Obituaries

Former Livingston resident Joan A . (neé Roche) Peters, 74, died on April 9, at St. Clare's Hospital in Dover. Friends may visit Friday, April 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Davis & Hepplewhite Funeral Home in Succasunna. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. Peters grew up in Livingston and moved to Succasunna 37 years ago. She was a retired graphic artist at Novartis. Mrs. Peters was predeceased by her husband, Richard, in 2012. She is survived by her daughter, Leslie (and Michael) Novack of Succasunna; son, Kevin (and his fiancee, Melissa) Peters of New York City; her sister, Dorothy Jean Sundstrom of Livingston; brother, Donald Roche of Colorado; and one granddaughter. Donations may be made in Mrs. Peters’ name to the American Diabetes Foundation.

Ann E. Lefkowitz passed away peacefully on April 5, 2017. She had just celebrated her 100th birthday with her family and friends on January 11, 2017. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and she still couldn’t believe she’d become a centenarian. Mrs. Lefkowitz was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She attended P.S. 179 and New Utrecht High School in Brooklyn. She was also graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in history. Since moving to Cedar Street Commons in Livingston from Lakehurst, New Jersey 12 years ago, her greatest joys in life were spending time with her family, dining out, knitting, word jumbles, and playing mahjongg. Since she was born before women had the right to vote in the U.S., Mrs. Lefkowitz was quite proud to vote for the first female candidate for President of the United States this past November. She was an avid golfer in her younger years along with her beloved husband, Martin, who passed away in 1994.

Effie A. Vlahakes of Livingston, NJ, died peacefully on March 31, 2017. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Westfield, NJ. Arrangements were under the direction of Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home Livingston, NJ.
  A resident of Livingston, NJ since 1950, Effie was preceded in death by her husband, Peter L. Vlahakes in 2011, and her brother, Nicholas S. Meris of Scottsdale, AZ, in 2015. Her passions were food, fashion, and furniture, and she was a devoted mother and wife.

Rosario Ditta, Jr., 71, of Livingston, died suddenly on March 26 at Morristown Medical Center. Born in Newark, N.J., Mr. Ditta had lived in Livingston for the past 40 years. He was owner and operator of Pearl Vision in Nutley from the late 1990s to the present, and was also the owner and operator of Downtown Salon in Madison from the late 1980s to the present. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Theresa Verduce Ditta; two daughters, Leslie Heller and her husband, Thomas, and Nicole Ditta and five grandchildren. The funeral is private, with arrangements by Preston Funeral Home, South Orange.

Muriel Hany Vidovich, 89, died March 31, 2017 at Envoy Nursing facility, where she had been admitted under hospice care for a short while. She was able to stay at home before that under the care of her son, Bill Vidovich, in Waynesboro, Virginia. Muriel was born on December 25, 1927 in Newark, New Jersey. Muriel had worked at PSE&G and Fairleigh Dickinson University, but most fondly remembered her days working as a secretary at the Livingston Fire Department. Muriel had been a devoted wife and loving mother. She is survived by her sons, John and his wife Jennifer; Bill; and George, all now living in Virginia. Muriel had four grandchildren, Samantha, Alex, Javen, and Blake. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, George John Vidovich of Livingston, New Jersey. Services for Muriel will be at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston, 145 East Mt. Pleasant Avenue, on Saturday, April 8, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Marvin I. Raff, of Livingston, N.J., formerly of Short Hills, N.J., passed away on March 24, 2017. Marvin, who was born in Newark, N.J., to Leon Raff and Mildred Pecznick, was graduated from West Side High School in Newark, and Seton Hall University. Marvin was married to his loving wife of 53 years, the late Jane S. Raff, and enjoyed much life success over the years with an expanding family. He served as Regional Director and principal of Cetera Advisor Networks as well as the owner of Raff Financial Services. Marvin loved life – especially travel, skiing, grandchildren, and music, and he even produced his own jazz album. During his career, Marvin held a seat on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and thoroughly enjoyed advising clients and friends. Marvin was the loving father of Richard and his wife, Kim; Larry and his wife, Jodi; Susan Raff Scheichet and her husband, Steven, and the late Paul Raff.

Richard J. Schlenger of Palm Beach, Florida, and Livingston, died on March 24. He was 87 years old. Funeral arrangements were by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel of Livingston. After attending Syracuse University, Mr. Schlenger served in the Air Force during the Korean War. After returning home, he joined the family business, R & S Auto Stores. He later purchased Kaltman-Boise and pursued a career in commercial real estate. He served on the board of many local charities and received the Julius Cohn Award from UJA Federation in 1961. He was a member of Mountain Ridge Country Club for more than 70 years. Mr. Schlenger is survived by his wife of 60 years, Pamela; his brothers, Bennett and Robert; his three children, Peggy Callander (Larry), William and David, and seven grandchildren. In the lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be sent to Mt.

Former Livingston resident Thomas H. Bates, 83, of Caldwell, died March 23. Arrangements were by the Galante Funeral Home of Caldwell. Born in Montclair, Mr. Bates lived in Livingston before becoming a long-time Caldwell resident. After graduating from Caldwell High School in 1951, he served in the Army as a military policeman in Germany and was later honorably discharged as a disabled veteran. He then worked as a real estate agent and home inspector in the West Essex area before becoming a municipal employee for the Borough of Caldwell. He retired 18 years ago, after 15 years of service. Mr. Bates was also a volunteer fireman. He joined the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department in 1960, and was the eldest active member. He served as chaplain, honorary fire chief and past-president of the Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department Relief Association.

Former Livingston resident Diane Patricia Sigler Critchett of Roseland died on March 17 at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. She was 67 years old. Arrangements were by Farmer Funeral Home, Roseland. Born November 5, 1949, in East Orange, she attended St. John the Evangelist grammar school in Orange from 1954 through 1961. Thereafter, she studied at Mt. Pleasant Junior and Livingston High Schools, transferring to East Orange Catholic High School, from which she was graduated in 1968. She moved to Roseland four years later in 1972. On August 12, 1972, she married Walter R. Critchett, the Roseland Chief of Police, and they had two children together. In 1985, Ms. Critchett joined the professional certified public accounting firm of Frank A. Boffa in East Hanover. She retired in 2013. In addition to her children, Colleen Elizabeth (Christopher G. Kyriacou) of West Caldwell, and Christopher Patrick, Sr. (Emily Madden) of Roseland, Ms.

Amelia G. Cerullo died in her Livingston home on Saturday, March 25, at the age of 93. Visitation was held at the Quinn- Hopping Funeral Home of Livingston. The funeral Mass was offered at St. Philomena’s Church in Livingston on Wednesday, March 29, followed by the committal service at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Mrs. Cerullo was born in Jersey City, and had lived in East Newark before moving to Livingston 42 years ago. She was graduated from Jersey City State, receiving both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She had taught at St. Anthony’s School, East Newark, and at East Newark Elementary School from 1971 to 1989, also serving as its interim principal. Mrs. Cerullo was a communicant at St. Philomena’s Church, where she was also a member of the Rosary Altar Society. Predeceased by her husband, Louis A. Cerullo, and her sister, Cecilia Newton, she is survived by her daughters, Amelia Gold and Ida Luteran (Michael); her brother, Dr. James G.