NJ Murder Victim April Duncza Remembered As Professional With 'Creative Brilliance'
April Duncza, the 39-year-old New Jersey woman believed killed by her ex-boyfriend is being remembered for her creative brilliance and professional success.
Duncza, a Nebraska native, was found during a welfare check at a home on Paul Street in the Fords section of Woodbridge with serious head trauma around 4:50 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, Middlesex County Prosecutor Yolanda Ciccone said.
She was later pronounced dead and her ex-boyfriend, Kevin Bacon, 46, of Keanesburg, has been charged with murder, Ciccone previously announced.
Duncza's obituary on the Higgins Home for Funerals website says…
NJ's Blake McGuire Dies At 27: 'Free Spirit'
Blake Kyle McGuire, of Bethlehem Township, died at his home on Friday, Nov. 17, his obituary says. He was 27 years old.
Born in Edison, Blake graduated from North Hunterdon High School in 2014 before attending Raritan Valley Community College.
He is being remembered as a “free spirit” with a passion for art and music, who loved to make others laugh with his one-of-a-kind sense of humor, his obit reads.
"I had Blake as a student and always enjoyed him," a former teacher wrote on Facebook. "He always made me smile."
Blake is survived by his parents, William and Susan McGuire; sisters, Kelly…
‘Truly Beautiful, Inside And Out:’ Alexa Brown Of Phillipsburg Dies At 16
Phillipsburg is mourning the loss of a lifelong resident and beloved teen.
Alexa Marie Brown, “Alexita,” died Thursday, August 24 at age 16.
Born in Phillipsburg, Alexa was known for her wide range of hobbies, including cheerleading, softball, and basketball, in which she became “a competitor on and off the court” with the help of her father, her obituary says. She played on several basketball teams, including the Steele Hill Bulldogs, Steele Hill Warriors and Team Jenkins.
“She was feisty, tenacious and quickly recognized as a tough defender,” reads her memorial, adding that the talented …
New Eatery Combines Coffee, Art In Hawthorne
A new cafe in Northern Westchester is combining Filipino-inspired pastries, coffee, and art into a fresh experience for those who stop by.
Likha Art Cafe, located in Hawthorne at 363 Elwood Ave., celebrated its soft opening on Friday, July 14, the owners announced on social media.
The new eatery offers a focus on art while serving coffee and a selection of Filipino-inspired sweets. Some of these pastries include mini ube flan cakes, pan de coco, ube pandesal with cheese, and mini sans rival dessert cakes.
It’s our SOFT OPENING 💕Swing by! Posted by Likha Art Cafe on Friday, July 14,…
Popular Artist, Business Owner From Milford Dies Suddenly At Age 63
A much beloved Connecticut artist known throughout her community died suddenly at the age of 63.
New Haven County resident Sharon Rutledge, of Milford, died on Friday, June 2, after collapsing at her home on Wednesday, May 31.
At the time of her death, Sharon was encircled by her family and friends, said her daughter Sara Agee Kaminski.
Besides owning a business -- Blue Point Designs -- featuring her artwork and more, Sharon was known throughout the community for her Facebook page "You know you live in Milford CT if....,” with almost 30,000 members.
She could also be found at almost all c…
'Local Legend' Dies Suddenly, Remembered For Spreading Joy Through Merrimack Valley
A beloved artist who spread joy through markers and paper died at age 43, sparking an outpouring of love and support.
Tomaso Schena, a local artist with a big following, died suddenly on Friday, May 5 in Newton, according to the City of Haverhill Mayor's Office.
Images of Schena's art, all made in his signature, colorful style, spread across Facebook in the days after his passing.
"Tomaso Schena seemed to illustrate everyone within a 50+ mile radius of Haverhill during his very short life," said one Facebook post memorializing the artist.
Schena had connections throughout Haverhill, N…
Victim Killed In Center City Crash, 31, Embraced Life, Loved Ones Say
Ariana Bird, a Philadelphia-based artist, dancer, and performer, died from injuries sustained in a car accident in Center City on Sunday, April 2, their loved ones say. They were 31.
Known to friends as simply Bird, the west coast native pursued dance from a young age and attended the Arts and Communications Magnet Academy in Beaverton, Oregon, according to their obituary.
They went on to receive a dance scholarship to study at the Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, and earned a bachelor's degree there, loved ones said.
After graduating college,…
Housemate Admits Killing Nj-born Sculptor In Maryland
A Maryland woman has admitted to killing her 92-year-old sculptor roommate, a New Jersey native, and attempting to make it seem like a natural death, authorities said.
Julie Birch, 27, has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of East Orange native Nancy Ann Frankel, whom she first attempted to suffocate, then strangled to death during an incident in July 2021, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy said.
Montgomery County Police and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue personnel responded to a Spruell Drive home on July 28, 2021, in Kensington, to conduct a death inve…
