Helen E. Comber (nee Karschies) of Runnemede

Helen E. Comber (nee Karschies) of Runnemede, formerly of Barrington. Age 84.

Beloved wife of the late Richard Sr. Devoted mother of the Richard Jr. (Betsy), Frank (Diane), Mark (Barbie) and Helene (Matthew). Loving grandmother of 17 and great grandmother of 9. Dear sister of Hildegard Lipschutz and Elizabeth Gilles. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

There will be a visitation from 9am to 11am Monday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Service 11am at the funeral home.

Inurnment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Edie May Downie of Runnemede, age 89

Edith “Edie” May Downie (nee Hlubb), on February 19, 2020, passed away at home with her daughters by her side. She was a longtime resident of Runnemede. Age 89.

Beloved wife for 57 years of the late Jim. Devoted mother of Donna Frost (Gene) and Denise Monahan (Robbie). Loving Grandmom of Holly Plank (Steve) and Kevin Roback (Tiffany). Proud Great Grandmother of Jackson, Caleb & Gracyn Plank and Madison & Logan Roback. Predeceased by her siblings, John Hlubb, Joseph Hlubb, and Laura Recca and loving sister-in-law, Joan Hlubb.

Mrs. Downie was employed by the Runnemede Board of Education for 25+ years and also served as bookkeeper for her husband’s business, DECO Tool & Die. She was President of the Runnemede Fire Company Ladies’ Auxiliary, a member of the Runnemede Women’s Club and the Collingswood High School Class of 1948 Reunion Committee. She delighted in baking and decorating cakes for friends and family.

There will be a visitation from 10:30am to 11:30am Saturday, February 29

at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral Mass 12 noon at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa RC Church, Runnemede.

Interment private at the request of the family, Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hurffville.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edith’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 33105 or Tidewell Hospice, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238.

Ira “Ike” A. Ballinghoff, of Runnemede; Clementon Gun Club Member

Ira “Ike” A. Ballinghoff, on February 18, 2020, of Runnemede, formerly of Fairview. Age 79.

Beloved husband of the late Connie (nee Hartman). Devoted father of Kathleen Fischer (Tod), Michelle Barth (Mike), Tricia Frampton (Brian Obermeier) and Kenny Ballinghoff

(Colleen). Loving grandfather of Shaun, Kendall, Andrew, Kevin, Elizabeth, Megan, Erin, Katelyn, Kaylee and Allison and great grandfather of Devin, Donavan, Adilyn and Esme. Brother of Dorothy Jones, Fred and Jerry Ballinghoff. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Ike was a long time member of the Clementon Gun Club.

There will be a visitation from 9:30am to 12noon Saturday at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Service 12noon at the funeral home.

Inurnment St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing

Long-Time Gloucester City Resident and Vietnam War Veteran Needs Our Help

By CNBNews Staff

GLOUCESTER CITY, NJ (February 11, 2020)(CNBNewsnet)

—Bob Kotter, who was born and raised in Gloucester City, needs some help from his friends and residents of the community. Bob is battling stage 4 prostate cancer. A U.S. Marine, Bob fought in the Vietnam War. He believes his cancer was caused by Agent Orange which was dropped on the jungles of Vietnam by U.S. planes and helicopters to kill the heavy vegetation.

Bob Kotter (2018 CNBNews photo)

Recently his chemotherapy was increased to four times a week as cancer has spread to his bones.

For a decade or more Bob lived in the family home in the 400 block of Market Street taking care of his elderly parents. He cooked their meals, kept them and the house cleaned, and made sure they got to the doctors and received their medications. After his mother died the house was sold and he was left without a roof over his head.

\”A community activist,

I first met Bob in 2006-07 when he was trying to get the City of Gloucester City to clean up their parking lot at Fifth and Powell Street,\” said Bill Cleary Sr., editor of CNBNews. \”The lot was being used by junkies to shoot up. Empty needles and glassine bags were thrown around the lot in plain view. It was also an eyesore as a result of the trash and broken down cars on the lot.\”

From the 2007 article:

The city property was once the site of the Quaker Food store and the former Sand Bar. The City tore down the properties in the 1980s, paved it with asphalt, and put up an 8-foot high cyclone fence.

