Dorothy Ryfun Senich

Dorothy Ryfun Senich passed away peacefully in her home in Albuquerque, NM, on October 18 at the age of 96. She was born in 1925 in Syracuse, NY, the youngest, and last surviving, of seven children. 

Dorothy spent two years in Germany from 1948-1950 as a Defense Department Program Recreation Director and participated in the Berlin Airlift. She was an accomplished ballerina and taught ballroom dancing for Arthur Murray upon her return to New York City. Dorothy was also a bonds salesman for Dun & Bradstreet.

She married Mike Senich, cartoonist, in 1953. She raised two daughters and promoted Mike’s art, eventually opening the Misen Art Gallery on Nassau Street in Princeton, NJ. Dorothy was an active environmentalist and believed that nutrition, not medication, was the way to a healthy life. 

She is survived by her daughters Barbara Trembley and Jane Maciag Ryfun, five grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. All glory to God. Many thanks to Heartland Hospice for their kind care during her last months. 

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John Wells

John Wells, 69, of Pennington, passed away in the early morning hours of Wednesday, October 5, from complications associated with Parkinson’s disease. 

Born in Princeton, NJ, to Stanley and Eleanor Wells, and raised with Quaker values, John was imbued with exceptional patience and perseverance, empowering him to build and maintain relationships across the most disparate groups. In 1978, John met Corinne Reslier at the Nassau Inn in Princeton. John and Corinne married in September 1979 and subsequently had two children, Casey Victoria and James August.

John’s first professional job was with Peterson’s Guides. He started as an editor and advanced through self-taught skills to the roles of database manager and technical liaison, leading to a 30-odd year career in the college publishing industry. 

As a child, John was exposed to the wonders of nature through regular trips to the wilderness of upstate NY. In 1997 he completed a lifelong goal of joining the ranks of the Adirondack 46ers, and subsequently inspired many more to pursue the honor. His love for the wilderness of upstate NY led him to start writing a fantasy novel based on local Adirondack features.

Throughout his adult life, John pursed many passions. He became an accomplished self-taught blues musician and composer who graced local audiences with his passionate slide guitar and strong voice while particpating in three local bands. An award-winning photographer with an eye for natural surrealism and industrial ruins, John effortlessly captured beauty in natural and man-made surroundings. He was an accomplished birder, able to identify birds not only visually but by their songs. He attained a brown belt in karate, stopping short of earning a black belt due to the disease that was progressing.

John was predeceased by his parents and his brother Samuel. He is survived by his wife Corinne, daughter Casey and son-in-law Sean O’Shea, son James Reslier-Wells, and granddaughter Eleanor O’Shea, and many nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, loving and caring in-laws, and many long-term friends who defy description.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, 50 Cherry Hill Road, Princeton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Parkinson Alliance (parkinsonalliance.org).

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James F. O’Brien

James F. O’Brien, age 82, of Zagreb, Croatia, died on October 6, 2022. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, he attended the Lawrenceville School, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1962. He lived for a time in Putney, Vermont, but resided in Europe most of his life.  

James’ career spanned journalism, teaching linguistics, and collecting and trading rare books. He was a championship bridge player.

Son of the late Charles Russell and Anne Callan O’Brien, brother of the late Mary Russell O’Brien, he is survived by his siblings, Carol Desmond, Charlotte Kenney, and Charles O’Brien.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on November 8 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton. Burial will be in the family site at St. Paul’s Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Mary Russell O’Brien

Mary Russell O’Brien, age 73, a longtime resident of Lexington MA, but recently of Marlborough MA, died on October 23, 2022. Born in Princeton, New Jersey, she attended the Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart in Princeton and graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees respectively from Wheaton College and the Missouri School of Journalism.

“Rusty,” as she was known to friends, was a journalist and writer for Gannett newspapers, Time Life magazines, and several large corporations. 

Daughter of the late Charles Russell and Anne Callan O”Brien, sister of the late James O’Brien, she is survived by her siblings, Carol Desmond, Charlotte Kenney, and Charles O’Brien. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on November 8 at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton. Burial will be private. 

Donations in her memory can be made to the Stuart School in Princeton in support of the Callan O’Brien Family Scholarship Endowment.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Mather-Hodge Funeral Home, Princeton.

