth Gedicke (and his wife Eileen); his six grandchildren: David Gedicke (and his wife Tara), Kevin Gedicke (and his fiancee Nare Hamalian), Carrie Pepsis (and her husband James), Erin Gedicke (and special friend Larry Phares), Elise Gedicke, and Emily Peck (and her husband Brandon); his seven great-grandchildren:  Nathan, Eleanor and Alexander Gedicke, Hannah and Mason Pepsis, and Jasper and Jaime Peck.  He also leaves his brother-in-law Otto Bertram (and his wife Evelyn).

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Sunday, August 11th, from 7-9pm.  The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 12th, 10:30am at the First Presbyterian Church, 99 Main Street, Succasunna followed by the interment at the Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna.

Roxbury Township, Mr. Norman Joel Weins, 86 , of Succasunna, died at his home on August 5, 2024.

Norman was born in Union City, NJ, to Herman and Irene Weins. He graduated from Emerson High School in 1957, and went on to study engineering at NJIT in Newark. After graduating from NJIT with a Masters of Science degree, he worked as a mechanical engineer at Picatinny Arsenal for over forty years, where he was also an active member of the Rod and Gun Club.

Norman met his wife Rose in Puerto Rico, where they were both vacationing with friends. They married in 1965, and a few years later moved to their house in Succasunna, where they raised two children, Laura and Darren.

Norman was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed taking his boat out on Lake Hopatcong, or going deep sea fishing down the shore with friends. He loved the beach, and spent many summers vacationing with his family in Wildwood Crest. He was also a lifelong NY Giants fan, and spent every weekend during football season faithfully cheering on his team. His pride and joy was his family. He was a loyal, loving and dedicated husband and father, and he adored this grandchildren Caden and Isabella.

He was predeceased by his wife Rose Ann (Cousin) Weins last year, and is survived by his children Darren N Weins of Succasunna, and daughter Laura Rose (and Charles) Smouse, and his grandchildren Isabella Smouse and Caden Smouse of Chalfont, PA.

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Thursday (August 8th), from 7 – 9 pm. The interment will be private. 

Charlotte, NC,   Mrs. Patricia “Patty” Marie Coviello, 65, passed away peacefully on July 29, 2024 in Charlotte, NC. She was born in Passaic and grew up in Clifton and moved to Succasunna in 1977 before moving to Hackettstown, NJ and later to N C in 2019. She was an avid reader and very creative person. She was a member of numerous book clubs and enjoyed playing Mahjong and traveling.

She is survived by her husband Michael F Coviello, 3 children; Eric Bolten of Chicago, IL,  Sean Bolten of San Diego, CA, and Sara Coviello and her husband Conor Plosia of Budd Lake, NJ. She also leaves her siblings; Lisa Oefelein (and Joe) of Milton, GA, A. J. Werth III of Phillipsburg, Linda DeGraw (and Ken, Jr) of Lake Tranquility, Debbie Reinert (and Dave) of Mechanicsburg, PA and Raymond Werth (and Kathleen) of Yardley, PA.

Friends may visit at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home, 96 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ, 973-584-7264 (davishepplewhitefh.com) on Wednesday (August 7^th), from 4 – 8 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be held on Thursday 10 am at St. Therese R C Church in Succasunna followed by the interment at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Totowa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local ASPCA or Animal Rescue.