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Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home

Obituaries
Longtime Wayne Township Employee Brian Reardon Dies Unexpectedly, 57 Longtime Wayne Township Employee Brian Reardon Dies Unexpectedly, 57
Longtime Wayne Township Employee Brian Reardon Dies Unexpectedly, 57 Brian Reardon, who spent 37 years working for Wayne Township in the water and road department, died unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 10 at the age of 57, according to his obituary. Reardon grew up in West Paterson and graduated from Passaic Valley High School in Little Falls and then went to work for Wayne, his obituary on the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home website reads.  He was renowned by his co-workers for being able to lift a manhole with a single hand, according to his obituary. To my friend Brian Reardon. I will miss the jokes and the laughs. Thank you for being such a …

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by Sam Barron
Obituaries
Devoted Passaic County Mom, Black-Belt Martial Artist Dies, 48 Devoted Passaic County Mom, Black-Belt Martial Artist Dies, 48
Devoted Passaic County Mom, Black-Belt Martial Artist Dies, 48 Devoted Passaic County mother and black-belt martial artist Nicole D. Toulas died on Saturday, June 4 at the age of 48. Raised in Ringwood, Nicole graduated from Lakeland High School before attending the University of Tampa and earning her bachelor’s degree from William Paterson University, according to her obituary. Nicole interned for MSNBC and later pursued a marketing career, working for several years as the Director of Marketing for Rehabilitation Specialists, her memorial says. Nicole lived in Wayne with her loving husband, Andy, at the time of her death. The two had spent 18 years o…

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by Valerie Musson
Sports
Wayne Valley Football Player Dies After 4-Month Cancer Battle Wayne Valley Football Player Dies After 4-Month Cancer Battle
Wayne Valley Football Player Dies After 4-Month Cancer Battle A beloved football player from Wayne Valley died after a brief but valiant battle with cancer. Rocco Vincenzo Sivolella, 15, died on Tuesday, May 17 after being diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in January, his obituary says. Rocco, a freshman at Wayne Valley High School, was remembered for retaining a positive outlook on life and personifying courage throughout his chemotherapy treatments. He left an impact on everyone he came into contact with — even the hospital staff members who cared for him worked together to bring him a guitar when they learned that he was inspired by Flea …

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by Valerie Musson
Obituaries
Pequannock Native, DePaul Catholic Grad Tyler DiRusso Dies, 25 Pequannock Native, DePaul Catholic Grad Tyler DiRusso Dies, 25
Pequannock Native, DePaul Catholic Grad Tyler DiRusso Dies, 25 Morris County native Tyler DiRusso died on March 29, 2021. He was 25 years old. Services were held April 2 at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home. Tyler grew up and Pequannock graduated from Wayne's DePaul Catholic High School in 2014. A lifelong athlete, Tyler was captain of DePaul's football team and member of the lacrosse team. After being voted First Team All-County Offensive Lineman and Second Team Big North Offensive Lineman, Tyler attended Slippery Rock University on a football scholarship and played for three years. He finished college Ramapo College, where he graduated wi…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
'Loving, Devoted' Wayne Mom Sara Gordon Dies Suddenly, 38 'Loving, Devoted' Wayne Mom Sara Gordon Dies Suddenly, 38
'Loving, Devoted' Wayne Mom Sara Gordon Dies Suddenly, 38 Sara Gordon of Wayne died suddenly on July 23. She was 38 years old. Sara was being remembered as a caring mom to her son and a bright light, "fighting forward through all that tried to keep [her] down." Growing up in Wayne, Sara played soccer at Wayne Hills High School and excelled in the school's marching, concert and jazz bands. She also sang in the school's choir. Sara was also a talented artist who painted, sketched, and was an extremely competent photographer. One of her drawings was sold to someone as a tattoo, her obituary says. She went on to earn her associate's degree in c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
NY Renaissance Faire Actor Eric Heppel Of Wayne Dies, 47 NY Renaissance Faire Actor Eric Heppel Of Wayne Dies, 47
NY Renaissance Faire Actor Eric Heppel Of Wayne Dies, 47 Longtime Wayne resident Eric Heppel died suddenly of natural causes on Saturday, April 6. He was 47 years old. Heppel was born in Pequannock and lived in Wayne for more than 30 years, his obituary says. He graduated from Wayne Valley High School (1989) and continued his education at Montclair State University. There, Heppel earned his Bachelor's in accounting (1993).  Heppel worked as a computer consultant for many years but always had a passion for theater, according to his obituary. He was involved with several local productions starting at Montclair State and continuing with th…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Pompton Lakes Special Ed Teacher Trish McKenna Was Devoted Grandmother, Fantastic Cook Pompton Lakes Special Ed Teacher Trish McKenna Was Devoted Grandmother, Fantastic Cook
Pompton Lakes Special Ed Teacher Trish McKenna Was Devoted Grandmother, Fantastic Cook Trish McKenna (nee Ghirardi), a longtime special education teacher in Pompton Lakes, died suddenly on March 30. She was 50 years old. Trish worked at Lincoln Elementary School for nearly 12 years, her obituary says. A Pompton Lakes native, she graduated from PLHS with the class of 1986. Her husband Tom, whom she married in 1999, said she made the best lasagna and chicken cacciatore.  Trish is also survived by her three children, Marisa, Tyler and Timmy, along with her beloved granddaughter, Isabella. Visitation will be at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home on April 3, f…