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Susan Behr Travers

Lifelong resident of Princeton, Susan Behr Travers, passed away in early October at the age of 80 years (young) surrounded by family and loved ones. 

She is survived by her children, Kimberly Behr (Travers) Hansen (Irving, TX) and Benjamin Howell Travers (Mill Valley, CA); grandchildren, Timothy Hansen, Mary Hansen, Alexis Travers, Elizabeth Travers, and Christopher Travers; siblings, Lynn (Behr) Sanford (Princeton, NJ), Sally (Behr) Ogden Fisher (Palm Beach, FL), and Elaine (Behr) King (Dover, MA). 

ROSE — having been raised by and loved by this beautiful woman.
THORN — watching her suffer so terribly these last six months and losing her in early October.
BUD — anxiously awaiting the day when we can see her again in her heavenly garden (which we’re sure will be spectacular!).

Rest in Grace, Mom/Nonnie/Susie. We will always be forever grateful for your love. Your adventures have only just begun…

Thank you to all of her caregivers, medical and hospice care teams, friends and family that have helped us through these last six months. You are all heaven sent.

We will be having a celebration of life service at a later date, but, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local Master Gardeners, Nature Center, Animal Rescue Center, or favorite National Park in honor of mom’s love of nature, fur babies, and the great outdoors.

Prayers, Peace, Love, and Strength. 

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Barbara Kinney Kahora Marion

Barbara Kinney Kahora Marion died peacefully on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Barbara was born in Bridgewater, NJ, and resided in New Jersey until 2021 when she moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, to be near family and friends. She loved the life she created at Lourdes McKeen and all of her new friends there.

Barbara attended Somerville High School and then pursued her lifelong dream to become a nurse. Graduating from Orange Memorial Nursing School in 1964, she joined several of her sisters and brother with a career in medicine. She worked as an operating room nurse for 35 years and then as a volunteer hospice nurse. Above all, Barbara was known for her ability to connect with people. She was the kindest person in any room and her melodic soothing voice was characteristic of her personality. Barbara loved to share laughter and joy, always with a twinkle in her dancing blue eyes and her magnetic charm at the forefront.

An avid traveler, Barbara had managed to visit many exotic places, including five of the seven continents. Among her favorites were Paris, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Italy. Since her husband was a former surgeon, the two made jewelry-making into a hobby and would visit faraway places looking for unique gems.

Barbara loved spending the summers in Nantucket, MA, with her family and created a lifetime of memories there with her beloved grandchildren, George, Teddy, Campbell, and Barbara (Lolly) and blond dachshunds Sugar and Honey that never left her side.

She is predeceased by her husband Dr. Russell Marion and parents Elizabeth and Thomas Quincy Kinney. She is survived by a daughter, Beth Kahora Taylor and son-in-law, George “Beau” Taylor; grandchildren, George, Theodore “Teddy,” William “Campbell,” and Barbara “Lolly”; sisters Kathy, Joyce, Rose, Nancy and brother Richard “Duke”; beloved nieces and nephews; and two lifelong friends, Betsy and Maryann. She will be missed immeasurably.

Services were at Quattlebaum Funeral Home, 6411 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL on Tuesday, November 1.

Church Service will be Wednesday, November 2 at 9 a.m. at Royal Ponciana Chapel, 60 Coconut Row, Palm Beach, FL.

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Lucienne “Loulette” Wolfson

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and sister, Lucienne “Loulette” Wolfson, 82, on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, following a courageous, hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born in Bordeaux France, to Nissim and Marie Dray, she met the love of her life, the late Dr. Joseph Wolfson, DDS, in Bordeaux and moved to the U.S. with him in 1962 to begin their family. Recognized by many as Lou Lou, she has always been well-known for her spirited disposition, unwavering strength, and sense of humor. She tackled many professional roles throughout her life, including ballet teacher, dress shop owner in the Princeton area, and fashion management in New York City.

She is survived by her three daughters, Erika Cosentino, Daniele Cardelia, and Nicole Deluca, and six grandchildren — Drew, Bridget, Patrick, Alyssa, Charlotte, and Jack — the lights of her life, as well as her seven brothers and sisters.

Funeral services were on Friday, October 28 at Adath Israel Congregation, 1958 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Interment was private at Washington Crossing Veterans Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements by Orland’s Ewing Memorial Chapel. For condolences, please visit the obituaries page at OrlandsMemorialChapel.com.