Obituaries

Ann Mary Fischler Kulas

Mrs. Kulas, 81, of Matawan, died Sept. 3 at home following a lengthy illness. Born in Keyport, she resided there prior to moving to Matawan 10 years ago. She was a bookkeeper at her family's business, Kulas Sea Skiffs from 1957-72. Prior to that, she was an operator for Bell Telephone during the 1950s, and a lab worker at Hercules during World War II. She was a communicant of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Edward Kulas Sr. in 1993; and a son, Edward Kulas Jr. in 1991. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Janice and James Starek of Matawan; two sisters, Bobbie Basko of Jackson, and Helen Pitonak of Keyport; two brothers, Joseph Kulas and Frank Kulas, both of Keyport; and two grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Sept. 7 at 9:15 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church. Interment will follow at Shoreland Memorial Gardens, Hazlet. Arrangements are by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to VNA of Central Jersey, Attn.: Development Office, 141 Bodman Place, Red Bank 07701.

Maureen Paster

Mrs. Paster, 79, of Middletown, died Sept. 4 at Care One at Holmdel. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she immigrated to the United States in 1947, and resided in Kearny, and Fair Haven, prior to moving to Shadow Lake Village in 198. She was a communicant of Church of The Nativity, Fair Haven. She was a former model, and enjoyed reading, and animals. She was predeceased by her husband, Michael Jr. in 1996; and a sister, Gloria Narwid in 1998. She is survived by a son, Michael J. Paster of Middletown; a daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Cyrus E. Parker of Montpelier, Vt.; a sister, Pauline McIlroy of Eatontown; and three grandchildren. Visitation will be Sept. 7 from 6-9 p.m. at Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Sept. 8 at 10 a.m. at Church of The Nativity. Memorial donations may be made to North Shore Animal League, 25 Davis Ave., Port Washington, NY 11050.

Norah F. Ferguson Bottger

Mrs. Bottger, 93, of Holmdel, died Sept. 2 at home. Born in England, she resided in Kearny, prior to moving to Holmdel 54 years ago. She was a retired postal clerk at the U.S. Postal Service, Hazlet, where she was employed 25 years. She was an active member the past 45 years at First Baptist Church of Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert M. Bottger. She is survived by four sons, George Bottger of Gloucester, Mass., John Bottger of Grand Marais, Minn., Alan Bottger of Holmdel, and Robert Bottger of Missouri; a daughter, Ann Di Biase of Keyport; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Keyport, followed by a funeral service at 7:30 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Keyport, Third and Main Street, Keyport 07735.

Ludwig John Durante

Mr. Durante, 83, of Keyport, died Aug. 26. Born in Matawan, he was a lifelong resident of Matawan and Keyport. Before his retirement, he was employed at Dean, Witter, Reynolds Inc., New York City. He also worked for several years at the Keyport-Matawan Journal. Mr. Durante was predeceased by two brothers, Luke and Angelo Durante, and a sister, Minnie Durante. He is survived by three sisters, Nancy Durante Bellezza of Toms River, Julia Durante Germak of Matawan, and Perry Durante (Heath) Park of New Haven, Conn.; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Joseph's Church, Keyport, with burial at the church cemetery. Arrangements were by the Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 2550 Route 1, North Brunswick 08902.

Lawrence W. Clark Jr.

Mr. Clark, 77, of Middletown, died Aug. 15 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune. Born in Newark, he resided in Hershey, Pa., and Belleville before moving to Middletown 38 years ago. He was a ramp supervisor at United Airlines at Newark Airport 35 years, retiring in 1986. Following his retirement, Mr. Clark was a greens keeper the past 20 years at Bamm Hollow Country Club, Middletown. He also played professional baseball for the Washington Nationals, which was part of the Washington Senators franchise. He served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of the Retirement Breakfast Club of United Airlines. Mr. Clark was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Clark. He is survived by his wife, Barbara W. Zielenbach Clark; a son and daughter-in-law, Lawrence and Gina Clark; a daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Charles Kelly; a brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Judy Clark; and six grandchildren. Arrangements were by the Higgins and Bonner Echo Lake Funeral home, Westfield.

