Cahill, Paul, 68, of Butler passed away February 8, 2023. Born in Paterson to the late George and Olive Cahill, he worked as a truck driver prior to retirement. Beloved father of Michael Cahill of Butler. Brother of George and Frank Cahill. Also survived by his former wife Diane Cahill. Predeceased by two brothers Edward Moore and Thomas Moore. Private arrangements entrusted to Richards Funeral Home, Riverdale.
Drakeford, Robert L., 67, of Hewitt, NJ on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Beloved husband of Glynis Drakeford. Born in Englewood, NJ, Robert has been a resident of West Milford for the past 30 years. A retired police officer, he was employed by the Englewood Police Department. Surviving in addition to his wife is a son, Samuel. Friends may call at the Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford, NJ 07480 on Monday, February 13, from 2 to 6 PM. Private disposition will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity in Robert’s name.
Gamble, Robert J. (Bobby) passed away suddenly on Feb.25, 2023. Bobby was born in Warwick, N.Y. He grew up on Upper Greenwood Lake in Hewitt. Bobby graduated from West Milford High School, where he excelled in Football and Track. He achieved a Bachelor of Arts from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. Bobby was certainly a free spirit who is loved by everyone who met him. He had so many friends! He enjoyed being with their families especially the kids, often bringing a gift or at least entertainment. He enjoyed the nomadic life, travelling the East coast in his big blue bus, and made friends all along the way. He was definitely gregarious! He was an accomplished skier, and then moved on to snowboarding, which he truly loved. He had a number of jobs: graphic design, metal fabrication and carpentry. He was a go-getter. He is survived by his parents, Beth and Bob Gamble, brother Patrick, Aunts and Uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews of the Gamble, Thorpe and Kelly families and his “adopted” brother, James Addley. Bobby had the foresight to donate his organs and was able to help over 50 recipients. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to American Transplant Foundation, 600 17th Street, Suite 2515 South, Denver, CO 80202, or www.americantransplantfoundation.org. Viewing is to be held at Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford, NJ 07480 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM, on Wednesday March 8, 2023. A memorial mass will be held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, 1911 Union Valley Road, Hewitt, NJ 07421 on Monday, March 13, 2023 at 12 Noon.
Howard, Janet Leslie (nee Cooper-Ruppert) passed away peacefully on February 17, 2023. She was born in Peterborough, England. She came to America on the Queen Mary l, on March 14,1946 into the New York Harbor, with her mother Ethel Rebecca Ruppert, who was a WWII bride and her sister Elsie Christina Ruppert Germann, where they were met by her father Russell William Ruppert. She grew up in Haskell, NJ where she attended Haskell Elementary School and Lakeland Regional High School. She met and married James Stanley Howard Sr. in 1960. Jim had a daughter Darla by his first marriage and they had 4 children of their own, 3 daughters and 1 son, Linda Foley and her husband Jim living in NC, James Howard Jr and his wife Linda living in NJ, Patricia Foster and her husband Ed living in PA and Jennifer Howard living in NC. She became a US Citizen in 1967. Janet drove a school bus for the West Milford Board of Education for 15 years, went on to be a private secretary for an Architect in Paterson, NJ also for 15 years and retired at the age of 62. She was predeceased by her parents, Ethel and Russell, her husband James Howard Sr., her daughter Patricia and her step daughter Darla. She had 14 grandchildren, Jo-Jo, Jamie, Jake, John and Jeff Foley, Steven and Brianna Howard. Austin, Zack and, Chance Foster and Nina, Sarah, Louie and Grace Pepe. She was blessed with 18 great grandchildren, Aidan, Caroline, Juliet and Rhys Howard. Haisley Kimble. Isabella, Jordan and Logan Foley, Jacob, Liam and Linnaea Foley, Kaleigh, Grayden and Lucas Foley, Brein, Leander and Louisa Foley and Olivia Kirner. Friends may call at Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford, NJ 07480 on Saturday, February 25 from 1 -3 and 5-7 PM. Funeral Service will be at 6:30 PM. Private disposition. She will be interred in The Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Cemetery in Wrightstown, NJ with her husband James and her parents at a later date.
Kowalski, James A., 66, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2023. Born in Teaneck, NJ to the late Alexander and Marcella Kowalski, he lived in River Edge where he was a volunteer fireman and Captain of Company 2. James resided in Hewitt with his wife and two sons for the past 34 years. Jim was a computer programmer analyst for the former Lipton Tea Company, Englewood Cliffs. More recently, James worked locally with his friends as a handyman, doing house clean outs and demolitions. As a "jack of all trades" he loved buying tools, fixing things, and was restoring his 1968 AMC AMX that he owned since he was 18 years old. Jim is survived by his beloved wife Bonnie (Lynds) Kowalski, sons Jeffrey of Hewitt, and John and son-in-law Bret of Franklin NJ. He is also survived by his brothers Richard Kowalski and his wife Debbie of Swedesboro and William Kowalski of West Milford. Visiting hours will be Thursday February 9, 4-7 pm at Richards Funeral Home, 1440 Union Valley Road, West Milford. Funeral service Friday 10 am at the funeral home, with interment to follow at Laurel Grove Cemetery, Totowa, NJ In lieu of flowers, a donation made to the John Theurer Cancer Center (www. hackensackmeridianhealth.org) in the memory of James would be appreciated.
Siemiatkoski, Ann M., 54, passed away February 3, 2023. Born in Bethesda, MD, she resided in Kinnelon, NJ for most of her life. Ann was a digital analyst for Advance Local Media. She loved animals and enjoyed gardening and photography. Beloved daughter of Janice Rutherford (Suskewich) of Kinnelon. Also survived by her uncle, John Suskewich, and aunts Stacia Mosier and Nancy Nichols. Funeral mass Thursday, February 9, 10 am at St. Mary’s Church, Pompton Lakes. Friends are asked to meet directly at the church. Interment to follow the mass at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes.
Wedemeier, Frederick C., 86, passed away February 21, 2023. Mr. Wedemeier was a resident of Cedar Crest Village, Pompton Plains, NJ for the past twelve years, formerly of Pompton Lakes and member of the Golden Agers in that community. Prior to retirement he worked for Nabisco Foods, Fair Lawn as a mechanic. A member of the Volkswagon Club of America, he enjoyed long rides and classic cars of the forties and fifties. Fred had an interest in steam locomotives as well. He enjoyed being outside biking, roller skating and walking. Beloved father of Frederick Jr., and his wife June, Eric and his wife Jean. Grandfather of Angeline, Melanie, Alison, her husband Michael, and Kristin. Companion Isabel. Predeceased by his parents August and Alwine (Sommers), wife Elizabeth in 2007 and brother Harry Wedemeier (2022). Visiting hours Friday February 24, 4-7 pm at Richards Funeral Home, 4 Newark-Pompton Tpke., Riverdale. Funeral service Saturday 9:30 am at the funeral home, interment to follow, 11 A.M. at George Washington Memorial Park, Paramus. In lieu of flowers donations to St Jude Children's Hospital, http://www.stjude.org would be appreciated.