When someone you love passes away in the Woodbridge or Port Reading area, things get blurry. Fast. You’re dealing with grief, but you’re also dealing with a to-do list that feels impossible. One of the first things people search for is the Chubenko funeral home obituary for a neighbor, a friend, or their own family member.
It’s more than just a notice in the paper. Honestly, in a tight-knit community like ours in Middlesex County, an obituary is the final bridge between a person’s life story and the people who shared it. But there’s a lot of confusion about how these are handled, where to find them, and why some show up on Legacy while others seem tucked away.
Why Chubenko Funeral Home Obituaries Matter Right Now
The Leon J. Chubenko Funeral Home—often associated with the Gerity name in Woodbridge—has been around since 1951. That’s a long time. When you look at a Chubenko funeral home obituary today, you're seeing a tradition that started with Leon J. Gerity after he returned from WWII.
People often think these obituaries are just static text. They aren't. In 2026, they serve as digital memorials where you can actually interact.
- Virtual Condolences: You can leave a note for the family that they’ll actually see.
- Photo Sharing: Often, families allow friends to upload snapshots that weren't in the official gallery.
- Service Logistics: With traffic in Central Jersey being what it is, having the exact GPS-linked address for the Port Reading or Woodbridge chapels is a lifesaver.
The Two Locations: Don't Go to the Wrong One
This is where people get tripped up. There are basically two primary hubs for these services, and the obituaries are often cross-listed but the services might be at one specific spot.
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- Chubenko Funeral Home in Port Reading: Located at 625 Port Reading Ave. This is the heart of the operation for many families in Port Reading and Sewaren.
- Gerity & Chubenko Funeral Home in Woodbridge: This one is at 411 Amboy Avenue.
If you’re looking for a specific Chubenko funeral home obituary, check the header of the page. It will usually specify if the visitation is at the Amboy Ave location or the Port Reading Ave location. I've seen people show up to the Woodbridge office when the wake was actually in Port Reading. It's a 10-minute drive, sure, but it's 10 minutes of stress you don't need when you're already mourning.
How to Find a Recent Obituary
Looking for someone who recently passed? Most people just type the name into Google, but that can lead you to those weird "obituary scraper" sites that are full of ads and sometimes even wrong info.
Basically, you have three reliable ways to find a "real" Chubenko funeral home obituary:
The Official Website
The most direct route is going straight to their portal. They use a digital system that updates almost in real-time once the family approves the draft. It’s clean, it’s official, and you won't get hit with pop-ups.
Legacy.com Partnerships
Chubenko often partners with Legacy. This is helpful if you want to set up an "Obituary Alert." You can actually subscribe so that if anyone with a certain last name has a service through Chubenko, you get an email. Kinda handy if you have a large extended family or a wide circle of former coworkers.
Local News Outlets
In our area, The Home News Tribune or The Star-Ledger are the big ones. However, keep in mind that a printed obituary in the paper is expensive. Some families choose to do a "Death Notice" in the paper (just the facts) and keep the long, beautiful life story—the full Chubenko funeral home obituary—online only.
Writing the Obituary: A Practical Guide
If you're the one sitting across from the funeral director trying to summarize a life in 500 words, take a breath. You don't have to be a professional writer.
The staff at Chubenko is known for being pretty hands-on with this. They’ll give you a template, but honestly, the best obituaries are the ones that sound like the person. Did they love the Mets? Mention it. Were they the kind of person who always had a stash of Entenmann's cookies for the grandkids? Put that in there.
What You Absolutely Need to Include
- The Full Name: Include nicknames. If everyone knew him as "Skip," put Skip in the headline.
- Service Times: Be specific. Is the burial private? Is the "Repast" open to everyone?
- Donation Preferences: This is huge. If the family wants donations to the Woodbridge Animal Shelter instead of flowers, make sure that's bolded.
Real Examples from 2026
Just this month, we've seen beautiful tributes for local residents. For instance, the obituary for Margaret Borga, who lived in Woodbridge for 58 years, highlighted her love for Elvis and her garden. Another recent tribute for Jordan Stoynev in Port Reading focused on his journey as an immigrant and his reputation as a hard worker. These aren't just names; they are the fabric of our town.
Misconceptions About the Process
"It has to be published immediately."
Nope. While you want people to know about the service, you can take a day to get the wording right.
"Every obituary costs money."
Posting on the funeral home's own website is usually included in the service package. It’s the newspapers that charge by the line.
"You can't change it once it's up."
Digital obituaries can be edited. If you realize you forgot to mention a favorite niece or got a graduation year wrong, the funeral home can usually fix that in the backend of their site within minutes.
Moving Forward After the Service
Finding the Chubenko funeral home obituary is usually just the first step. Once the flowers are gone and the house is quiet, that online page stays up. It becomes a place where people return on anniversaries.
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If you're currently looking for a service, your next move should be to verify the location. Check if it's the Amboy Ave or Port Reading Ave chapel. If you're writing one, focus on one "small" thing that made the person unique. That's what people remember.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify the Location: Double-check the address on the obituary page before you leave the house.
- Order Flowers Early: If you're sending an arrangement to the chapel, try to have it there two hours before the first viewing session.
- Save the Link: Keep the digital obituary link on your phone. It usually contains the direct link to the "Book of Memories" where you can revisit photos later.
- Check for Live Streams: Many 2026 services now offer a Zoom or private stream link directly within the obituary for relatives who can't travel to New Jersey.