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by Cecilia Levine
Lifestyle
Fundraiser In Place For Family Of 'Hardworking' Gas Attendant Killed In Horrific Route 23 Crash Fundraiser In Place For Family Of 'Hardworking' Gas Attendant Killed In Horrific Route 23 Crash
Fundraiser In Place For Family Of 'Hardworking' Gas Attendant Killed In Horrific Route 23 Crash Many knew Lovedeep Fatra only as a familiar face at the gas station. Always smiling. Always friendly. Almost always working. The 22-year-old, however, was killed when an SUV driven by a drugged motorist went airborne and crashed into a father, and his teen getting gas from Fatra at Route 23 Delta gas station earlier this week. More than $12,000 had been raised for Fatra's family on a GoFundMe as of Sunday afternoon. Fatra moved to the U.S. from India and worked tirelessly to support his family back home. He was set to leave the gas station in two weeks to start a career as a truck driver,…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Arrangements Set For Father, Son Killed In Horrific Route 23 Gas Station Crash Arrangements Set For Father, Son Killed In Horrific Route 23 Gas Station Crash
Arrangements Set For Father, Son Killed In Horrific Route 23 Gas Station Crash Jon and Luke Warbeck were inseparable. Ever since Luke was born 17 years ago, the father and son did nearly everything together. They rode dirt bikes, went camping and fished together. Jon -- formerly a Carlstadt firefighter -- became a Boy Scout leader when Luke, a Boonton High School junior, joined. The pair were on their way to the DMV for Luke to take his driver's test when an SUV driven by a drugged motorist went airborne and crashed into them and a Route 23 gas station attendant, killing all three. A funeral for Jon and Luke Warbeck is set for 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Vander Ma…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Anthony Iudici Formerly Of Wayne, 21, Remembered For Big Heart, Love Of Animals Anthony Iudici Formerly Of Wayne, 21, Remembered For Big Heart, Love Of Animals
Anthony Iudici Formerly Of Wayne, 21, Remembered For Big Heart, Love Of Animals Anthony "Ant" N. Iudici formerly of Wayne died on Tuesday, Dec. 18. He was born in Ridgewood and lived in West Paterson and Wayne before moving to Fairfield. Anthony has worked for his father at the family business Iudici & Son Construction for the past five years. He also worked at Wayne Mazda. He will be remembered for his crazy, fun personality and his silly laugh.  "Anthony had a great sense of humor and a big heart," his obituary says. "He loved animals, having dogs, bunnies, hamsters, chicks, guinea pigs, and birds growing up. Many will remember his giant sweet tooth with …

