Martha Sierra (nee Osorio) of Northvale, NJ, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2020. Beloved wife of Hernan Sierra. Devoted mother of Hernan W. Sierra and wife Debby Lara of Fort Lee, NJ, Ann Marie Sierra and husband Richard Emenheiser of Marlton, NJ and Christine DiFabio and husband Daniel of Westwood, NJ. Adored grandmother of Ryan, Justin, Isabel, Haley and Sierra. Dearest sister of Diana Maddalone and Nancy Goenaga.

Martha was born in Cartagena, Colombia to loving parents where she grew up, went to boarding school in London with her 2 sisters, and returned to Colombia where she met our father. He said it was love at first sight! They married and decided to move to the US when she was 8 months pregnant with Hernan W.  Lived in NY for many years and eventually settled in Northvale. She worked p/t at Joannou Cycle Co. for over 20 years before she decided to retire and take care of her granddaughters Isabel & Sierra. She lived for her family and her 5 grandchildren. Our mom had a way of making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. Always the most gracious host and up for anything! She loved shopping, dancing in the living room and listening to Elvis songs. Our mom was always smiling and we are sure she is making heaven a brighter place.     

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Those who wish may make donations in Martha’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.

Arrangements by Pizzi Funeral Home, www.pizzifuneralhome.com.

Ann Cosgrave, age 88, long time resident of Northvale, NJ passed away on May 8, 2020.

Ann married the love of her life, Michael, in what seemed to be a fairytale story she often told.   In her words:  (It was a cold, snowy night Jan. 6, 1953, when more than 20 young women and I boarded an old Army bus and headed for Camp Kilmer near New Brunswick.  We were on our way to enjoy a night of dancing with soldiers leaving for or returning from Korea.  Little did I know that within the hour I was to meet my future husband.  He had just returned from Korea and was eager to dance and enjoy his new R&R.  In minutes we were doing a Lindy – a fusion of many dances of the time – a foxtrot, and never left each other’s arms!  It was love at first sight, and just 39 days later, on Valentine’s Day, Mike gave me a beautiful engagement ring.  We were married 37 1/2 years before he had to go away forever.)

Ann is the cherished mother of Kathleen and her husband David.  The adored grandmother of Vanessa.  Beloved sister of the late Joan, and late Ronald.   She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.  Ann was a long-time and dedicated educator, mainly 4^th grade, and later continued to substitute for over 17 years in Fairlawn and Northvale schools. 

Ann will be forever remembered for her love of family, kindness, generosity, love of singing and dancing and her faith in God.  She was a member of the Northvale Golden Age Club, a life-long Catholic and a devoted parishioner of St. Anthony’s Church where she was a Eucharistic minister, taught religious education, opened up her home for Monday night bible study, and sang in the choir for over 40 years.  Singing at Christmas Eve mass held a very special place in her heart as she loved Christmas and looked forward to spending time with close family and friends that gathered to celebrate after mass.  Her fondest memories were being a part of a group of Catholic women who raised money for charitable causes and who remained friends for their entire lives.  She volunteered for The Center for Hope in Time of Loss, the Jamie Schuman Center, Woman’s AGLOW, and for the American Heart Association fund drives. She even spent her time helping others with Hospice for 9 years.  And was part of a decade long Women’s Health Research Initiative.  Ann always tried to do her best for everyone – to be kind and helpful to anyone who needed it and to show her love and compassion to all.  Her essence was so loving and joyful and she always laughed; her smile would light up a room.  Ann was extremely generous with her heart and time and made our world better in both big and small ways; she will be dearly missed. 

Services will be private at this time and a memorial service and Mass of Resurrection will be scheduled at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the (AFA) Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Dr. Ivan Haller PhD age 85 of Chappaqua, NY passed away peacefully on May 8^th, 2020. Born June 8, 1934, in Budapest Hungary to Dr. Tibor & Magda Haller. He left Budapest as a student after the Hungarian Revolution and Subsequent Soviet Invasion in 1956.  With the help of the International Rescue Committee he immigrated to the US where he attended The University of California at Berkeley.  He completed his PhD in Physical Chemistry and was awarded the Texaco Fellowship.  He spent more than 30 years as a research scientist with IBM Watson Research and finished his career at Cornell Weill Medical School in New York.  He is survived by his wife Flora, sons Paul and Drew, Daughters in-law Christine and Mindy, and 6 grandchildren.  Donations in his memory may be made to the International Rescue Committee, UC Berkeley College of Chemistry, or the Unites States Holocaust Museum.

