Obituaries

Patricia Conlon Otersen, age 86, of Brick, NJ passed away peacefully at home on August 2, 2024 with family by her side. Patricia was born on May 17, 1938 in Jersey City, NJ. Patricia graduated from Snyder High School, Jersey City, where she started her family. Patricia and family moved to Middletown in 1964.

In 1976, she began a career in banking, retiring in 2014 as a Branch Manager and V.P. at Bank of America. She spent many years as a dedicated member of the Chamber of Commerce and The Rotary Club in Aberdeen, NJ.

Umberto G. DiFiore (Bert), age 83, of Keansburg, NJ passed away suddenly on the morning of Thursday, July 25, 2024. Bert is reunited in heaven with his beloved parents, Arthur DiFiore and Angela (Cosentino) DiFiore, his grandparents, his nephew, Sean Barna, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He loved his large Italian family, and they loved him. Bert will always be remembered for his outgoing and friendly personality. He was a special man, a "people person". 

Elizabeth Stewart Tanis, age 91, of Lincroft, NJ passed away on Sunday, July 28, 2024 at home peacefully with her family by her side. She was born July 26, 1933 in her family home to Leslie and Margret Stewart, as the 106^th resident born in Lincroft.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband, of 65 years, and her two sisters and brother. As a child she received many awards for her animals at the Fair and Pet Show held at Brookdale Farms in Lincroft. She was most proud of her first-place award that was pinned on by Eleanor Roosevelt with a “Wilke” button.

James Beardsley passed away on Friday, July 19, 2024. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, remembered for his unwavering kindness, generosity, curiosity and love for his family.

Jim spent his childhood in Red Bank, NJ. He attended Rumson Country Day School in NJ, St. George’s School in RI and Princeton University in NJ. Jim and his wife, Jennifer, raised their family in Monmouth County, NJ. Jim had a successful career in menswear at Burberry’s International, Norman Hilton, Cardinal of Canada, and Fhm Clothing Manufacturing Inc.  He and his wife retired to upstate NY to renovate their honeymoon “Round House”. They lived there until 2016, when they returned to NJ to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

Paul B. Pritchard, 89 passed away peacefully at his Fair Haven home on July 13, 2024 surrounded by his family. Paul was born in Buffalo NY on April 21, 1935 to Elmer and Pauline Pritchard. He was predeceased by his three siblings and son Frank. He is survived by his wife Pat of 65 years (the love of his life and best friend- so he used to say), son Tyson (Spouse Seana) and Rodney. He was known as Paulie to his five grandchildren to whom he took great pride and pleasure; Amie and Dylan, Brett and Brynn, and Charlotte Nagy. Paul was a graduate of Kenmore High School and went to Penn State University graduating in 1958.

Helen Milmore Essex a treasured mother, a grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully on July 18, 2024. Helen was born August 4, 1927 in Brooklyn NY to the late Mary (Smith) and Thomas Milmore.

She is survived by a loving family, a sister Barbara (Durant) Cogger, daughters Lyn (Mike) Avale and Dori (Joe) Meoni, grandchildren Michael Vincent (Kim) Avale, Devin Avale, Matthew Meoni, and Jenna (Patrick) Shea, great grandchildren Riley & Shane Avale, Adara and Juliette Shea, and many nieces and nephews who will all remember her dearly as “The Queen of 4th of July”.

Emily Margaret Kaeli, a beloved daughter, sister and aunt, left this world on Saturday, July 13, 2024, after a valiant four year and eight month battle with a rare form of spinal cancer.

Emily was born at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York and grew up in Shrewsbury and Fair Haven, New Jersey. Emily was educated at Holy Cross Academy in Rumson, New Jersey, Red Bank Regional High School in Little Silver, New Jersey, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Emily was a Senior Division Director at Beacon Hill, a leading national firm which sets the standard in workforce consulting, professional staffing, project delivery solutions and job placement. At Beacon Hill, Emily had an illustrious career and was esteemed for delivering the highest quality temporary talent to clients in the New York marketplace by partnering with leading companies in the private equity, hedge fund, financial services, consulting, fashion, real estate and media industries. An expert in temporary staffing for administrative and support level positions, Emily had earned a reputation for outstanding client service, unparalleled market knowledge, and high quality placements.

William Perry Sumas (“Tiger Boy”), 77, of Monmouth Beach, New Jersey, lost his nearly four-year battle with cancer on July 11, 2024. He passed peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born on March 23, 1947, in South Orange, NJ, Billy was the proud son of Greek immigrants who came to this country for a better life and embodied the American Dream. Following in his father's footsteps, Billy joined Village Supermarkets in 1960 and served as Chairman of the Board since 2017, an achievement that culminated his life’s work. He was also the longest-serving Chairman of the Board for the New Jersey Food Council from 2000-2007.