Kotter said during the interview,“that was the last time we saw the City. The fence has been decaying for the past several years. People used the vacant property to store their unlicensed vehicles and for changing the oil in their cars.”

Gloucester City Public Parking Lot is an Eyesore & \”Drug Den\”

In 2016 Bob fought against the terrible odor that was coming from the Blueknight Energy Partners asphalt plant on Water Street, home to eight million barrels of asphalt. Kotter told the Philadelphia Inquirer, \”Sometimes the fumes burn your eyes,\” he said. \”My elderly parents who lived four blocks from the plant have been putting up with it for years. But nobody does anything about it even though I have complained to numerous environmental agencies.\”

Gloucester City Residents are Fuming Over Fumes

Bob loved to walk through the city. He wore a wide brim light green hat with a US Marine emblem. You could tell by his walk he was military. He would start from his parent\’s home on Market Street head west to the riverfront and cover the entire city ending back at Market and Powell Streets. When he saw that the old GAF power plant was being demolished he was concerned that the property wasn\’t properly sealed, and, was worried the asbestos inside would spread to the nearby residential neighborhood.

\”As a result of his tip, we discovered some interesting history about the GAF power plant that we and the public would never have known if it wasn\’t for him,\” said Cleary.

Demolition Work on the 111-Year-Old GAF Power Plant

He loved Gloucester City and it upset him to see what was happening to certain neighborhoods in the community. He was quick to point out faults in the hopes by doing so improvements would be made. Take for example in 2018 when he wrote a letter to CNBNews about the condition of the entrance to the city on South Broadway, along with the pot holes on Jersey Avenue, two main highways coming in and out of the city.

\”I have attached some photos showing the deplorable road conditions on South Broadway when you enter Gloucester City from Brooklawn and the pot holes on Jersey Avenue from South Broadway to King Street,\” said Kotter.

\”These streets are so bad that if you hit some of the bumps doing the speed limit it will throw you right out of your vehicle\’s seat. I can\’t imagine what it does to the front end of your car/truck. Year in and year out these conditions have been allowed to exist. It is a disgrace. I give the person a thumbs up for the nice job he/she did in painting the new yellow lines on the street. However, painting dividing lines in the street before you repair the potholes is just plain stupid. \”

Deplorable Streets Need to be Repaired

\”Bob\’s heart was always in the right place\”, said Cleary.

\”He had no ulterior motive. He wasn\’t running for any political office. Nor did he have an ax to grind. If he saw something wrong he tried his best to fix it because of his love for Gloucester City. Please keep him in your prayers as he needs our help now both spiritually and financially.\”

Send your check to Runnemede VFW,

℅ Tim Salamatin, 13 East Sixth Street, Runnemede, NJ 08087. Make the check payable to Bob Kotter.

You can also send a Get Well card to Bob at the same address.

(published Feb. 11, 2020) https://www.gloucestercitynews.net

)

Thomas P. Caruso of Wildwood, formerly of Runnemede

Thomas P. Caruso, passed peacefully after a courageous two year battle with cancer on February 5, 2020, of Wildwood; formerly of Runnemede. Age 62.

Beloved son of the late Paul and Cass. Devoted brother of Paul Caruso (Linda) and Cathy Ingrasci (Pete). Loving uncle of Courtney Caruso (Scott Papetti), Samantha Caruso, Peter Ingrasci, and Katie Ingrasci.

There will be a visitation from 9am to 11am Saturday, February 8

at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1704 Old Black Horse Pike, Chews Landing, NJ. Funeral service 11am at the Church. Interment at St. John’s Episcopal Churchyard Cemetery, adjacent to the Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s memory to the National Institute of Mental Health Gift Fund, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6229A, MSC 9655, Bethesda, MD 20892-0655 or by visiting

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/about/connect-with-nimh/donate-to-mental-health-research.shtml

Roseanna D. Pulaski of Sicklerville, formerly of Runnemede

Roseanna D. Pulaski (nee Sparano), on January 21, 2020, of Sicklerville, formerly of Runnemede. Age 77.

