Obituaries

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

Thomas C. Witt

Thomas C. Witt, 82, of Kearny, did peacefully at home on Oct. 13, 2022.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation for Thomas at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, 596 Belgrove Drive, Kearny, on Friday, Oct. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Church, Kearny, Saturday, Oct. 22, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Born in Johnson City, New York, Thomas was raised in Newark and had been a Kearny resident for the past 61 years. He was an instrumental member of Kearny Little League, proudly coaching youth for over 20 years. Thomas worked as a truck driver for Island Transportation in Carteret for 33 years until his retirement in 2011. Later, Thomas took a job as an usher at Met-Life Stadium, a position which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Above all, Thomas cherished time with his grandchildren, and was always the No. 1 fan at any of their games. He always put family first.

Thomas was the beloved husband of the late Mary Louise Witt; loving father of Thomas Witt (Maureen), Kenneth Witt (Marianne), Sandra Hodnett (James) and Joseph Witt (Jeannie); proud grandfather of Kenny Witt, Thomas Witt (fiance Brianne Nieto), Jimmy Hodnett, Alyssa Hodnett, Haylee Witt, Travis Witt, Joey Witt and Trayton Witt; and adoring great-grandfather of Addison Renee Witt and Kinsley Sage Witt. He was also the dear brother of Barbara Dare, Dolores Liszewski, John Witt and Michael Witt.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Barbara A. Haff

Barbara A. Haff, (Sabol), 77, died Friday, Oct. 7, 2022, in Brightview Senior Living in Wayne.

A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Stephen’s Church, Kearny. Interment was in Arlington Cemetery, Kearny.

Born in Paterson, Barbara lived in East Paterson and Lincoln Park before moving to Wayne many years ago.

She graduated from East Orange General Hospital School of Nursing in 1965 and later earned her B.S. in nursing from New Jersey City University in 1977 and later earned her M.S. in nursing in 1984 also from NJCU.

Mrs. Haff was the Vice President/Director of Nursing at West Hudson Hospital in Kearny for many years before the hospital closed.

She is survived by her husband, Robert J. Haff; four children, Sean Haff, John Haff, Debra Doughty and Robert J. Haff Jr.; one brother Richard Sabol and three grandchildren, Robert and Casey Haff and Alex Doughty.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, John and Catherine (nee Charesch) Sabol, and one brother, Edward Sabol.

MaryAnn Ingenito

MaryAnn Ingenito died Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2022.

Born June 8, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Anthony and Vincenza M. (Calabro) Ingenito. Sister of Dr. Alphonse Ingenito and his wife Barbara of Cary, North Carolina, and Thomas A. Ingenito and his wife Catherine of North Arlington, she was the aunt of Diana Solano, Jeanne Pendergrass and Carol Pittman all of North Carolina, Andrea Gray of Hillsborough, Anthony J. Ingenito of North Arlington and James Ingenito of North Carolina. She was also grand-1unt of five nieces and four nephews.

Born in Harrison, she lived there until relocating to North Arlington in 1957. She graduated from Jersey City State College in 1960 and taught in the North Arlington Elementary School System for 17 years. Prior to obtaining her teaching degree, she was employed for eight years as an administrative assistant for various firms in the Newark and Harrison area.

She was also a parishioner of Queen of Peace Church for many years and was a member of NJEA and NEA and the Alumni Association of New Jersey City University.

The funeral will be from the Parow Funeral Home, 185 Ridge Road, North Arlington, Wednesday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. thence to Queen of Peace Church, North Arlington, for the funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington.

Visitation will take place Tuesday, Oct. 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Helen A. Szymanski

Helen A. Szymanski, 100, of North Arlington, died Oct. 9, 2022.

She was born in Harrison, and had been a lifelong resident of North Arlington.

Helen was musically talented as a vocalist, who performed locally at numerous venues with a singing group known as “The Four Sopranos.” She had been employed by the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company in Harrison for over 30 years. Helen was also very active in the community as a volunteer receptionist at the Clara Maass Hospital, Belleville, for over 20 years.

She was preceded in passing by her siblings Matthew Szymanski of Nutley, Frances Szpak of Clifton, Charlotte Kempfe of Yakima, Washington, Jean Tomasaitis of Kearny and Casimir Szymanski of Rahway.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Czestochowa Catholic Church, Harrison. Visitation was at the Armitage & Wiggins Funeral Home, Kearny. Interment was private and in Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.

Mulligan Funeral Home

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THANK YOU FROM THE DOLAN FAMILY

Although it is near impossible to properly thank everyone who responded to the passing of Charlie Dolan,we, the family, will try. The outpouring of loveand caring has been overwhelming. Charlie Dolan is now gone, but he will not be forgotten as a husband, father and grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, neighbor, mentor and diehard Boston Red Sox fan.

