OBITUARIES

Donald C. Lawson, 91, of Austin, Texas and formerly of Hammonton, died February 20, 2008.
Born in Linden, N.J., he was a graduate of Linden High School where he was a three sport letterman. He attended Rutgers University Extension in Newark, majoring in food and management. Don had baseball tryouts through the New York Yankees chain. He played semi-pro ball in Western North Carolina. In 1938 he joined The Burry Biscuit Corp. as a mixing and baking foreman. In 1949 he joined The Perfect Foods Co. as a plant superintendent. In 1952, he joined Bachman Bakeries Cookie Division as assistant plant manager. In 1955 he relocated to Hammonton to join a new cookie company, Deer Park Baking. He retired in 1982 as vice president. Don served as president and charter secretary of Hammonton Rotary Club, president of Hammonton Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of Hammonton Bi-Centennial Assoc., and member of V.F.W. Post 2314 of Carteret, N.J. He was a member of Hammonton Church of Christ serving as treasurer since its inception in 1958 and a member of the Foundation of W.B. Kessler Memorial Hospital. He served in the United States Army during World War II in Iran and Africa. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Don’s retirement years consisted of Chamber of Commerce duties, Hospital Foundation and many good neighbor policies. The most fun of all was being a member of the Philadelphia Phillies spring training camp.
Predeceased by: wife, Vera. Surviving him are: son, Donald Jr. and his wife Linda; grandchildren, Jennifer Lyn, Donald III all of Naugatuck, Conn.; many loving nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services today at 10 a.m. at the Marinella Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Vancil officiating. Burial will follow at Greenmount Cemetery.
Arrangements made by the Marinella Funeral Home.

Carmen A. Merlino Sr., 87, of Hammonton, died February 20, 2008, at home surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Hammonton to the late Antonio and Agata Merlino, Carmen served in the United States Army during World War II where he was missing in action in Germany for two days. He was a member of the Pine Meadow Gunning Club. He owned and operated Oakcrest Farms and Merlino Bros. with his brother Anthony where he retired in 1983.
Predeceased by: wife of 55 years, Carmella DeMarco. Surviving him are: sons, Carmen Jr. and his wife MaryJane, Anthony and his wife Edith; brother, Anthony and his wife Rose; grandchildren, Renee, Carmen III and his wife Jamie, Anthony Jr., Daniel Merlino; great-grandchildren, Carmen IV, Carley Merlino.
Relatives and friends attended a Mass of Christian Burial on February 25 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church followed by entombment at Greenmount Cemetery.
Arrangements made by the Marinella Funeral Home.
 

Joseph C. Campanella, 33, of Hammonton, died February 20, 2008, at the Wm. B. Kessler Memorial Hospital.
Born in Hammonton, he was a resident all his life. He worked as a plumber and was a member of Local 322.
Surviving him are: wife, Michelle (nee Gleason); children, Kristin Lee, Joseph Cameron of Hammonton; parents, Joseph and Ellie (nee Tozer) Campanella of Hammonton; sisters, Nicole Bruno and her husband Jake of Franklinville, Lori Campanella of Vineland; wife’s father and mother, Danny and Pat Gleason; brother-in-law, Michael Gleason.
Relatives and friends attended a Mass of Christian Burial on February 26 at St. Anthony of Padua followed by burial at Oak Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Joseph Campanella, 62 Middle Road, Hammonton, NJ 08037.
Arrangements made by the Marinella Funeral Home.

Sister Clare Testa, MPF, 85, died February 22, 2008, at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, N.J.
Born in Nutley, Sister Clare entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1944. She received the habit in 1945 and made her religious profession in 1948. She was awarded an AA diploma by Villa Walsh Normal School, a BA degree with a major in English and a minor in Philosophy from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J. She also earned a MLS degree from St. John University in Jamaica, N.Y. Sister Clare taught in the following schools in New Jersey: Villa Victoria Academy in Trenton, Our Lady of Sorrows School in Jersey City, Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Maywood, and St. Joseph High School in Hammonton. She also taught at St. Bernadette School in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was principal and convent superior at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Maywood, Villa Victoria Academy in Trenton, and St. Bartholomew in Scotch Plains. From 1966 – 1973, Sister Clare served as Provincial Superior of Queen of Peace Province in Trenton. During that time she was on the Executive Committee of the Sisters’ Formation Conference, a member of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, New Jersey State Planning Committee Conference of Major Superiors, and the Camden Diocesan Planning Committee representing the Major Superiors of New Jersey. She was also provincial Superior of St. Lucy Province, Villa Walsh, Morristown, N.J. from 1978 – 1984. Sister Clare was the chairperson on the Commission for the Revision of the Constitutions of the Religious Teachers Filippini in Rome from 1977 – 1978. For the past 17 years she was the historian/archivist at Villa Walsh motherhouse in Morristown, N.J.
Predeceased by: parents, Donato Testa and Anna Cammassa; sister, Santina Caruso. Surviving her are: brothers, Rosario, Anthony of Nutley; many nieces, nephews; grandnieces; grandnephews.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing today from 2 – 8 p.m. and again on February 28 from 1 – 4 p.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 4 p.m. in the St. Lucy Chapel, Villa Walsh, Morristown, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Sister Clare may be made to the Religious Teachers Filippini. c/o Sister Betty Jean Takacs, MPF, Villa Walsh, 455 Western Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07960-4928.
Arrangements made by the Doyle Funeral Home in Morristown, NJ.