Page 14 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • February 27, 2013 Obituaries Philip Laurent Mercier, Ph.D. of Hopewell Junction, New York, formerly of Spartanburg, North Carolina and Ramsey, died Feb. 14. He was 86. He was a U.S. Navy veteran. He received his Ph.D. in chemistry from Brown University in 1955. He was employed as a polymer chemist for Tupperware in North Augusta, South Carolina, until his retirement. He was a former parishioner at Saint Paul’s Church in Ramsey, and Jesus Our Risen Savior Catholic Church in Spartanburg, South Carolina. During his retirement in Spartanburg, he volunteered at the local hospital, soup kitchen, and was active in the community. He is survived by his children Paula Cosgrove of Newtown, Connecticut, Jane Zuckerman of Hopewell Junction, New York, Carl Mercier of New Milford, Connecticut, Louise Kessler of Newtown, Connecticut, and Michael Mercier of Folsom, California, five grandchildren, and his sister Theresa Gauthier of Ridgefield, Connecticut. He was predeceased by his first wife Muriel T. Tetreault and his second wife Dr. Alice I. Tetreault, and his brothers Thomas Mercier and Joseph Raymond Mercier. Arrangements were made by McHoul Funeral Home Inc. in New York. May Messaros, nee Parisi, of Franklin Lakes, formerly of Wyckoff, died Feb. 17. Before retiring, she was the bookkeeper for Wyckoff Cleaners for 20 years. She was a parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament R.C. Church in Franklin Lakes, where she served as a Eucharistic minister and brought communion to the Oakland Care Center. She volunteered in the religious education program for many years. She was a member of the Prayer Shawl Ministry and a participant in the Women of Faith Group. She is survived by her husband Roy Messaros, her children Roy C. Messaros of Franklin Lakes, Joan Messaros of Woodland Park, and James Messaros of Ridgewood, and her sister Mary Messineo of Florida. She was predeceased by her daughter Laura Jean Messaros, and her siblings Mario Parisi and Josephine Baggio. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Saint Joseph Development Office, 9701 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19118-2694. John Joseph Palace of Ridgewood died Feb. 6. He was 61. He is survived by his wife Gabriela, his children Victoria Leslie and John Michael, and his sisters Mary Sperling and Angel Schaffer. He was predeceased by his parents Victor and Margaret (Moulton) Palace, and his brothers Thomas and Victor. Arrangements were made by Aycock Funeral Home in Jupiter, Florida. Louis Parajos of Washington Township, formerly of Ridgewood, died Feb. 18. He was 64. He graduated from Flushing High School, and attended the City University of New York. The third generation of his family to work at Philip Laurent Mercier, Ph.D. The Daily News of New York, he had a 30-year career at the newspaper, where he made his way from the mailroom to the masthead, retiring in 2005 as managing editor. He directed the paper’s coverage of many world-renowned events, including the deaths of Princess Diana and John F. Kennedy Jr., and the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. He re-joined the working world the following year as executive editor of The Queens Courier, where he mentored dozens of young reporters and editors until his retirement from the Courier last year. He is survived by his daughter Amy Nassivera Parajos, and his first wife Joan P. Nassivera. He was separated from his second wife, the former Carolyne McIntire who resides in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Arrangements were made by C.C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memorial donations may be made to the School of Journalism of the City University of New York, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the American Heart Association or a charity of choice. Ellen Elizabeth Polito, nee Fleming, of Waldwick died Feb. 17. She was 89. She was a parishioner of Saint Luke’s R.C. Church in Ho-Ho-Kus. She is survived by her husband Joseph A. Polito, her children John T. Polito, Thomas G. Polito, and Beth Spinato, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Arrangements were made by Becker Funeral Home in Westwood. Leo A. Reddington of Waldwick, formerly of Hoboken and Ramsey, died Feb. 18. He was 84. