Obituaries

Darryl H. Popper, 55, of Leonardo, passed away at his home on March 8, 2020. Darryl was born in Fayetteville, NC, to Stephen and Carole (Worden) Popper. He was a graduate of Red Bank Regional High School. After High School, Darryl proudly served in the US Army before returning to the Shore area. He was an avid golfer and fisherman.  

Darryl is predeceased by his twin brother Christopher Worden Popper. He is survived by his parents; his children Andrew, Harry; Jack and Stephanie MV Popper; his step-son Jake Hubbard; his brother Charles Popper; his sister Renee Koursaris, her husband Zack and their children Stefanos and Eleni; his sister-in-law Suzanne Popper and his two nephews Carson Worden Popper and Ryan Popper.

Mary E. Rockafellow of Middletown, NJ passed away Saturday, March 7, with her family by her side. A resident of Middletown, Mary was predeceased by her mother, Elizabeth Welsh in 1988, and father, Frank C. Smith in 2015. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, William F. Rockafellow, Sr.; Two daughters and sons-in-law: Christina and Christopher Wilczynski, Laura and Elisha Stiles, Sr. and son and daughter-in-law, William F. Jr. and Karen Rockafellow; 5 grandchildren: Kara, Camryn, Ian, Emma and Eli.

Mary loved yearly trips to Chincoteague, Virginia and Black Lake, NY. She was a lover of all things purple, tie-die and men in kilts.

William Hamlin Reaves, 98, passed away on Wednesday, March 4^th at his home in Rumson, NJ with his family and loved ones by his side. William (Bill) was born February 27, 1922 in Mobile, Alabama and is predeceased by his parents Mattie H. and George A. Reaves, his wife Susanne L. Reaves and his son, William. He is survived by his 3 children and their spouses: Susanne and Karl Rudiger, Mary Adams, and John and Kelly Reaves, his grandchildren, Jay and Will Rhame, Christopher and Michael Adams and Jamie Reaves, and his two great grandchildren, Chip and Matt Rhame. He is also survived by nieces and nephews including Daniel and James Ravenel, Mary Black, Lavinia French, James and John Lyles, Susan Randall, Pelham Lyles and Josie Lyles, and Lavinia Dowling, Robert Seibels and Grenville Seibels.  

Bill graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, SC in 1943 and served in WWII as a First Lieutenant in the US Marine Corp.

Harold Boyle of Tinton Falls, NJ passed away Thursday with family by his side. Born on Staten Island, Harold was predeceased by his wife Carmella in 2011. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law: Linda & Richard Molinelli, Karen & Bill Geltzeiler, and Cathy & Kenny Martin, 11 grandchildren: Jessica Roberto & husband Michael, Bill Geltzeiler, Jr. & wife Christine, Stephen Molinelli, Lauren Molinelli, Ryan Martin, Katelyn Martin,Timothy Geltzeiler, Kelly Martin, Kristen Molinelli, Kyle Geltzeiler, and Corey Martin, and three great-grandchildren: Wyatt, Brady, & Carmella.   Harold was predeceased by two sisters, Marion Bonica and Doris Knudsen, both of Staten Island. He is also survived by his brother, Richard Boyle of Mannahawkin, NJ and a sister, Janet Crowley of Maryland. 

A World War II veteran, Harold proudly served his country for three years in the US Armed Forces. In 1954, he married the love of his life, Carmella (Ricciardi) with whom he raised three children.

Barbara Jane “BJ” Thompson, 91, of Fair Haven, passed away peacefully at her home on March 5, 2020. BJ was the heart and soul of the family she raised with her husband, H. Ernest “Ernie” Thompson, whom she married in 1951 at the United Methodist Church of Red Bank. While raising her five children, she also found time to run her own business, The Peppermint Tree: Fashions for the Young, in Fair Haven and served numerous charitable organizations.

BJ graduated from Bloomfield Junior High School, Class of 1943; Middletown Township High School, Class of 1946, where she served as the class secretary; Colby Jr. College, now Colby Sawyer College, in New London, NH, where she received a B.A.; and the Tobe-Coburn School for Fashion Careers in New York City. Thereafter, she became a buyer for Hahne & Company in Newark, NJ.

Eileen Helen Perez, 72, of Eatontown, passed away peacefully with her sister by her side on Thursday, March 5^th at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 9^th from 2 to 6 p.m., with a service at 5:45, at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank.

Eileen was born in Long Branch to Edwin and Helen McLaughlin of Belford, NJ. She graduated from Middletown High School.

For the past 17 years, Eileen worked as a title clerk for Schwartz Mazda and Sons in Shrewsbury. She enjoyed spending time with her daughter and grandchildren in Westbrook, Maine and going to the dinner theater with her sister.

Mary Elizabeth Van Kirk (nee Lupton), 92, of Red Bank died peacefully at home on March 5, 2020. A longtime Monmouth County realtor, first at Walker & Walker and then with Heritage House, Holmdel, Mary was also a devoted wife and beloved by all. Born in Long Branch to Rolland and Mary Ely Lupton, she grew up in the Fairview section of Middletown.

Mary graduated from the Westtown School in 1945 and Goucher College in 1949. She was married to John (“Jack”) Van Kirk, Jr, for 58 years until his death in 2007.

John James Mego Sr, age 75, of Red Bank, died peacefully with his family by his side on Thursday, February 27, 2020.  John was a lifelong resident of Red Bank. He had a love for this town where he was a member of the Red Bank Volunteer Fire Department for 55 years and an Ex-Fire Chief out of the Relief Engine Co.

He is predeceased by his wife of 45 years Elizabeth Mego, daughter Margaret Mego-Cooper, sisters Helen, Irene, Rio, Patsy, Gigi & Peggy and parents William Sr & Margaret Mego.

Helen E Richdale passed away peacefully surrounded by family on 2/25/2020. She was born in Queens, NY and moved to Leonardo, NJ at a young age. Helen was a graduate of Leonardo High School. She resided in Colts Neck for the past 72 years with her beloved husband George. Together they raised two children.

Helen was a bookbinder for many years & later owned her own craft store in Lincroft. She was a member of the Lincroft Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary & a founding member of the Lincroft First Aide Auxiliary. Helen was an avid reader of mystery novels & enjoyed gardening, cooking, jigsaw puzzles, & spending time at home with her family, dogs, horses, & donkeys.

 Anne J. Alberta passed away Friday, February 21, 2020 surrounded by her family at Jersey Shore Medical Center. She was 95 years of age.

Anne was born Anne Grace Brescia in Newark, N.J. on April 27, 1924. Her parents were Patrick and Mary Grace Brescia. She also had one sister, Mary (Brescia) Cassio. All predeceased her.

Anne grew up in Elizabeth, N.J. and attended, Holy Rosary Elementary School, Battin High School, and Berkeley Secretarial School in East Orange, N.J. She was later employed as a Secretary in the Medical Dept. of the New York Times in New York City, N.Y., where she was employed for several years before resigning to raise her family.\