Obituaries

John J. Brautigan

Mr. Brautigan, of South River, died Feb. 26 in Saint Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Surviving are his wife, Kathleen McHugh Brautigan; three sons, Bernard Brautigan of East Brunswick, John Brautigan of South River and Jude Brautigan of Suwanee, Ga.; four daughters, Karen Raviola and Ann Wierzbicki, both of East Brunswick, Margaret Correale of the Flanders section of Mount Olive and Terese Maligranda of Monroe; a brother, Walter Brautigan of Wycoff; a sister, Mary Brautigan of San Francisco; and 19 grandchildren. A Mass is planned for 9:30 a.m. on March 2 at St. Bartholomew’s Church, East Brunswick. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the John J. Brautigan Fund, c/o St. Bartholomew’s School, 460 Ryders Lane, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.

Maria Conceicao

Mrs. Conceicao, 91, of South River, died Feb. 24 at home. Her husband, Manuel Rocha, died in 1981; a son, Joao Albino Rocha, died in 1966; and another son, Manuel Albino Rocha, died in 2001. Surviving are a son, Osvaldo Rocha of Venezuela; five daughters, Maria Rocha of South River, Rosa Albina Conceicao of Brazil, Aldina Elizabeth Rocha and Gloria Alves Rocha, both of Portugal, and Maria Delcina Rocha Almeida of South River, with whom she lived; 21 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Corpus Christi Church, South River. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River.

Lucille Wallace Cyr

Mrs. Cyr, 67, of South River, died Feb. 25 at home. She taught Spanish at South River Junior High School (now South River Middle School). She was predeceased by her husband, Lawrence E. Cyr, and by her parents, Henry and Irene Zakrzewski Wallace. Surviving is a daughter, Renee Cyr of South River. A Mass is planned for 9 a.m. on March 2 at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Entombment will follow in Holy Cross Burial Park Mausoleum, South Brunswick.

Robert E. McGrath

Mr. McGrath, 87, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Feb. 16 at home. Prior to his retirement in 1982, he worked as a welder for 35 years with National Lead Industries, Sayreville. For the past 20 years he worked as a driver, door attendant and handyman for Maliszewski Memorial Home, Sayreville, Maliszewski Funeral Home, South River, and Carmen F. Spezzi Funeral Home, Parlin. A son, Brian, died in 1979. Surviving are his wife, Rose Birardi McGrath; six children, Gary of Parlin, Mary Jo Erdek of South Carolina, Sharon Tricarico of Edison, Wayne of Old Bridge, Denise Scala of the Fords section of Woodbridge and Mark of Manalapan; two sisters, Augusta Vreeland of the Cliffwood Beach section of Old Bridge and Catherine McGrath of the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen; 14 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Bernadette’s Church, Parlin section of Old Bridge. Interment was in Brig. Gen. William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Arnytown section of North Hanover.

Sophie Zdrodowski Groboski

Mrs. Groboski, 90, of South River, died Feb. 26 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 1981, she was employed as a seamstress with Mayko Dress Co., South River, where she worked for 40 years. Her husband, John, died in 1990. Surviving are two brothers, Chester Zdrodowski and Adam Zdrodowski, both of South River; a niece, Sylvia Thrasher; a nephew Paul Zdrodowski; and several great-nieces and great-nephews. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Muriel Titley Gross

Mrs. Gross, 77, of East Brunswick, died Feb. 25 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Her husband, George Gross Jr., died in 1993. Surviving are a daughter, Sharon Williams of East Brunswick; a son, George Gross of South River; two sisters, Lillian Robilard and Velda Hodgson, both of Canada; two brothers, Lorne Titley of Freehold and Percy Titley of Canada; and three grandchildren. Services are planned for 1 p.m. on March 2 at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment will follow in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River.

Angeline Koutsougianis Mihopulos

Mrs. Mihopulos, 85, of East Brunswick, died Feb. 16 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Surviving are her husband, Louis Mihopulos, and a son, James L. Mihopulos of East Brunswick. A service was held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Piscataway. Interment was in VanLiew Cemetery, North Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. George Church Building Fund, 1101 River Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854.

Joseph L. Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan, 82, of Milltown, died Feb. 19 in Applegarth Care Center, Monroe. Prior to his retirement in 1983, he was a repairman with Ted’s Appliances, New Brunswick, where he worked for 20 years. Surviving are a brother and sister-in-law. James and Veronica Sullivan of Milltown; a nephew, James M. Sullivan of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a niece, TerriAnn Sullivan Moses of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; and two great-nieces. A Mass was offered at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Milltown. Interment was in St. Peter’s Cemetery, New Brunswick.

Joseph C. Ralston Jr.

