Obituaries

Funeral services were held on Sunday, March 15, for Irwin Sobel, who died on March 13.

Mr. Sobel was born in Brooklyn, New York and married Phyllis Sobel in 1948. They moved to Livingston in 1952 and were together for 72 years.

He was a Navy veteran who fought in World War II. After the war, he owned a mirror manufacturing firm, Silver Troy Corporation, in Belleville, for more than 50 years.

Mr. Sobel was the father of two sons, David and Mark; two daughters-in-law, Andrea and Wendy; the grandfather of four, and the greatgrandfather of four.

He was a founding member of Temple Beth Shalom and was active in Little League, Cub Scouts and local theater.

Arrangements were by Bernheim-Apter-Kreitzman Suburban Funeral Chapel. Interment was at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge.

Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org.

Services were held for Harry Lauer, 89, of Livingston at King Solomon Memorial Park on February 23.

Mr. Lauer was the father of Scott Lauer and Michelle Waugh; father-in-law to Gregory Waugh and Mary Fran Lauer; grandfather of four and the great-grandfather of three.

Born in Newark, Mr. Lauer was a teacher and administrator in speech and language in the Newark Public Schools for 35 years.

The family suggests that memorial donations made be made to www.freedomservicedogs.org.

Arrangements were by Menorah Chapels of Millburn.

Freya L. Bruckner (née Goldberger) of Livingston died on Sunday, March 15, at home.

Born in 1941 in Newark, Mrs. Bruckner was predeceased by her husband, Alan, and her sister, Joyce. She is survived by her brother, Alan Goldberger and his wife, Carole; her three sons, Robert Bruckner, Dr. Marc Bruckner, and Eddie Bruckner and his wife, Debra; and her two grandchildren.

Freya graduated from Douglass College with a degree in Spanish and French, and worked as an executive secretary. She retired in 2017.

Services were held on March 17 at Beth Israel Cemetery, Woodbridge, with arrangements by Menorah Chapels at Millburn.

A memorial service for Josephine Graboski, who died on March 6, has been postponed due to the coronavirus.

A future date will be announced for the service, originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 28.

Philip V. Coviello of Livingston died on Thursday, March 5, in Saint. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston.

Born in Castelforte, Italy, Mr. Coviello settled in Newark in 1935, and moved to Livingston in 1958.

He was a World War II Army veteran and a member of the 101st Airborne Division, 506th Regiment E Company. He worked for the US Postal Service in Newark for 38 years before retiring.

Mr. Coviello was the husband of the late Marie (née Vecchio). He is survived by his children, Lucille Duetsch and her husband, Thomas; Jean Hennessy and her husband, Gerald; and Phillip J. Coviello and his wife, Katherine; his sisters, Anne Vellucci and Jean Coviello; seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the LaMonica Memorial Home on Tuesday, March 10, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Philomena Church. He was interred at Hollywood Memorial Park in Union.

Vincent R. Farley, 92, died on Wednesday, March 4. Born in Newark, he lived in West Orange and Livingston before moving to Toms River five years ago.

Mr. Farley was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, and served in World War II. A graduate of Seton Hall University, he worked as an operations manager at White Motors in New York City and Morristown for 30 years, retiring in 1982.

Mr. Farley was predeceased by his wife, Victoria; his son, William; and his grandson, Scott. He is survived by his three sons, Robert and his wife Susan; Peter and his wife, Marie; and Michael; his sister, Kathleen Losi and her husband, Ken; and four grandchildren.

Visiting hours are from 9:30 to 11 a.m. today, Thursday, March 12, at Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home in Toms River. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family by visiting quinn-hoppingfh.com.

Josephine Laura Graboski (nee Ferrara) passed away on March 6, 2020, surrounded by her family.

“Jo” was born and raised in Staten Island, New York on June 22, 1932. She was graduated from Port Richmond High School in Staten Island in 1950 and worked in New York City for several years before meeting up with a former classmate from high school (who wouldbecome her husband), Stanley Graboski. Stan and Jo enjoyed 63 years of marriage.

Jo and Stan loved holding parties and fun times in their home in Livingston (since 1970), and welcomed many friends as family. Many have been to their annual Christmas Eve open house and Memorial Day celebrations.

Jo loved her home, her friends, her town, but more than anything was devoted to her family. Her children and grandchildren would call her “the best.”

Sumona Bhattacharya of Livingston, New Jersey, went home to God surrounded by family and friends on March 5, 2020. She was 64 years old.

Born in Rangoon, Burma, Mrs. Bhattacharya completed her B. A. in history with honors from Indraprastha College in 1975, and her M.A. in medieval Indian history from Delhi University in 1977.

She began working at the Livingston Public Library as a bookkeeper, and her exceptional skills earned her the title of Financial Officer. She served the library for 27 years, overseeing the budget and accounts of the library during a significant reconstruction, leading to great esteem among colleagues and trustees.

Louise Simone, formerly of Livingston, died on Friday, March 6, at Juniper Village in Chatham.

Mrs. Simone was born in Newark and was a resident of Livingston for over 40 years before moving to New Providence in 2000 and later to Chatham Township. She was employed at Prudential Insurance Co. until her retirement.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on Tuesday, March 10, at Corpus Christi Parish in Chatham. Interment followed at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover.

Mrs. Simone is survived by her children,Alex (Donna Fugit), Simone and Susan (Stephen Vidal) SimoneVidal; her sister, Flo (Joe) Ascolese; two grandchildren; and one greatgrandchild. She was predeceased by her husband, Frank A. Simone, in 1990.

Donations in her memory can be made to the New Providence FirstAid Squad or Sweet Sophie at inmemof.org/louise-simone.

To send condolences, visit ippolitofuneralhomes.com.

George Frederic “Fritz” Hoffman of Livingston died on February 22. He was 86 years old.

Born in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, Mr. Hoffman attended Philipsburg High School. He graduated from Indiana State College in 1959 and earned his master’s degree from Penn State University in 1964. He served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955.

Mr. Hoffman taught at Columbia High School in Maplewood from the 1960s through the 1990s, and at Union County College and The Pingry School.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dolores; his brother, John (Joan) Hoffman; his sons, David and Steven; his daughters, Susan and Dena (Evans Lazzaro); ten grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

A funeral Mass was held at St. Philomena Church on March 2.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the American Heart Association. Condolences may be extended at quinnhoppingfuneral.com.