Archdiocese of Newark obituaries: January 2024 

We remember and pray for our dearly departed clergy and men and women religious whose Masses of Christian Burial were held in January. 

Msgr. Edward J. Ciuba 

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Msgr. Edward J. Ciuba on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, at Notre Dame R.C. Church in North Caldwell, N.J. 

Msgr. Ciuba died on Jan. 19, 2024, in Holy Trinity Rectory, Westfield, N.J., not far from where he was born – the rectory whose pastor, Father Anthony Randazzo, was his associate pastor in Notre Dame Parish in North Caldwell for 12 years. Father Anthony reflects that while in residence at Holy Trinity, Msgr. Ciuba often asked while having a meal at the dining room table – “Why am I here? What is my purpose?” Father Randazzo’s response always, “Ed, your presence is your purpose.” 

Msgr. Ciuba – for many “Father Ed” – was born of Polish immigrant parents, Joseph and Anna Ciuba, (siblings Stanley and Helen) in Port Elizabeth, N.J. on March 20, 1935. He attended St Adalbert’s Grammar School in Elizabeth and then boarded at Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey where he played on the baseball team. He attended Seton Hall University in 1950 and entered Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington in July of 1952. In 1955 he sailed for Rome on the USS Constitution with his friend Angelo Caligiuri, from Buffalo. In Rome he lived at the North American College and attended the Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate in theology in 1959. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome on March 14 of 1959. On returning to the United States in 1960, he was assigned to St. Ann’s Parish in Jersey City, as associate pastor. In 1961 he was sent back to Rome to obtain a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture. He also spent a year at the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem. 

In 1965, he returned to Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, to teach Scripture to seminarians for several years. Early on, he authored a book on Scripture, “Who Do They Say That I Am?” He would ask the seminarians to have the New Jerusalem Bible with them with its up-to-date critical notes. As a young professor, his weekend assignment was at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Park Ridge, where he met Father Tom Kleissler who asked him to attend a Cursillo weekend with four laymen from the parish. “This experience changed my life and vision of Church, God, and the important role of lay people in the Church,” he said. 

In 1974, he was named Rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, and remained in that position until the Seminary returned to the campus of Seton Hall University in 1985. A love for the priesthood, respect for the people to whom he ministered, a life immersed in Sacred Scripture, an interest in learning, and a passion for living were all marks of the spirituality of Msgr. Ciuba. 

Assignment as pastor of Notre Dame Parish in North Caldwell, N.J. after years of seminary teaching offered Msgr. Ciuba the opportunity to make the fruits of his studies relevant to his parishioners. Small faith-sharing groups provided ideal contexts for relating the Gospel to the rest of life. During his years as a priest and pastor, Msgr. Ciuba became very involved in the Cursillo and Cornerstone movements and was very involved in promoting small faith-sharing groups among the faithful. He also became very involved in the RENEW International movement, founded by his friend Tom Kleissler.  

“As a theologian, professor and rector of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, pastor and preacher, Msgr. Ciuba touched many tens of thousands of Catholics and was respected and cherished by all,” current President of RENEW Greg Tobin said. “He was a longtime active supporter of the mission of RENEW International to foster small Christian communities, and dear friend of our founders, leaders and staff over more than 40 years. In 2016, Father Ed wrote RENEW’S faith-sharing book, Creation at the Crossroads: Laudato Sí-A Small- Group Resource on Pope Francis’ “On Care for Our Common Home.” He was sought after as a speaker on topics related to the Scriptures and Christian discipleship. As a priest retired from active ministry in recent years, he was ever ready to proclaim the Good News.” 

While living for many years after his retirement in Our Lady of the Presentation Church in Upper Saddle River, he was very involved in small faith-sharing groups in that parish and was dearly loved by the parishioners, in particular by the men’s prayer and sharing group that would meet every Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. 

Sister Eleanor Maragliano, C.S.J.P. 

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Sister Eleanor Maragliano, C.S.J.P., on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024, at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 

Sister Maragliano, 95, died peacefully at St. Michael Villa on Jan. 14, 2024. She was born on Sept. 12, 1928 in Tenafly, N.J., to the late Fortunato Maragliano and Rosa Morando. 

Sister entered the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace at St. Michael Novitiate on July 31, 1948 and pronounced Final Vows on Aug. 22, 1954. 

Sister had an MA in education from Seton Hall University, and an MA in Human Development from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She served at various schools in the Archdiocese of Newark, Diocese of Camden, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Diocese of Wheeling as a teacher and was Administrator of Villa Marie Claire. She served in Province Leadership for six years. She was a woman’s advocate for women in Brooklyn Corrections and Rikers Island Jail and ran a Thrift shop in Brooklyn and the Bronx before retiring in 2006. 

Sister was predeceased by brothers Andrew, Edward, Angelo, and Carlo; and sisters, Sister Judith Maragliano, CSJP, Teresa “Dolly” Maragliano, Emma Rossettini, Josephine Amicucci, and Nina Benzoni. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. 

