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Kathryne Badura, Bergen County-Born Fashion Attorney, Music Lover, Dies At 38
Kathryne Badura, a Bergen County native who built a career at the intersection of fashion, law, and business, died on Tuesday, June 24, according to her obituary on the Vander Plaat Funeral Home website. She was 38 years old.
Services were held Tuesday, July 8 at St. Elizabeth RC Church in Wyckoff.
Born in Paterson and raised in Fair Lawn before moving to Mahwah, Badura graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy in 2004, where she was an honors student, athlete, and performer, her obituary says. She continued her academic and artistic pursuits at Villanova University, graduating magna cum laud…
NJ Grandfather Killed In Lightning Strike While Doing What He Loved
Tributes are pouring in for Robert Montgomery, a 61-year-old New Jersey resident killed on Wednesday, July 16, when he was struck by lightning while volunteering at an archery event.
Montgomery, of Cinnaminson, worked as an engineer and was passionate about his career, according to his obituary from the Givnish Funeral Home website.
An animal lover, Montgomery was devoted to his three dogs, Mia, Franco and Vedder, walking them every day, his obituary reads.
"They became his constant companions and a source of joy," according to his obituary. "Robert will be deeply missed by their thr…
NJ Corrections Officer, Mother Jamie Randall Dies, 46
Jamie Randall, a 46-year-old South Jersey resident, mother, and corrections officer, died on Sunday, July 13, according to her obituary from the Boucher Funeral Home website. She was 46 years old.
A corrections officer for the New Jersey State Prison, Randall enjoyed running, fishing, crabbing and going to the beach, her obituary reads. She was a movie fanatic who loved sphynx cats, according to her obituary.
It is with great sadness that the New Jersey Department of Corrections shares the passing of Senior Correctional Police... Posted by New Jersey Department of Corrections on&nb…
Former Naval Officer, NJ Dad Dies Month After Fall From Ladder
New Jersey dad Matthew Maloney died on Wednesday, July 16, a month after he fell from a ladder, leading to respiratory failure, according to a fundraiser set up to support his family. He died two days after his 57th birthday.
Born in Scotch Plains and a resident of Berkeley Heights, Maloney graduated from Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, where he served as captain of both the baseball and hockey teams, according to the fundraiser set up by his daughter. He attended the United States Naval Academy, where he played baseball, graduating in 1991, the fundraiser reads.
After completing hi…
Trailblazing Singer, Actress Connie Francis, NJ Native, Dies
Connie Francis, the beloved American pop singer and actress whose voice defined an era, has died.
She was 87, and had been hospitalized the last two weeks.
Ron Roberts, the president of Francis' label, Concetta Records, announced her death on Facebook.
"it is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night," wrote early Thursday morning, July 17. "I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news."
Born Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero in Newark, New Jersey, Francis rose from neigh…
West Milford's Nick Weinzierl Dies Suddenly, 33, With Wedding Date Less Than Year Away
Nicholas "Nick" Weinzierl had just bought his first home and set a date to marry the love of his life. But earlier this week, the 33-year-old from West Milford passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, his family said.
Nick, who was born on Christmas, Dec. 25, 1991, died on Monday, July 14, according to an obituary on the D’Agostino Funeral Home website.
He was remembered as fiercely loyal, endlessly thoughtful, and full of love: "He found joy in the little things and lit up when he could make the people around him smile," his sister, Jenna, said on a GoFundMe launched to support Nick's fiancé…
Death Of NJ Dad Spreads Shock; $70K Raised For College Sweetheart, New Baby
The death of Gregory "Greg" Swenson, a new father, educator, and lifelong athlete, is spreading shock and sadness across multiple states.
Greg, 29, of Cranford, NJ, died peacefully on Saturday, July 12 following a short illness, according to his obituary on the Gray Funeral Home.
Greg's death comes six months after welcoming a baby boy, Lars, with his wife and college sweetheart, Morgan. A GoFundMe page launched for the pair had raised nearly $70,000 as of press time.
A Farmingdale, NY native, Greg later moved to East Lyme where he was a three-sport athlete at East Lyme High School, h…
$17K Raised For Daughters Of River Edge Dad After 'Brief But Fierce' Cancer Battle
A River Edge father of two young girls has died after a short but fierce battle with cancer, loved ones said.
Kieran Corrigan, 54, passed away peacefully on July 2, according to an obituary posted by Volk Leber Funeral Home.
