GRUFF, JR.
George J.\’Gruffy\’

Of Westville, NJ on May 9, 2007. Aged 75 years.
George was a native of NJ, born in Woodbury, who served his country in the United States Air Force as a Flight Engineer on both B-29 bombers and KC-97 air refueling tankers during the Korean Conflict. While stationed in California he met and married his wife of 53 years, the late Jennie (nee Yanez) Gruff. After military service, together they relocated to Westville, NJ to raise their family.
George was a Vice President of Mechanical Contracting Company and a member of the Local 19, Sheet Metal Workers Union. After he retired he established Gruffy Consulting, performing freelance design for mechanical contracting companies.
He was very involved with the Westville community. He belonged to the Lions Club, Town Council, and the Westville Fire Department, where he was a \’life time\’ member, holding a variety of positions from Treasurer to President, as well as the Fire Chief for four years. He was very passionate about politics and loved to debate.
George played as hard as he worked. His leisure passions included reading, especially History, fishing followed by making experimental seafood dishes in Jennie\’s kitchen and golf outings with his best friends. He loved the Jersey Shore and spending time with his \’Rat Pack\’- lifelong friends that date back as far as high school. Jennie and George traveled extensively throughout the United States after his retirement.
George was very proud of all of his children\’s accomplishments and he loved to watch his grandchildren grow up, develop and participate in athletic events. He defined his worth by his ability to provide for his family and was never shy about supporting causes or individuals he cared about.
Beloved husband of the late Jennie (nee Yanez). Devoted father of Pamela J. Hartman (Robert), Wenonah, NJ; Cynthia J. Gruff Valeski (Victor), Mullica Hill, NJ ; George W. Gruff., Sr. (Bernadette), Gloucester, NJ; Scott Gruff, Woodbury Heights, NJ; & his \’adopted\’ daughter LuAnn Conner. Dear brother of Charles Gruff. Loving grandfather of George W. Gruff, Jr., Emily Gruff, Aaron Hartman & 3 step-grandchildren Theodore Hartman, Chris Valeski & Megan Valeski.
Viewing Monday 6:30 PM-9 PM and Tuesday 9:30 AM -10:45 AM in the McGUINNESS FUNERAL HOME, 34 Hunter St., Woodbury, NJ 08096. Funeral Service Tuesday 11 AM in the funeral home. Interment Eglington Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Delaware Valley Stroke Council, 1528 Walnut St., Suite 903, Philadelphia, PA 19102 or Heartland Hospice, 800 Jessup Rd., Suite 808, Thorofare, NJ 08086.
Tributes may be shared
at www.mcgfuneral.com

 

Photos by Bruce Darrow

The crowds get bigger each week to watch the little ones run around the bases. Mom and Dad, Mom Mom and Pop Pop, Aunts and Uncles, all there to watch little \”Johnny\” or \”Suzie\” play ball.

Enjoy the photos, make copies or e-mail to family and friends.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTO ALBUM

 

 Commentary by Hank F. Miller Jr.

(Hank is a former resident of Gloucester City who now lives in Japan)

 

 Family Life Full Of Give And Take!

 

After 27 years of wedlock, my Japanese wife and I usually see things eyeball-to-eyeball, especially when it comes to staring at each other. Yet there is one case where we match up like sushi and whipped cream.

 

Nope, this conflict has nothing to do with daily life, diet, raising the kids or even hopping about in each other\’s underwear–which we both agree we would never ever do.

 

The difference comes not in how we have adjusted to life in her country; it\’s in how we look at life in mine. Specifically how we approach our periodic visits to my hometown Gloucester City.

 

For my wife these are moments of keen anxiety. The problem is not one of people, as she is very fond of my family and they are equally fond of her. Instead, what gives my wife the jeebies is deciding what to buy for everybody! What gifts to bring them from the land of the rising yen!

 

Meanwhile, I view our trips the way sumo wrestlers view all–you–can eat buffets.

My consideration being not what to give, but what to get! And how then to carry all that loot home. For my wife, gift–giving went easier back when we were newlyweds.

 

In those days any present from Japan was considered rare and enchanting.