Carolyn Buccellato was born December 24 1950 to the late Andrew & Edith Buccellato. She is survived by her sister Andrea Saccento (Guy), Peter Buccellato (Lisa). She is predeceased by her sister, JoAnne Smolinski (Michael).  Also survived by 12 nephews/nieces and 17 great nephews/nieces who loved her.

Although born with many challenges she always persevered, and had a very full life surrounded by a loving family. Carolyn had a lot of faith which was passed down from her parents. She  worked at Annie Sez for 20 years. Everything she did was done with her whole heart.  

Her candidness was very humorous. She would always point out the “elephant in the room” that everyone tiptoed around. She hadn’t learned social norms as she was innocent. Thank God for that!

A familiar site on JohnEd Road in Northvale would be Carolyn riding her big tricycle. She would ride up and down the road hollering at her nephews (Guy & Jason) when they tried to take her bike to do wheelies. Her mom took her bowling and to many dances. How she loved to dance! We had a theme song for her “Sweet Caroline”.  When we had weddings and celebrations we would play the song.  Carolyn would get up in the middle of the dance floor, arms open and we would gather around her and sing Sweet Caroline. And she laughed and danced.

Outside of a great love for God, her family and friends, there was “Mickey Mouse”. Her joy of Mickey Mouse and excitement of going to Disneyland was infectious. She had as many stuffed Mickey’s and Minnie’s as a toy store. She had Mickey everything right down to shirts, socks and pjs.

In the last 5 years of her life she lived in Spectrum for Living in Norwood.  It was here that she continued to be loved and cared for by the heros of our society. A.K.A the angels of love.  They would care for her even as her body was failing. Her finger nails would be polished to match her outfit. Her hair with her little hair clips.  The cycle of love continued. Carolyn was very happy.  She passed away May 8, 2020.

Phyllis Ann (Arnold) Key woke up on May 4, 2020 surrounded by her husband, parents, brother, and all the rest of her family and friends in a much better place.  Our mother/grandmother was, in the words of the newest member of our family, “a remarkable woman who, until recently, drove everywhere, lived completely independently, and played fiercely competitive Scrabble with her 95-year old neighbor”.  Her own father called her “something extra”.

Mom never sat still.  Not when she was earning her R.N. at the Hackensack Hospital School of Nursing, nor when she and Frank Key made a home in Closter after marrying on October 17, 1953, nor when they built the house on White Avenue in Old Tappan, and nor when she had 3 of us all under the age of 5 (and still managed to teach Sunday School and then later be a Den Mother and Girl Scout Leader).  Nor when she returned to nursing at Ingleside in OT and then on to Tinkerbell after her parents passed.  Nor when she retired and continued her hiking (honored by the Adirondack Mountain Club in 2019 with their “Lifetime Volunteer Award”), biking, swimming (Northern Valley!), walking, volunteering (she loved her two ESL students and taking care of the staff and patients at the Breast Center first in Pascack Valley and then in Nyack Hospital).  Nor in teaching Tai Chi at Foxhill and reaching out to all the residents with a smile and the offer of a game of Scrabble (never letting on that she knew all the 2 letter words and a zillion ways to use the X on a triple letter score).

Grandma, Grandma G or just G to her grandchildren, she was thankful and proud to see each one of them walk across the stage to receive their high school and college/university diplomas.  Her grandchildren Melissa Flick (Allen), Chris Key (Bridget), Malka Key (Chris Seeling), Hanna Key (Micah Bot-Miller), Rachel Rizzuto (Brett) and Nick Beals, continue her legacies of a love of hiking and the outdoors, an intolerance for injustice, and a soft spot for their pets.

Her children, Eric Key (Cynthia), Glenn (Liz) and Sharon (Donny) are forever grateful for her love and leading by example. 

She was predeceased by her husband (Frank Key), her parents (Augusta and Vince Arnold) and her brother (Vince Arnold). 

Aunt Phyl was beloved by her nieces and nephews and the many lives that she touched. 

In lieu of flowers, her designated charities are:

Tomorrow’s Children in Hackensack – https://www.tcfkid.org/HowYouCanHelp/WaysToDonate

Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer – https://www.lustgarten.org/donate/

Church of the Holy Communion – https://www.thechurchoftheholycommunion.com/donate

We are thankful of our longstanding family tradition of cremate immediately and celebrate when convenient. So for now, just keep her in your heart, say an extra prayer and hold on tight to your loved ones; you never know when that last goodbye will come.

