Obituaries

CPL. MICHAEL EDWARD CURTIN, 23, of Howell died March 29 in Najaf, Iraq. Cpl. Curtin was born in Plainfield and lived in Garwood before moving to Howell in 1984. He was a graduate of Howell High School class of 1998. He was a communicant of St. Veronica’s Roman Catholic Church. Upon graduation from high school in 1998, Michael was employed by Petro-packaging Co. in Cranford where he was a tool-and-die apprentice from 1998 until 2001. Cpl. Curtin enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2001 and attended basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., where he completed advanced infantry training and graduated from the U.S. Army Airborne School, and U.S. Army Ranger Regimental Indoctrination Program. He was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division of Fort Stewart, Ga., where he received numerous commendations. He was deployed to the Middle East in January. Michael had a passion for music, especially the Beatles, and he also enjoyed playing the guitar. He was an avid New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys fan. He loved vacationing with his family at Disney World and the Jersey Shore. He was very proud of his Irish heritage. Most of all, he loved being with family and friends. He is survived by his parents, Joan M. and Michael J Curtin of Howell; a brother, Daniel, at home; three sisters, Katherine, Jennifer and Stephanie, all at home; a niece, Kayla Curtin, at home; maternal grandparents, Elsie and Edward Larsen of South Plainfield; paternal grandparents, Catherine and Michael J. Curtin of Brick; two aunts and two uncles, Karen and Robert Thompson of Bridgewater and Patricia and John Curtin of Lakewood; four cousins, Robbie and Kasey Thompson of Bridgewater, and Jonathan and Carrie Ann Curtin of Lakewood. Mass of Christian Burial was offered at The Church of St. Veronica’s in Howell on April 11. Interment was in St. Anne’s Cemetery in Wall. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Cpl. Michael E. Curtin Scholarship Fund, c/o Barbara J. McMorrow, principal, Howell High School, 405 Squankum-Yellowbrook Road, Farmingdale, NJ 07727, would be appreciated.

FRANK L. LASHEK, 86, of Farmingdale died April 2 at Neptune Rehabilitation and Care Center, Neptune. He was born in Manasquan and lived there and in Sea Girt before moving to Farmingdale in 1959. He was in the first graduating class of Manasquan High School in 1936. He was a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army Air Corps, with the 8th Air Force, 392nd Bomber Squadron in England. He received the European Theatre Ribbon with Six Bronze Stars. He was the recipient of the New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal. He was a carpenter and co-owner of Whittier and Lashek Co., Bradley Beach, specializing in restoration work and retiring in 1991. He was a lifetime member of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, a member of the Jersey Coast Radio Control Club and a former member of the Garden State Model Boaters Association. He was predeceased by his wife, Georgiana "Tillie" Lashek, in 1998; a daughter, Barbara L. Layton, in 1991; and a brother, Mike Lashek, in 2001. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Ronald and Jane Ayers of Howell, and Robert and Mae Ayers of Brielle; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Dominick Francese of Neptune; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Interment was in Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.

LORRAINE (WINNIE) AVELLINO, 65, of Freehold Township died April 5 at St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., she lived in Manalapan before moving to Freehold 15 years ago. She was a communicant of St. Robert Bellarmine Roman Catholic Church in Freehold. She was an elementary school teacher for the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District for 20 years, retiring in 1998. She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Joseph and Amy of Middletown and Thomas of Holmdel; a daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and Michael McEvoy of Rumson; and five grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was held at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, Freehold, followed by entombment at Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.

FIORENZO FEDULLO, 82, of Monroe died April 5 at home. Born in Pisciotta, Italy, he lived in Freehold before moving to Monroe more than 10 years ago. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. He was a supervisor for Bell Labs, Holmdel, where he was employed for 20 years before his retirement more than 20 years ago. Prior to that, he was employed at the Nestlé Co., Freehold. He attended the Evangelical Baptist Church, Freehold Township. Surviving are his wife, Nina Vaskin Kazlauskas Fedullo; a stepson, Boyd Youngblood, Neptune; a sister, Disma Moore, Riverview, Fla.; eight grandchil­dren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

ROMILDA "RAE" KLEUSENER, 53, of Freehold died April 5 at home. She was born in Clarksburg, W.Va., and lived in Freehold since 1984. She was a waitress at Donut Chef and a clerk at Krauszer’s, both of Freehold. Surviving are her husband, Robert D. Kluesener; a son, Shawn Michael Kluesener of Jacksonville, Fla.; a daughter and son-in-law, Michele Kluesener and Jay Bey, of Freehold; a brother, Tracy Holt of W.Va.; three sisters, Barbara Bell, Patricia Porcella and Charlene Walker, all of Westmin­ster, Md., three grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

ANNA MYTYCH KOWANSKI, 78, of Howell died April 5 at home. Born in Poland, she lived in Riverdale, N.Y., before moving to Howell nine years ago. She was a communicant of St. Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church, Freehold. She worked in the food service department at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale for 32 years, retiring in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Adam; a son, George of Croton on Hudson, N.Y.; a daughter and son-in-law, Terry and George Hicks of Freehold; and two grand­children. Interment was in Our Lady of Czesto­chowa Cemetery, Doylestown, Pa.

CHARLES H. KRAUSS SR., 56, of Dover died April 9 at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. Born in Union, he lived in Freehold before moving to Toms River five years ago. He was a fireman for the Irvington Fired Department for 25 years. He is survived by his former wife, Judith, of Freehold; a son and daughter-in-law, Charles Jr. and Kym of Old Bridge; a daughter, Staci Krauss, of Brick; and two grandchildren.

FRANK E. MIRRO JR., 79, of Holmdel died April 8 at Bayshore Community Hospital, Holmdel, after a battle with cancer. Born in Kearny, he resided in Union Beach before moving to Holmdel 34 years ago. Mr. Mirro was a retired carpenter for Local 2250, Red Bank. He was a communicant of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, Union Beach. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a former Boy Scout leader of Troop 56 and a former Explorer leader in Union Beach. Mr. Mirro was predeceased by a brother, Jack Mirro. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Phyllis Trignano Mirro of Holmdel; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Suellen and Robert Dowens of Holmdel, Cynthia Mirro and Joseph Duley of Middletown, and Claudia Mirro of Holmdel; two brothers, Alfred Mirro of Hazlet and Robert Mirro of Colts Neck; a sister, Alice Brown of Tucson, Ariz.; and six grandchildren. A funeral liturgy was offered at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial was at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Middletown.