 

My family was thrilled to receive Japanese dolls, fans and screens, as well as all sorts of clothes, toys and ceramics.

As the years passed….Now my sisters and brother has enough Japanese dolls to launch an invasion. My sister Rosemarie has so much stuff that she has probably ran out of room for everything in her china cabinet and curio cabinet. She has drawers full of stuff we\’ve sent over the years.

 

Now my wife rips her hair.\”What do I buy them this time?!!\” I always offer a one word answer, the consummate souvenir: T-shirts.the, bodies in my family tend to spread larger than Japanese bodies.T-shirts, even the widest ones, usually survive but a single wash I suppose I really don\’t know. People wear them once and that\’s it. My next suggestion is Japanese food stuff: Rice crackers, plum-flavored gum, dried squid and so on.

 

I know my family will only pick at these goodies before dashing off to spit them into the toilet. Leaving the rest for me. It is a no–lose situation.

 

But doesn\’t that satisfy my wife. No she hunts persistently for the perfect presents and, soon finding something even remotely popular, she sticks with it.

In most of the omiyage=Present madness, I let my wife fret and fuss on her own. Upon arrival, I turn my attention toward my own concern, which is buying everything I can. My first stop is to the local supermarket (heaven on earth)where I load an entire cart with American goodies so junky it is bad even to look at then, Let alone put them in your body after all these years watching what I eat and all that exercise.\”You\’re not going to eat all that junk food are you?\” My wife shrieks. \”Wanna bet?\” I grin. Who counts calories in heaven?

 

Then clothing! Shoes that fit! Suits priced less than real estate! Belts that go all the way around! Books! CD\’s! Software! Video\’s of films that will not be released in Japan for months! All at prices I can afford too. I can afford so much; in fact, I always have to purchase an additional suitcase to lug all that stuff back to Japan.

 

My wife eventually turns to shopping too, though most U.S. sizes tend to fit her perfectly. Then as the day nears for our return, a new worry crops up and overwhelms her. \”What do I get for the people back in Japan!?\”I take a minute to thing, and then here we go again! This, to, used to be simple. We would buy chocolaty American sweets that (unless I discovered where she hid them) my wife would pass out to everyone for months and months. Now such yummies are sold in Japanese convenience such as 7/11. The novelty has vanished. My wife\’s search goes on. Her efforts have included:

Bric-a-brac: Cute oddities not sold on this side of the Pacific. Unfortunately, too many are stamped, MADE IN JAPAN.\”

 

Sheets and towels; Economical and high quality. Yet, hard to give…\”Here\’s a gift from America, DR.Kohshi! It\’s a sheet!\” Posters: Unfortunately, these don\’t pack well, and who wants Mariah Carey with a crease through her head?\”Though she already has one there anyway!

Native American art: Beautiful did you know sand paintings can leak? Leaving…. what else? You guessed it T- shirts!

Sure, the same shirts are sold in Japan, but there is one essential difference: The ones we buy are cheaper. And a yen saved is a yen earned especially after a buying binge in the States. We need to save money for our next trip to heaven.

 