Karen Brown, a long time Piermont, NY resident, died on April 29^th, 2020.  She was 87 years of age.

Karen, who grew up in Hartford, Connecticut, and lived in New York City; moved to Palisades, NY, in 1965.  After graduating from Columbia University, she attended Fordham University where she received a Master’s Degree in social work.

She began working at Rockland Children’s Psychiatric Center in Orangeburg, NY, in 1972.  A few years later, the Center asked her to develop day treatment programs with the Yonkers Board of Education.  The program grew to include preschool children and their parents in daycare centers throughout the city.

After retiring in 1982, she worked for five more years as a social worker at Jawonio, an agency for people with developmental disabilities in New City, NY.

Karen was an active member of the Piermont community. Over the years she had served as a member of the village zoning board of appeals, been treasurer of the Piermont Civic Association and had been active in the villages’ community garden.

Her last days were spent sharing a hospital room with long time partner Robert Samuels as they battled corona virus. Bob passed three days prior to her.

She is survived by two sons, Tony and his wife of Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA, Adam and his wife of Mount Kisco, NY, and five beloved grandchildren, Sam, Caleb, Caitlin, Jordan, and Shelby.

A joint memorial service for Karen and Bob will be planned after the coronavirus pandemic. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Piermont Civic Association or Doctors Without Borders.

Emile J. Tibere, 89, of Orangeburg, NY, passed away on Saturday, April 11, 2020. Beloved husband of Nicole (nee Lachance). Loving father of Valerie Tibere and Eric Tibere and his wife Denise. Proud grandfather of Ellis and Chase. Dearest brother of Love, Glad and the late Clauna.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

It is with great sadness that our family announces the passing of our beloved Mother, Paulette Kay Kaniecki, age 76, on Sunday May 3, 2020.  She was preceded in death by her husband Chester, of 53 years. 

Paulette was a woman with a heart of gold.  She was always there to lend a helping hand in any situation a family member, friend or even a complete stranger needed.

She was a living example of kindness and compassion. A dedicated mother and grandmother, she treasured and embraced every moment with her children and granddaughters.

Paulette worked 18 years for the Bergen County Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Rockleigh New Jersey as their Food Service Manager.  A position she loved, she made sure her residents were taken care of and nurtured. Just another example of her tender spirit.

She is survived by her children, Deborah Kaniecki of Northvale, Stephanie Buldo and her husband Chris of River Vale, and Chester Kaniecki Jr and his wife Michelle of Groton, CT.  Her three beautiful granddaughters, Melissa, Samantha and Taylor.  Her brother Craig, nieces, nephews and precious life-long friends. 

Arrangements will be private due to these difficult and trying times.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Paramus Veterans Memorial Home 1 Veterans Way Paramus, NJ 07652.

Samuel J. Milano, Jr., 83 of Cresskill, NJ passed away on May 5, 2020 after a brief illness. Sam was a warm hearted and gentle man who was an avid walker and a hard worker his entire life. He was born on January 13, 1937, Newark, NJ and was the cherished son of the late Sam and Marie Milano and brother of the late Rosemarie Milano. Sam spent his formative years in the Ironbound section of Newark, NJ and later moved to Kearny, NJ where he was a longtime resident, followed by Belleville, NJ and most recently Sunrise of Cresskill.

Sam worked at Westinghouse in Newark, NJ for over 20 years. He is survived by his cousins Mr. Joseph Policastro, Toms River, NJ, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Paglia, Belleville, NJ, Mr. and Mrs. George Paglia, Nutley, NJ, as well as many extended family members.  

Sam will be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington, NJ and his burial will be private. Funeral arrangements were coordinated by Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com

Edith Gregory (nee Aird), 93, of Old Tappan, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Beloved wife of the late John. Devoted mother of James and wife Laurie, Karen Kierce and husband Roger, Patricia Carroll and husband William, John and wife Theresa and Daniel. Cherished grandmother of 12 and great-grandmother of 5. Dearest sister of Nancy Prescott.

Edith was a graduate of Teaneck High School in 1944. She was a manager at Bank of NY in Norwood.

Funeral services were private.

Arrangements Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale, NJ.

www.pizzifuneralhome.com