Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

VERONICA C. SHAW, 87, of Holmdel died Sept. 5 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, she lived in Keyport for 41 years prior to moving to Holmdel two years ago. She and her husband were former owners of Keyport Boro Cab. She was a member of the Daughters of Scotia and the Eastern Star Golden Chapter. She was predeceased by her husband, James N. Shaw; her parents, John D. and Catherine Trolan MacKinnon; a son, James Shaw; and a sister, Regina Kramer. She is survived by two sons, John D. Shaw of Hazlet, and Ronald Shaw of Lakewood; a brother, John D. MacKinnon of Sunnyvale, Calif.; two sisters, Marion Dougherty of Bayonne, and Catherine Lorgan of Toms River; 18 grandchildren; and 32 great-grandchildren. Services were arranged by Bedle Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 801 Broad St., Shrewsbury 07702.

ARNOLD B. DiMONACO, 73, of Hazlet died Sept. 6 at Meridian Nursing and Rehabilitation at Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, he lived in Hazlet for 40 years. He was an electrician for Colgate Palmolive, Jersey City, for 39 years prior to retirement in 1984. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Rose Marie A. Sheehan DiMonaco of Hazlet; two sons, Bill J. DiMonaco of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Dave and daughter-in-law Sharon DiMonaco of Middletown; a daughter, Dawn M. and son-in-law Thomas Dougan of Hazlet; and eight grandchildren. Services were arranged by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach.

JOSEPH DONALD FRIES, 80, of Matawan, died Aug. 26 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. He was born in Ridgewood and resided in Matawan since 1962. He was the owner and operator of Taylor Made Boat Curtains, Matawan. He was in the U.S. Marines from 1941-45. He served during World War II, in the 5th Marines 28th Division in Iwojima, and received the Purple Heart. He was predeceased by his parents, Donald A. and Maebelle Shields Fries. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Nancy Schuring Fries of Matawan; a son, Donald A. Fries of Matawan; four daughters, Daren Hutchinson of Rumson, Patti Fries of Bayville, Nancy Dowd of Island Heights, and Carol F. Dugan of Freehold; a sister, Dorothy Sheils of Greenville, R.I.; and nine grandchildren. Services were arranged by Bedle Funeral Home, Matawan. Memorial donations may be made to the Marine Scholarship Fund. For the fund’s address, call Bedle Funeral Home, (732) 566-1962.

HERBERT JAEGER, 84, of Middletown died Sept. 10 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Linden, he lived in Keansburg before to moving to Middletown 10 years ago. He was a foreman for Central International Elevator Co., New York City, for 20 years upon retirement in 1980. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 1953, Keansburg. He is survived by a niece, Mrs. Charlotte Frizell of Middletown; and many nephews and nieces. Services were arranged by Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, South Brunswick.

CELESTE M. COMPOLONGO GENOVESE, 42, of Union Beach died Sept. 11 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy. Born in Staten Island, N.Y., she lived there prior to moving to Union Beach eight years ago. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by her husband, Thomas Genovese of Union Beach, in 1990. She is survived by a son, Thomas Genovese Jr. of Union Beach; her parents, Joseph and Susan Forni Compolongo of Hazlet; a sister, Theresa Mitarotondo of Middletown; her grandmother, Theresa Compolongo of Staten Island; two nieces; and her companion Jose Lugo of Union Beach. Services are arranged by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. A Mass will be celebrated Sept. 15 at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.

VITO PHILIP DVARACKAS, 49, of Keyport, died Sept. 5 at home. Born in Newark, he lived in Kearny before moving to Keyport 21 years ago. He was an electronics technician in the U.S. Navy, Morocco, for six years before leaving the service in 1978. Upon graduation from J.C. Technical Institute, Pennsauken, he served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam conflict. He was predeceased by his parents, Vito P. and Rose Aurora Dvarackas, in 1999. He is survived by two sisters, Jeanette and brother-in-law George Liddy of Sterling, Va., and Carol Dvarackas of Keyport; and two nieces. Services were arranged by Waitt Funeral Home, Morganville. Burial was at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

MAY DOOLEY CONROY, 97, of Hazlet died Sept. 5 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was a member of the Pioneers of New Jersey Bell for 20 years upon retirement in 1965. She was a communicant of St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel, where she was a member of their seniors group. She was also a member of the Pioneers of Bell Atlantic. She was predeceased by her husband, William Conroy, in 1966; and her sister, Helen Bullen, in 1977. She is survived by her daughter, Carol Testai of Hazlet; a grandson, Daniel Testai of Hazlet; and a granddaughter, Deanna Mongello of Edison. Services were arranged by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. A Mass was celebrated at St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church, Holmdel. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.

