Obituary of Frederick J. Sonnenfeld

Frederick J. Sonnenfeld South Plainfield - Frederick J. Sonnenfeld, 88, passed away on Wednesday November 17, 2010 at JFK Medical Center in Edison after a brief illness. Born in Rutherford, NJ, he grew up in Newark and settled to South Plainfield in 1956. A WWII veteran, Fred joined the Merchant Marines in 1943 and enlisted in the US Army in 1944. He served overseas during the European Theater and received the Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his heroic actions prior to his honorable discharge in 1946. Initially employed as a shipping clerk for Tungsol in Newark, NJ from 1946 until 1962 when he joined the United States Postal Service, South Plainfield branch, as a letter carrier and later working as a distribution clerk before his retirement in 1984. He is long time faithful communicant of Sacred Heart RC Church in South Plainfield. Fred was a master bird carver. He spent many hours detailing his wooden birds and showing them at various local craft shows. In addition to his passion for bird carving, Fred also enjoyed refinishing furniture, picture framing and gardening. He often donated many of his vegetables from his extensive garden to St. Mary's Church and the Salvation Army's soup kitchens. Predeceased by his two sisters, Evelyn Johnson and Janet Gesell, surviving are his beloved wife of 62 years, Mary ( Floro ), two daughters and their husbands, Kathy and Michael Wozniak of South Plainfield, Joan and Brian McCormack of Bound Brook, a son and his wife, Mark and Maryann of East Windsor and a brother, Henry Sonnenfeld. Also surviving are two grandchildren, Jennifer Luizza and her husband Charlie and Caitlin McCormack and three great grandchildren, Julianna, Charlie and Sofia. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 22, 2010 at 9:15 AM in the McCriskin - Gustafson Home For Funerals 2425 Plainfield Ave. South Plainfield, NJ 07080 followed by a 10:00 AM funeral mass in Sacred Heart RC Church, South Plainfield. Interment will follow Hillside Cemetery, Scotch Plains, NJ. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 21, 2010 from 3- 7 PM in the funeral home. Memorial donations in his memory may be made to Plainfield Salvation Army, 615 Watchung Avenue, Plainfield, NJ 07060 or to the Disabled American Veterans, Attention: GIFT PROCESSING, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or www.dav.org .