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OBITUARIESLOCAL NEWS TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015 L-6 THE RECORD Funeral Continued from previous page WILLIAMS Anne 84 of Leonia, on Sunday, July 5, 2015. She was born in New York City, NY and was the Borough Clerk of Leonia for many years. She was a Volunteer for the Red Cross, served as President of the Municipal Clerks' Association of Bergen County, former President of the Leonia Women's Bowling Team, former Secretary of Leonia Recreation Commission, and was a reporter for The Bergen News- local paper of YesterYear, Beloved wife of the late Russell Williams. Devoted mother of Gary Williams and his wife, Sue, and the late Gail Finley. Cherished grandmother of Katrina and Christopher.

Humanist Service Saturday, July 25 at 12 PM at the Frank A. Patti and Kenneth Mikatarian Funeral Home, 327 Main Street "opposite the Fort Lee Library." In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne's memory to the American Cancer Society by visiting their website atwww.cancer.org. For condolences, directions, or information call (201) 944-0100 or www.frankpatti.com Facebook over the weekend and wrote that "we all have to remember that God works in mysterious ways." "We will never know why until we reach heaven ourselves the reasoning behind Christopher Birch's early departure. The way that Chris lived his life was so above and beyond. He was Mr.

Incredible. So strong, big hearted, fearless, loving and so funny beyond belief. I am extremely grateful and blessed to be able to say that I married an angel." A statement posted on the Midland Park police website asked residents to stand on the sidewalks of Godwin Avenue as Birch's funeral procession passed through the borough's heart in the early afternoon. "Chris will be sorely missed by his fellow officers, and all those he touched," the statement read. Birch was interred at Fair Lawn Memorial Cemetery after the service.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his parents, James and Donna, and his brother, Cory. Email: janoskinorthjersey.com Local police closed roads a quarter-mile around the church, and police cars from a number of departments formed a mammoth procession on Hamburg Turnpike that glittered with red-and-blue lights but overwhelmed with its silence. The Rev. Stephen M. Rozzelle called the funeral the largest the church had ever seen, and an overflow room, hooked up with audio to pipe in the funeral proceedings, also was filled with officers, EMTs and firefighters.

Officers from Midland Park, Bergenfield, North Haledon, Wayne, Oakland, Bloomingdale, Franklin Lakes, Harrington Park, Fort Lee, Demarest, River Edge, Hackensack, Paterson, Glen Rock, Haledon and the Morris County Sheriffs Office were at the service, as well as the Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County. Dennis Vajda, captain of the Midland Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps, knew Birch as an officer with an engaging grin who was quick to help on any accident scene. "He was always smiling. Everybody's going to remember that fc To view a photo gallery fl on this story visit northjersey.com smile," said Vajda. Having married his wife, Karen, just three months ago, Birch was excited to start a family, Vajda said, and to remodel his home to accommodate it.

Pete Goodman, a retired Wyck-off police officer, was standing across Passaic Avenue from the church with his wife, Andrea, during the funeral. Birch, he said, was an outgoing officer who had an impact on everyone he met "Chris made a positive impression on a lot of people's lives," he said. Birch served in Midland Park as a traffic officer and field training officer and was also in charge of vehicle maintenance and equipment. Previously described by Pow-derley as having a "passion for police work," Birch also enjoyed fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities. He was near his family's vacation home in Pennsylvania when the accident occurred.

Karen Birch posted photos of her husband and the couple on she sought reform From Page L-l love you, Rest easy." Birch, a native of North Hale-don, was killed in Pennsylvania on July 6 when, driving an ATV too fast for conditions, he failed to negotiate a left turn, Pennsylvania State Police said. He went off the road and crashed into a boulder, police said, and although he was wearing a helmet, was fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Mourners formed a wide perimeter around his flag-draped casket as it was carried from the church by policemen. Haunting songs from a contingent of bagpipers met them at the door, and around the corner, a pristine Chevrolet El Camino overflowing with flower arrangements including a blue-and-gold shield from the state Policemen's Benevolent Association and a silver shield from Midland Park adorned with Birch's badge number, 529 -waited. Semler: From Page L-l last letter, published on July 2 in the Herald News, Semler touches on the usual ills in Passaic: patronage mill government, poor schools, unsafe housing and dirty streets.

"The leadership of this city is more interested in power, nepotism, and financial gain than in the welfare of the city itself," she wrote. "The sad part of all of this is that none of the higher agencies cares to keep an eye on what has been talcing place here. Though life goes on, it doesn't mean it is getting better." Coming from Semler, it was the typical refrain: Passaic's elected officials were in it for themselves, and they didn't really care about the city or the people. And if she didn't say something, who would? "Margie Semler was probably Passaic's last political leader who was all-inclusive," said Mark Auer-bach, the city historian. "She wasn't always right, but then again, nobody ever is.

