West Orange Native, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero' West Orange Native, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero'
West Orange Native, Flight Nurse Jay McChesney Dies, 55: 'All American Hero' Medical professionals across New Jersey are mourning the loss of Jay McChesney, a longtime nurse being remembered for his humility and genuine concern. Jay, whose birth name was James Paul, died on Friday, Aug. 30, according to his obituary on the Hillsborough Funeral Home website. He was 55 years old. A GoFundMe launched for Jay's family had raised more than $8,000 as of press time. Known affectionately by loved ones as the "All American Hero," Jay grew up in West Orange and went on to work at the Parsippany Pathmark, where he met his wife, Jenette Reilling, with whom he shared three chil…
North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57 North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57
North Jersey Loses Animal Advocate Janine Weinert Who Died Suddenly At 57 Hearts broke across North Jersey following the sudden death of Janine Weinert. The West Milford resident, formerly of Norwood, died unexpectedly at 57 years old, according to a GoFundMe page launched for her loved ones. Nancy Warner, the page creator, remembered Janine for her kindness and altruism. "An amazing woman, a fiercely dedicated mother to Aidan, an animal advocate and a loving and devoted partner to her soulmate Keith," Warner writes. "No matter what she was struggling with personally, she would always reach out to help anyone in need in the community. Even a perfect stranger. K…
Organs Of High School Football Player Killed In NJ Tesla Crash Will Help Others Live Organs Of High School Football Player Killed In NJ Tesla Crash Will Help Others Live
Organs Of High School Football Player Killed In NJ Tesla Crash Will Help Others Live An 18-year-old man has died nearly a week after the Tesla he was riding in was involved in a crash, police in South Jersey said. Daniel "Danny" Hass, a student at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence Township, died Saturday, Aug. 24, his family said in a post on social media. "Our happy, beautiful, warm, loving and beloved son was declared brain dead this morning," his family said. "Danny wanted to be an organ donor, and we are following his wishes! His organ donation should take place late Sunday or early Monday. NJ Sharing will have a ceremony to honor Dan’s gifts around that time." Danny…
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School
Remembering Sophia DeTorres, NJ High Schooler Killed On First Day Of School Life was only beginning for Sophia DeTorres. The 16-year-old North Hunterdon High School student was a competitive and award-winning dancer of 11 years and had been looking at colleges, preparing for life's next chapter, according to her obituary on the Martin Funeral Home website. Sophia, who also ran cross country and track, visited Boson College, Cornell, and Wake Forest, on her early shortlist, and was hoping to major in psychology "in keeping with her drive to help people," her obituary says. But life was cut short for Sophia on Thursday, Aug. 22, when she was killed in…
Motorcyclist, 30, Dies Days Before Birthday In NJ Crash Motorcyclist, 30, Dies Days Before Birthday In NJ Crash
Motorcyclist, 30, Dies Days Before Birthday In NJ Crash A 30-year-old motorcyclist has died following a New Jersey crash earlier this month, according to his obituary. Wilson Gonzalez Jr., of Bound Brook, died at RWJ Hospital in New Brunswick on Friday, Aug. 16, his obituary on the Hagan-Chamberlin Funeral Home website says. Happy birthday mi amor. I miss you so much and your babies do to. I promise to keep going on and raising our babies.I love you ❤️ Wilson Gonzalez Posted by Alyssa Warren on Friday, August 23, 2024 Gonzalez was identified as the motorcyclist airlifted in the Thursday, Aug. 15 crash on the Manville Causeway near …
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters
Warren Hills HS Grad Taylor Cerza Dies Suddenly, 27, Leaving Behind 2 Daughters Taylor M. Cerza, a Warren Hills High School graduate who lived in Hampton, died suddenly on Friday, Aug. 16 in Oxford, according to her obituary on the Warren Hills Memorial Home website. She was 27 years old. A Great Meadows native, Taylor worked as a direct support professional for Abilities of NW Jersey and was a loving mother to her two kids, Layla Knoop and Frankie Lee Golovko, her obituary says. A GoFundMe launched in Taylor's memory had raised more than $9,200 as of press time. "Taylor has two young beautiful daughters that will now have to grow up without their mommy so my fam…
