Janice E. DeLong (1947 – 2017)
HUDSON—Janice E. DeLong of Spencertown passed away peacefully March 22, 2017 at Columbia Memorial Hospital under Hospice Care.
Born in Pittsfield, MA, October 6, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Junius and Beatrice (Bartles) Losaw.
Ms. DeLong worked for Yonder Farms for 30 years before retiring.
She is survived by: her children, Felix (Nancy) Paul, Jr., of East Chatham, Paula Ciancetta of Utica, Eric DeLong of Stockport, Rebecca (Jesse) Orozco of Mellenville; nine grandchildren, Ricky Palmer, Kevin Paul, Felix Paul III, Rachel Farr, Justin Ciancetta, Haley Ciancetta, Brianna Ciancetta, Sara Orozco and Daniel Orozco; four 4 great-grandchildren; her brothers, Junius Losaw, Jr., and Richard Losaw and many nieces and nephews and cousins.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her first husband, Felix Paul, Sr., her sister, Margaret Rawlings and granddaughter, Shirley Palmer.
Visitation hours were March 25 at the Wenk Funeral Home, 21 Payn Avenue, Chatham. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.
Stephen J. Lalka (1920 – 2017)
CHATHAM—Stephen Joseph Lalka, age 96, formerly of Atco and Hammonton, New Jersey, died Friday, April 7, 2017 in Chatham surrounded by loving family.
Born July 17, 1920 in Brehy, Slovakia, he was one of five sons of Anna (Slavka) and Kalman Lalka.
He came to America at age 16 and lived and worked in New York City. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Anna (Selep) Lalka; son, George Lalka; great granddaughter, Eva Longo and his four brothers. He resided in New York City, Brooklyn, Atco and Elm, NJ, and in his later years, Chatham.
Mr. Lalka enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, using his critical skills as aviation metalsmith first class in the production of Navy warships in New Jersey and California. He was a fighter pilot in training at the end of World War II. Following the war, Mr. Lalka earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University, with graduate education at the Graduate School at New York University Graduate School of Business. Mr. and Mrs. Lalka raised five beautiful children, and his most productive years came after moving to South Jersey in 1959. He used his skills and knowledge again in the shipbuilding industry working for New York Shipbuilding of Camden, NJ, and the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.
In mid-career and to retirement in 1988, he was employed as an auditor for the State of New Jersey assigned to Camden County.
He was proud of his Slovak and Catholic heritage, and loved his adopted country, the United States, which had given him many opportunities. Mr. Lalka was a member of St. Joseph Church, Hammonton, NJ, and Assumption Church in Atco, NJ, and the St. James Church in Chatham. He loved gardening, mechanical work, and general tinkering and inventing. He gloried in his numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their accomplishments.
His memory lives on with his children, Stephen (Carol), Joseph (Teresa Ribadaneyra), Victoria Tauer (Charles), Nancy Longo (Jeff); his pride beamed in his 11 grandchildren, Carolyn (Dan) Waidelich, Brian (Marylee) Tauer, Linda Tauer Menne, Jeff (Kelly) Longo, Susan Lalka, Matthew (Laura) Longo, Emily (Ben) Almich, Michael (Emily) Lalka, Kelsey Lalka and Nicole Lalka, as well as 14 great-grandchildren, whom he called his “grand-grands”.
He will be missed by many. Family and friends are invited to attend his viewing Wednesday, April 12, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Marinella Funeral Home, 102 North Third Street, Hammonton, NJ. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 p.m. at St. Mary of Mt. Carmel Parish – St. Joseph Church, Third and French streets, Hammonton. Burial will be in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 124 South First Road, Hammonton. Donations may be made to Joyful Noise Chorus,
(http://www.joyfulnoisechorus.org/support_contribute.html), Joyful Noise, 17 Springbrook Road, Morristown, NJ 07960; First Catholic Slovak Union – FCSU Scholarship Fund, 6611 Rockside Road, Suite 300, Independence, OH 44131; or American Joint Care Foundation Van Fund at Whittier Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, 1 Whittier Way, Ghent 12075.
Visit www.marinellafuneralhome.com.