Mr. Ralston, 48, of Monroe, died Feb. 19 at home. He worked for Middlesex County for 15 years. Surviving are a son, Joseph C. Ralston III of Curwensville, Pa.; a daughter, Mandy Kruise of Kylertown, Pa.; his companion, Joann Ritter of Monroe; his father, Joseph C. Ralston Sr., and his father’s wife, Mary, of Phillipsburg; his mother, June Thomas Ralston Williams, and her husband, Evan, of Huntingdon, Pa.; two sisters, Donna Smolko of Erie, Pa., and June Ralston of York, Pa.; a brother, John Ralston of Huntingdon; and three grandchildren. Services were held at Heath Funeral Home, Osceola Mills, Pa. Local arrangements were under the direction of Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick.

Muriel Titley Gross

Mrs. Gross, 77, of East Brunswick, died Feb. 25 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Her husband, George Gross Jr., died in 1993. Surviving are a daughter, Sharon Williams of East Brunswick; a son, George Gross of South River; two sisters, Lillian Robilard and Velda Hodgson, both of Canada; two brothers, Lorne Titley of Freehold and Percy Titley of Canada; and three grandchildren. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River.

Phyllis McCoy Bucceroni

Mrs. Bucceroni, 72, of Old Bridge, died Feb. 23 in Haven Hospice at JFK Medical Center, Edison. Her husband, Philip Bucceroni, died in 1980. Surviving are two sons, Philip Bucceroni Jr. of Milltown and Michael A. Bucceroni of Old Bridge; two daughters, Debbie Bucceroni and Donna Gonzalez, both of Old Bridge; and five grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Old Bridge. Interment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 2600 Route 1, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.

Josephine T. Marchesi

Mrs. Marchesi, 67, of Manalapan, formerly of Sayreville, died Feb. 25 at home. She was an elementary and high school teacher for 26 years, the last 16 years in the Old Bridge school system. Surviving are her husband, Francis Marchesi; two sons, David of Monroe and Gregory of Succasunna; three sisters, Judith Innamorato of the Colonia section of Woodbridge, Mary Ann Listwan of Edison and Rita Cocuzza of Wyomissing, Pa.; and four grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. Gabriel’s Church, Marlboro. Entombment was in St. Gabriel’s Mausoleum, also Marlboro. Memorial donations may be made to the Order of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Missionaries of Charity, 513 Liberty St., Plainfield, NJ 07060.

Arthur J. Mathisen

Mr. Mathisen, 81, of the Morgan section of Sayreville, died Feb. 15 in Briarwood Care Center, Morgan. Prior to his retirement in 1985, he was employed with E.I. Dupont Photo Products Division, Parlin section of Sayreville, where he worked for 42 years. His wife, Mildred “Mitzie” Huff Mathisen, died in 2005. Surviving are a daughter, Sue McPherson of Morgan; two sons, James A. Mathisen of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., and Paul Mathisen of Monroe; and four grandchildren. A memorial service was held at Gundrum Service Home for Funerals, South Amboy.

Eleanor Medel

Ms. Medel, 87, of Old Bridge, died Feb. 19 in Briarwood Care Center, Sayreville. Surviving are a brother, George Medel of the Toms River section of Dover; and two sisters, Lydia Riepel of Brick and May Lynch of Beachwood. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick.

Ann E. Paladino

Ms. Paladino, 88, of Jamesburg, died Feb. 15 in Care One of East Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 1997, she owned and operated Rose’s Beauty Salon, Jamesburg, for 60 years. Surviving are a sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Stanley Michalowski of Jamesburg; and many nieces and nephews. A funeral liturgy was offered at St. James Church, James. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to Care Alternatives, 70 Jackson Drive, Suite 200, Cranford, NJ 07016.

A. Dolores Rotepel

Mrs. Rotepel, 73, of the Clearwater community in Spotswood, formerly of Edison, the Colonia section of Woodbridge and the Lanoka Harbor section of Lacey, died Feb. 18 at home. Her husband, Henry V. Rotepel, died in 1970. Surviving are two daughters, Patricia Weaver and Karen Ahern; a son, Kenneth Rotepel; three grandchildren; and several nieces. Services and interment were private.

Harry H. Wilson

Mr. Wilson, 81, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Feb. 1 in Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel. His wife, Josephine A. Volpe Wilson, died in 1998, and a daughter, Laura Sansone, died in 1995. Surviving are three sons, James of Parlin, William of Point Pleasant and Harry of Chalfont, Pa.; a daughter, Maureen Smith of Spotswood; a sister, Dolly Biondi of Florida; and six grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Bernadette’s Church, Parlin section of Old Bridge. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Bernadette’s Church or to the Madison Park Fire Company.

Shirley I. Morrison Bell

Mrs. Bell, 73, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, died Feb. 16 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. She was a Scottish Highland dance teacher and a bagpiper. She was predeceased by a son, George Bell. Surviving are her husband, George Bell; a daughter, Laurie Ann Mango of East Brunswick; four sons, Duncan Bell and Donald Bell, both of Bethlehem Township, James Bell of Batesville, Ark., and Gordon Bell of Sayreville; and 13 grandchildren. Services were held at Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Interment was in Christ Church Cemetery, South Amboy.