DOUGLAS G. CUOMO, 45, of Holmdel, died April 16 in Bayshore Health Care Center, Holmdel. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Hazlet for 20 years and Highlands for eight years before moving to Holmdel. he was an electronics engineer technician for 15 years. He was president and owner of Hazcom Inc., Hazlet. He was the volunteer chief radio operator of Emergency Management, Hazlet, for 20 years. He was a 1973 graduate of Middletown High School North, and DeVry Institute, North Brunswick. He was instrumental in establishing a local Latin Mass and worked to restore traditional Masses. Surviving are his wife, Theresa Celendano Cuomo; his mother and father, Marie Amorosi Cuomo and Louis Cuomo; his brother, Stephen Michael Cuomo of Laguna Beach, Calif.; his sister, Lisa Lorenson of the Belford section of Middletown; and his grandmother, Rose Amorosi of Brooklyn. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Catherine’s Church, North Middletown. Interment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.
EUGENE A. VALANZANO, 82, of Aberdeen died April 21 in Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City. Born In New York City, he lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., before moving to Aberdeen 51 years ago. He was a former borough administrator for Oceanport. He was a communicant of St. Clement’s Church, Matawan. He was a member of the Matawan Italian American Club, Knights of Columbus-St. Joseph’s Council No. 3204, and former councilman and deputy mayor of Matawan. Surviving are his wife, the former Yolanda Grande of Aberdeen; two sons, Anthony of Great Falls, Va., and Eugene of Indianapolis, Ind.; one daughter, Maria Pond of Jackson, Miss.; two brothers, George Valanzano of Aberdeen and Anthony Valanzano of Brooklyn; and three grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Entombment was at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Keyport.
ALBERT D. HAYCOOK JR., 80, of Matawan, died April 24 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, he was a lifelong resident of Matawan. He worked as an electrician for Jersey Central Power and Light Co., South Amboy, for 40 years, until his retirement. He was a communicant of St. Clement’s Church, Matawan. He was a member of the American Legion, Orlando, Fla. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Surviving are his wife, Ernestine Hasemann Haycook of Matawan; one sister, Florence Higgins of Union Beach; and many nieces and nephews. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport. Interment was at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery, Freehold Township.
RENEE AXELROD, 89, of Matawan, died April 30 in County Manor Nursing Center, Toms River section of Dover. Born in Russia, she moved to the United States in 1911, living in Irvington for 22 years before moving to Matawan in 1982. Surviving are one son, Barry Axelrod; two daughters, Helene Whitefield and Carol Wasilweicz; one sister, Fay Zucker; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of Bloomfield-Cooper Jewish Chapels, Manalapan. Interment was at B’nai Abraham Cemetery, Union. Memorial contributions may be made to the Deborah Heart and Lung Foundation, Browns Mills.
JAMES J. MURPHY JR., 73, of North Middletown, died April 25 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Jersey City, he moved to Middletown in 1963. He worked as a lithographer/manager for Prudential Insurance Co., Newark. Prior to that he worked for IBM, New York City, as a methods analyst for 10 years. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a communicant of St. Catherine’s Roman Catholic Church, North Middletown; member of the Knights of Columbus, third degree, third order of St. Francis; past president of St. Catherine’s St. Vincent DePaul Society. Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Jean Markey Murphy; eight sons, James J. Murphy III of Hazlet, Francis X. Murphy Sr., Thomas A. Murphy, Kevin J. Murphy, Richard "Ted" Murphy, and Paul I. Murphy, all of Middletown, Sean P. Murphy Esq., of Little Silver, and Joseph James Murphy of North Carolina; one daughter, Jeanmarie Chudzik of Middletown; three sisters, Sister Mary Murphy, S.C. of Convent Station, Eleanor Brauner of Oradel and Claire Morgan; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Catherine’s Church. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to the Rev. Val J. Peter, Boys Town Center, Boys Town, Nevada 68010.
SHIRLEY R. JOHNSON RUSSELL, 67, of Middletown, died April 25 in Madison Eldercare, Matawan. Born in Milton, Mass., she lived in Dearborn Heights, Mich., and Quincy, Mass., before moving to Middletown in 1966. She was a homemaker, active in school activities in Middletown and local tennis organizations. She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Middletown. Surviving are her husband, Bernard A. Russell; three sons, Wayne S. Russell and Dana P. Russell, both of Middletown, and Glenn A. Russell of Manasquan; one daughter, Melanie Sipko of Wilmington, Del.; three sisters, Betty McCarthy of Quincy, Mass., Vera Piquette of Sandwich, Mass., and Harriet Stanger of Brick; two brothers, George Johnson of Cotuit, Mass., and Richard Johnson of Roxbury, Mass.; two granddaughters, Julie Russell of Middletown, and Emily Sipko of Wilmington, Del. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. Interment was at Blue Hills Cemetery, Milton, Va. Memorial donations may be sent to the American Lung Association of Central New Jersey, 206 Westfield Ave., Clark, NJ 07066.
NORA M. MERCADANTE MASTROCOLA, 57, of Union Beach, died April 27 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Pittstown, Pa., she lived in Belville before moving to Union Beach 30 years ago. Mrs. Mastrocola was a homemaker. She was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. Surviving are her husband, Dominick Mastrocola Sr., of Union Beach; one son, Dominick Mastrocola Jr., of Union Beach; one daughter, Michele Russo of Union Beach; one sister, Shirley Ferroni of West Orange; and one grandson, Louis Thomas Russo III. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at Holy Family Roman Catholic Church. Entombment was at Holmdel Cemetery, Holmdel.
