Obituaries

Thomas J. Durkin

Mr. Durkin, 44, of South Brunswick, died Jan. 8, 2007, at Somerset Medical Center. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., he resided in Yonkers, N.Y., before relocating to South Brunswick 12 years ago. Mr. Durkin was CEO and vice president at Schaffner EMC Inc., Edison. He was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church, Kendall Park section of South Brunswick. He was a former captain and president of the Kendall Park First Aid Squad. He also coached baseball and basketball teams in South Brunswick. Mr. Durkin is survived by his wife, Denise Smyth Durkin; two children, Amanda Nicole and Thomas Ryan, both at home; his mother, Josephine Mulholland Durkin of Melbourne, Fla.; his father, John J. Durkin and his wife, Maureen, of Melbourne; three sisters and two brothers-in-law, Kathy Durkin and Bob Dyke of Berkeley, Calif.; Joan Durkin of Fort Worth, Texas; and Billy and Jimmy Smyth of Yonkers, N.Y.; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Kaye Smyth and Bill Smyth, both of Yonkers; and two nephews. Visitation will be held Jan. 11 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. at the M.J. Murphy Funeral Home, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick. A funeral service will take place Jan. 12 at 8:30 a.m. at the funeral home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Augustine's Church. Burial will be at Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick.

Daniel T. Gjertsen

Mr. Gjertsen, 21, of Monroe Township, died Jan. 1, 2007. He was born in Staten Island, N.Y. A graduate of East Brunswick Vocational-Technical School, Mr. Gjertsen was employed by East Brunswick Township. He was a communicant of Holy Trinity Church, Helmetta. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Lillian and Albert Gatti of Monroe; his father and stepmother, Robert and Margaret Gjertsen of Old Bridge; a brother and sister-in-law, Christian and Theresa Gjertsen of North Brunswick; and a sister, Alyssa Gatti of Monroe. Arrangements were by Rezem Funeral Home, East Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to The Ronald McDonald House, 145 Somerset St., New Brunswick 08901.

Raymond G. Compton

Mr. Compton, 81, of North Brunswick, died Jan. 6, 2007, at Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in New Brunswick, he resided there before moving to North Brunswick 42 years ago. Before his retirement in 1991, Mr. Compton was employed in the maintenance department at Bristol-Myers Squibb, North Brunswick, for 20 years. Prior to that, he was employed at Carpenters Steel Co., North Brunswick, and North Brunswick Township. He was a member of the Reformed Church of North Brunswick. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a member of Adams Athletic Club, North Brunswick. Mr. Compton was predeceased by five sisters, Clara Ramberg, May McCauley, Ann Muchanic, Helen Roberts and Evelyn Barnes; and three brothers, Carl, Vreeland Jr. and Julius. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marjorie Roberts Compton; two daughters and one son-in-law, Robin G. and John Varga of New Brunswick, and Lois Ann Davino of Monroe Township; and seven grandchildren. A funeral service was held at the Reformed Church, followed by interment at Van Liew Cemetery, North Brunswick. Arrangements were by the Selover Funeral Home, North Brunswick. Memorial donations may be made to the Reformed Church of North Brunswick Memorial Fund, 17 Laurel Place, North Brunswick 08902.

Dorothy Nebus Locha

Mrs. Locha, 73, of Sayreville, died Dec. 26, 2006, at home. Prior to her retirement in 1996, she was employed as an administrative assistant at Roosevelt Hospital, Edison, where she worked for 27 years. Before that, she worked at Raritan Arsenal, Edison, for six years. Her husband, Francis Locha, died Dec. 1. Surviving are two sons, Francis W. Locha of Sayreville and Thomas C. Locha of the Parlin section of Sayreville; two daughters, Martha Locha-Savoy of Keyport and Mary Locha of North Brunswick; and two grandsons. A Mass was offered at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Sayreville. Interment was in the church cemetery.

Joseph Kosmo

Mr. Kosmo, 83, of Old Bridge, died Dec. 22, 2006, in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick. His wife, Madeline Kosmo, died in 2003. Surviving are a daughter, Madeline Lynn McCaskill of Piscataway; two sons, Joseph Kosmo of North Brunswick and Carl Kosmo of Lincolnville, Maine; six grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. A Mass was offered at St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River. Entombment was in Holy Cross Burial Park, South Brunswick. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary of Ostrabrama Church, South River.