Helen Hogan

Mrs. Hogan, 87, of Middletown, died Aug. 20 at Montgomery Care Center, Freehold Township. Born in Middletown, she was a lifelong resident. Mrs. Hogan was a security person at Food Circus Foodtown, Middletown, from 1977 until her retirement in 1990. She was predeceased by her husband, William Frederick Hogan Sr., in 1977. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, William and Laura Hogan of Marlboro; a daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine Renee and Joseph D'Antuono of Howell; a brothers, Stephen Olnas of Rome, N.Y.; and three grandchildren. Interment was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown. The Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold, was in charge of arrangements.

Robert L. Gross

Mr. Gross, 81, of Hazlet, died Aug. 29 at Bartley Health Care, Jackson. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he resided in Weehawken before moving to Hazlet 50 years ago. He was a lab director at Metallurgical Industries Inc., Tinton Falls, for 23 years, retiring in 1990. Mr. Gross served with the U.S. Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner during World War II and flew 35 missions over Europe, and was awarded the Silver Medal. He was predeceased by his wife, Mathilda Gross, in 2001; and a daughter-in-law, Ivy Gross, in 2002. Mr. Gross is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Herbert Massa of Howell; a son, Stephen Gross of Howell; a sister, Carole Henning of Toms River; a brother, James Gross of Holmdel; and three grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Keansburg. Arrangements were by the Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Memorial donations may be made to Deborah Heart and Lung Hospital Foundation, P.O. Box 820, Browns Mills 08015.

Melba L. Lockwood

Mrs. Lockwood, 79, of the Belford section of Middletown, died Sept. 2 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Oceanport, she resided in Brick, prior to moving to Belford in 1997. She was a homemaker. She was a member of and Sunday school teacher at St. John's Episcopal Church, Little Silver. She was also a member of St. Andrew's, Staten Island, N.Y. She was a volunteer for ARC, and was active with the Girl Scouts, and member of the Sweet Adelines. She was predeceased by her husband, William in 1995. She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Scott and Susan of Bricktown, Brian and Lisa of Toms River, and Bruce of Belford; four daughters and two sons-in-law, Sandra Mace of Neptune, Laurie and John McGrath of the Wanamassa section of Ocean Township, Carrie Boles of Belford, and Jamie and James Barron of Manchester; a brother, George Campbell of Florida; three sisters, Beryl St. Martin of California, Dorothy Percell of Texas, and Nola Cottle of Florida; and 11 grandchildren. Arrangements were by Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. Memorial donations may be made to Meridian Hospice, 4900 Route 33, Suite 200, Neptune 07753-9930.

Helen J. Breisch

Mrs. Breisch, 82, of Keyport, died Aug. 30 at home. Born in Irvington, she resided in Hillside before moving to Keyport 53 years ago. She was a secretary for the Keyport Board of Education for 10 years, retiring in 1983. Mrs. Breisch was a member of the Rosary Altar Society at St. Clement's Roman Catholic Church, Matawan, and the Keyport Woman's Club. She was predeceased by two sisters, Frances Wojtowicz and Victoria Danielczyk. Surviving are her husband, Thomas Breisch; a daughter, Johanna Caddock of Little Silver; two brothers, Edward Wojtowicz of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Joseph Wojtowicz of Parlin; and a sister, Stella Nieciecki of Phoenix. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Clement's Church. Entombment was at Monmouth Memorial Park, Neptune. The Day Funeral Home, Keyport, was in charge of arrangements.

Grace M. Murphy Frendock

Mrs. Frendock, 78, of Middletown, died Sept. 1 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Newark, she resided in Middletown the past 50 years. She was a homemaker. She was predeceased by two daughters, Linda Manning and JeanEllen Hansen. She is survived by her husband, Charles; a daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Donald Hornig of Toms River; a sister and brother-in-law, Helen and Richard Kelly of Morristown; a brother and sister-in-law, John and Naomi Murphy of Key West, Fla.; and six grandchildren. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown.