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Emil Madonna, 98, Longtime Garfield Resident
GARFIELD, N.J. -- Emil Madonna, a longtime resident of Garfield, died on Wednesday, Jan. 18. He was 98.
Born in Palermo, Italy, Madonna came to the United States through Ellis Island in 1920, as an infant. He first lived in New York, then Passaic, and he settled in Garfield in 1946. He was an Army veteran. He was seriously wounded on the beach in Normandy, and he earned a Purple Heart.
Madonna retired from Givaudan Flavors, in Clifton, in 1981. He had also been an active parishioner of Garfield's Holy Name Church, where he was a hospitality minister.
"He was a very active and proud …
Marian A. Wagenti, 80, Former Lodi Resident
LODI, N.J. -- Marian A. Wagenti -- a resident of Jupiter, Floria, formerly of Lodi, died on Monday, Jan 23. She was 80.
Born in Lodi, Wagenti was the daughter of the owners of the American Theater in Lodi, the late William and Mary Basil. She was the current president of the Park Plaza Condo Association, in Jupiter.
She is survived by her children, Philip Wagenti and his wife Jenny, and Patricia Tufaro and her husband James; grandchildren Joseph and Christopher Tufaro, and Kristina and Daniella Wagenti; brother James Basil; nephews Michael and Steven Basil; and friends Judy and Fred Whyatt…
Hazel D. McGregor, 90, Teaneck Resident
TEANECK, N.J. -- Hazel D. McGregor, of Teaneck, died on Monday, Jan. 23. She was 90.
McGregor was born in Conway, South Carolina. Before she retired, she was an educator for the New York City Board of Education.
She is survived by her son, Dr. Carlton McGregor and his wife Dr. Audrey McGregor; grandchildren Gianna, Matthew, Michael and Andre; brothers George and Robert Williams; nieces and nephews Diane, Sharon, Robert, Darrell, Laverna, George Jr., Sandra, Karen and Charles; and many grandnieces, grandnephews and friends.
McGregor was predeceased by her husband, Goutals McGregor; son Re…
Stephanie Koniar, 92, Paramus Resident
PARAMUS, N.J. -- Stephanie Koniar, of Paramus, died on Tuesday, Jan 24. She was 92.
She was a parishioner of the Church of the Annunciation, in Paramus, and a member of its Rosary Society.
Koniar is survived by her children Joyce and her husband John, Stephanie and her husband John, and Ruth and her husband Rich; grandchildren Cheryl and her husband David, Gianna and her husband Salvatore, Peter, Christine, Kristin, and Richie; great-grandchildren Madison, Ryan and Viviana; and siblings Alfred Keel and Theresa Pagnozzi.
She was predeceased by her husband, Peter Koniar. Visitation will be …
Maria Zoé Cruz, 70, North Arlington Resident
NORTH ARLINGTON, N.J. -- Maria Zoé Cruz, of North Arlington, died on Tuesday, Jan. 24. She was 70.
Born in Puerto Rico, Cruz "loved cooking, dancing, listening to music, traveling and taking care of her family," information from the funeral home noted.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Juan Cruz; children, Jean Cruz-Rivera, Melissa Cruz-Nagelbush, Emely Cruz and Jason Cruz; and sons- and daughter-in-law Eddie Rivera Jr., Richard Nagelbush and Wanda Cruz.
Cruz is also survived by her grandchildren, Justin and Jonathan Santiago, Cristylee Nagelbush, Jacob Rivera, Jasmine …
Former Longtime Totowa Educator Gene Ridgeway Dies At 75
TOTOWA, N.J. -- Lifetime Totowa resident and longtime Totowa principal Eugene "Gene" A. Ridgeway died on Sunday, Jan. 22. He was 75.
"It's a small community and you get to know people, and I think he was one of those people that people appreciated," Dr. Viktor Joganow told Daily Voice. He's a former superintendent for Pascack Valley High School, and he worked with Ridgeway in a few different roles.
Born in Paterson, Ridgeway was a Coast Guard veteran. He became a teacher, a guidance counselor, then a principal, ultimately for both Memorial and Washington Park schools, in…
Vincenza Cavaleri, 90, Longtime Saddle Brook Resident
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- Vincenza Cavaleri, of Saddle Brook, died on Wednesday, Jan. 17. She was 90.Born in Sicily, Cavaleri came to the United States in 1966. She lived in Saddle Brook for the past 45 years. She worked as a sole machine operator for Goldberg Slipper Company, in Hackensack, for 24 years. She retired in 1990.
She is survived by her children, Giuseppe and his wife Rita, and Maria Stein and her husband Mark; three siblings; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Cavaleri was predeceased by her husband, Emanuele, and one grandson. Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. on Fri…
Anne Marie Ryant, 79, Saddle Brook Resident
SADDLE BROOK, N.J. -- Anne Marie (Gilhooley) Ryant, of Saddle Brook, died on Saturday, Jan. 21. She was 79.
Ryant graduated from Pope Pious High School in Passaic and attended Bergen Community College, where she studied psychology and travel services.
"As avid water sports lover, Anne enjoyed both sailing and power boating and was a former member of the Lavallette Yacht Club and the Ramsey Power squadron," information from the funeral home noted. "With her love of the ocean and the beach, Annie could always be found summering in Mantoloking Shores at her home on Barnegat Bay…
