COVID-19 victims remembered
Gravesend residents come together at vigil, honor local store owner
BY ROSE ADAMS
Mourners gathered in Gravesend
on July 19 for a vigil
honoring locals who have
been lost to COVID-19.
The interfaith event —
held outside the Church of
Saints Simon and Jude on
Van Sicklen Street by Avenue
T — drew more than 100 community
members who lit candles,
said prayers, and spoke
in honor of their lost friends
and family members.
The vigil, which was organized
by District 47 Council
candidate Steven Patzer,
particularly honored local
shop owner Joseph Sanfratello,
known as Joe Pisa, who
owned the Pisa Pork Store in
Gravesend.
Several generations of Sanfratello’s
family paid their respects
to the venerated local
who died of the novel coronavirus,
and donned shirts that
said, “In memory of Joe Pisa”
at the event.
A rabbi, a pastor, and an
imam led prayers and spoke
to the grieving families at
the event, and shared their
faith’s perspectives on grief.
After the event, one leader
Indika The same amazing doctors,
COURIER L 6 IFE, JULY 24-30, 2020
said that all faiths must come
together to heel as southern
Brooklyn reels from the virus.
“We have many differences,
but we can all agree
on one reality. And that is,
death,” said Iman Adnan Uddin.
“It is unity and faith in
God that can assist us in overcoming
the hard times we are
in. I was proud to stand with
a diverse group of leaders
bringing our community together.”
Nearly 5,033 people in
Brooklyn have died from the
virus as of July 21, according
to state data — the second
highest number of fatalities
in any county in the state after
Queens.
Patzer plans to hold another
vigil for coronavirus
victims in Coney Island on
Sunday, July 26 at 6:30 pm in
the parking lot of the Coney
Island Memorial Chapel at
2009 Mermaid Avenue by W.
20th Street.
Joseph “Joe Pisa” Sanfratello,
who owned Gravesend meat shop
Pisa Pork Store, recently died of
COVID-19. Courtesy of Reyna Gobel
A Gravesend vigil honoring coronavirus victims drew about 100 people on July 19. Courtesy of Reyna Gobel
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