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Virginia E. Bernardi
ROCKAWAY– Virginia E. Bernardi died on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at St. Clare’s Hospital/Denville. She was 84.
Born in Dover, she resided in Rockaway Borough for most of her life.
Mrs. Bernardi was the librarian at Thomas Jefferson School in Rockaway, and the children’s librarian at Rockaway Borough Library prior to her retirement.
She was a member of the United Methodist Church of the Rockaway’s.
She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Stanley; three children: David of Michigan, Richard and Lisa Bernardi both of NJ; a brother: Leroy Waite; and seven grandchildren: David, Robert, Nicholas, Richard, Nicole, Brittany and Derek.
A funeral service will be held at Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave., Rockaway on Tuesday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Rockaway Presbyterian cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Monday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
James O. Butts
ROCKAWAY – James O. Butts died on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at his home in Rockaway Borough. He was 90.
Born in Wharton, raised in Everett, MA, he moved to Rockaway in 1957.
He served as a Radio Operator in the Army Air Corp. during WWII. He flew 28 combat missions in a B-17 and was awarded a Bronze Star and Distinguished Flying Cross.
Mr. Butts was a fireman at Picatinny Arsenal before retiring in 1983. He then became the custodian at Sacred Heart School in Rockaway where he also lent his first hand perspective of history and life to the students; he retired in 2003.
He was a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Rockaway and their first Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of the VFW, 8th Air Force Historical Society and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
He was predeceased by his wife, Evelyn, in 2003.
He is survived by three sons: Robert, Edward and Thomas; and his daughter-in-law, Kathleen.
Funeral services will be held from Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave. Rockaway, on Friday, Apr. 22, 2011 at 9: 15 a.m. to a Liturgy of the Word at Sacred Heart Church, Rockaway at 10:00 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. only at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations to: The Baroque Orchestra of NJ, 531 Herrick Dr. Dover, NJ 07801. Envelopes will be at the funeral home.
Alfred J. Leonard
FLAT ROCK, NC - Alfred “Al” Joseph Leonard, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 18, 2011 at the Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, NC.
Al was born and reared in Rockaway Borough, and graduated from Rockaway High School. While attending the University of Michigan, Al answered the call to war where he served several years on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. He was proud of his ship and his shipmates, and would often remind folks that the Enterprise was the most decorated ship of World War II.
In 1951, Al built a home for his family in Boonton Twp., where he lived for the next 30 years. He worked the majority of his life as a salesman of municipal equipment. He was also very active in Boonton Twp. activities and held positions as health inspector, building inspector, volunteer fireman, police commissioner and town councilman. He also worked tirelessly, often armed with only a pick and shovel, to build a park next to the Rockaway Valley School; Leonard Park was named in his honor. In 1981, Al chose the mountains of North Carolina to spend his retirement years.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude in 1980, his wife Rose in 2006, as well as his parents, Antonio and Immaculata (Odierno) Leonard.
Al is survived by his daughter: Janie Leonard Spring and her husband, Donald, of The Woodlands, TX; two sons: Garry and Gerry Leonard both of Kansas City, MO; Sister - in-law: Edythe Carlyon of Summerfield, FL; nephew: Robert (& Ann Marie) Cuozzo of Mt. Arlington; two nieces: Audrey (& Joe) Meagher of Summerfield, FL, and Barbara (& James) Roe of Six Mile, SC; as well as countless other nieces, nephews and friends, most notably Barbara Thompson of Flat Rock, NC who was totally selfless in her care and compassion for Al and his family for so many hours, days and years.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00am Saturday, April 23, 2011 at Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave., Rockaway. Interment at Locust Hill cemetery, Dover. The family will receive friends on Friday from 4-8 pm only at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests a charitable contribution to: Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 28731.
John J. Casaletto
GROTON, NY – John J. Casaletto died on Monday, April 11, 2011 at Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca, NY. He was 72.
Born in Brooklyn, NY, he lived in Holbrook, Long Island before moving to Groton, NY 10 years ago.
Mr. Casaletto was a foreman with Kennedy Electric, Union Local 3 of Queens, NY before his retirement.
He served in the National Guard, and was a member of the VFW.
He was predeceased by his brother, James.
He is survived by six children: John, Christine (& Roy) Dunn, Theresa Milau, Maria Aponte, Catherine Casaletto and Patricia Casaletto; three brothers: Paul, Vincent and Edward; eight grandchildren: Joey, Jasmine, Nick, Joseph, Danielle, Andrew, Ryan and Diana; and great-grandson: Jordan.
Funeral services at Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave. Rockaway, NJ, on Friday, Apr. 15, 2011 at 9: 15 a.m. to a funeral Mass at St. Cecilia Church, Rockaway at 10:00 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, Apr. 14 from 4-8 p.m. only at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations to: American Heart Assn. would be appreciated. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Ferdinand F. Sommerkorn, Jr.
ROCKAWAY – Ferdinand Frederick Sommerkorn, Jr. died on Friday, April 8, 2011 at home. He was 81.
Born in East Orange, he lived in Union before moving to Rockaway Borough in 1961.
Mr. Sommerkorn was the owner of Rockaway Sentry Hardware on W. Main St. in Rockaway Borough for the last 50 years, prior to that he owned Hardware Empire in Kenilworth.