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room' Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room'
Dean Campbell Of Wayne, 22, Was 'Light That Lit Up The Room' Dean William Campbell of Wayne died on Dec. 1. He was 22 years old. Born in Syracuse, N.Y., Dean lived his life with a "rush to climb anything and everything from walls at age three to mountains at age 15," his obituary says. He loved exploring waterfalls, lakes and forests around his hometown of Camillus, N.Y. and surrounding areas. He had a passion for the ocean as well, scuba diving and deep sea fishing in Hawaii. In 2011, Dean earned his black belt in Karate. Three years later he graduated from West Genesee High School's automotive program, where he honed his skills and interest i…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
'Fiercely Loyal, Compassionate' Nicholas Theobald Of Wayne Dies In Mother's Arms 'Fiercely Loyal, Compassionate' Nicholas Theobald Of Wayne Dies In Mother's Arms
'Fiercely Loyal, Compassionate' Nicholas Theobald Of Wayne Dies In Mother's Arms Nicholas J. Theobald of Wayne died Monday, Aug. 6 in his mother's arms. He was 33 years old. More than $1,800 had been raised on a GoFundMe launched by Nicholas' mom Elizabeth Wells as of Sunday for his funeral. Born and raised in Wayne, Nicholas graduated from Wayne Valley High School with the Class of 2003 and went on to attend Morris County Community College. There, he studied criminal justice and in 2006 went to the Roman Academy of Beauty Culture in Hawthorne. He worked as a laborer in the construction industry. Caring, giving and fiercely loyal,  Nicholas was protective of those he c…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
TRIBUTE: Wayne Baseball Player Nicholas McIlwrath, 29, Was Natural Charmer TRIBUTE: Wayne Baseball Player Nicholas McIlwrath, 29, Was Natural Charmer
Tribute: Wayne Baseball Player Nicholas McIlwrath, 29, Was Natural Charmer Nicholas J. McIlwrath of Wayne died Wednesday, May 23. He was 29 years old. Nicholas was born in Pequannock and raised in Wayne where he attended Wayne Valley High School. He played baseball through the youth programs at Wayne PAL, his father one of his coaches.  He could switch hit at bat and could play multiple positions including catcher, shortstop and pitcher in the field.  His coaches nicknamed him “Nolan Nicky” after Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. As Nicholas grew, he was also honored to be a member of the Traveling All Stars. To be in the company of Nicholas was al…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
West Milford Dad, Beloved Football Coach Ryan Comeau Dies, 41 West Milford Dad, Beloved Football Coach Ryan Comeau Dies, 41
West Milford Dad, Beloved Football Coach Ryan Comeau Dies, 41 Ryan Comeau of West Milford died Sunday, May 6 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 41 years old. Comeau had been out of work as a teacher at Chatham Day School and football coach at Union High School after being diagnosed in January 2017 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. More than $68,900 had been raised for the father of two on a YouCaring page, where he is described as being a fighter and giver. "There are no words that can capture his love of life, his warrior spirit, his compassion and commitment to those around him, and the light that he truly was for so many," said the…

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by Cecilia Levine
Obituaries
Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction
Family Mourning Wayne Mom-To-Be, 20, Reveals Harsh Truths Of Addiction WAYNE, N.J. — The family mourning the loss of a 20-year-old Wayne mom-to-be is shedding light on the addiction epidemic that tragically took her life. "For those struggling with addiction or a family member of an addict: addiction is a family disease," the family wrote on Justyna Dolegowski's obituary.  She died on Jan. 16, six months pregnant with her baby. "One person may use, but the whole family suffers. Heroin will kidnap you, raise you, take your soul and return only your body to your family." Justyna Dolegowski died on Jan. 16, six months pregnant with her baby.…

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by Cecilia Levine