Stella S. Smolinski, 92

Spotswood

Stella Sophie Smolinski, 92, of Spotswood, died Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge.

Born in Spotswood on May 27, 1916 to Frank and Tekla Szymanski, she was a lifelong resident of the borough. Earlier this year, in honor of its 100th birthday, the town honored Stella as its oldest living native resident. Stella was a seamstress for more than 30 years with the former Charles Komar and Sons of Spotswood, retiring in 1980. She was a longtime communicant of Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood and, a member of the both the Spotswood Seniors and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Spotswood Polish-American Citizens Club.

Predeceased by her husband, Edward Smolinski in 1979, and her siblings, Stanley, Peter and Joseph Szymanski, Bertha Luczkow, Louise Lisiewicz and Mary Gilliland, she is survived by her daughter, Bernice Perrine, and her husband Douglas, of New Egypt, and, a grand-daughter, Liane Wuthrich, and her husband Marc, of Connecticut.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 8:30 AM from Spotswood Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Spotswood, followed by a 9:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial from Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Interment will be in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Monroe Twp. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations honoring Stella’s memory may be made to Immaculate Conception Church, 18 South Street, Spotswood, NJ 08884 or, Spotswood First-aid Squad, 49 Devoe Avenue, Spotswood, NJ 08884.

Helen E. Van Dorn, 85

Spotswood

Helen Elizabeth (Hufnell) Van Dorn, 85, of Spotswood, died peacefully on Thursday, November 13, 2008 at her daughter’s home in Monroe Twp.

Born and raised in Trenton, she settled in Spotswood 54 years ago. Mrs. Van Dorn graduated from Providence Hospital-Catholic University of America in 1949 as a Registered Nurse, and in 1951 she graduated from Massachusetts General Hospital with a degree in Anesthesiology. In 1967, she earned her Bachelors in School Nursing from Trenton State College. She was employed as a school nurse in Metuchen High School, retiring in 1986. She was a long-time communicant of Immaculate Conception Church in Spotswood. She was also an avid square dancer and a member of the merri-eights of East Brunswick.

Predeceased by her husband, Lyle E. Van Dorn, Jr., in 2002, she is survived by her son Jonathan, and his wife Katherine, of Bloomington, IL; her daughter Susan Rosati, and her husband Tony, of Monroe Twp.; her sister, Erma Solinski of West Trenton, and; four grandchildren, Jonathan, Allison and Joseph Van Dorn and Ryan Rosati.

Donations honoring Helen’s memory may be made to American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, Suite 301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691, or online at www.americanheart.org.

Frances R. DeMartine, 88

Spotswood

Frances Rose (Calandra) DeMartine, 88, of Spotswood, died Thursday, November 13, 2008 at her home.

Born and raised in Hoboken, she settled in Spotswood in 1997. For more than 40 years, Frances worked for Saint Francis Roman Catholic Church in Hoboken as an administrative assistant, retiring in 1994. She was also deeply involved in church activities as a lifelong communicant and member of the Alter, Rosary and Holy Name Societies. She was also a member of the Spotswood Seniors.

She is survived by her daughters, Camille Sansevere and Jackie Bono of Greeneville, TN, and, Anita Barrett and her husband Michael, of South Carolina; her sons, Michael DeMartine of New York City, NY and Thomas DeMartine of Hoboken; a brother, Peter Calandra of Hoboken; two grandchildren, Paul Sansevere and his wife, Trudi, and, Keith Sansevere; two great-grandchildren, Casee and Vincent Sansevere.

Donations honoring Frances’ memory may be made to the St. Francis Parish Memorial Fund, 308 Jefferson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030.