Kieran, originally from Woodlands, South Douglas Road in Cork, Ireland, was remembered as a warm and creative man deeply devoted to his family. He was the beloved husband of Edel Corrigan (née Shealy) and the proud father of Keelan, 10, and Chloe, 8.
A GoFundMe organized by Kathleen Terhune said Kieran "passed away after a brief but fierce battle with cancer." The fund…
NJ Lacrosse Player Tyler Carbajal Dies, 19
Friends and family are mourning the heartbreaking loss of Tyler Shea Carbajal, a 19-year-old New Jersey resident whose compassion, wit, and bright smile left a lasting impression on everyone he met.
Tyler, of Great Meadows (Warren County), passed away on Sunday, July 6, according to his obituary from the Bronson & McNamara Memorial Home. In front of others, he seemed strong, but “inside he was deeply sensitive, compassionate, and respectful to everyone he met,” the obituary reads.
A 2024 graduate of Hackettstown High School, Tyler's dedication to academics and athletics was unmatched — …
Bergen County Nightlife Icon DJ Ammo Dies Suddenly, Shockwaves Spread Through NYC Club Scene
Friends, family, and fans are mourning the sudden loss of Mossna M. Varasteh, a Bergen County native known worldwide as DJ Ammo, whose reach spanned from New York City to Asia.
Varasteh, 42, died on Tuesday, July 8. He had gone to bed, gotten up around 5 a.m., gone back to sleep and was found unresponsive just hours later, his loved ones said. An exact cause has not yet been identified.
Ammo had recently returned from performances in Japan, Germany, Amsterdam, and Aruba, and was still DJing major New York City events just weeks before his passing.
He got his start in the summer after 8th g…
MVC Team In Bergen County Mourns Loss Of Co-Worker ‘Bodyguard’ Davidson Cruz, 23
Davidson Elian Cruz, a Wallington husband, father, and Motor Vehicle Commission employee, died on Friday, June 27, 2025, just three days before his 24th birthday, according to his obituary on the Alvarez Funeraria website.
He was born June 30, 2001, in the Dominican Republic, the obituary says.
Davidson worked for the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) as a Safety Specialist at the Lodi Road Test Operations team since April 2022, according to a GoFundMe campaign which appears to have been launched by coworkers.
"Davidson made a lasting impact during his time with the Commission," th…
Shae McCusker, Former South Jersey Police Officer, Kean Lax Player, Dies At 30
Shock and sadness spread following the sudden death of former police officer and Kean lacrosse player Shae McCusker.
Shae, of Marlton, who passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 28 at just 30 years old, according to his obituary on the Bradley Funeral Home website.
Shae graduated from Cherokee High School and went on to attend Kean University, where he earned a criminal justice degree and played on the men’s lacrosse team, his obituary says. He later graduated top of his class from the Camden County Police Academy and joined the Waterford Township Police Department, fulfilling a childho…
Motorcycle Passenger Killed In I-287 Crash Was HS Valedictorian Who Battled Rare Illness
A woman killed in a motorcycle crash last month on Interstate 287 is being remembered as a fearless leader, athlete, and scholar who never let her rare illness define her.
Tonya Reetz, 35, of Neshkoro, WI, died after being ejected from a Harley-Davidson motorcycle on northbound lanes in Bernards Township when the bike was involved in a crash on Saturday, June 21, Sgt. Charles Marchan said.
Reetz’s family says she lived a full and driven life — even while managing Bernard-Soulier Syndrome, a rare blood disorder. According to her obituary on the Leikness Funeral Home website, she “…
Sonia Castro, NJ Mom Who Endured Tragedy With Grace, Dies
Sonia Castro, a North Jersey mother and grandmother who spent her life putting family first while battling a rare genetic condition, died on Thursday, June 26, her family said.
Her death comes just six months after she lost her own mother to cancer, and nearly 12 years after the heartbreaking loss of her daughter, Kiara, in 2013, according to a GoFundMe campaign organized by her family.
“Sonia’s life was a powerful testament to strength and unwavering love,” writes Aida Castro, who launched the campaign to support Sonia’s surviving children and grandchildren.
She was the proud mother…
John ‘Jack’ Schultz, Softball Coach, Dad, ALS Volunteer, Dies At 59
John “Jack” Schultz died after a long and courageous battle with illness, his family said.
Schultz, 59, spent months in intensive care before his passing, according to a GoFundMe launched by his brother, Kevin. As of Sunday, June 29, the campaign had raised more than $24,000 to help cover his medical and funeral expenses.
