Obituaries

All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission.

RONALD J. SAWYER

Ronald J. Sawyer, 86, died Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 at Clara Maass Medical Center, Belleville.

The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 9 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Church, 120 Kearny Ave., Kearny, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Ron was born in Jersey City and raised in Harrison before moving to Kearny at age 18.

He was employed as the transportation coordinator for Henkel Chemical at First & Essex streets in Harrison for 40 years before retiring in 1997.

St. Cecilia Church was very important to Mr. Sawyer. He served as a Eucharistic Minister, volunteered in the food pantry and at BINGO and also counted the money collected at Mass.

He is survived by his beloved wife Emily (nee Dutka) Sawyer, one sister, Loretta Korzon and one brother, Clifford Sawyer. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and cousins and many wonderful friends.

Ronald was predeceased by his siblings Veronica McErlean, Donald Sawyer and Leo James Sawyer. He was an all around good guy who will be missed by so many.

LAWRENCE ‘LARRY’ LEVY

Lawrence “Larry” Levy, 76 of Toms River, died peacefully at Community Medical Center, Toms River, on Aug. 17, 2021.

Larry had an amazing sense of humor and a big, generous and kind heart that will forever be missed.

Whenever Larry walked into the room, you felt like you knew him for years with his welcoming personality and sense of humor.

Larry worked with his mother and father at their family owned business, WelFit shoes, in Kearny for over 50 years. He loved doo-wop music and dancing and loved to attend concerts all throughout New Jersey with his girlfriend, Angela.

Since a teenager, Larry had many hobbies, but his most favorite was his love for classic and sports cars.

Larry was predeceased by his wife Patricia Levy and son Aaron Levy. Larry is survived by his four step-children, Christine Burns, Brian Canfield, Kevin Canfield and Andrew Munro.

Larry’s memorial service will take place Tuesday, Aug. 24, in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. The funeral procession will start from Condon Funeral Home, 684 Kearny Ave., Kearny, at 10:30 a.m.

Shaw-Buyus

Home for Services

Mario Teixeria, IV, Manager, NJ Lic. #3757

Mario Teixeira, Jr. Director, NJ Lic. #2542 • Monique Teixeira, Director, NJ Lic. #4048 Newly renovated family owned and operated funeral home with multiple locations. Fluent in Portuguese and Spanish. Handicapped Accessible. 138 DAVIS AVE. • KEARNY, NJ 07032

(201) 991-2265 www.buyusfuneralhome.com

MARIAN PAZNEK

Marian Paznek died Aug. 15.

She was a fiery, one-of-akind woman and her heart was bursting with love. Her passion for life was obvious in every interaction and conversation she had. May Marian’s impact live on for many years to come.

Marian spent over 20 years working with special-needs children and had a strong calling for the work.

She will be remembered most dearly by her children, their spouses and her grandchildren: Lauren, her husband Shawn and their beautiful daughter Mackenzie; Daniel, his wife Iwona and their beautiful children Hannah and Ali; Carolyn and Mike and her grand-dog Marty.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation in her name to www.themiracleproject.org.

The Armitage & Wiggins Funeral home, Kearny, was in charge.

DORIS KOBASHIGAWA SOBRINO

Doris Kobashigawa Sobrino, 78, of Kearny, died Aug. 17, 2021.

A funeral service was celebrated at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home. Cremation was private.

Born in Lima, Peru, Doris developed her wonderful talent for cooking by working in her parents’ restaurant there. She moved to the Bronx in 1970 with her dear husband and they finally settled in Kearny in 1987.

Doris was a proud registered nurse for 30 years and worked the last 20 years at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

Doris enjoyed creating spe-

Mulligan Funeral Home

331 Cleveland Avenue, Harrison

Arrangements may be made in Spanish, Portuguese or Polish Frank X. Mulligan III, Manager, NJ Lic. 4221 Frank X. Mulligan, Jr. Inactive

Private Parking at 10 Frank E. Rodgers Blvd. North 973-481-4333

visit us at: www.mulliganfh.com

Robert VanVolkenburgh

Feb 11, 1943 - August 26, 2014 7th Year Memorial

Dearest Bob, We think about you always We talk about you still You’ve never been forgotten And God knows you never will Our memories are but a touch from the Father’s gentle hand To heal and soothe and mend our hearts and help us understand When we feel we miss you most As the years go dri ing by Each thought of you just proves to us at love can never die. ough your smile is gone from my eyes and your hand I cannot touch I still have many memories Bob of the man I loved so much. Be happy in the Lord until we meet again. With all our love, Marianne, Bob Jr & Dan

WILFRED ARMITAGE & WIGGINS FUNERAL HOME

Mark G. Wiggins, Manager N.J. Lic. #3916

You will feel as if friends of family have taken over when you entrust funeral arrangements to the Wilfred Armitage Funeral Home. The family-owned firm has been in business for 100 years, serving generations in West Hudson and South Bergen. Its beautiful facilities, in a setting reminiscent of a colonial mansion, reflect the graciousness and tact of its understanding personnel. Wilfred Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home 596 Belgrove Dr. • Kearny, NJ 07032 (201) 991-0657

See OBITS, Page 14

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