Obituaries

Sr. Louise Cababe

Sister Louise Cababe, O.P., Ph.D., 62, of Newburgh, N.Y., drowned Aug. 23, 2007, while swimming off the San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch. She was a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, Newburgh, N.Y. She was born in Paterson. As a sister, she was assistant superintendent for curriculum and testing for the Archdiocese of Newark, and served as principal of St. Mary's School, New Monmouth section of Middletown, for 10 years. She also tutored inmates at Westchester County Jail, N.Y. She is survived by a brother and sister-in-law, Henry and Marlene Cababe; and four nephews. A Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Church. Arrangements were by John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, Middletown. Memorial donations may be made to Dominican Sisters of Hope, 320 Powell Ave., Newburgh, NY 12550.

Mary Mari "Gussie" Traversa

Mrs. Traversa, 96, of Long Branch, died Sept. 16, 2007, at St Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center, Long Branch. Born in Italy, she was a lifelong resident of Long Branch. Mrs. Traversa was employed for several years at Daniel's Ladies Apparel, Long Branch. She was predeceased by her husband, August Traversa in 1975; and a son Richard "Dicky" Traversa in 2006. She is survived by a son and two daughters-in-law, Ronald and Lucille Traversa of West Long Branch, and Ceil Traversa of Long Branch; a sister, Marian Mari Musich of Long Branch; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, West End section of Long Branch. Interment was at Woodbine Cemetery, Oceanport. Arrangements were by Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch. Memorial donations may be made to St. Barnabas Hospice at Monmouth Medical Center, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange 07052.

Alfonsa "Mima" Medina

Mrs. Medina, 83, of Sayreville, formerly of Eatontown, died Sept. 11, 2007, in JFK Medical Center, Edison. Her husband, Francisco Medina, died in 2004; a son, Raymond Medina, died in 1969; and a granddaughter, Suzanne Scotto, died in 2006. Surviving are two sons, Frank, with whom she lived, John of the Parlin section of Sayreville and Alvin of Spring Lake; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A Mass was offered at Our Lady of Victories Church, Sayreville. Interment was in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, East Brunswick.

James Francis Clarity III

Mr. Clarity, 75, of Long Branch, died Sept. 20 at his home. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y. The son of James Francis Clarity Jr. and the former Catherine Finnegan, he attended George Washington University, the Ecole Nationale des Langues Orientales Vivantes in Paris, and graduated from Fordham University in 1958. In 1961 he earned a master's degree from Fordham University, New York, in Russian language and literature.

Mr. Clarity was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, where he apprenticed as a journalist. He then worked as a reporter at the New York Journal- American. He went to the New York Herald Tribune, where he was named City Hall bureau chief, Albany bureau chief, and then Paris bureau chief in 1965 and 1966. After a short stay at Newsweek magazine, he joined The New York Times, covering New York politicians.

In 1969 Mr. Clarity became a foreign correspondent in Moscow, and in 1971 he returned to New York, where he covered politics and wrote the "Notes on People" column. In 1973 he was assigned to Saigon, and in 1974 he became bureau chief in Teheran. During 1975 he did two tours of Moscow and then joined the Paris bureau to cover the Middle East. In 1977 he returned to the U.S. as bureau chief in Philadelphia. In 1983 he covered West Africa and worked in the Washington, D.C., bureau, then became editor of foreign news for the Week in Review. In September 1988 he became assistant foreign editor. From 1991 until 1999, he continued to report from the Republic of Ireland.

He retired to Paris in 2000, and then to Long Branch in 2004 to be close to his family.

Mr. Clarity enjoyed life with a formidable intellectual curiosity and had a great sense of humor and sharp wit. He was a loving and fun father and grandfather and was known by many all over the world as a caring and passionate friend. He loved reading, music, long walks, the Yankees and the Rangers.

Mr. Clarity is survived by his daughter, Frances Clarity Stokes, and her husband, Martin Richard Stokes, of London; his sons, James Clarity IV of Monmouth Beach and Christopher Clarity of Queens, N.Y.; his daughter, Elizabeth Clarity of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; his grandchildren, Sarah Calcott Stokes and Colin James Stokes of London; his former wife, Elizabeth Sheehan; the Newbould family of Virginia, and the Sheehan family.

Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 29 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. Donations in his name may be made to Doctors Without Borders.

Awilda Vargas Olsen

Mrs. Olsen, 48, of Long Branch, died Aug. 29, 2007, at Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch. Born in Long Branch, she was a lifelong resident. She was predeceased by a brother, Bienvenido Cruz, in 2000. She is survived by a son, Robert A. Garrabarant of Keansburg; a daughter, Jennifer Morrison-Stamberger of Brick; her mother, Ramonita Cruz of Long Branch; a brother, Albert Cruz of Eatontown; two sisters, Joanne Sam-Pang and Brunilda Hawkins, both of New Orleans; her companion of 10 years, Robert Granite of Long Branch; and five grandchildren. Arrangements were by Damiano Funeral Home, Long Branch.