Morris County Native Michael Brown, 23, Was Set To Begin New Job At EY, Obituary Says Morris County Native Michael Brown, 23, Was Set To Begin New Job At EY, Obituary Says
Morris County Native Michael Brown, 23, Was Set To Begin New Job At EY, Obituary Says Michael Brown, a Morris County native set to start a new career in accounting, died on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024. He was 23 years old. According to his obituary on the William Leber Funeral Home website, Michael graduated from  West Morris Central High School before earning a degree from the University of Alabama. He was set to begin a new job at EY in Atlanta, GA. He had checked off an item on a summer bucket list this year, hiking across national parks along the West Coast, camping out or sleeping on a friend's couch, Michael's obituary reads.  In tributes published to socia…
Teen Boxing Champ From Bergen County Jesselyn 'Jesszilla' Silva Dies Teen Boxing Champ From Bergen County Jesselyn 'Jesszilla' Silva Dies
Teen Boxing Champ From Bergen County Jesselyn 'Jesszilla' Silva Dies Jesselyn Silva had a lot of people rooting for her. That's both in the ring as a national boxing champion, and out, as she fought cancer. The 18-year-old Bergenfield boxer lost her bout with cancer on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. Known in the ring as JessZilla, was a two-time national champion who penned her own memoir, My Corner of the Ring by the time she was 15 years old. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 🌻 Jesselyn "JessZilla" Silva 🦖 (@jesselyn_silva) She later starred in a feature film by Emily Sheskin called Jesszilla…
Longtime New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Dies At 87 Longtime New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Dies At 87
Longtime New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Dies At 87 Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democrat who served in Congress for almost 30 years and was a former Mayor of Paterson, died on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at the age of 87, his family announced. "It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning," his family wrote on social media.  "As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He i…
Kevin Waite, Jersey City Musician, Father Of Two, Dies At 46 Kevin Waite, Jersey City Musician, Father Of Two, Dies At 46
Kevin Waite, Jersey City Musician, Father Of Two, Dies At 46 Kevin Waite, a Jersey City musician who worked in mental health, died recently at the age of 46, according to a fundraiser set up to support his family. Waite is survived by his wife Nicole and his two children, Dylan and Ruby. As of Friday, Aug. 16, the fundraiser has raised more than $65,800. It’s hard to find a group that’s been together for 40 years. Through the good times and the bad we’ve been through it... Posted by Brian Skib on Monday, August 12, 2024 "Kevin's warmth, generosity, and boundless spirit touched everyone he met," wrote Melanie Kirsch, who organized the fundrai…
Garfield's Aaron Dudek Dies, 30 Garfield's Aaron Dudek Dies, 30
Garfield's Aaron Dudek Dies, 30 Lifelong Garfield resident Aaron Dudek died on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, according to his obituary on the Aloia Funeral Home website. He was 30 years old. Aaron earned his bachelor's in business administration at Montclair State University (Class of 2018). Aaron's LinkedIn page shows he'd been working as the technology lead and digital media coordinator for Jack Georges, a leather bag and luggage company. A parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Virgin RC Church in Garfield, Aaron leaves behind his parents, John and Margaret (nee Fatuova) Dudek; his sister, Rachel Dudek and her husba…
Gerald 'Jerry' McMinn, Owner Of NJ Ice Cream Institution, Longtime EMT Dies At 93 Gerald 'Jerry' McMinn, Owner Of NJ Ice Cream Institution, Longtime EMT Dies At 93
Gerald 'Jerry' McMinn, Owner Of NJ Ice Cream Institution, Longtime EMT Dies At 93 Gerald "Jerry" McMinn, a man credited for saving countless lives over more than 65 years volunteering as an EMT, and bringing joy to thousands of North Jersey residents through his iconic Milk Barn, has died at 93 years old. An Army Veteran widely known across North Jersey as the owner of the Old Barn Milk Bar in Wayne, died on Wednesday, Aug. 7, according to his obituary on the Scanlan Funeral Home website.  Jerry graduated from Butler High School and later served in the U.S. Army. While volunteering at the St. Joseph's Hospital emergency room in Paterson, he met his wife, "the l…