Sister Joanne Rusch, C.S.J.P. 

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Sister Joanne Rusch, C.S.J.P., on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, at St. Michael Villa in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.  

Sister Rusch, 92, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J., died peacefully at St. Michael Villa on Jan. 15, 2024. She was born on Oct. 28, 1931, in East Brunswick, N.J., the third child of the late Joseph Anton Rusch and Beatrice Adelaid Mendoker Rusch. 

Sister Rusch became a Postulant on July 31, 1951, at St. Michael Novitiate, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., then a Novice on Feb. 2, 1952. She pronounced Final Vows there on Aug. 22, 1957. 

Sister Rusch graduated from: Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. with a B.A. in Education in 1962 and from Mt. St. Mary’s College, Los Angeles, Cali. with an M.A. in Guidance, Secondary Education and Administration in 1967. Sister Rusch taught at: St. Anne’s in Fair Lawn, N.J; St. Luke’s High School in Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.; and St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, Cali. 

In 1977 she left teaching and became an accounting clerk in health services at St. James Hospital in Newark, N.J. She then went to St. Peter’s Medical Center in New Brunswick where she served as manager of accounts receivables, mission excellence, and advocate for patients, employees, needy and poor until she retired to St. Michael Villa in 2013 where she continued to serve her community on various boards and committees. 

Sister Rusch was pre-deceased by her brothers Joseph Rusch and Alfred Rusch, and her niece Joanne Huwyler. She is survived by her niece Beverly Gearhart, and her nephew Joseph Rusch.  

Father Joseph Ian Boyd, C.S.J.P.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated for Father Joseph Ian Boyd, C.S.J.P., on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Edmonton, Canada. 

Father Boyd, a priest of the Congregation of Saint Basil, a Seton Hall professor, and an internationally recognized Chesterton scholar died in Edmonton, Canada on Jan. 10, 2024. 

He was 88 years of age; he had been a Basilian for 66 years and had served in priestly ministry for 60 years.  

He was the author of The Novels of G.K. Chesterton (London 1975). For many years, he was Professor of English at St. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan. From 1999-2020, he taught at Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.  

He received a B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada (1956); an S.T.B. Degree, University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto, Canada (1964); an M.A. from the University of Toronto, Canada (1965), and a Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland (1970). 

As a young child, he became acquainted with the works of G. K. Chesterton when reading his father’s copy of G. K.’s Weekly. Chesterton was present at every stage in his life, and for the last 50 years, he devoted his work to writing and lecturing about the life, thought, and body of work of G. K. Chesterton. In 1974, while at St. Thomas More College, and after attending the Centenary Conference of the Birth of G. K. Chesterton, he founded the G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture and its widely recognized journal The Chesterton Review. In 1999, Father Boyd brought both the Institute and the journal to Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J., where they are permanently housed in the Center for Catholic Studies. At the invitation of universities, study centers, and various organizations, Father Boyd traveled all over the world sharing his knowledge of Chesterton and his circle and his scholarly work, inspiring a new generation of Chestertonians. He lectured across the U.S., Canada, Europe, South America and Japan. 

In addition to lecturing about G. K. Chesterton, Maurice Baring, Paul Claudel, Charles Peguy, Hilaire Belloc, and others, he also lectured on the subject of “Sacramental Themes in Modern Literature.” Among the Christian authors whose work he discussed are T.S. Eliot, Graham Greene, C. S. Lewis, Flannery O’Connor, Piers Paul Read, Muriel Spark, and Evelyn Waugh. In nineteenth-century literature, he was also interested in the work of such authors as Charles Dickens, Anthony Trollope, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. 

Father Boyd was President Emeritus of the G. K. Chesterton Institute for Faith & Culture based at Seton Hall University and was the founding editor of The Chesterton Review. 

He retired in 2020. 

Deacon Stanley W. Kwiatek Jr. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Jan. 8, 2024, in St. Maximilian Kolbe Church, Toms River, for Deacon Stanley W. Kwiatek Jr.  

Deacon Kwiatek died Dec. 28, 2024. He was 79. 

Born in Elizabeth in January 1943, he joined the Navy and served four years in Vietnam. He was a disabled veteran who participated in “Honor Flights” and was the recipient of the Quilt of Valor. 

Following his military service, he served as a police officer for 29 years on the Union Township Police Force after which he was a professor at Kean University in Union Township. 

Deacon Kwiatek was ordained a deacon June 11, 2005, in Holy Spirit Church, Union Township and upon retiring to Manchester, he joined St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish. He was active in many ministries including serving as a spiritual advisor to the Knights of Columbus of which he was a Fourth Degree Knight; the Holy Rosary Society, and the Columbiettes. Every Friday he led the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the church chapel. Deacon Kwiatek was a founder and assistant director of St. Philomena’s Helpers and Servants to the Suffering and the Poor in New Jersey. 

Deacon Kwiatek is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara (Matlosz); two daughters, Donna Marie Conroy and Denise Danielle Velasquez; seven grandchildren; a sister; seven godchildren, and many nieces and nephews.