Obituaries

Adam Matthew Tobias, 36 of Eatontown, passed away at home on Monday, April 3, 2017. Adam was born in Red Bank, NJ. He was employed at Lawes Coal Company for 19 years. He enjoyed spending time with his dog, playing video games and interacting with wildlife.

Adam leaves behind his wife Krista and his cat Zelda; his parents Richard Sr. and Jennifer Tobias of Little Silver; his sister Alicia and her fiancé Adam; his brother Richard Jr. and his wife Heather; his father-in-law Dana Goetz, his mother-in-law Donna Goetz, both of Ontario, Canada; his brother-in-laws Steven Goetz and his wife Lisa and Craftsman Thomas Goetz (Canadian Armed Forces) and his wife Kathryn; his nieces and nephews Richard III and Jack Tobias, Danny and Elle Smith, Jack and Elliot Goetz; his aunts Bonnie of Rumson and Sue of New York; and many cousins.

Betsy Quirk Bryan died on April 2, 2017. An extraordinary mother, wife, sister, and friend she lived a full life and will be missed by all who knew her. Her indomitable spirit, humor, and loyalty were with her until the end. Gardening, learning, playing bridge, competitive games, cultural and current events were just a few of her lifelong passions. She freely shared her love for her garden, her love for her family, her dog, and her friends.

She was predeceased by her husband, Richard D. S. Bryan. She is survived by her three daughters, Helen Hubbard of Ashland, OR, Martha Bryan of Mill River, MA and Nancy Bryan of Fair Haven, NJ and four grandchildren, Ben, Melissa, Tommy and George.

Madalyn Elizabeth Massabni was given her angel wings on March 30, 2017 at 16:55 hours following an unexpected and rare bout with Septic Shock. She was taken from us far too soon. Her final hours were spent surrounded by family and loved ones.

Madalyn’s life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by her understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives. Her beautiful smile melted the hearts of those who knew and loved her and her amazing sense of humor could always make people laugh.

With Madalyn’s passing we remind others that her life is one to be celebrated. Although we will miss her dearly every day she will forever remain in our hearts. Throughout her life we were able to create wonderful memories and it has been an honor and a privilege to be the parents and brother of this beautiful, loving, amazing and caring young woman.

Madalyn lived life to the fullest. She shared a passion for cheerleading in high school, helped manage the boys spring track team when she was a Junior, and during the summer, on warm sunny days, loved spending time at the beach basking in the sun with her friends. She was a sweet and vibrant young woman and the sunshine of her parent’s eyes. Born March 27, 1998 to the parents of Dawn and George Massabni and sister to Georgie, Madalyn graduated from Rumson Fair Haven High School, June 2016 and was attending her Freshman year of college at Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida. She was a sister of the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority at Lynn.

Thaisa “Yvonne” Dietrich, 98 of Tinton Falls, passed away on February 21, 2017. She was born in Lynhurst, NJ to Joseph and Margaret Wengland. She was a secretary for the 3M Corp in West Caldwell, NJ.

She was predeceased by her parents and her husband Peter J. Dietrich. She is survived two sisters-in-law and by many nieces and nephews.

Barbara A. Schnuriger passed away on March 4, 2017.   

Barbara was one of three beautiful daughters of Carmen Rudolph Marmaro and Margaret Ann Pellechi. She was born in 1937 and raised on E. 117th St. in New York City, N.Y. Barbara attended Julia Richmond High School and had a concentration in business studies. After she graduated, her parents relocated to Keansburg, N.J., where she obtained a bank teller position. During this time, she met and married Joseph Schnuriger and went on to have a son, Michael Schnuriger. In a few years, they relocated to Jersey City, and she became fluent in payoll and human resources. Barbara worked for such companies as, Resorts International in Atlantic City and Stevens Tech in Hoboken. Barbara also lived in Bayonne for many years and finally relocated to Lincroft, N.J.

Barbara was a devout Catholic who attended church and when her disabilities disabled her, she had the priest visit so she could continue with her confessions and receive Holy Communion. You often found her watching religious programs and saying her prayers. She was one of the most compassionate caring people you could ever meet and extremely family oriented. She always took care of anyone who needed it. She was known for sending cards to family and friends like clock work for almost every holiday. She never missed one. The family always looked forward to receiving those cards and they will be missed.

Mary Etta “Mary” Moffler, age 91, of Lincroft, passed away on March 29, 2017, at Willow Springs Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, Brick. Mary and her family had moved into Lincroft in 1953. In 1965 Mary became a member of the United Methodist Church of Red Bank, the church she and her late husband Paul took their wedding vows in 1946. Mary was always ready to welcome someone into her home with a cup of coffee or tea and one of her home baked goodies.

Mary was predeceased by her husband Paul A. in 2001; sister Hannah Morris and brothers Carl, Charles and Tylee Sculthorpe. She is survived by two sons, Paul “Roger” and wife Susanne of Bedford, VA and Carl and wife Lynne of Howell; three grandchildren, Justin Moffler, Shannon and husband Mark Eisenhauer, and Kirsten and husband James Washburn; great grandson Mark; nephews Tylee, Jr., Ronald and Kenneth Sculthorpe and nieces Mary Lou Gravatt and husband Tom, Linda Berry and other extended family and friends.

Carlotta Ramsey Niles, 103 passed away peacefully at her home in Shrewsbury, NJ on March 28, 2017. Born on May 27, 1913 in New York she was raised by her maternal grandmother in Matawan and later Long Branch where she graduated high school. She attended Boston University for one year until she married her husband Jonathan H. Niles in 1931.

