As a beloved brother, uncle and friend, Stephen Jarema, will be missed by many. He was a gentle soul, who loved everyone and conveyed that to them with his welcoming big blue eyes, his ready smile, a loud chuckle, and his friendly nature.

Stephen lived with cognitive developmental disabilities; but this never hindered his enormous strength, courage, grace and happiness.

He was born and raised in Jersey City, where he served as an altar boy and graduated from Saint Peter and Paul School. Many memories were made in Jersey City with his lifelong best friend: his little brother Johnny. Stephen and John held a special bond which was admired by all.

Stephen was easy to please and appreciated all; whether it was a simple ride, a sheet of math problems, a visit, the movies, dinner out, playing games, having money, watching game shows, shopping, or most importantly; celebrating birthdays. He would proudly state his date of birth to anyone who asked.  He knew all the family members’ birthdays and enjoyed celebrating each one. Stephen was graced by having a second birthday.  In October of 2013 he was given the gift of life by receiving a liver transplant.

He was a generous soul who was happy to share everything he had.  If you took him out he got excited if he could pay the bill.  (Of course we gave him even more money to put into his wallet).  If he was going grocery shopping, he was eager to push the carriage and place each grocery item in it.

Stephen loved to joke around.  A favorite memory would be for a family member to state the wrong holiday, instead of the actual one which was being celebrated; and Stephen would proudly correct and laugh.

The Hunterdon Arc was a cherished day program for him. He enjoyed the activities and being a member of that community.

To some people’s amazement, Stephen was also bilingual. He spoke both: Ukrainian and English.

He loved most music, but Polkas were his favorite.  He would immediately sway to the music, moving his arms, head and hands to the happy sounds.

Stephen had a special bond with animals, especially with a chubby, loving cat, Bandit; who slept with him each night when Stephen was at his group home.  If Stephen was not there, that cat still gravitated to Stephen’s room. Animals sensed Stephen’s charm and responded to what we all loved about him: his compassionate, gentle nature.

His mom and dad, Karolina and Anatol Jarema, eagerly awaited his arrival in heaven along with his nephew, Christopher D. Bolha, and his oldest sister, Anna Jarema, who passed away as an infant, as well as his doting aunt, Julia Kaszyckij; in addition to other loved ones who have passed on.

Remaining behind to cherish his memories are his beloved brother John Jarema of Jersey City NJ. Devoted sister Helen Bolha and her husband Frank Bolha of Readington Township, NJ, and their son Frank A. Bolha of Melrose, MA.  Loving sister Mary J. Tenore and her husband Frank J. Tenore of Leonardo, NJ, and their daughter Christina M. Sciancalepore and her husband Sergio M Sciancalepore of Colonia, NJ.  Cousins Maria Drich and her son Roman Drych and wife Christina Drych of Stewartsville, NJ, along with Dr. Edward Jarema and wife Sandra Lee of Huntington Beach CA.

A Funeral Liturgy officiated by V. Rev. Yurij Siwko will be celebrated on Friday, October 1, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew Memorial Church, 280 Main Street, South Bound Brook, NJ, under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ. Everyone is encouraged to meet directly at the church beginning on Friday at 10:15 a.m.

Burial with his beloved parents will follow in the parish cemetery, located on the church grounds.

You are encouraged to visit Stephen’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

Memorial contributions in his honor may be made to the New jersey Sharing Network, via mail to 691 Central Avenue, New Providence, NJ 07974 or inline by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”