REGINA BITTNER COAN, 85, of Holmdel, died Sept. 6, at Bayshore Health Care Center, Holmdel. Born in New York City, she previously lived in South Amboy before moving to Holmdel four years ago. She was a registered nurse at South Amboy Memorial Hospital, and for various New York City hospitals. She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy, where she was a member of St. Mary’s Rosary Altar Society. She was also a member of the South Amboy Senior Citizens. She was predeceased by her husband, James J. Coan Sr. in 1989. She is survived by her son, James J. Coan Jr. of Somerset; three daughters, Mary Starzynski of Winter Springs, Fla., Patricia Venezia of Parsippany, and Susan Boston of Middletown; a brother, Frank Bittner of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister, Dorothy Audubon of Sarasota, Fla.; and four grandchildren. Services were arranged by The Gundrum Service Home for Funerals, South Amboy, with a Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy. Interment was at St. Mary’s Cemetery, South Amboy.

"NINO" CABAN SOTO, 68, of Keyport, died Sept. 6 at home. Born in Moca, Puerto Rico, he resided in Keyport most of his life. He was owner of Keyport Taxi for 18 years, until retirement. He formerly worked for Keyport Public Works Department. He was a communicant of Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. He was a member of the Spanish American Club, and Keyport First Aid Squad. He is survived by his wife, Ana "Mindy" Caban of Keyport; two sons, Anthony and daughter-in-law Jennifer Caban of Holmdel, and Luis A. Caban of Long Branch; a daughter Ana Maria and son-in-law Dale VanderWoude of New York City; four sisters, Leonor Quiles and Tomasita Soto, both of Puerto Rico, Consuelo Caban of Newark, and Genara Quiles of Queens, N.Y.; a brother, Graciano Caban of Puerto Rico; and three grandsons. Services were arranged by Bedle Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Interment was at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. Memorial donations may be made to Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church, 123 Broad St., Keyport 07735.

EDWARD KOOI, 85, of Lakewood, died Sept. 6 at Medical Center of Ocean County – Brick Division. Born in New York City, he lived in Jersey City before moving to Lakewood 28 years ago. He was a plant superintendent for Arvey Corp., Jersey City, for 37 years before retirement in 1979. He was a member of the Elks Club, Bayonne. He was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Olive Rees Kooi, in 1999. He is survived by a son, Edward H. Kooi of Matawan; a daughter, Barbara Milazzo of Madison; a brother, Gustave Kooi of New York City; a sister, Katherine Kooi of Iowa; and three grandchildren. Services were arranged by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Burial was at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet.

JOHN F. PFLEGER SR., 73, of Middletown, died Sept. 6 at home. Born in Orange, he previously lived in Red Bank and West Orange before moving to Middletown in 1956. He founded the John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, in 1956, and was the funeral director there for 44 years, prior to retirement in 1983. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Middletown, and past president of St. Mary’s Holy Name Society. He was a charter member and past president, and current Privileged member of Middletown Kiwanis Club. He was a charter member and director for the Middletown Boys Club, the Belford section of Middletown. He was a member of Middletown Elks No. 2179 and the Bayshore Council Knights of Columbus, Middletown. He was voted Middletown Township Chamber of Commerce Businessman of the Year in 1969, and received its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. He was predeceased by his son, Mark Pfleger, in 1968. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth D. Ambler Pfleger of Middletown; a daughter, Janice and son-in-law Edward Aliaga of Middletown; five sons, John F. and daughter-in-law Patricia Pfleger Jr. of Oceanport, Gregory W. and daughter-in-law Kathleen Pfleger of Middletown, Matthew J. Pfleger of Middletown, and Thomas S. and daughter-in-law Christine Pfleger of Middletown, and Christopher J. and daughter-in-law Katharine Pfleger of West Deptford; three brothers, Frederick Pfleger of Cherry Hill, Robert Pfleger of Holmdel and Edward Pfleger of Del Ray Beach, Fla.; a sister, Dorothy Toliver of Toms River; 15 grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Services were arranged by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A Mass was celebrated at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Middletown, with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, North Central Regional Chapter, 101 Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 513, Roseland, 07068.

JOAN PORT COHEN, 41, of the Avenel section of Woodbridge, formerly of Sayreville, died Aug. 30 at home. Her husband, Mitchell Cohen, died in June. Surviving are two sons, Sean and William, both at home; her parents, Rabbi Robert and Deborah Fisch Port of Sayreville; a brother, Andrew Port of Scotch Plains; and two sisters, Reva Ave-Imm of Portland, Ore., and Lisa Weiss of Middletown. Services were held at Mount Sinai Memorial Chapels, East Brunswick. Interment was in Forest Green Park Cemetery, Morganville section of Marlboro. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Ohav Shalom, P.O. Box 34, Parlin 08859.