Obituaries

Sanford Muni Holover, 88, of Livingston, died on Wednesday, February 14.

Mr. Holover was born in Newark. He was a part of the Military Police for the US Army and then was an auctioneer and appraiser for the Aaltens Gallery in South Orange. He is a past member of Temple Beth Shalom in Livingston.

He was the husband of Nina for over 60 years. He fathered three children, Erick, Ian, and Dr. Spencer Holover, and grandfather of two.

A funeral service was held on Thursday, February 15, at Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel in Livingston. Burial followed at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Iselin.

Marianna Sarkis Bentley died on January 28, at 48 years old.

Mrs. Bentley was bomonFebruary 16,1975, inBrooklyn,New York, to Eshmail and Lucy Sarkis. She grew up in Staten Island with her younger siblings. She attended Columbia University, graduating with a degree in English in 1997. She continued her education at Brooklyn Law School, from which she graduated in 2002.

After graduation, she served as a securities attorney at Hogan and Hartson (now Hogan Lovells) and later at Bloomberg Law, where she was the author of many significant articles on U.S. security regulations.

In February 2006, she married James Bentley. Together, they welcomed their two daughters, Caroline in 2008, and Jacqueline in 2010. She left her career to stay home and raise her daughters.

Valerie Barrs-O’Mara of West Seattle died on January 26 at the age of 66. She passed away peacefully with her family by her side, after a nearly six-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

She was born on December 17, 1957, to George and Margaret Barrs, in Rockford, Illinois. She was raised by her mother, along with her two siblings, Kathy and Casey. She graduated from Livingston High School. Her exuberance (in high school plays and on the field with the Lancerettes) and compassion (as a Candy Striper and camp counselor) emerged in those years. She attended Drew University, where she met her husband-to-be Michael.

She was a PA in cardiothoracic surgery for nearly 40 years, with the bulk of her career at Seattle’s

Overlake Medical Center. Her career was a true joy in her life. Valerie was a natural leader. She organized countless events for her children’s schools including Halloween carnivals, field days, auctions, and fundraising.

Leo G. Donohue, age 73, of Livingston died on February 8. Bom in Paterson and raised in Hawthorne, he had resided in Livingston since 1978.

Leo was a graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College (now University), Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1972 and completed his MBA studies at Rutgers University in 1979. He held various positions in the customer operations area of Public Service Electric and Gas Company during a 36 year career. Upon retirement in 2010, he joined Huntington Learning Center as an exam prep teacher until 2023. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 to 1975.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Virginia, and their three children, Maureen, Matthew (Lara) and Michael (Lauren), as well as five grandchildren - Leo, Paul, Callie, Luke and Shea. He is also survived by siblings, Mary (George) Forshay, Joseph (Punnie), Anne (Fred) Folco andEllen (Wayne) Cramer, plus several nieces and nephews.

Helen Friedman passed away at home on February 12 at the age of 97. She was the daughter of Golda and Joseph Rosenkrantz and spent most of her life in the Bronx in New York until moving to Livingston, New Jersey about 27 years ago.

She married Oscar Friedman in 1947. After the untimely death of her husband, Helen was widowed at the age of 33 and was a single mother of three children, Stephen, Alan, and Rise. Helen worked as a secretary during the day, while getting a bachelor of arts from Baruch College at night and later a master’s degree from NYU. She taught secretarial studies at Jane Addams High School in the Bronx and Julia Richmond High School in Manhattan, and then computer keyboarding at Bronx Community College. Although her family hoped she would retire, she commuted from Livingston to Bronx Community College using public transportation for many years. She was an active chorus member of Temple Emanu-El in Livingston and Temple Sinai in Summit.

Carol Bloomgarden Schectman, age 98, ofAventura, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, February 14, at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. Carol was born in Brooklyn, New York on January 5, 1926 to David and Lillian (Florman) Lane.

Carol is survived by her daughters, Nancy Dee Bailer (Joseph) and Karenne Jo Bloomgarden, five grandchildren, and seven greatgrandchildren.

She is preceded in death by husbands, Kermit Bloomgarden and Aaron H. Schectman, and her brother Robert J. Lane.

A graveside service for Carol was held Tuesday, February 20, in Lakeside Memorial Park Cemetery and Funeral Home, 10301 NW25th Street, Miami, FL 33172.

A Memorial (Celebration of Life) Service will be held Sunday, February 25, at 1 p.m. at Temple Sinai of North Dade, 18801 NE 22nd Avenue, Miami, FL 33180.

Arrangements were made by Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels, 17250 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, FL 33160 (A Dignity Memorial Chapel).

Antoinette D’Archi (née Luciano), 87, of Livingston died on Tuesday, February 13.

A visitation was held at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home on Friday, February 16. A Mass of Christian Burial followed at St. Raphael Church in Livingston, with entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover.

Before her retirement, Antoinette was a registered nurse with Inglemoor Care Center in Livingston. She was predeceased by her husband, Virgilio, and daughter-in-law, Lucia. Antoinette is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 51 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Milton Herbst, 95, of Livingston, died on Tuesday, February 6. He lived in Monroe Township for 17 years, but always consideredhis true home to be Merrick, Long Island. Milton worked for many years as the controller of accounting at the AHRC of Nassau County.

He was the husband of Fradelle for 66 years, father of Clifford Herbst, Leslie Gersho (Marvin), and Alan Herbst (Adina), and grandfather of two.

Sherill Silver (née Ezersky) died on February 8, at the age of 73. Born and raised in Newark, she had resided in Livingston since 1977.

Mrs. Silver graduated from Montclair State College (now Montclair State University) in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts and earned a master’s degree in art education from Indiana University in 1973. She worked for the Internal Revenue Service as a revenue agent for almost 40 years.

Upon retirement, Mrs. Silver pursued her art and exhibited her work at venues including the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, the VisualArts Center of New Jersey in Summit, and the Mayo Performing Arts Center in Morristown. Her paintings also hung in private collections.

She was a member of the same book club for over 35 years. She was a supporter of the Livingston Public Library and other charitable causes.

Mrs. Silver is survived by her husband of 47 years, Cary; her son, Jeff; and two grandchildren.

Leo G. Donohue, 73, of Livingston died on February 8. Bom in Paterson and raised in Hawthorne, he had resided in Livingston since 1978.

Mr. Donohue was a graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College (now University), Emmitsburg, Maryland, in 1972 and completed his MBA studies at Rutgers University in 1979. He held various positions in the customer operations area of PSE&G during a 36 year career. Upon retirement in 2010, he joined Huntington Learning Center as an exam prep teacher until 2023. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1972 to 1975.

Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Virginia, and their three children, Maureen, Matthew (Lara) and Michael (Lauren), as well as five grandchildren. He is also survived by siblings, Mary (George) Forshay, Joseph (Punnie), Anne (Fred) Folco and Ellen (Wayne) Cramer, plus several nieces and nephews.