Obituaries

Jane Buchbinder of Livingston, died on Monday, December 18, at the age of 72. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Buchbinder, of Washington, D.C.

A graveside service was held on Wednesday, December 20, at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Woodbridge.

Vincent Russo, 82, of Livingston, passed away peacefully at home on December 17, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Born November 26, 1941, and raised in Montclair, he was the oldest child ofAngelo and Mildred (nee DiGeronimo) Russo.

A Dispensing Optician, Vincent was co-owner for many years of DiGeronimo Opticians in Clifton, as well as Gleek and Howard Opticians in Elizabeth from 1974-2003, when he sold the business and subsequently retired.

Margaret Lilien, 99, of Livingston, New Jersey, passed away peacefully at her home on December 2,2023, just three months shy of her 100th birthday Bom in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Margaret eventually moved to Livingston in 1970, where she wouldresideforover50years. She married the love of her life, Edward Lilien (of blessed memory), on August 24, 1944. The two had a beautiful life together, full of happy times and many precious memories.

Margaret believed in doing for others. She was a Life Member of Hadassah of Livingston-West Orange, was avolunteerat St. Barnabas Medical Center, and was the Treasurer of Ahavath Achim B ’nai Lilien for over 20 years. When she wasn’t volunteering her time, you could find her knitting for those in nursing homes or for the National Council of Jewish Women. To say Margaret was a woman of valor would be an understatement.

Joan Kellett, a loving mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt, was born Joan Rita Weiselberg on April 15, 1937. She passed away on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at her residence in Somerset, NJ.

Joan’s professional and volunteer career spanned decades, and she was always involved helping others and a love of animals and quilting.After attending University of Illinois and graduating from Hunter College in New York, Joan began a career as a speech therapist at Mount Sinai hospital. She later worked for the National Burn Victim Foundation, and volunteered for the West Orange First Aid Squad and Therapy Dogs International. She was also an active longtime member of the Common Threads Quilters Guild. Her countless quilts are a cherished legacy that will live on forever as a reminder of her love and creativity.

Joan is survived by her daughter, Lori; son-in-law Brig; and granddaughters Shoshi and Sarah Mae; as well as her sister, Marilyn; and niece and nephew, Linda and Bob.

Coleman Jacob Leff of Livingston, NJ and Harvey Cedars, NJ passed away on December 6, peacefully in the hospital. He was a beloved father, grandfather, brother and uncle.

Surviving are his children, son Larry (Andrea) Leff and daughter Robin (David) Bellicha. His grandchildren are Mitchell and Eric Leff, Hannah and Ariel Bellicha, Nicole Bellicha, and Tali and Josh Rub.

Agraveside service was held on Thursday, December 7. Donations may be made in his memory to Caron Foundation (Caron.org), Friendship Circle, and Friends of Israel Defense Forces (FIDF).

Rhona (Shaw) Jordan, 95, died peacefully on December 3, 2023. Born and raised in Newark, NJ, she was a resident of Livingston, NJ, for 60 years before moving to Boca Raton, FL, over four years ago. Rhona was happily married to the late Irwin Jordan for 65 years.

Rhona was active in the community. She was a member of ORT, the National Council of Jewish Women and Temple Emanuel of Livingston. She loved to play mah jongg and served on the National Mah Jongg League Board of Directors for 25 years, where she was instrumental in creating the yearly cards. She was known as an excellent baker. Her cookie recipes were legendary among her family and friends.

Rhona was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, cousin, neighbor, and friend.

Richard Samuel Bruskin of Succasunna, formerly of Livingston, died December 7. He was 59 years old.

Born in Summit and raised in Livingston, Mr. Bruskin had lived in Succasunna since 2006. He was an IT manager at Teva Pharmaceuticals in Parsippany. He held a master of business administration degree from Rutgers University, and had earned his undergraduate degree, studying math and computer science, at Ithaca College.

Surviving are Mr. Bruskin’s wife, Stephanie (Ames); his children, Jennifer, Matthew, Blake, and Gia; and his brothers, Robert and Michael and his wife, Debbie. Predeceased by his parents, Lester and Carol Bruskin, he is also survived by his parentsin- law, Edward and Rachelle Ames.

Arrangements were by the Bernheim- Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel of Livingston.

On Saturday, December 2, former Livingston resident Phyllis Hundley died at age 77.

Mrs. Hundley worked at Sears Roebuck and Company for 22 years, and was involved with the operations of Hundley CPAs and James H. HundleyAssociates. She was also a member of the Hopatcong Jewish Community Center and Weight Trimmers.

She is survived by her husband, James; her daughter, Hilary Wolf and son, Ethan; siblings, Roger and Gerald Miller; and her three grandchildren.

Services were held in Roseland on Monday, December 4. Shiva will be held at the residence of Hilary and Ian Wolf through Sunday, December 10.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Quinlan Hospice at www. karenannequinlanhospice.org; Trees in Israel at www.shop.jnf.org; or the American Cancer Society at donate. cancer.org.

Tyler A. Reid of Robins, Iowa, formerly of Livingston, died Monday, November 27, at the age of 21.

Ms. Reid was born on December 8, 2001, in Livingston, the daughter of Vincent and Darline (Davermann) Reid.

At the age of ten, her family relocated to Robins. She attended Bowman Woods Elementary, Oakridge Middle School and Xavier High School.

She graduated from Xavier High School in 2020 and began her secondary education at Oberlin College and Conservatory, where she was majoring in neuroscience with a minor in music.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Reid is survived by her brother, Kyle Reid; her grandparents, Georgette Davermann, Alma Cunningham, and Vincent G. Reid; her aunts, Myrlande (Davermann) Wilson and Sandra Davermann; and her uncle, Rohan Clarke.

On Saturday, November 25, Philip ‘ Pop ’ John Farinella Sr. died at the age of 88. Ason of Italian immigrants, he grewup inNewark, and lived with his wife, Joyce, in Livingston for 65 years.

He was a graduate of Fordham University, a pharmacist, and owned a chain of local pharmacies.

Mr. Farinella is survived by his wife, Joyce; his five children; and 12 grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations go to a charity of the donor’s choice.