Beloved wife of the late Robert L. Pulaski. Devoted mother of Nicholas Pulaski, Ginamarie Wolfe (William), Roseanne Schuenemann (Carl) and Jennifer Pulaski-Duca. Loving grandmother of Alex (Kayla), Gianna, Michael and Brandon. Dear sister of the late Sonny Sparano. Sister-in-law of Florence Sparano. Aunt of Maria, Tommy and Andrea and their families.

Roseanna was a career hairdresser for 50 years.

There will be a viewing from 6 to 8pm Sunday eve and 9 to 10am Monday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral Mass 11am Monday at Holy Child Parish, St. Maria Goretti RC Church, Runnemede.

Interment New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Roseanna’s memory to the Animal Orphanage, 419 Cooper Rd., Voorhees, NJ 08043.

Bernadette “Bernie” Mary Monahan of Runnemede

Bernadette “Bernie” Mary Monahan (nee Haug), passed peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, January 11, 2020. Longtime resident of Runnemede. Age 86.

Beloved wife for 64 years of the late Harold. Devoted mother of Dave (Lisa) and Robbie (Denise). Loving grandmother of David, Tyler and Gabrielle Monahan. She was the youngest of five siblings: Betty Coyle, Lori Scott, the late Catherine Coyle and Christian Haug. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Monahan was employed as a Licensing Agent by the New Jersey Racing Commission for 24 plus years. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed gardening and baking.

There will be a visitation from 11:30am to 12:30pm on Thursday morning at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE. Funeral Mass 1pm at Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa’s RC Church, 13 E. Evesham Road Runnemede. Interment private at the request of the family, Locustwood Cemetery, Cherry Hill.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Bernadette’s memory to Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517 Topeka, KS 66675.

Thomas C. Epley of Runnemede age 62

Thomas C. Epley, suddenly on January 3, 2020, of Runnemede. Age 62.

Beloved husband to Eleanor (nee Guenette). Devoted father to Lisa Ramtahal (Antonio). Loving grandfather to Hanna, Elisabeth, and Juliet. Cherished son of Margaret (nee Todd) and the late Millard B. Epley Jr. Dear brother to the late Millard B. Epley III “Bud”.

There will be a viewing from 9am to 11am Wednesday at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral service 11am at the funeral home.

Interment at Hillcrest Memorial Park, Hurffville.

Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Thomas’s memory to Trinity Lutheran Church 200 E Clements Bridge Road Runnemede, NJ 08078.

Helen G. Boehner Elliott (nee Shaffer) of Runnemede

Helen G. Boehner Elliott (nee Shaffer), on December 31, 2019, of Runnemede. Age 92.

Beloved mother of Roland Boehner (Karen), Carol Boehner and Barry Boehner (Christine). Loving grandmother of Kevin Boehner (Laura). Great grandmother of Joshua and Hannah. Dear sister of the late Evelyn, Rayetta, Greta and Clarence. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Helen was a member of TMA Laurel Springs, the Red Hatters, the Lindenwold Moose Lodge and Stetser Lamartine American Legion Ladies Auxiliary, Chews Landing.

There will be a visitation from 3 to 4pm Monday afternoon at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Memorial Service 4pm at the funeral home.

Interment private.

Family requests in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Helen’s memory to the American Diabetes Assoc., 575 Route 28, Bldg. 2, Suite 2107, Raritan, NJ 08869.

Obituary: Frank Serio, of Runnemede

Frank Serio, on November 23, 2019, of Runnemede. Age 81.

Beloved son of the late Vincent and Angelina (nee DiTullio) Serio. Devoted brother of Michael Serio and the late Rose Klose. Loving brother in law of John Klose. Dear uncle of John Klose Jr. (Valerie) and Angela Gkonos (James). Great uncle of Haley, Abigail, Brittany and Andrew.

Frank proudly served in the US Army during the Vietnam era. Frank retired from the Philadelphia Police Department after 20 years of service and he was a member of the FOP.

There will be a viewing on Saturday from 8:15am to 9:15am at GARDNER FUNERAL HOME, RUNNEMEDE.

Funeral mass 10am at, Holy Child Parish, St. Teresa Church, 13 E. Evesham Road, Runnemede, NJ 08078.

Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Chews Landing.