Our thanks to the Kearny Police and Fire departments and the Kearny Emergency Squad. We’ve used their services often the past 8 years; Carol Jean Doyle, for all she did to see that Charlie received the COVID shots in 2020(that’s a story in itself.)

To Ling Chen, NP and Dr. John Branwell, for caring enough to make house calls regarding his care. To Mark Wiggins, our friendly undertaker, Father Joe & Steve McDonald at St.Stephen’s for a most memorable funeral Mass. Thank you, Jim Hague, for a walk through memory lane via The Observer. And thank you to The Observer and Lisa andKevin for your love for Charlie.

To all out dear friendsand neighbors who expressed condolences in so many ways, it is impossible to makeyoufeel the gratefulness that we feel. Thank youfrom the bottom of our hearts. If we have forgotten to mention anyone, please forgiveus.

With Love, Jo-Ann Dolan, Danny Dolan, Mary Jo McDermott and Bernadette Patterson.

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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

LIBRARY

Continued from Page 1

Newspaper: The Observer

HCCC Fall 2022

media equipment in there so we can show films and multimedia presentations or host lectures.” Flexible seating options are also being considered, he said. Municipal-sponsored functions and passive recreation programs may also take place at the branch, he said. Essentially, most if not all of these programs are offered at the Main Library, 318 Kearny Ave., but many residents — senior citizens in particular — face a hardship trekking to that location, particularly if Michelle advertising@theobserver.com 201-991-1600 they’re driving, since parking in that area is at a premium, Humphrey noted. Client: Now, he said, with the Mid-Realty, Inc.anticipated completion of the expansion, they’ll have a welcome alternative. To start the ball rolling, the Kearny governing

Advertising: Here is the updated template with a new photo of Jarlynn Hyde: body last week voted to authorize a professionalservices agreement with RSC Architects, of Hackensack, “for design and other services related to the proposed addition to the Kearny branch library…at a cost not to exceed $47,500.” While the Public Library board will be paying for the construction from its reserve fund, according to Humphrey, the town — as the property owner — had to formally approve the action being taken. “I have no idea of the cost (to build the addition),” Humphrey said. “Hopefully, it’s something (the Library Board) can afford.” He estimated it would take “one to two months” to complete the design. “Then we still have to go out for bids for a qualified vendor (for construction)” he said. That process, he said, “should go pretty quickly, maybe four to five months.” Preliminary plans call for the building’s extension — 30 feet long and 15 feet wide —to connect to the branch’s existing adult fiction section from the library’s ample rear yard and there is to be a separate entrance added, according to Humphrey. The construction job will also include interior upgrades to parts of the branch: n New wainscotting in the toddler room. n Repairs to the second-floor storage room. n Renovations of attic offices. RSC is no stranger to Kearny. In 2003, the firm designed improvements to the branch that resulted in new siding, new windows and a new entranceway that complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Those upgrades were completed in 2005.

The firm has previously performed design work for more than 20 libraries in the region. It was also responsible for the planning of the Hudson County Hi-Tech High School in Secaucus.

According to Humphrey’s research, the town acquired the branch property — then a private residence — in 1927

for $25,000 so the building’s centennial will be observed in five years. Since it’s been a municipal property, the building has seen use, not only as a library, but also as the headquarters for what was known as the Kearny Housing & Complaint Department, the Civil Defense Organization and Radio Unit operated by the Kearny Police Department and as a local Marine Corps Recruiting Station, according to Humphrey. Once design plans are finalized, RSC has pledged to The branch library’s toddler room, seen here, will be provide public presentations to the Library Board, Planning upgraded under new plans. Board and the community, Humphrey said. Infrastructure improvements continue, meanwhile, at the Main Library with new LED lighting and window shades being installed in the museum on the library’s top floor. And last year, the library — with fiscal assistance from River Terminal — had a new entranceway built to access the rear of the building along with outdoor “park-style” seating.

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A choose your own adventure event!

Find your passion at our

Fall 2022 Open House

where you will have access to explore different academic programs –and their buildings in person!

Join us to:

• Explore our campus on your time, meet faculty, and tour departments that interest you • Meet with Financial Aid and find out if you are eligible for free tuition • Complete an Admissions application • Engage with different student and support services • Speak with students, faculty, alumni, and staff

Where: Your check-in and starting point will be at our new Student Center, located at 81 Sip Avenue, Jersey City, NJ (next to HCCC’s Journal Square Gabert Library)

When: Saturday, October 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. How: Registration is required!

Go to https://tinyurl.com/HcccFall2022 to register now!

www.hccc.edu/openhouse