Warm Regards From Japan, Hank & Keiko The Miller Family

KANTRUSS
(Kentrus)
Albert (Algirdas)
On May 9, 2007, recently of Deptford, NJ and formerly of Stratford and Ocean City, age 87 years. Beloved husband of 58 years of Elizabeth (nee Gable) Kantruss. Beloved father of Margaret (Jeffrey) Gross, Kathleen(Michael) Nerz both of Wenonah, NJ, and MacKenzie (Michele Hennessey) Kantruss of Mt. Airy, MD. Loving grandfather of Jake and Katie Kantruss, Alex and Andrew Gross, and Julia Nerz. Pre-deceased by his brother Keistutis Kantruss of Cornwells Heights, PA. The son of Lithuanian immigrants, he was born and raised in Philadelphia. He was a graduate of Central High School, class of 1936, where his yearbook described him as \’admired for his sense of humor\’. He worked for the State of Pennsylvania as a clerk before being drafted into the Army during WWII, where he served in the 513th Parachute Infantry and was stationed in Naples-Foggio, Rome-Arno, South France, Algiers and the Rhineland. After being discharged, he returned to Philadelphia where he attended the University of Pennsylvania and graduated with honors. It was there that he met the love of his life and future wife when they attended journalism classes together. He was a Pullman conductor briefly before he worked as a safety engineer for Liberty Mutual Insurance in Bala Cynwyd and Haddonfield. He later became a safety consultant for Johnson and Higgins in Philadelphia. He was a lifelong sports fan, with a particular fondness for football and baseball and he had a stint as a little League Coach. An aficionado of movies and music (especially Sinatra, Big Band, and classical), he amassed extensive collections of both and knew a wealth of information about them. In his retirement, he enjoyed his grandchildren, all of the family\’s dogs and cats, reading his daily newspaper and mysteries, watching TV, spending time at the shore, and playing poker and craps.
Cremation was private. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his memorial service Tuesday 2pm at
ORA L. WOOSTER
FUNERAL HOME
51 Park Blvd.
Clementon, NJ 08021
At the conclusion of religious services a visitation with the family will be held until 4pm. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Holy Redeemer Hospice, 150 N. 9th Ave. Box 250, Runne-mede, NJ 08078 or the Cat rescue of Maryland, Inc., 6400 Baltimore National Pike, Box 305, Baltimore, MD 21228-3915.

LEYENDECKER
Helen E.
(nee Kluczynski) of Deptford, NJ died on May 10, 2007 at the age of 85 yrs. Beloved wife of Gilbert.
Loving mother of: Glenn A. Leyendecker (Josette) of Greenwood, DE, and Shirley H. Kalla of Clayton, NJ. Proud grandmother of Alexander Levi Leyendecker, her pride and joy. Helen is also survived by: 2 step-sisters Irene Stipcevich of Westmont, NJ, and Eleanore Podolak of Cherry Hill, NJ; numerous nieces and nephews, including her niece Jacquelyn Whitney of Berlin, NJ. She is predeceased by her brother Alfred Kluczynski, and her sister Ceceilie E. Miller.
Helen was a member of Stetser-LaMartine American Legion Unit 281 Auxiliary. She was an employee of RCA of Camden, from 1947-1960, and of Macy\’s Deptford from 1975-1985. She enjoyed going to the movies, spending time with her family and friends, and doing her cryptograms.
Viewing will be Monday eve. 7:00- 9:00 PM, and Tuesday 9:00-9:30 AM at EARLE FUNERAL HOME, 122 W. Church St., Blackwood, NJ 08012. Her Funeral Mass will follow Tuesday, 10:00 AM at St. John Vianney R. C. Church, Deptford, NJ. Interment will take place at Gloucester Co. Veteran\’s Cem. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated to St. John Vianney R.C. Church Building Fund, or to Stetser Lamartine American Legion Unit 281 Auxiliary. Condolences may be viewed/posted at www.earlefuneralhome.com

Joe DiGiacomo, (photo, left) and Arthur \”Ott\” Pacifico were bewitched five decades ago by the Boyle sisters from Gloucester City, Eppie and Cissie.

The married couples became an inseparable foursome.

Through years of raising families in the same duplex, vacationing in Avalon Manor when they still had to cart in water, and sharing a household best described as unusual, the two brothers-in-law were also fast friends.

Their friendship grew closer when their wives died and their children and neighbors started referring to them as the \”odd couple of Gloucester City.\”

Both died within the last five months at 87.

\”They headed strong Italian families, with good values, and lots of love,\” says Patrick Healey, whose funeral home welcomed what seemed like the entire town for the funerals of both men.

\”You never saw one without the other, and you never saw either without a smile.\”

Pacifico died in November, several months after being diagnosed with lung cancer. DiGiacomo died April 14.

\”I think he missed my uncle so much that he died of loneliness,\” says one of DiGiacomo\’s five children, Gloucester City resident Jo-Ann Allison.

Both men were ushers at St. Mary\’s Church and attended senior citizen meetings. They drove neighbors to doctor appointments and the supermarket, and were part of a group of about 20 oldtimers who met to play cards.

\”They lived together longer than they were married to their wives,\” Allison says.

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