Wednesday, Januarty 26, 2022
Obituaries Michele Navickas Michele Navickas, 53, of North Arlington, died Jan. 6, 2022. Michele leaves behind a loving husband Abdellatif Baghdad, daughter Victoria Goncalves and three grandchildren Lucas Carr, Sienna Lynch and Kali Lynch. Michele was born and raised in Kearny by her mother Carol Navickas, deceased in 2013. Michele was predeceased by her aunts Gladys Bolger and Maureen Frank. Michele loved spending time with her grandchildren and her pet dog Fiona. Michele was employed for several years at Cappelluti’s Deli in Kearny. Memorial services will be private. Paul J. Kwiecien Paul J. Kwiecien died peacefully Saturday morning, Jan. 15, 2022 at his brother’s home surrounded by his family. He was 64. Born in Newark, Paul was raised in Harrison and had lived in Fair Lawn for the last 25 years. Paul earned his associate degree from Bergen Community College. He had worked as a truck parts salesman with P&A Autoparts of Hackensack for the last 11 years. Previously, he had worked in sales with Power Battery Co. of Paterson for 29 years. Paul had a strong passion for music. He enjoyed playing the guitar with family and friends and was an avid Beatles fan. Paul had an infectious personality. He deejayed at numerous events and parties over the years and was the resident DJ at Mt. Fuji. He was known to many as DJ Paul. Over the years Paul had emceed many conventions and autograph shows. He was a devoted New York Jets and Yankees fan. He enjoyed the Jersey Shore, golf and fluke
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fishing with his brother Mike. As a longtime friend of Bill W, Paul was a mentor and gave of himself to benefit others. He was a participant in the Matt Talbot Retreat Movement. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandson, Hudson. He was always very proud to be called Grandpa Paul. His love for his family and friends will always be remembered. Preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Ann Marie Kwiecien, Paul is survived by his life partner, Mary Ellen Dolan; his step children, Leah Aknay and Todd Aknay; a step-grandson, Hudson; his sister, Donna Murphy and her husband Kevin; his brother, Michael Kwiecien and his wife JoAnn; and his nieces and nephews, Meghan Murphy, Brian Murphy and wife, Emily, Joseph Kwiecien and Nicole Kakuta and husband Hiroaki. Relatives and friends are invited to call Sunday, Jan. 30, 2 to 6 p.m., at S.J. Priola Parsippany Funeral Service, 60 North Beverwyck Road, Lake Hiawatha (973-335-4700). The funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, Jan. 31, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, Parsippany. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial gifts to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www. stjude.org. Richard T. Barton Richard T. Barton, 84, died peacefully at his home in Kearny on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. The funeral will be from the Thiele-Reid Family Funeral Home, 585 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at 9 a.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family at the funeral home on Tuesday, Jan. 25 from 4 to 8
p.m. Born in Newark, Mr. Barton was raised in Harrison before moving to Kearny in 1958. Richard was a gas serviceman for PSE&G. in Newark for 36 years before retiring in 1997. He was a past president of the former IBEW Local No. 2060 in Newark. He was a member of the Schuyler Tuna Fishing Club of Kearny and a member of the Ironbound Irish American Association in Newark. Richard was a 64 year member of the Third Degree of the Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Grace Council No. 402 in Harrison and a Fourth Degree member of the Monsignor G.H. Doane Assembly No. 0643 also in Harrison. In 1995, Richard received an commendation from Pope John Paul II and the United States Secret Service Agency as he was part of the team from PSE&G in Newark assisting with security during the Pope’s visit to New Jersey. Mr. Barton is survived by four children, Michelle Witiuk (John), Janice Morrison (Dennis), Richard C. Barton (Margaret) and Marybeth Iorio (Charles). He was the grandfather of Patrick (Brittney), Kyle, Casey, Jacqueline, Jessica, Richard W. and Sarah and the great-grandfather of Nolan and Colin. He was the brother of Nancy Tomosieski, Gerard Barton (Carol) And Mary Rice (Peter) and brother-in-law of Yvette Barton. He was predeceased by his wife, Janice E. Barton (nee McDonald) on Oct. 26, 2021, one daughter, Marianne Barton (six weeks of age), his parents, T. Harold and Annie (nee Graham) Barton, one brother John Barton and one brother-in-law John Tomosieski In memory of a man who most enjoyed time with his family, in lieu of flowers, please treat yourself and those you love in honor of him. Leta K. Confessore Leta K. Confessore (nee Henderson) died Jan. 2, 2022. She was 86. Visiting was at the Armitage Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Graveside services
were in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington. Leta was born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, to Hadley Henderson and Eliza Irving Henderson. As an infant, she lived on Long Island, New York, before settling in Harrison. Years later, while working at the Sun Chemical Corporation, she met her future husband, and love of her life, Ralph Confessore. He came to apply for a position as a chemist, he did not get the job, but the chemistry between them led to a long and happy
All obituaries must be submitted by email by 10 a.m., Mondays, to obituaries@ theobserver.com. Payment is due at submission. marriage of 59 years. Leta’s talents were many. She was a gourmet cook and a skilled baker, whose meatballs, cheesecakes and chocolate chip cookies were second to none. She was only a phone call away for a great recipe. Her gifted flare for writing was unleashed as she took classes at the Gotham Writers’ Workshop in New York City, and soon studied with a private writing coach. She nurtured animals, esSee OBITS, Page 14
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