Obituaries

Kay Gilbert of Livingston, who was born in the Bronx, New York, in 1917, died July 13. A funeral service was held on Monday, July 17, at the Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston, followed by entombment at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge. Born in the Bronx, New York, in 1917, Mrs. Gilbert had moved many times all around the United States and Canada before settling in Livingston in the 1950s. She was involved the Temple Beth Shalom choir, Shirunah, and Hadassah. Having recently celebrated her 100th birthday, she was interviewed by the West Essex Tribune and appeared on NBC Channel 4’s Willard Scott’s Schmuckers’ labels for those who achieve the age of 100. Mrs. Gilbert was predeceased by her husband, Reginald E. Gilbert. She is survived by her three children, Harvey Gilbert (Terri), Stephen Gilbert (Ronda), and Deborah Schneiderman (Larry); and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Lenard Stingl, a former resident of Livingston, died Saturday, July 8, at the age of 87. Military honors and funeral services were held yesterday, Wednesday, July 12, at the Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston. Cremation will be private.

Mr. Stingl was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving overseas and in Annapolis, Maryland. He later moved to Livingston, and worked at Singer-Kearfott, spending 38 years in management with its Space Program. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Florida.

Predeceased by his brother, Don, Mr. Stingl is survived by his wife, Mildred; his children, Lenard Stingl and Cheryl Tracey; his sister, Judy Stillwell; and three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Marie R. Loprete, a long-time Livingston resident, died Monday, July 3, at her home. She was 92 years old. Visitation will take place today, Thursday, July 6, from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Paul Ippolito Summit Memorial in Summit. The funeral will be held on Friday, July 7, at 9 a.m. in the funeral home, with a funeral Mass to be offered at 10 a.m. at St. Philomena Church in Livingston. Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. Mrs. Loprete was born in Orange and lived in East Orange before moving to Livingston 56 years ago. Predeceased by her husband, Louis J. Loprete, and her brother, Dr. Lawrence D’Aries, Mrs. Loprete is survived by her children, Louis (Debra) Loprete of Livingston; Linda Loprete (Moody Ramadan) of Livingston; and Darlene Fasciani of Bernardsville; and her brother, Louis D’Aries of Edison. The family has suggested that those wishing to make a memorial contribution in Mrs.

Helene Brody died on Thursday, June 29, from complications of dementia related to a fall she suffered two years ago. Funeral arrangements were by Bernheim Apter Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston. A homemaker, she was raised in New York and married Edwin L. Brody in 1951. They brought up their children in Livingston and moved to Delray Beach 18 years ago. Mrs. Brody is survived by her husband, Edwin; her son, Jeffrey and his wife, Diana; her daughter, Amy and her husband, Paul; her brother, Irwin Ronson; and three grandchildren. Marc Alan Brody, her middle child, predeceased her in 1995. The family asks that memorial donations be made to a local chapter of Hadassah.

The Rev. Msgr. G. Thomas Burns of Sarasota, Florida, retired pastor of St. Raphael’s Church in Livingston, died on June 23 after a very brief illness following a cerebral hemorrhage. Visitation was held on Wednesday, June 28, at St. Raphael’s Church in Livingston, followed by a Vigil Mass. Visitation will also be held today, Thursday, June 29, from 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Raphael’s Church, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. To write a condolence, visit www.LeonardisMemorialHome.com. Msgr. Burns was graduated from Seton Hall Preparatory School, Seton Hall University, and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Darlington. He was ordained a priest at Sacred Heart Cathedral on May 25, 1957. During his entire priesthood ministry, he was assigned to just two parishes. After ordination, he was assigned to St. Cecilia’s in Kearny, where he remained until 1979.

Former Livingston resident Florence A. Crann (nee Rebar) died Monday, June 26, in her Belvidere home. She was 81 years old. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. this Friday, June 30, at St. Mary’s Church, 302 High Street, Hackettstown. Burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held today, Thursday, June 29, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Cochran Funeral Home, Inc., 905 High Street, Hackettstown. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at cochranfuneral.com. Mrs. Crann was born on April 18, 1936, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She was graduated from West Side High School in Newark in 1954. She married John Crann in 1957; they spent a year in California, returning to Vailsburg in 1958. In 1978, the family moved to Livingston. Mrs. Crann moved to Belvidere in 2005. She had been an administrative assistant for many years with the Nabisco Company. Mrs.

Michael G. Giordano died in his Livingston home on Wednesday, June 14. He was 90 years old. Arrangements were by Farmer Funeral Home of Roseland; condolences and memories may be shared at farmerfuneral.com. Born and raised in Orange, Mr. Giordano had lived in Verona before settling in Livingston. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. Prior to his retirement, he was a court officer for the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. Mr. Giordano was predeceased by his wife, June C. Giordano (Critchett), and his son, Michael G. Giordano Jr. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Giordano, and his sister, Georgina Kluczek.

Anita Mary DeFilippis (Drelich), of Roseland, New Jersey passed away on June 13, 2017. Funeral services were held on Saturday, June 17, from Farmer Funeral Home, 45 Roseland Avenue, Roseland, followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church, Roseland. Cremation will be private. Visitation took place on Friday, June 16, at the funeral home. Memories and condolences may be shared at farmerfuneral.com. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania to the late Helen and Benedict Drelich, Anita was graduated from St. Mary’s High School, Wilkes-Barre, and received her R.N. from Mercy Nursing School, Wilkes-Barre. Her nursing career was spent at Temple University and Bethlehem Hospital, Pennsylvania, and Saint Barnabas Hospital, Livingston, New Jersey. Since 1988, she worked as a small animal caretaker, office manager, and partner with her husband at Roseland Animal Care. Anita was a gracious hostess, and without formal credentials, she was a creative and magnificent chef.

Elizabeth J. Fordyce (nee Rafferty), 87, died peacefully at her Livingston home on Sunday, June 4.

Elizabeth, known to her friends as Betty, was born in Elizabeth, NJ. and graduated from Our Lady of the Valley High School.  She married Alastair Fordyce (aka Chuckie) in 1953.  Chuck and Betty moved to Livingston and made a wonderful home for themselves and their nine children, and were happily married for 56 years, until Chuckie's death in 2009. The Fordyce's were long time parishioners at St Philomena's and participated in many parish activities. After raising her family, Betty worked as a librarian at Ruth Lockwood Library in Livingston, a position she thoroughly enjoyed because of the professional atmosphere and her wonderful co-workers.