Margaret Mary (“Peggy”) O’Shea Freeman passed away at the age of 72 on February 13, 2014 at the Joe Raso Hospice Residence, surrounded by her loving family.  Peggy was born on November 21, 1941 to the late Dr. John and Anne Woods O’Shea in Hoboken, NJ.  She grew up in Rumson, NJ and spent her summers on Fishers Island, NY, of which she had many fond memories.  A graduate of St. Vincent’s Hospital School of Nursing, NYC, Peggy incorporated her nursing skills and gift of empathy into every aspect of her life.  On June 29, 1963, Peggy and James J. Freeman, Jr. (“Jim”) were married at Holy Cross Church in Rumson, NJ.  As newlyweds, Peggy and Jim made their home in Haverstraw, NY and Peggy worked as a pediatric nurse at Good Samaritan Hospital until they began their family.  In 1968, as their family grew, they moved to Valley Cottage and became active parishioners of St. Paul Church.

Peggy lived a life of service to others.  Among her many charitable activities, for more than 25 years she was a loyal volunteer for Birthright International, an organization that helps women in crisis pregnancies.  Peggy was a leader of the Right of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) program at St. Paul Church.  She also volunteered with T.O.U.C.H., a support group for people with AIDS, and served on the board of Holy Rosary Academy in Union City, NJ.  In 1997, St. Thomas Aquinas College honored Jim and Peggy for their generous donation of time and commitment to the college.

Peggy was a founding and life-long member of the St. Paul Fellowship of Hope Prayer Group, where she made treasured friendships.  A lady of her convictions and deep spirituality, Peggy could always be counted on for good counsel and never denied a request for help.

There was always a good meal, good company and an open door at Jim and Peggy’s home where everyone was welcome.  Her passing leaves a void in the hearts of all those she loved and those who loved her in return.  Peggy was a woman who lived the principles of her Catholic faith and was a true role model of daughter, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and friend.

Jim and Peggy made many happy memories with dear friends in their many travels.  A talented sports enthusiast, Peggy loved to play tennis, paddle tennis and golf, and distinguished herself with a ‘hole-in-one’.  She balanced her many activities while keeping ‘the backyard pool’ up and running with the endless entertaining of friends and family.  “She looketh well to the ways of her household and eateth not the bread of idleness.” This quote from Proverbs was clearly written with Peggy in mind.  Peggy was a “hands on” grandmother and gave each grandchild her undivided attention.  Jim and Peggy’s greatest joy was in witnessing the accomplishments of their five children and fourteen grandchildren, delighting in each and every one of them.  Peggy loved to play cards and enjoyed teaching her grandchildren how to play.

Peggy is survived by her loving husband Jim; son James and wife Ann and children Angelina, James and Margaret; daughter Ellen Loftus and husband Patrick and children Anne, Emily and Erin; daughter Mary Anne Brndjar and children Daniel and Alexa; daughter Alexis Metcalf and husband Brian, and children Faith, Brian, Christopher and Mary Kate; son Gregory and wife Laura and children Elizabeth and Thomas.  Peggy is also survived by her sisters Marie McCloskey and Nancy Devlin, brothers John O’Shea and Daniel O’Shea, numerous nieces and nephews of the O’Shea and Freeman families and a multitude of caring and loving friends.

“What we leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.”  Such was Peggy’s life for which we are most grateful.

Visiting hours will be on Monday, February 17th and Tuesday, February 18^th from 2:00–4:00 p.m. and 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Anthony R. Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale, NJ.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, February 19th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul Church, 82 Lake Road West, Congers, NY with interment to follow at Gethsemane Cemetery, Rockland Lake, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to United Hospice of Rockland, 11 Stokum Lane, New City, NY 10956 or the Take a Breather Foundation, PO Box 752, Narberth, PA 19072.  The Take a Breather Foundation was established by Peggy’s nephew, Matthew McCloskey, to grant wishes for children with cystic fibrosis (www.takeabreather.net).

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BETANCOURT, Osvaldo “Ozzie”, 86, of Northvale for 50 years, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.  Beloved husband of Rachel (nee Cioffi).  Devoted father of Robert and his wife Barbara of Houston, TX, Thomas and his wife Maria of Northvale, Brian and his wife Ute of River Vale and Andrea Eberle of Northvale.  Adored grandfather of Kathryn, Stephen, Daniel, Margaret, Sarah, Angela, Ethan and Alexander.  Loving brother of Aida Balzac and her husband Onorato of San Juan, PR and the late Juan and Luis.

Mr. Betancourt was a US Army Veteran of the Korean War.  Before retiring, he owned and operated his own appliance repair business for many years.  He was a member of both the Northvale and Norwood Senior Citizen Clubs.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 11:00 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale.  Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org would be greatly appreciated.

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DeMEO, James V., 72, of Northvale, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2014.  Beloved life partner of Lisa Pellegrino.  Cherished brother of MaryJeanne Crowley and her husband John of Mt. Arlington.  Dear step-father of Michael John Pellegrino, Melissa Millad and Charles Pellegrino and grandfather of Steven, Kevin and Victoria.  Loving uncle of Daniel Crowley and his wife Kelly and their daughter Magdalena.