ROBERT McCANN, 64, of the Port Monmouth section of Middletown, died April 27 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Born in Bayonne, he lived in Brooklyn, N.Y., before moving to Port Monmouth in 1975. He worked as a truck driver for Carolina Freight, Avenel, for 30 years, retiring in 1991. Mr. McCann was a member of Teamsters Local No. 701, New Brunswick. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was a communicant of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, New Monmouth section of Middletown. Surviving are his two daughters, Regina McCann, and MaryAlice McCann Smith, both of the Belford section of Middletown; three sons, Robert E. McCann of Middletown, Andrew McCann of Lincroft, and Christopher McCann of Holmdel; one sister, Patricia Liming of Tuckerton; seven grandchildren; and his devoted partner, Robin Faust of Port Monmouth. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church. Interment was at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown.
HENRY V. ESPOSITO, 89, of Manchester, N.H., died April 28 in Villa Crest Nursing Home, Manchester. Born in Jersey City, he moved to Neptune City for 10 years, moving to Manchester in 1992. He was a pharmacist for Esposito’s Pharmacy, Jersey City, for 15 years, retiring in 1974. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Medical Corps. Mr. Esposito was a member of the American Legion Douglass and Arthur Skinner Post, Jersey City, and the New Jersey Pharmaceutical Association. He was a communicant of St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church, Avon. Mr. Esposito was predeceased by his wife, Carmella Esposito, in 1987. Surviving are his three daughters, Carol Gaeta of Derry, N.H., Jane Gagliano of Middletown, and Marie Sasso of Whippany; and seven grandchildren. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Elizabeth’s Roman Catholic Church, Avon. Entombment was at St. Catherine’s Cemetery, Spring Lake. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s, Central N.J. Chapter, 12 Roszel Road, Suite C-203, Princeton, NJ 08540.
SOPHIE S. SARNESKI LIBRIZZI, 81, of Atlantic Highlands, died April 30 at home. Born in Lilly, Pa., she lived in New York City, moving to Atlantic Highlands in 1988. She was employed as a nurses’ aide at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Far Rockaway, N.Y., for 22 years, retiring in 1988. Mrs. Librizzi was a communicant of St. Agnes Church, Atlantic Highlands, where she was a volunteer at the church’s thrift shop for over 10 years. She was also a member of the Atlantic Highlands Senior Citizens Club. She was predeceased by her husband, Veto Librizzi, in 1966. Surviving are one daughter, Joyce Dowling of the Toms River section of Dover; one son, Charles Librizzi of Garfield; one brother, Stanley Sarneski of Portage, Pa.; two sisters, Annette Miserendino of Placentia, Calif., and Betty McCarthy of Lilly, Pa.; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Agnes Church. Interment was at St. Charles Cemetery, Pinelawn, N.Y.
RICHARD G. SHESTAK, 48, of Aberdeen died April 21 at home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he lived in Staten Island, N.Y., before moving to Aberdeen six years ago. He was a banker for Chase Manhattan Bank, New York City, for 22 years. Surviving are his wife, Patricia Tracy Shestak of Aberdeen; two daughters, Tracy Ashman of Aberdeen, and Stephanie Sheridan of New Rochelle, N.Y.; his twin sister, Helene "Kathy" Desiderio of Staten Island; and one brother, Dr. Kenneth Shestak of Pittsburgh. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home, Keyport, with a Mass at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. Cremation was private.
JANET POSIPANKO FLORES, 74, of Hazlet, died April 19 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. Mrs. Flores worked for many years for the Monmouth County Board of Social Services. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Victories Church, Sayreville. She was predeceased by her son, Fernando Flores Jr. Surviving are her former husband, Fernando Flores of Sayreville; and one daughter Donna Flores of Parlin. Services were under the direction of Maliszewski Memorial Home, Sayreville, with a Mass at Our Lady of Victories Church. Interment was at New Calvary Cemetery, Parlin.
PATRICIA POWELL ENJEIAN, 77, of Brick, died April 29 in Brick Memorial Hospital, Brick Township. Born in South Wales, Great Britain, she lived in Newark and Maplewood for 30 years, moving to Brick 11 years ago. Mrs. Enjeian worked as a quality control inspector for Schering Plough Inc., Union, for 22 years, retiring in 1988. She was predeceased by four brothers and sisters. Surviving are her husband, George Enjeian; two daughters, Linda Enjeian of the Belford section of Middletown, and Barbara Bibby of Brick; one grandson, James Bibby of Brick; and one granddaughter, Jessica Bibby of Brick; and five brothers and sisters in Great Britain. Services were under the direction of John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown, with a Mass at St. Catherine’s Church, North Middletown. Entombment was at Hollywood Memorial Park Mausoleum, Union.
DOROTHY P. "POKEY" MAXIE SAIA, 73, of Union Beach, died April 26 in Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Pennhook, Va., she lived in Hazlet before moving to Union Beach six years ago. She worked for Kerr Glass Co., Keyport, and Owens Illinois, Freehold, for several years, retiring in 1992. She was a member of St. John’s Methodist Church, Hazlet; and a member of the Keyport Seniors, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Benjamin Saia, in 1987; and her son, James Clark, in 1995. Surviving are her two sons, Tom Saia of Mount Vernon, N.Y., and James Saia of Las Vegas; a daughter and son-in-law, Janine Schneider and Michael Schneider, both of Union Beach; one niece, Joyce Maxie of Hoboken; and one nephew, Billie Tuttle of the Leonardo section of Middletown; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Services were under the direction of Day Funeral Home Inc., Keyport. Entombment was at Fairview Cemetery, Middletown.