Schultz, who lived in Waldwick and Spring Lake, was known for his cutting wit, warm smile, and unwavering loyalty to the people and teams he loved, including the Yankees, the Giants, and Don Bosco, his family wrote in his obituary with Vander Plaat Funeral Home.
A dedicat…
NJ Waitress Maddie Eberhardt Dies Suddenly, 26, Leaves Behind Devastated Family
A 26-year-old woman from Toms River has died suddenly, leaving behind a devastated family, countless friends, and a heartbroken community, loved ones said.
Madison “Maddie” Eberhardt passed away on Monday, June 23, according to her obituary with Quinn-Hopping Funeral Home.
“Maddie was a kind, sensitive, and caring soul who touched the lives of everyone around her,” wrote Kerri Platt, organizer of a GoFundMe campaign launched to help with funeral expenses. “She brought light and warmth wherever she went.”
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Ramsey HS Grad Youssef Nissan Dies, 25
Youssef “Joseph” Nissan of Ramsey died Saturday, June 21, at age 25, according to his obituary with CC Van Emburgh Funeral Home.
Born in Ridgewood, Youssef graduated from Ramsey High School in 2018 and earned his psychology degree from Rowan University in 2023, his obituary reads.
"Youssef brought immeasurable joy, laughter, and light into the lives of everyone who knew him," the obituary continues. "From an early age, he was known for his adventurous spirit, his kind and compassionate heart, and his remarkable ability to make others feel truly seen, heard, and loved."
A GoFundMe camp…
Ridgewood Dads Unite After Sudden Loss Of One Of Their Own
The night before he died, Octavio Gonzalez was more full of life than ever.
He spent the evening laughing with one of his closest friends, Ahmad Oloumi, who said nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
“He was no different,” Oloumi said. “His typical jovial self.”
Which is why the news of Gonzalez’s sudden passing the next day, Sunday, June 22, came as such a shock.
Now, in the wake of his death, Oloumi and Ridgewood’s Dads’ Night, a nonprofit made up of fathers from two of the village’s elementary schools, have launched a GoFundMe to support Gonzalez’s wife, April, and their children, M…
Prolific NJ Soccer Coach, Teacher Joseph Colodne Dies Suddenly, 46
Multiple New Jersey school and soccer communities are mourning the sudden loss of Joseph “Joe” Colodne, a longtime educator and coach known for his passion, mentorship, and heart.
Colodne, of Fanwood, died unexpectedly Wednesday, June 18, loved ones announced. He was a history teacher at Plainfield High School and an assistant women’s soccer coach at Kean University.
“Joe was so many things,” said Kean women’s soccer head coach Brian Doherty. “A great coach, great mentor, great friend and more than that, just a great person.”
“He was more than just a coach in our program. He was an educato…
Lynn Hamilton, ‘Sanford And Son,’ ‘The Waltons’ Actress, Dies At 95
Lynn Hamilton, best known for her roles on The Waltons and Sanford and Son, has died at the age of 95.
Hamilton passed away in Chicago of natural causes, according to her former manager and publicist, Rev. Calvin Carson.
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She was surrounded by grandchildren, loved ones, and caregivers, he said.
Born Alzenia “Lynn” Hamilton-Jenkins, the legendary actress leaves behind a five-decade legacy in film, television, theater, and modeling.
She was widely recognize…
Food Network Star Anne Burrell Dies At 55: 'A Remarkable Person And Culinary Talent'
The culinary world is reeling from the sudden loss of celebrity chef Anne Burrell, the fiery Food Network favorite known for her bold flavors, big hair, and even bigger personality.
Burrell, a New York native from Madison County, died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, June 17, at the age of 55, according to a statement from the Food Network.
Medics found her unresponsive in her Brooklyn home Tuesday morning and pronounced her dead at the scene, TMZ reports. The New York City Medical Examiner’s office will determine an official cause of death.
Best known to millions as the animated, no-nonsens…
Global Business Pioneer Leonard Lauder, Among World's Richest People, Dies
Leonard Lauder, the billionaire businessman who helped turn his family’s cosmetics company into a global beauty empire, has died.
The 92-year-old Lauder's death came on Saturday, June 14, at his home on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, according to a statement from the Estée Lauder Companies, the business his parents founded and he helped transform into a multibillion-dollar giant.
The Bronx-born executive formally joined the company in 1958.
Over the next six decades, he shaped the company’s identity, launched best-selling brands including Clinique and Aramis, spearheaded internati…