He served in the Army during the Korean War.
He was a parishioner of St. Cecilia’s Church, Rockaway.
He was predeceased by two sisters, Anna Mae Donahue and Ruth Ann Stitzer.
He is survived by his wife Christine of 56 years who was the love of his life, four children: Edward and his wife Kathleen of Long Valley, Richard Fred and his wife Jill of Rockaway Twp., Helen Jane Bachman and her husband Robert of Randolph, and Walter Anthony of Rockaway; a brother Martin of Arkansas; and seven grandchildren: Richard, Allison, Ryan and Brendan Sommerkorn, and Erika, Samantha and Jack Bachman.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 13 at 9: 15 a.m. from Whitham – Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave., Rockaway to a funeral Mass celebrated at St. Cecilia’s Church, Rockaway at 10:00 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. only at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Rockaway Borough Fire Dept., 1 E. Main St., Rockaway, NJ 07866. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
John R. Budd
ROCKAWAY - John R Budd died on April 7, 2011 peacefully at his home, of natural causes. He was 88.
Born in Morristown, John was a life long resident of Rockaway Borough and a graduate of Rockaway High School.
John served in WWII from 1942-1946, initially in the Army for aviation cadet training, then as First Lieutenant 22nd Bomb Squadron, 341st Bomb Group, 14th Air Corps, piloting aircraft in the European and Asiatic-Pacific theaters, being honorably discharged in 1946. John also served on Officer's Reserve Corp US Army until December 1955. Upon returning to the USA, John attended Newark College of Engineering, Drew University and Rutgers University, graduating with an Engineering Degree.
John was employed by Stapling Machine Co. Package Research Laboratory division for nearly 40 years. During that time he was active in product marketing and traveled extensively in the US & abroad, working mainly with US Army and US Air Force clients.
He served briefly as a Rockaway Borough councilman and was Rockaway Borough tax assessor for 16 years. During his tenure, he was a member of the Morris County & NJ State Assessors Assoc, serving as president 1963-64.
John was an elected director at DenRock Savings & Loan, leading to similar positions with Charter Savings & Loan and Sovereign Bank. He retired from that position in 1994 after 30 years of service.
John was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Martha Jane (Fichter) Budd in January 2009. He is survived by five children: Sharon Deck MacMahon & her husband Robert of Hackettstown; Merilee Budd Allen of Ojai, CA; Sandra Budd Taylor and her husband David of Belmar, NJ; Pamela Budd Culp and her husband Dudley of Asheville, NC; Jonathan Christopher Budd of Rockaway, NJ. Also surviving John are 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial gathering will be held on Monday April 11, 2011 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. only at Whitham-Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Avenue, Rockaway.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in John's name be made to: American Stroke Association, www.strokeassociation.org.
Josephine A. "Joan" Hannon
RANDOLPH – Josephine A. “Joan” Hannon died on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at Morristown Memorial Hospital. She was 75.
Born in Dublin, Ireland, she resided there until moving to Randolph 41 years ago.
She was a technician at Colgate in Morris Plains for 11 years, retiring in 2000.
Mrs. Hannon was a parishioner of Sacred Heart Church in Dover.
She was predeceased by her husband, Dermot in 2000.
She is survived by six children and their spouses, Susan (& Timothy) Hanlon of Randolph, Claire (& David) McDonald of Mt. Arlington, Joan (& Fred) Blume of Rockaway, Carole (& Rob) Scherr of Rockaway, Dermot (& Alison) Hannon of Orlando, FL, and Christine (& Cale) Hilts of Georgetown, TX; three siblings and their spouses, Mary (& Patrick) Skelly of Rockaway, Anthony Jared (& Maura) Moore of Oak Ridge, and Christine (& Dan Adams) Clymer of Turlock, CA; 18 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 11 at 9: 15 a.m. from the Whitham – Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave., Rockaway to a funeral Mass celebrated at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, E. Main St., Rockaway at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Pleasant Hill cemetery, Chester. Visiting hours will be held on Sunday from 2 - 4 & 7– 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, (Attn: Mimi Gelbman), 100 Madison Ave., Morristown, NJ 07962. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Mary R. Rosetti
ROCKAWAY – Mary R. Rosetti died on Monday, March 7, 2011 at Compassionate Care Hospice at St. Clare’s Hospital/Dover. She was 89.
Born in Newark, she resided there until moving to Rockaway Borough 60 years ago.
Mrs. Rosetti was a homemaker.
She was a parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Rockaway. Mrs. Rosetti was a longtime member and past-president of the American Legion Ladies’ Auxiliary Rockden Unit #175 of Rockaway, and a member of the Rockaway Borough Seniors club for the past 25 years.
She was predeceased by her husband, John J. in 1970 and her daughter, Dorothy Glenck in 1974.
She is survived by her daughter, Delores Bernhard of S. Boundbrook; her son, Robert G. Smith of Rockaway; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, March 11 at 9: 15 a.m. from the Whitham – Kanapaux Funeral Home, 20 Keller Ave., Rockaway to a funeral Mass celebrated at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Rockaway at 10:00 a.m. Interment at Gate of Heaven cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. only at the funeral home.
