Joseph Sferra

Joseph Sferra, 80, of Pennington passed away on April 9, 2023. He was born in Pettoranello del Molise, Italy. At the age of 15, he came to the United States with family and resided in Princeton. For the past 45 years he has lived in Pennington.

Upon arriving in Princeton, he worked for Nelson Glass until he joined his brothers as a barber at Continental Barber Shop in Princeton. His skilled talent and craftsmanship lead him to his career at Princeton University as a glazier and carpenter. He worked at Princeton University for 48 years until his retirement.

He was a family man who loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. They were his world as much as he was their world. He was exceptionally talented with all trades. He would always have projects ongoing to which the end results were breathtaking. He was one of a kind in all aspects. He would be the first wanting a family gathering and to raise a glass with family and friends. He always would leave you with his signature line “see you at Christmas.”

Predeceased by his parents Domenic and Angelina (Toto) Sferra; brother and sister-in-law Antonio (Clara) Sferra, brother and sister-in-law John (Rose) Sferra, and brother-in-law Oreste Sferra; he is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Scott and Meredith Sferra; daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Michael Kopliner IV; grandchildren Ava, Ryan, and Joshua; brother and sister-in-law Umberto (Ester) Sferra, brother and sister-in-law Florindo (Patricia) Sferra, sister Assunta Sferra; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Paul’s Church, 216 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Princeton Cemetery.

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

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Carolyn Leah Chun

February 15, 1966 – January 31, 2023

Carolyn (“Carrie”) Leah Chun, 56, of Princeton Junction, NJ, passed away January 31, 2023 after a long battle with Huntington’s Disease (HD). Born in Natchitoches, LA, on February 15, 1966, the second daughter of Marvin Ostberg and Nancy (Whitford) Grant, she spent her childhood in Salem, OR. Graduating from McKay High School (Salem, OR), she received a B.S. in Elementary Education (at Oregon State University) and M.A. in Reading and Language Arts (Rider University).

Married to Jonathan in 1992 in Honolulu, they lived in the Princeton area for more than 30 years, raising two daughters. Carrie had been actively involved in her church, Westerly Road Church (now Stone Hill Church), serving in the young adults group or nursery, organizing vacation Bible school, and working in the church office. Having a love for teaching children, she tutored students and homeschooled her own children until they enrolled at the Wilberforce School. Carrie enjoyed building relationships in her community Tai Chi class, YWCA Breast Cancer Resource Center group, the school, Bible study fellowships, or prayer groups.

Carrie is remembered as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and dear friend to many. Predeceased by her mother, Nancy (Whitford) Grant, she is survived by her father, Marvin Ostberg and stepmother Patricia of Skillman, NJ; her sister, Jill Ostberg of Lakewood, NJ; her husband, Jonathan, of Princeton Junction, NJ; daughter Emily of Washington, DC; and daughter Hannah of Philadelphia, PA.

A private burial was attended by family with a Celebration of Life to be held at Stone Hill Church of Princeton, NJ, on April 15 at 11 a.m., preceded by a graveside service at Dutch Neck Presbyterian Church Cemetery, West Windsor, NJ, at 9:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (hdsa.org) or the ministries of Cru (give.cru.org).

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

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John Stephen Hegedus

John Stephen Hegedus, a loving husband, father, and friend, passed away on March 27, 2023. He was born on July 21, 1927 to a Hungarian family in Satu Mare, Romania. He was preceded in death by his parents, Zoltan and Anna Hegedus, and his sister, Agnes. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Franziska (aka Bambi); his sons, Nicholas (Kate) of Pennington, NJ, and Christopher (Heather) of Vienna, VA; and grandchildren, Timothy, Kristen, Austin, and Matthew.

Early in his life, John experienced the tragedy of WWII, during which he lost his father and sister. He made an adventurous escape from communist Romania, involving crossing a border in the trunk of a car and posing as a seminarian, eventually making his way to NYC, where he graduated from Columbia University with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering.

After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, including time managing operations in Tokyo (twice) and in Istanbul (for eight years), he settled in Greenwich, CT, moved to Westport, CT, and then to Pennington, NJ. He was an avid bridge player, a history buff, and a consummate intellectual.

He will be forever missed for his intelligence, curiosity, and (at times off-color) sense of humor.

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Beverly T. Crane Dubee

Beverly Crane Dubee (née Tyrrell) passed away on April 4 at Penn Princeton Medical Center, age 89. Born in Hackensack, NJ, on January 15, 1934, the daughter of Donald Ross Tyrrell and Henrietta Benson Tyrrell, she was a longtime resident of Princeton who inspired and supported all with her innate ability to connect with everyone she met.

She graduated from Rutherford High School in 1951 and matriculated at Ursinus College in 1955 and graduated with a degree in psychology. Dismissed from her first professional job at Western Electric’s personnel department after marrying Harold E. Crane Jr. (1932-1981) in 1957 for being a pregnant married woman, their son William M. Crane was born the same year. The young family moved to the Princeton area in 1959. Their daughter Elizabeth de Jong-Crane was born in 1960. Determined to be a working mother, she started her real estate career with Charles Draine, then joined Peyton and Callaway and finally Peyton Associates. In Princeton she was a founding member of All Saints’ Church, and an active member of Springdale Golf Club and the AAUW.

In 1981 after the passing of her first husband she worked for Merrill Lynch Relocation in the World Trade Center in NYC. In 1985 she married Joseph Andre Dubee (1945-2010) and moved to Bethesda, MD, where she worked for Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 1990 Joe and Beverly moved to Elkins Park, PA, where she worked for the Philadelphia Cricket Club as head of Human Resources. She was also Senior Warden of the vestry at St. Paul’s Church. They returned to Princeton in 2005, where she dedicated much of her time to her passion for bridge. Having achieved the rank of sectional master she played regularly at the Princeton Senior Center, the Present Day Club, and Community without Walls.

In 2015, five years after her second husband died, she moved to Princeton Windrows. In 2021 she moved to Maplewood Senior Living, where her constant upbeat nature never wavered.

She is survived by her children Bill (Lisa) and Betsy (Jan); four grandchildren, Marshall, Emma, Abigail (Andrew Ochoa), and Pieter; her three sisters, Patricia Taylor, Dorothy Zaleski, and Susan Gauff; her sister-in-law Patricia Crane; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held in her honor at Trinity Church Princeton on Friday April 14, at 1 p.m., with a reception following at Springdale Golf Club where she was a member for 55 years.

Donations in her honor may be made to Scheie Eye Institute, The National Trust for Preservation, and Planned Parenthood.