Obituaries

Robert J. Mackaravitz died at the age of 59 in his Union home on September 23. A funeral Mass will be held tomorrow, Friday, at 10:15 a.m. in St. Michael's Church, Union. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today, Thursday, at Galante Funeral Home in Union. Born in Newark, Mr. Mackaravitz lived in Livingston before moving to Union 28 years ago. He was a chief operating engineer at 2 Tower Center in New Brunswick and was a member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 68 in West Caldwell for 20 years. Mr. Mackaravitz, who coached Little League in Union for 12 years, was also a member of the Knights of Columbus 4504 in Union. Surviving are his wife, Sharon; his children, Robert and his wife, Nicole; Melissa Pescatore and her husband, Ken; and Kyle; his mother, MaryJane ("MaryMack"); a brother, Michael; and three grandchildren. He was predeceased by his father, Clement.

Sidney Friedenberg died unexpectedly at the age of 73 on September 21. Born in Newark, he lived in Livingston for many years before retiring to Florida. A graduate of Weequahic High School in Newark, Mr. Friedenberg earned both bachelor's and master's degrees in education from the former Newark State College. He taught in the Newark and Livingston school systems for 35 years in addition to coaching varsity swimming at Livingston High School for many years. He was also a high school football referee for more than 40 years in New Jersey and Florida. Surviving Mr. Friedenberg are his wife of 45 years, Helen; and a sister, Susan Major. No funeral arrangements were announced.

Former Livingston resident Salvatore Triolo, 91, died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on Friday, September 5. His family will receive relatives and friends at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home Livingston, 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, this Saturday, September 20, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass celebrating his life at St. Philomena’s Church, 386 South Livingston Avenue, at 11 a.m. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions  be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Triolo had lived in Livingston for many years before moving to Stewartsville and then Northhampton, Pennsylvania last year. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, receiving the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal.

Peter V. Nasti of Livingston died Friday, September 12, at Morristown Memorial Hospital. He was 93 years old. A funeral Mass celebrating his life was held at St. Philomena’s Church in Livingston on Monday, September 15, following a gathering at the Quinn- Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston. Entombment took place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. The family has announced that memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s preference. Mr. Nasti was born in Newark and had lived in Livingston since 1959. He served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He was a dispatcher for Wakefern Foods, Elizabeth for 27 years, retiring in 1987. Predeceased by his siblings, Phillip, Frank and Ciro Nasti, Anna Caycedo and Mary Wills, he is survived by his wife of 62 years, Anna C.

Former Livingston resident James Francis Farrell, 70, died suddenly at his home in Mendham on September 12. Funeral arrangements were by the Bailey Funeral Home in Mendham. Mr. Farrell was born in Newark and resided in Livingston and Maplewood before moving to Mendham 30 years ago. He was a member of the United States Army and served in Vietnam from 1966 to 1968. Before retiring, he worked for the National Vision Association. Mr. Farrell is survived by his wife, Jane M. Farrell (nee Stanley); five daughters, Jennie Bodnar and her husband, Robert, of Mendham; Chrissy Charles and her husband, Eric, of Mendham; Caroline Taylor and her husband, Joel, of Bedminster; Lisa Merklinger and her husband, Rich, of Mendham; and Laura Kaye and her husband, Scott, of Somerville. He is also survived by one son, Jimmy Farrell, and his wife, Anna, of Salt Lake City, Utah; and 19 grandchildren. Memorial donations may be made to Heartworks Foundation, 19 Route 202, Basking Ridge, NJ, 07920.

Conchita Lebron Graves died on Friday, September 12. She was 94 years old. A celebration of her life will be held today, Thursday, at 1 p.m. in the Whigham Funeral home, 580 Dr.Martin Luther King Boulevard, Newark. Interment will take place in Fairmount Cemetery, Newark. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Mrs. Graves was a resident of Livingston and a former resident of Newark. Wife of the late James Martell Graves, she was the mother of James M. Graves and his wife, Evelyn. She is also survived by two grandchildren.

Gordon E. Bell, a lifelong resident of Livingston, died Monday, September 15. Visitation will take place today, Thursday, September 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston. Funeral services will be held there tomorrow, Friday, September 19, at 10 a.m., with interment to follow at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover. Mr. Bell was a past Exalted Ruler of Livingston Elks' Lodge 1855. He is survived by his wife, Theresa Bell; his son, Jason Bell and his wife, Darleen; a brother, Walter Bell and his wife, Laura; a sister, Carol Gabriel and her husband, Duke; four stepchildren; and two grandchildren.

A fund has been set up at Seton Hall Preparatory School in West Orange to honor the memory of Brendan Tevlin. The 19 year old Livingston resident was tragically murdered in West Orange on June 25. Shamrock t-shirts and "Good Vibes and Easy Living" bangle bracelets, designed and made in Tevlin’s honor, are available for purchase as part of the fundraiser. The t-shirts are white and feature a green shamrock with Tevlin's inititials. The intention was to sell 500 shirts; 520 had been sold at press time with $9,960 raised so far. The hand made, hand stamped, adjustable bracelets are currently on backorder. The scholarship was established and the items created in an effort to continue the avid surfer's spirit of "good vibes and easy living." All money will be donated to Seton Hall Preparatory School. The goal is to name the school's game field after him.

James N. DeLucia died at age 91 on September 4. A funeral Mass was held on Monday, September 8, in St. John Vianney Church, Stockholm. Born in Newark, Mr. DeLucia was one of 12 children born to Rose and Joseph DeLucia. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Mr. DeLucia married Angelina De- Vito on November 24, 1946, and the couple raised two children in Newark before moving to Livingston and later settling in Oak Ridge. He is survived by his wife, Angelina; his son, Thomas DeLucia of Jacksonville, Florida; his daughter, Bernadette Halczli and her husband, Michael, of Oak Ridge; his sisters Lucy Hernandez and June Haber, and three grandchildren.

Richard W. O'Keefe, 71, of Citrus Springs, FL, passed away Monday, September 1, 2014. He was born December 17, 1942 in Montclair, NJ. He was a retired head construction official for the Township of Livingston. Mr. O’Keefe, who enjoyed working on cars and camping with his grandson, traveled to 49 states in an RV. He was a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Linda O'Keefe of Citrus Springs, FL.; daughter, Laura Munson, and son, Robert Munson, both of Livingston, NJ; daughter, Margaret O'Keefe of Ft. Collins, CO.; son, Kevin O'Keefe of Denver, CO.; brother, Alan O'Keefe of Point Pleasant Beach, NJ; seven grandchildren, Johnathan Munson, Kimberlin Munson, Patrick Munson, Ryan Munson, Taylor Munson, Russell O'Keefe, and Nichole O'Keefe. Arrangements handled by Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon, www.robertsofdunnellon.com.