Obituary of Joseph S. Stepka

Manville Borough – Joseph S. Stepka, 68, died Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick.

Born in Somerville to the late Josephine and Joseph Stepka, Sr. Joseph grew up in Manville where he settled, and has been a lifelong resident.

A Manville High School graduate, Joseph and his Seeing Eye Dog, Umber, went on to graduate from Raritan Valley Community College, and later, Baruch College in Manhattan. Professionally, he was an employee of Silvatrim, in South Plainfield, where he worked in extrusion processing for automotive trim parts.

A musician in his free time, Joseph was a student at Guillaume Music Academy, in Hillsborough, NJ. He was also a Past President on the Parish Council for Christ of King Church, in Manville where he also served in several other ministries.  Joseph will be remembered for his patriotism and love of the this Country.

Predeceased by his parents, and brother in law Benjamin Oller; surviving are his wife Loretta (DeVoy); sister, Janice Oller; sister in law Margaret (Louis) Ayala; nieces and nephews, Terri (Anthony) Zaliwski, Scott  (Alyson) Oller, Louis (Liz) Ayala, and Edwin (Crystal) Ayala, along with several great nieces and nephews and extended relatives.

A visitation will be held at the McCriskin – Gustafson Home for Funerals, 2425 Plainfield Avenue, South Plainfield, NJ, on Monday, May 8, 2023, from 9 AM to 10 AM.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Mondays, May 8, 2023, at 11 AM in St. Joseph Church, 34 Yorktown Road Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844, followed by burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Manville.

In lieu of flowers, the Stepka family has asked that donations be made to The Seeing Eye, in Joseph’s name, for thanksgiving of the two dogs who changed his life – Umber and Muffy.