But she recognized that Passaic had four wards and she was the mayor of all four of them. Marge included everyone." Born in Akron, Ohio, in 1923, Semler moved to Passaic with her family a year later. Her early years were spent in Passaic until 1932, when she moved to Ridgewood. She grew up in Ridgewood and graduated from Ridgewood High School in 1940. She moved back to Passaic in 1941 and had lived in the city ever since.

Five years later, she met her husband, Mac, after he returned home from a stint with the Army. They were married in 1947, and settled into a two-family house on Van Houten Avenue, where they raised two children, As mayor, Lorrie and Marc. Semler's entry into politics came by way of her involvement in the Passaic public schools that her children attended. In 1966, she was part of a drive to replace the school board appointed by the mayor with one that was elected by voters. That year, Semler was elected to the first of two terms on the board.

A bookkeeper by trade, Semler used her talent with numbers to keep her eye on school district spending and to put food on the table at home. Her first job in Passaic was as a bookkeeper at a junkyard; later, she spent more than 25 years keeping the books of the Belle Shoppe in Passaic. Her tenure on the school board was marked by a showdown with the teachers union. When the teachers went on strike, Semler, as board president, voted to have them arrested in violation of a state law prohibiting public employees from walkouts. In 1973, Semler ran for a seat on the City Council and won.

She joined what was then an all-boys club at City Hall and she remained the lone woman during her 15 years on the council. Years later, Semler reflected, in an article published in The Record, on what it was like to be the only woman on the council. "The men tease me if I'm a few minutes late to a meeting, ask me if I've been busy doing dishes, and they happen to be right," she said. "They don't understand that I have family responsibilities. I'm old-fashioned enough to believe I should put supper on the table, and if they don't want me late, they should start the meetings a half-hour later." rels were produced in May, according to the latest government data.

Over the past two years, Bergen County has become a major corridor for the oil, with 15 to 30 trains traveling every week on the CSX River Line from Albany, N.Y. They enter New Jersey in Northvale and travel past thousands of homes and businesses in Norwood, Harrington Park, SINHA Birendra Kishore, 70, on July 12, 2015 of Edgewater, New Jersey. Born in India, Birendra moved to the United States 10 years ago after retiring from corporate life. Prior to his retirement, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of Tata Rings and Tata Agrico, and head of Personnel and Industrial Relations of TATA Steelin Jamshedpur, India where he managed over 90,000 employees. Graduate of I.I.T Madras, an avid dog lover, "B.K." was a musician at heart, loved to sing and was very popular amongst his friends and colleagues.

Beloved husband of Asha (nee Kaul) Sinha. Devoted father of Anurag Harsh and his wife Dr. Malvika Tickoo of Edgewater, NJ. Loving grandfather of Agustya and Vigyan Harsh. Son of Mrs.

Nirmala and the late Janardan Prasad. Brother of Dr. Raja Harendra Kishore Sinhaof London, UK and Mrs. Rani Sinha of Patna, India. The family will receive friendsand well-wishers at Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ on Tuesday July 14, 2015 at 7 PM for a service.

Cremation private. For further information please visit www.vpmemorial.com or call (201) 891-4770. TELESE Gaetana (nee De Siato), 81, died on Sunday, July 12, 2015. Mrs. Telese was born in raised in Italy.

She immigrated to Newark in 1963 and has been a resident of Lyndhurst for the past 24 years. She was a Seamstress for Fiduccia Shirts, Carlstadt for 22 years before retiring in 2009. Gaetana is predeceased by her beloved husband, Francesco in 2004. She is survived by her loving children, Josephine Telese, Luigi Telese, by his dear girlfriend, Judy Rizzo, and her sisters in Italy, Raffaela Di Nuzzo and Michellina Bernardo. Relatives and friends are invite to attend the Funeral from the Nazare Memorial Home, 403 Ridge Road, Lyndhurst on Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 8:30 AM then to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Lyndhurst where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered.

Interment Holy Cross Cemetery, North Arlington. Visiting hours Wednesday 2-4 and 7-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to American Liver Foundation, 39 Broadway, Ste 2700, NY, NY 10006. Please visit us at www.nazarefuneralhome.com WARDROP Eleanor M. (Priester), 93, of Fair Lawn, NJ passed away on Sunday, July 12, 2015.