She was pre-deceased by her husband of 56 years and her son Jonathan H. Niles Jr. Her daughters Carlotta Niles Emmons of Red Bank and Diana Niles King of Pine Plains, NY, survive her. She was the beloved grandmother of Elizabeth Niles Ford of Rumson, Jonathan H. Niles III of Long Branch, Taryn Emmons Freeman of Orlando, FL, Ronald Emmons Jr. of Red Bank, Hope Emmons McCauley of Middletown and Mark Emmons of Davidsonville, MD. She was “GiGi” to 10 great-grandchildren.

Always fiercely independent she lived her life fully and fearlessly. She built her home in Shrewsbury in 1935 and raised her family there. She was a long time member of both the Seabright Lawn Tennis & Cricket Club and the Deal Golf and Country Club. She loved tennis and played well into her 90’s.

She was a life long learner and believed you could always get better at anything if you studied and worked hard. She applied this philosophy when she took up the game of Bridge. Carlotta was a fierce competitor at the bridge table and was playing at the Jersey Bridge Club 3-5 times a week at 103 years old.

She will be remembered as an intrepid traveler who loved hot air ballooning. Her final hot air balloon flight was in 2016 over the Mara River in Kenya. While on safari, a Masaai tribal chief named her “Namunyuk” “The Lucky One.”

Astrid Pochop, Age 45 of Middletown, passed away on March 21, 2017. Astrid was born in South Amboy to Gerhard and Dorothea (Brummer) Pochop.

She earned an Economics Degree from The Munich School of Management in Munich Germany. She was Chief of Staff in Equity Trading at The Bank of America in New York City. She was a communicant of St. James RC Church in Red Bank.

Astrid is predeceased by her father Gerhard. She is survived by her husband Rob MacFawn, their children Andrew and Madeleine, her mother Dorothea of Old Bridge, NJ, and her brother Jurgen and his wife Elke of Kohlberg, Germany.

Albina “Kay” Kozonasky,93, of Middletown passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 25 at Riverview Medical Center in Red Bank surrounded by her loving family.

She was born in Alta Loma/Galveston, Texas and grew up in the Houston Heights neighborhood. She graduated from St. Agnes Academy and St. Joseph’s Nursing School (now part of St. Thomas University) in Houston. She served as a lieutenant in the US Army Nursing Corps in the 1940’s and spent time on assignment in Korea. Following her marriage to her former husband the late Michael J. Kozonasky she lived in New York City, Passaic, Philadelphia and Langhorne, PA. She has resided in the Fairview section of Middletown since 1958.

In the early 1960’s she began her career of more than 30 years as a nurse at Riverview Medical Center. For many years she worked nights in the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiac Care Unit. During the 1980’s she also attended Jersey City State University and obtained her Bachelor of Science degree. When she retired in 1992 she was serving as a nurse (finally working days) in Riverview’s Outpatient Clinic. She enjoyed her work at Riverview and spending time with her many Riverview friends and colleagues.

She was an accomplished gardener, an avid reader and a follower of the stock market. She was a graduate of the Ocean County Master Gardener program and a member of a NJ Utilities Investment Group. She was not fond of computers and prided herself on hand writing letters and mailing cards to her many friends and relatives. At age 93 she and her Houston childhood friend Hilda Drohan continued to exchange letters on a regular basis to keep in touch about the activities of their friends, children and grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents Peter and Caroline Chajkowski; three brothers: Dimitri, Frank and Paul Chajkowski; her foster parents Joseph and Marie Drohan, foster brothers Joseph and William Drohan and her daughter-in-law Linda Kozonasky. She is survived by her devoted children Michele Evans of Alexandria, VA, Christopher Kozonasky of Brick and Paul (Martha) Kozonasky of Concord, CA, her cherished grandchildren Caroline (Scott) Bickford and Kate (Andrew)Barnes of Glen Allen, VA, Paul Kozonasky, Jr and Mathew Kozonasky of Concord, CA. and her very special great grandson Ambrose Barnes. She is survived by many nieces and nephews. She was especially close to her sister-in-law and best friend Dorothy Eberhard and her niece Ellen Eberhard Andreas of Middletown. She always appreciated the many years of love and support she received from the Eberhard, Kozonasky, Chajkowski and Dolinsky families.

Dorothy “Dottie” Laura Nicosia (nee Durando), 95, of Middletown, NJ, passed away peacefully Saturday, March 18. Born and raised in Petaluma, California, Dottie attended Highland School of Nursing in Oakland, California. She met her future husband, Sergeant Benedict Nicosia, at the Two Rock Ranch Army Signal Post in Petaluma while working as an infirmary nurse. In 1946 she married Ben and moved to Red Bank. Dottie continued her nursing career as the Supervisor of the Operating Room at Riverview Hospital. She resigned as the Director of Nursing to raise her two daughters but returned to nursing as a volunteer at Riverview and Planned Parenthood, where she was the Volunteer of the Year in 1977.

Dorothy served as a trustee at the The Shadowlake Village, where she was an avid golfer with the Ladies Group.

Dottie was a good friend to all and always helped out whether by doing blood pressures at the Village or just being a good friend. Dorothy had a beautiful smile and a loving heart that she shared with everyone. Most of all Dottie was a devoted wife and a loving mother.