Obituaries

Charles Hendrick Whelan

Mr. Whelan, 54, of Little Silver, died July 16 at home. Born in Long Branch, he was a lifelong resident of Little Silver. He owned a private family chiropractic practice in Little Silver, for 20 years. He was a communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Colts Neck. Mr. Whelan was a member of the Garden State Chiropractic Society and the Monmouth/Ocean County Chiropractic Society. He was founder and past president of the Jersey Shore Running Club, and took part in several marathons, triathlons and biathlons. He was predeceased by his father, Samuel Whelan. He is survived by his mother, Sylvia VanCleef Whelan of Little Silver; his former wife, Therese Gourde Whelan of the Wanamassa section of Ocean Township; his children, Matthew and Emily Whelan of Wanamassa; his stepchildren, Christina and James Sheehan of Colts Neck; a brother and sister-in-law, Michael S. and Connie Whelan of Ambler, Pa.; two sisters and one brother-in-law, Carol Whelan of Little Silver, and Eileen and Pasquale Torchia of Oceanport; two nieces; and two nephews. Interment took place at Embury Church Cemetery, Little Silver. Arrangements were by Thompson Memorial Home, Red Bank. Memorial donations may be made to Clean Ocean Action, P.O. Box 505, Highlands 07732.

Margarita G. Moran Pelayo

Mrs. Pelayo, 82, of Hazlet, died July 6 at home. She was born in Havana, Cuba. She was a pharmacist at International Flavors & Fragrances, Hazlet, for 30 years, retiring in 1988. Mrs. Pelayo was a communicant of Jesus the Lord Roman Catholic Church, Keyport. She was predeceased by her husband, Luis P. Pelayo; and a brother, Jorge Moran. She is survived by two daughters, Pilar P. Curvey of Red Bank, and Ileana Donnelly of Hazlet; and four grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Jesus the Lord Church. Interment was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown. Arrangements were by Day Funeral Home, Keyport.

Gerard Joseph Distefano Sr.

Mr. Distefano, 84, of Neptune City, died July 30 at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. Born in Jersey City, he resided in Rumson before moving to Neptune City nine years ago. He was a police lieutenant with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, retiring in 1979. He was also employed at Engelhard Corp, Iselin. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War, and received the American, Asiatic, America Victory and the Presidential Unit Citation medals. He was a communicant of Holy Innocents Roman Catholic Church, Neptune, and a former member of Holy Cross Church, Rumson. He was past president of the Port Authority Superiors Association, and Marine Corps League, Philip Dorn Chapter, Belford section of Middletown. He was predeceased by a brother, Frank Distefano, and a sister, Ann Grace Vasselle. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann Distefano; two sons and daughters-in-law, Gerard J. and Helen Distefano of Oak Hill, Va., and Douglas L. and Alison Distefano of Rumson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joanne and Steve Garelli of Monmouth Beach, and Diane and Ronan Mevorach of Fair Haven; a sister, Rita Gardner of Bergen County; and seven grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered Aug. 3 at 10 a.m. at Holy Innocents Church, followed by entombment at St. Catharine's Cemetery, Sea Girt. Arrangements are by O'Brien Funeral Home, Wall. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105.

Ruth Whiting Sniffen

Mrs. Sniffen, 86, of Toms River, died July 8 at home. Born in Red Bank, she was a lifelong resident, and fourth-generation to reside in Red Bank. She was employed at the Sigmund Eisner Factory, Red Bank, during World War II, and was employed in and around Red Bank, retiring to Toms River in 2002. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Raymond Sniffen, in 2002; three brothers, Sheldon, Allen and Frank; and a sister, Alberta. She is survived by a daughter, Diane Alvator; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Joanne Sniffen; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held at Anderson & Campbell Funeral Home, Manchester. Burial was at Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.

Sigmund M. Kuchta

Mr. Kuchta, 90, of Sayreville, died June 13 in Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge division. Prior to his retirement in 1981, he was employed as a carpenter for 40 years with Hercules Inc., Parlin section of Sayreville. Surviving are his wife, Pearl Derent Kuchta; three sons, Peter of Eatontown, Paul of Wall and David of Sayreville; four sisters, Josephine Zalewski, Elizabeth Kukulski, Tessie Kwiatkowski and Bernie Kapica, all of Sayreville; a brother, Joseph Kuchta, also of Sayreville; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial Mass was held at St. Stanislaus Church, Sayreville. Cremation was private.