Born and raised in McKee-sport, PA, she had resided in Fair Lawn since 1949. A faithful and active parishioner of St. Anne R.C. Church in Fair Lawn, she was a choir member for more than 50 years. Eleanor was a member of the Fair Lawn Live Wires and the Macy's Retiree Group.

She was an avid gardener and enjoyed knitting, crocheting and time spent with family and friends. Prior to retiring, she was a payroll manager with Macy's, formerly Bamberger's, in Para-mus for over 40 years. Beloved wife of the late Edward Wardrop. Loving and devoted mother of Tom Wardrop, Eileen Collins and Jim Wardrop. Cherished grandmother of Kate, Matthew, Mark, Michael, Jennifer, James Jr.

and Jillian and great grandmother of Leanna. The family will receive relatives and friends Wednesday, July 15, 2015, 1-5 and 7-9 PM at Vander Plaat-Caggiano Funeral Home, 13-31 Saddle River Road, Fair Lawn, NJ, 201-797-3500. A funeral Mass is planned for Thursday, July 16, 2015, 10:30 AM at St. Anne R.C. Church, 15-05 St.

Anne Street, Fair Lawn, NJ 07410. Interment will follow at St. Luke's Cemetery in Ho-Ho-Kus. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Eleanor to St. Anne R.C.

Church would be appreciated. For additional information, please visit www.vpfairlawn.com ZAPOTOSKY Ryan, a devoted father and husband, 29, departed this life suddenly on July 11, 2015. Born in Teaneck, Ryan was raised and grew up in Para-mus. He graduated Bergen Catholic High and Fordham University before starting his own successful painting and contracting company "Fine Interior Finishes, Inc." in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He followed his love Lauren to Philadelphia while she pursued medical school at Temple University.

They married and have two children, Jordan and Aidan. Ryan embraced family. His motto was "family is everything." His heart was large and he could never say no to family, friends or strangers. He loved extreme snowboard-ing, skateboarding, stunt cycling and music of all genres. He is survived by his wife, Dr.

Lauren DeStefano, his children, Jordan and Aidan Zapotosky, his parents, Hon. Bonnie J. Mizdol and Ronald Zapotosky, and his grandmother, Sophie Ziemba, He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and "frousins" (friends he considered family.) Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral Thursday, 9:00 AM, from the Kamienski Funeral Home, 106 Locust Avenue, Wallington, and 10:30 AM at St. Peter the Apostle R.C. Church, 445 Fifth Avenue, River Edge.

Visiting Wednesday 2-8 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are requested to a Zapotosky educational fund for Jordan and Aidan, in loving memory of their father, Ryan Zapotosky. How soon after death can the body be cremated: Regardless of how quickly family members may wish the decedent to be cremated, New Jersey state law requires that the person be dead for at least 24 hours before the body may be cremated. Is cremation a substitute for a funeral? No. Cremation is simply an alternative to burial or entombment.

It is a component of the funeral, which may include a viewing and or memorial or religious service. Information courtesy of www.NJSFDA.org Lipari was indicted in March 1992 on 14 counts of extortion and income-tax evasion. Eight months later, a jury in U.S. District Court found him guilty of seven counts. Four days after his conviction, Lipari resigned as mayor.

He was later sentenced to 3V2 years in federal prison. Semler was elected mayor on May 12, 1993, a day after Lipari reported to federal prison to begin serving his sentence. She beat Maria Vega-Perry and five other contenders by promising a return to honest government. Four years later, Semler narrowly beat challenger Sammy Rivera by 164 votes to hold on to the mayoralty; Gary Schaer, a relative newcomer at the time who is now council president, finished third in that race. After eight years as mayor, Semler declined to run a third time and stepped down.

Although out of office, she remained active in city affairs. Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years ago, Semler was forced to retreat from the public eye. Last year, the city's Head Start program honored her by naming their building on Highland Avenue after her. Last November, Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr.

read a proclamation honoring her into the Congressional Record, and in June, she was given the Courage Award by the National Pancreas Foundation. Semler's husband died several years ago. Survivors include her daughter, Lorrie, her son, Marc, and her sister, Sylvia. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Jewish Memorial Chapel, 841 Allwood Road, Clifton.

Email: cowenrnorthjersey.com 86-year-old bridge over the Oradell Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to 800,000 people. Officials from the water company are developing an emergency response plan with Bergen County emergency officials to contain any possible oil spill into the reservoir before it reaches intake valves south of the bridge. Email: fallonnorthjersey.com change has offset a continuing drop in cigarette smoking by teenagers, alarming public-health advocates. The automotive group, which has 1,500 members, has been the biggest opponent of any change in the age for tobacco use, lobbying against any new restrictions on the sale of nicotine products at the local and state level. There is only one member of the group in Rutherford, an Exxon station on Route 17, Blomgren told the borough council.

