James P. Evers, 88, retired attorney and judge

James P. Evers of Ridgefield Crossing, a retired New Jersey attorney and judge, died Saturday, June 12. He was 88 years old and the husband of Veronica Hetzel Evers.

Judge Evers was born May 21, 1916 in Paterson, N.J., son of James Edward Evers and Anne Diviny Evers. He attended St. Agnes Grammar School in Paterson, St. Peter’s Prep and St. Peter’s College in Jersey City, and graduated in 1938. He graduated from Fordham Law School in 1941 and was admitted to the New York Bar the same year and, later, to the New Jersey Bar.

On his birthday, May 21, 1946, he married the former Veronica “Vera” Helen Hetzel in South Orange, N.J.

Judge Evers, who had his office for many years in Hawthorne, had an extensive trial practice in both New York and New Jersey. He had been attorney for and secretary of the Hawthorne Board of Adjustment, a municipal court judge in Prospect Park, and attorney for the Catholic Diocese of Paterson.

He was a member of many organizations, including Rotary, Holy Name Society, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Diocesan Attorneys, and was a charter member of Serra Club. He was inducted into the Order of the Knights of St. Gregory.

Of all he accomplished, he was most proud of two things: His position as diocesan attorney and his continuous battle to preserve the sanctity of life, said Deacon Anthony Detje in a homily delivered at the funeral.

The couple had lived in Sea Girt, N.J., before moving to Ridgefield nine months ago.

Besides his wife of 55 years, Judge Evers is survived by two daughters, Ann Marie Manning and Margaret Frances “Megan” Hostler of Ridgefield; seven grandchildren, Michael Patrick Manning, Kathryn Diviny Manning, Colleen Elizabeth Manning, Mary Shannon Manning, Timothy Ryan Manning, David Christian Hostler and Christopher James Hostler; and three great-grandchildren, Michael Patrick Manning, James Daniel Manning, and Shannon Marie Manning.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Wednesday, June 16, in St. Mary’s Church, Ridgefield. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to St. Francis Breadline, c/o Father Peter Brophy OFM, Pastor/Guardian, St. Francis of Assisi, 135 West 31st Street, New York, NY 10001.

The Kane Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

06/30/2004