A US Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, Jim belonged to the Northvale American Legion where he was past commander.  Before retiring he was a glazier for Stonesetters Local 84 in NYC.  He also belonged to the Trotters Association.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday 10:00 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church with interment to follow at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, NY.  Visiting hours are Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org, would be greatly appreciated.

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Nicholas Lorenzini, 61, of Dumont, formerly of Northvale, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2014.  Beloved husband of Catherine (nee Fedey).  Loving step-father of Victoria and Jon Jengo of Caldwell and Christopher and April Colman of NH and grandfather of their daughter Andrea.  Dear brother of John and his wife Nancy of Northvale, Marguerite Webber of Norwood and the late James. Adored uncle of Danielle, Nicole, John, Elizabeth, Erika, Charles and Eric.  Also survived by sister-in-law Sherrie.

Nick graduated from Don Bosco Prep and was awarded the Ironman Trophy, having lettered in both football and track.  He went on to St. Joseph College in Indiana where he continued to play football.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday 11:30 AM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.  Visiting hours are Friday 2-4 and 7-9 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, www.komen.org, in Nick’s memory would be greatly appreciated.

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Theodore R. Cuseo, 93, of the Bronx, passed away on Tuesday, January 21, 2014.  Beloved husband of the late Catherine.  Dearest brother of Josephine Staropoli and the late Carl and Michael. Cherished uncle of many loving nieces, nephews and their families.

Mr. Cuseo was a US Army Veteran of WWII.  Before retiring he was a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  He played the drums in a band, along with his brother, Carl, for many years.  He will be dearly missed.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday 9:30 AM at Madonna Church on the Hill, Fort Lee with interment to follow at Madonna Cemetery.  Visiting hours are Friday 4-7 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Avenue, Northvale.

STOKES, “Lyn” (nee Marilyn Hummel), 79, a longtime resident of New Milford, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2014.  Lyn had been one of Jehovah’s Witnesses for over 50 years and regularly volunteered in it’s ministry.

Beloved wife of the late Ronald Stokes. Loving mother of Kenneth and his wife Kerry of New Milford and Ronald and his wife Malissa of New Milford. Adored grandmother of Kenneth and his wife Shama, Lindsey and her husband Brian, Nicole and her husband Dan and the late Mark.  Great-grandmother of Devan and Bryce. Dearest sister of Dolores Finkle and Barbara O’Keefe.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 25 Harrington Ave, Closter on Friday from 7 – 9 PM, where memorial donations may also be made in lieu of flowers. Arrangements by the Pizzi Funeral Home, Northvale

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MUJICA, Cheryl J. (nee Kunz), 46, of Old Tappan, formerly of Northvale, passed away on Sunday, January 12, 2014.  Beloved wife of David T. Mujica and devoted mother of Kaylee and Alexa.  Cherished daughter of Russell and Patricia Kunz of Northvale.  Adored sister of Carolyn Ross and her husband Thomas of Closter and sister-in-law of Karen Polidoro and her husband Mark of Monroe Twp., NJ.  Loving aunt of Jennifer, Domenic, Courtney, Owen and Kristina.

Cheryl owned and operated Perfect Pool and Spa Management, Inc. in Norwood, a company she formed while in her twenties.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday 10:00 AM at St. Anthony’s RC Church, Northvale with interment to follow at Old Tappan Cemetery, Old Tappan. Visiting hours are Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of your choice in Cheryl’s memory.

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Therese Salvia (nee Duffy), of Sparkill, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2014.  Beloved wife of Daniel F. Salvia.  Loving daughter of the late Helen and John Duffy.  Dearest sister of the late Rev. Gabriel Duffy.  She is also survived by a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and dear friends who she dearly loved.

Therese took much pride in her career at McGraw-Hill in NYC.  A devout Catholic, she and her husband Dan worshipped at many parishes, including St. Anthony’s RC Church in Northvale, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart RC Church in Tappan and St. John the Baptist RC Church in Piermont.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Tuesday, Jan 14 at 10:00 AM at St. Anthony’s, Northvale with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill.  Visiting hours are Monday 2-4 and 7-9 at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale.

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Peter J. Pontillo, passed away on Wednesday, January 8, 2014.  Beloved husband of Angela.  Loving father of Peter W. and his wife Lynne, Charles and Steven and his wife Patty.  Adored grandfather of Robert, Michael, Matthew, Bret, Lucas, Cristin and Stephanie.

Memorial donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org.

COOPER, Joan (nee Hursala), 76, of Norwood, passed away at home on Tuesday, December 31, 2013.  Beloved wife of Kenneth.  Devoted mother of Kenneth and wife Nicole, Robert and wife Marie and Scott and wife Kirsten.  Dearest sister and sister-in-law of John and Rosalie Hursala, Dorothy Shields, George and Ethel Cooper and the late Nancy Croak and Charles Cooper.  Loving aunt of many nieces and nephews.  Joan was a telephone operator for NY Bell in Brooklyn and was a member of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

A funeral service will be held Staurday 12:30 PM at the Pizzi Funeral Home, 120 Paris Ave, Northvale with interment to follow at Rockland Cemetery, Sparkill, NY.  The family will receive friends from 11 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday.

Donations made to the MS Society at www.nationalmssociety.org would be greatly appreciated.

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