Obituaries

EDWARD P. BLECHA, 84, of Marietta, Ga., died Aug. 22 at Tranquility Hospice, Austell, Ga. Born in Newark, he had lived in Keyport and Freehold before moving to Marietta 13 years ago. Mr. Blecha was an insurance agent for State Farm Insurance Co. He was a graduate of Keyport High School and Rutgers University, New Brunswick. He was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church, Freehold. Mr. Blecha a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was predeceased by his wife, Erika Haeppner Blecha, in 1986. Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Karen L. and C.J. Stiltz of Marietta; and two granddaughters. Graveside services were held at Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent section of Manalapan.

ELIZABETH KAISER, 69, of Matawan died Aug. 21 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Hoboken, she resided there prior to moving to Matawan 67 years ago. She was a clerk and bookkeeper at Sanritter Home Inspection, South Amboy, retiring in 1999. Prior to that, she was employed at Connection Inc., Laurence Harbor. She was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. She was a member of both the Samoyed Club of America and Bayshore Companion Dog Club, Red Bank. She is survived by her husband, Walter Kaiser of Matawan.

WILLIAM N. KING, 77, of Matawan died Aug. 29 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he resided in Hazlet prior to moving to Matawan. He was a retired civilian mail handler at Fort Monmouth, Eatontown, where he was employed for several years. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War. He was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine King of Matawan; his son, Thomas O’Connor; his daughter, Christine O’Connor; his sister, Margaret Guiry; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Joseph’s church.

JoANNE PATRICIA MACAN, 62, of Toms River died Aug. 29 at home. Born in Orange, she resided in Middletown, for 20 years, and Sea Bright prior to moving to Toms River two years ago. She co-founded Re/Max, Middletown, in 1999, and was an active Realtor until she was slowed down by health problems. She worked at various local real estate agencies since 1976. She was a member of the King of Kings Lutheran Church, Middletown. She was named Monmouth County Realtor of the Year in 2003. She was active in theater at First Avenue Playhouse, Atlantic Highlands. She is survived by her daughter, Meg Macan of New York; two sons, Nelson Macan of Rumson, and L. Jeremy Macan of Long Branch; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Roberta and Charles Mooney of West Caldwell, and Ellen and Gary Hare of Denville; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Joseph and Elizabeth Hare of Hingham, Mass., and Gregory and Judy Hare of Hazleton, Pa.; one niece; and nine nephews. A funeral service was held at King of Kings Lutheran Church, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to King of Kings Lutheran Church, 250 Harmony Road, Middletown, 07748.

MARY T. FLYNN McLAUGHLIN of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died Aug. 25 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in New York City, she resided in Hoboken before moving to Port Monmouth in 1966. She was a waitress at Dunkin’ Donuts, Middletown and Ha­zlet, for 25 years. She was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, Middletown. She was predeceased by her husband, Bernard J. McLaughlin, in 1999; and a son, Brian McLaughlin, in 1976. She is survived by three sons, Sean McLaughlin of Jersey City, Joseph McLaughlin of Port Monmouth, and Michael McLaughlin of Keansburg; two daughters, Maureen Jetter of Matawan, and Anne Thorne of Jackson; two brothers, Patrick Flynn of Fort Lee, and John Flynn of Hoboken; two sisters, Anne Rogan of East Meadow, New York, and Margaret Hayes of Hoboken; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to Deborah Hospital Foundation, N.J. Region, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills, 08015-082.

VERA ROYER, 90, of Middletown died Aug. 7 at home. She resided in Elizabeth and Brick prior to moving to Middletown two years ago. Mrs. Royer was a schoolteacher at St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School, Elizabeth, retiring in 1977. She was a member of the Cedarcroft Club, Brick. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Ann Royer of Hope Sound, Fla., and Richard Royer and Barbara Schroeder of Brunswick, Maine; two daughters and sons-in-law, Trisha and Lee Arpin of Middletown, and Mary­Jane and Richard Mickus of Colonia; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. A funeral gathering will be held Sept. 6 at 9 a.m. at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. A funeral liturgy will follow at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School, 237 S. Broad St., Elizabeth 07202.

GERALDINE D’AMBROSIO SPECCHIO, 72, of Union Beach died Aug. 31 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, she resided in Union City prior to moving to Union Beach several years ago. Mrs. Specchio was a homemaker. She was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. She was predeceased by her husband, Joseph A. Specchio, in 1989; and a daughter, Sharon Specchio, in 1987. She is survived by three daughters, Sandra Case of the Belford section of Middletown, Debra Marcus of Millstone, and Donna Setterstrom of Union Beach; two sons, Joseph Specchio of Marlboro, and Phillip Specchio and Stephen Specchio, both of Union Beach; a brother, Anthony D’Ambrosio of Hasbrouck Heights; two sisters, Ann Kick of Ridgefield Park and Eleanor Ash of Hazlet; 11 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Holy Family Church, followed by burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.