All Obituaries

William P. Smiejan passed away on Wednesday, May 22, 2019.  He was born in Bayonne to the late Rose (nee: Minarik) and Stephen Smiejan and was a lifelong resident.  William was a 1976 graduate of Jersey City State College where he was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Chemistry. He was a supervisor for Cargill, Inc. in Port Newark from 1985 until 2001.  Prior to his employment at Cargill, he worked for Castor Oil in Bayonne, U.S. Testing in...

Ellen J. McComb passed away peacefully on Monday, May 6, 2019, after a long battle with cancer. She was born in Jersey City to the late June (nee: Widmer) and Allen McComb was a lifelong Bayonne resident.  She was an administrative assistant and consultant for Towne Cadillac for over 30 years. Ellen was a devoted and active member of Calvary Episcopal Church in Bayonne. Ellen was predeceased by her loving companion, Vincent Frasciello. She is survived by her loving son, Allen McComb;...

James J. Seaman, 71, a lifelong resident of Jersey City, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2019.  James was an Attorney with Garrubbo & Capece in Union, NJ and retired in 2016.  He specialized in Labor Law and Appellate Advocacy. In Parks v. Rogers, he successfully argued before the NJ Supreme Court for Elizabeth Parks. The case was written up in the New Jersey Law Journal. He previously was an attorney at Waters, McPherson, McNeill in Secaucus, and Schiller, Vyzas, Squeo and...

Mary Kapec, 100, passed away at her residence on Saturday, April 13, 2019, with her family at her bedside. Born in Bayonne on September 24, 1918 to the late Julia (nee: Cygler) and Anthony Kapec, she was a lifelong Bayonne resident. A 1936 graduate of Bayonne High School, she began her career at Western Electric and worked her entire professional career for the company in engineering. Mary loved to travel in her younger days and was a Master Bridge Player and avid Yankee fan; however, the...

Robert Masella, 71, passed away on Wednesday, April 10, 2019.  He was born in Bayonne to the late Ann (nee: Hitchell) and Ralph Masella.  A graduate of Jersey City State College, he was a funeral assistant for many funeral homes in the Hudson County area. Robert is survived by his siblings, William Masella, and his wife, Mary Jane, and Beth Grabowski, and her husband, Edward; three nephews, Daniel Ghizzone, and John and Michael Masella; and many cousins. A Memorial Mass...

Lorraine Slagus passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 7, 2019.  She was born in Bayonne to the late Stella (nee: Geseck) and Michael Slagus and was a long time Bayonne resident. Ms. Slagus was the assistant library coordinator for AT&T in New York and also worked at Western Electric, accumulating 53 years of service. Ms. Slagus is survived by her loving brother, Lawrence Slagus; and many loving family members and extended family members. She was predeceased by her dear siblings,...

Chester Lewkowitz, of Toms River, passed away on Monday, March 25, 2019.  He was born in Bayonne to the late Susan (nee: Puskar) and Edward Lewkowitz and was a long-time Bayonne resident, prior to relocating to Toms River.  Chet proudly served the nation as a member of the United States Army and was a Captain with the Bayonne Fire Department, retiring in 2003. A devoted husband, father and grandfather, Chet also enjoyed trips to Atlantic City and days on the golf...

Anna Bilyk (nee: Prystupa), of Whitestone, NY,  formerly of Bayonne,  passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2019. Mrs. Bilyk was born in Minasde Butia, Brazil and resided in Bayonne for many years before relocating to live with her daughter last year. She was a machine operator for Pramisco in Union, prior to retirement. Mrs. Bilyk was predeceased by her beloved husband, Marian Bilyk, in 2018. She is survived by her loving children, Ilca Martinovic and Claudio Jurkivo; her cherished...

John “Jack” T. Hoey, 99, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, at the New Jersey Firemen’s Home, Boonton.  He was born in Jersey City to the late Anna and Thomas Hoey and was a long-time Hudson County resident.   Mr. Hoey was a Jersey City Firefighter, serving the city for over 30 years, prior to retiring in 1978. Mr. Hoey proudly served the nation during World War II as a member of the United States Army and was a Purple Heart and Bronze Star...

Catherine Perri (nee: Bilak), 95, of West Palm Beach, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at her daughter’s Palm Beach residence.  She was born in Bayonne to the late Dora (nee: Siemkiw) and Yakim Bilak and was a long time Hoboken resident, prior to retiring to Florida.  She helped her late husband, Nicholas Perri, operate and manage their construction business, Unique Developers, Union City. Mrs. Perri proudly served the nation as a “Rosie the...