Obituaries

Greater Media Newspapers prints obituaries as a free community service, at no charge to the families of the deceased or to the funeral homes that provide the information.

OMA RUFFNER, 73, of East Brunswick died Nov. 26 in St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Prior to her retirement in 1980, she was a clerk at Peoples National Bank, North Brunswick, where she worked for 20 years. Her husband, Elmer, died in 1998. Surviving are a daughter, Vicki Panetta of East Brunswick; a sister, Kathy Jones of Kingston, Tenn.; and two grandchildren. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, New Brunswick. Interment was in Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association – New Jersey Memorial, P.O. Box 31160, Hartford, CT 06150-1160.

MARY GREGA KOSA, 80, of South River died Dec. 2 in Applegarth Care Center, Monroe. Her husband, Joseph Kosa, died in 1993. Surviving are a daughter, Joan Dziepak of South River; a son, Joseph Kosa of the Dayton section of South Brunswick; five grandchildren; and three great-granddaughters. A Mass was offered at St. Mary’s Church, South River. Interment was in Washington Monumental Cemetery, South River.

ARTHUR J. LYONS, 89, of North Brunswick died Dec. 4 at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in New Brunswick, he resided in Highland Park and Piscataway before moving to North Brunswick in 1960. He was a land appraiser for the Middlesex County Counsel, retiring in 1988. Prior to that, he was the owner of T.P. Lyons Haberdashery, New Brunswick, until the store closed in 1972. The store was founded by his father, Terence P. Lyons, in 1902. He served as a master sergeant in the Signal Corps of the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a communicant of Our Lady of Peace Church, North Brunswick. He was a member of the New Brunswick Lions Club, and chairman of the board of Raritan Valley Savings and Loan from 1977-86. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marjorie Landthaler Lyons of North Brunswick; three daughters, Priscilla Rose of North Brunswick, Janet Lyons-Berger of Bronxville, N.Y., and Phyllis Lyons-Arkin of Los Angeles; his son, Terence Lyons of Hillsborough; and five grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at Our Lady of Peace Church, North Brunswick. Burial was at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

FRANCES FALCONE YELO, 85, of North Brunswick died Dec. 6. Born in Lattimer Mines, Pa., she resided in North Brunswick for the past 60 years. She was a homemaker. She was a communicant of St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, New Brunswick, where she was a member of the church’s St. Anne’s Society. She was a member of the Italian American Club of North Brunswick. She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Samuel Yelo, in July; two brothers, Paul Falcone and Larry Falcone; and a sister, Pauline Giarrizzi. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Connie and Patrick Sciarra of North Brunswick, and Marlene and John Schepise of Milltown; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Evyonne Yelo of the Kendall Park section of South Brunswick, and Samuel and Harriet Yelo Jr. of the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick; a brother, Nat Falcone of Hazleton, Pa.; five sisters, Catherine Yelo, Rose Cerrito, Theresa Yaniga and Angie Michelin, all of Hazleton, Pa., and Anne Beccone of Plymouth Meeting, Pa.; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, New Brunswick. Entombment was at Franklin Memorial Park, North Brunswick.

GEORGE J. McCARRON, 83, of South Amboy died Nov. 29 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy. Born in Jersey City, he resided in South Amboy the past 32 years. He was a die maker at J & P B Myers, Moonachie, for 55 years, retiring in 1990. He was a member of St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy. He served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, attaining the rank of technical sergeant. He also served in the southwest Pacific theatre, the New Guinea campaign and southern Philippines campaign. He was awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal. He was predeceased by a sister, Loretta Behninger; his step-brother, Joseph Hagen; and a son-in-law, Edward F. Dolan. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Margaret Rand McCarron of South Amboy; five sons and four daughters-in-law, George McCarron of Long Branch; Robert and Linda McCarron of West Allenhurst; William and Ann McCarron of the Dayton section of South Brunswick; Peter and Carol McCarron of Howell; and Mark and Joanne McCarron of Centerville, Va.; two daughters, Regina Dolan of Spring, Texas, and Bernadette McCarron of Falls Church, Va.; his sister, Anna Wanagiel of Jersey City; and eight grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was offered at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, South Amboy.