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Before retiring in 1993, he was a coffee processor for Maxwell House Coffee in Hoboken where was employed for 46 years. He was a member of the Waldwick Golden Club. He is survived by his wife Mary Joan (nee Hansen) of Waldwick, his children Debra Guastella and Brian Reddington, and seven grandchildren. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Memorial donations may be made to the Bergen United Way: Very Special Homes, 6 Forest Avenue, Paramus, NJ 07652. Mary Reid of Ridgewood died Feb. 16. She was 91. She was a 1943 graduate of Hunter College, and had worked for the Ridgewood News writing and editing for many years. She served on the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board, and was a past board member of the Ridgewood Baseball Association. She was a volunteer at the Valley Hospital for many years, and was a past president of the Home & School Associations at Travell and Benjamin Franklin schools. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel R.C. Church in Ridgewood. She is survived by her children Thomas Reid, Paul Reid, and Adrienne Cole, five grandchildren, and her brother John F. Byrne. She was predeceased by her husband John N. Reid. Arrangements were made by Feeney Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Memorial donations may be made to Valley Hospital Foundation, 223 North Van Dien Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Rosemary Rozema of Ridgewood died Feb. 17. She was 89. She was a teacher for 33 years, most of which were with the Ridgewood Board of Education in the Somerville and Willard elementary schools. She volunteered in the Valley Hospital’s Kurth Cottage and de Snoep Winkel at the Christian Health Care Center. She was a member of the Ridgewood Christian Reformed Church. She is survived by her children Judith and Robert Dombrosky of Glen Rock, David and Helen Rozema of Pearl River, and John and Kathy Rozema of Ramsey, her grandchildren, and her two brothers. Arrangements were made by Vander Plaat Funeral Home in Wyckoff. Sophie Semchyshyn, nee Holowaty, of Upper Saddle River, formerly of New York City, died Feb. 15. She was 98. She was employed by the New York Board of Education in food services for almost 30 years. She is survived by her children Gloria Annecchino of Upper Saddle River and Patricia Williams of Killingworth, Connecticut, six grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Michael, her daughter Kathleen Kline, and her siblings Katherine Suchay, Michael, John, Andrew, and Stephen. Arrangements were made by Van EmburghSneider-Pernice Funeral Home in Ramsey. Memorial donations may be made to Ukrainian Gift of Life, Inc., 233 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452. Irma Elise Stitz, nee Woerz, of Upper Saddle River, died Feb. 18. She received her nursing degree from Saint Mary’s Hospital, and was a registered nurse until her retirement in 1993. She was a member of the New Milford Ambulance Corps for many years. She is survived by her children Mark Stitz of Aibonito, Puerto Rico, Suzanne Cooper of Upper Saddle River, David Stitz of Ramsey, and Douglas Stitz of East Haven, Connecticut, and four grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Joseph Emil Stitz. Arrangements were made by Van Emburgh-Sneider-Pernice Funeral Home in Ramsey. Memorial donations may be made to Compassionate Care Hospice Foundation, 11 Independence Way, Newark, DE 19713 or the New Milford Ambulance Corps, 213 River Road, New Milford, NJ 07646. Charlotte Jane Zack, nee Owens, of Ridgewood died Jan. 25 in Bennington, Vermont. She was 83. She was a member of the Children’s Aid and Family Services organization for many years. She volunteered at The Depot in Midland Park and was a member of the Saddle River Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She is survived by her children Jenny Peer of Howard, New York, Gary Zack of Pequannock, and Holly Zack of Vassalboro, Maine, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and her sisters Diane Smarro and Belinda Watkins. She was predeceased by her husband James Zack. Arrangements were made by C. C. Van Emburgh Funeral Home in Ridgewood. Rosemary Rozema Sophie Semchyshyn Ellen Elizabeth Polito May Messaros Leo A. Reddington Irma Elise Stitz Mary Reid John Joseph Palace Charlotte Jane Zack Louis Parajos