The American Medical Association supports raising the legal age for the sale of tobacco to 21, and Hawaii recently passed such a law, according to GASP's Blumenfeld. Under Rutherford's new ordinance, those who sell tobacco products to anyone under 21 face a minimum fine of $250 for the first violation, $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for the third and each subsequent violation. Email: mossnorthjersey.com Change did not come easy in Passaic, a city of old factories and old ways, a place where political favors and paybacks meant more than progress. Semler ran for mayor in 1977, and finished fifth out of six candidates in a race won by Robert Hare. Frustrated, Semler quit the City Council in 1979 when she declined to run again.

"I feel a tremendous futility in being the only one objecting when things are radically wrong," she said at the time. "We have many people on the public payroll in no-show jobs, fancy titles and high salaries. This is going on with the full knowledge of the administration, but no one has the guts to do what has to be done." Her hiatus from public life was relatively brief, however. Semler returned to the political scene in 1983 when she won a council seat. Her return to City Hall politics set the stage for a showdown with Joseph Lipari, the councilman who that year was elected mayor.

Lipari was elected promising reform in a city mired in corruption, but he soon became one of the prime targets of a federal probe launched by the U.S. Attorney's Office. Federal investigators were looking into widespread corruption at the Passaic Housing Authority, at the time headed by Paul Marguglio, and the probe reached into City Hall. Semler, who was once a Lipari ally, turned on the mayor and became his fiercest critic. Semler took on Lipari in the 1989 mayoral race but lost by 300 votes.

The federal probe ultimately ensnared Lipari, Marguglio and 13 other city officials on a wide range of corruption charges, including kickbacks and extortion. Closter, Haworth, Dumont, Bergenfield, Teaneck, Bogota, Ridge-field Park and Ridgefield. The trains eventually pass through the central part of the state, crossing the Delaware River near Trenton on their way to a refinery in Philadelphia. Among those expected to attend the drills, which run through Wednesday, are United Water personnel. The trains cross a small for the last year, and calculated that if Paramus had passed its 21 ordinance, he would have lost about $7,000 a year in profits, Blomgren said.

"So not enough to put him out of business, but enough to sting," he said. But Manzo wasn't buying Blomgren's arguments, and asked him whether he smoked. Blomgren answered no. "I didn't think so," Manzo said, adding that he would raise the legal age to smoke to 90 if he could. Councilwoman Stephanie Mc-Gowan said that she could appreciate Paramus' position that raising the smoking age is a state decision, but added "there is something to be said about what is in the best interest for the residents of Rutherford." The movement to bar the sale of tobacco and nicotine-related products to those under 21 gained momentum because of the soaring popularity of e-cigarettes and hookahs among youth.

That Oil trains: Preparing for a derailment Rutherford raises buying age From Page L-l gallons of crude oil, were hauled on the CSX River Line through Bergen County last year, almost triple the amount from 2013, according to county emergency officials. The oil originates in a geological formation called the Bakken shale, located in a remote area of North Dakota where pipelines are scarce. More than 35 million bar Tobacco: From Page L-l Highland Park, Sayreville and Princeton. Other towns in Bergen County are also ready to pass similar measures. Westwood is in the process of revamping its tobacco ordinance to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco and e-cigarette products to 21.

And last week the Hillsdale Borough Council introduced an ordinance to raise the required age to buy tobacco to 19 from 18. In fact, the town's old ordinance was outdated, and had already been superseded by a state law in 2006 that set the legal age at 19. The Hillsdale council is also considering other changes regarding the sale of tobacco. There is a bill pending in the Legislature that would raise the legal age to buy tobacco products to 21 across the state. Council President Frank Pizzella said it might make sense for the borough to have its ordinance mandate that it will conform to any statewide law.

Hills dale may also expand its proposed ordinance to cover the sale of e-cigarettes. Several New Jersey municipalities have refused to change the legal age for tobacco sales, including Hackensack and North Plainfield. Blomgren told Rutherford officials that Paramus had opted not to pass an ordinance to raise the smoking age, instead taking the route of a resolution supporting the state putting the legal age at 21, he said. "A 19- or 20-year-old adult who wants to buy a cigar or other tobacco product can easily drive to Clifton or Nutley or Secaucus or any one of the 556 municipalities that will continue to sell them that product," Blomgren said. Rutherford merchants who sell tobacco products will be hurt by raising the age to 21 because many customers not only buy cigarettes but also pick up other items when they come into a store, he said.

A member of the trade group in Paramus analyzed his sales data.