28 JUNE 7, 2018 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM
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JOHN G. SONTAG died on Friday,
May 25, at the age of 80. He was the
beloved husband of Rose Sontag,
loving father of Donna Sontag, John
David Sontag and Michael Sontag,
cherished grandfather of William
Crowley and Jeremiah Sontag and
dear brother of Barbara Avilez. He
is also survived by many loving
nieces and nephews. He was a U.S.
Navy veteran. Services were offered
at Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27
Grand Ave., Maspeth, followed by
cremation at Fresh Pond Crematory,
Middle Village.
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ANNA MAY MAHONEY died on
Tuesday, May 22, at the age of 102.
She was the wife of the late Walter
Mahoney, loving mother of Marianne
Jean and mother-in-law of Larry,
cherished nana of Brian, William and
Suzanne, supernana of Lucey, Brendan,
Matthew, Drew, Isabelle and Oliver,
dear sister of Dorothy Neubauer,
dearest cousin of Dorothy Popp and
adored aunt of William Ruth and Caryl
and Chris Seitz. Services were off ered
on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May
26, at Papavero Funeral Home, 72-27
Grand Ave., Maspeth, followed by
interment at Maple Grove Cemetery,
Kew Gardens.
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WALTER MEISL of Hollis died
on Tuesday, May 22, at the age of
61. A native of Brooklyn, he was the
beloved husband of Barbara, devoted
father of Christopher Sevigny and
Marie Muskulus and dear brother of
Robert Meisl and Debbie Tindall. He
is also survived by two grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial was
off ered at Our Lady of the Miraculous
Medal Church, Ridgewood, followed
by interment at Pinelawn Memorial
Park, Farmingdale, NY, under the
direction of Morton Funeral Home/
Ridgewood Chapels, 663 Grandview
Ave., Ridgewood.
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BOBBY “HARALABOS” RALLIS
died on Saturday, May 19, at the age of
53. He was the beloved husband of Virginia
Rallis, loving father of Thomas
Joseph Rallis, Andrew Stephen Rallis,
Gabriel Alexander Rallis and Lukas
Anastasios Rallis, cherished son of
Athanasios and Anastasia Rallis, dear
brother of Maria and Vasilios Rallis
and dearest uncle of Sophia and
Athanasia. Services were off ered on
Saturday, May 26, at Papavero Funeral
Home, 72-27 Grand Ave., Maspeth,
followed by cremation at Fresh Pond
Crematory, Middle Village.
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STELIAN DEACONESCU of Whitestone
died on Thursday, May 17, at the
age of 72. He was a native of Romania.
Services were off ered at Morton Funeral
Home/Ridgewood Chapels, 663
Grandview Ave., Ridgewood, followed
by interment at Linden Hill Cemetery,
Ridgewood.
OBITUARIES
COPING WITH DEATH
What to do when a death occurs
The death of a loved one can be an
overwhelming experience.
In many cases, survivors
are trying to cope with their grief as
well as arrange a funeral service. It
is enormously helpful at this diffi cult
time to rely on the advice of a specially
trained, licensed funeral director.
Most families will call on the same
funeral director they’ve turned to
in the past to help them arrange the
funeral.
If there is no family funeral director,
it is a good idea to secure recommendations
from friends or neighbors,
or use the NYSFDA Find A Funeral
Home feature to search a decedent’s
neighborhood.
The fi rst step is to call the funeral
home for a conference to begin the
process.
If a death occurs in another city,
state or country away from home, it
is best to call your hometown funeral
director to make the necessary
arrangements.
Before making any arrangements,
determine if the deceased left instructions
about his or her funeral, or purchased
or prepaid funeral or cemetery
arrangements.
Funeral arrangements made prior
to death should be honored.
Preplanning one’s funeral is a growing
trend that ensures peace of mind
and relieves the individual’s loved
ones of a decision-making process at
a stressful time.
Be sure to check if the deceased is
entitled to death benefi ts that would
help cover funeral costs.
Be aware that signing a contract for
funeral services will make you liable
for the cost of the funeral. The decedent’s
estate or available death benefi ts
may cover fi nal costs. It is important to
check with your family attorney.
By law, funeral directors must off er
accurate price information to people
making inquiries over the telephone
regarding funeral costs.
If you visit the funeral home, the funeral
director will give you a written,
itemized price list with all the specifi c
goods and services the funeral home
off ers.
It is good to remember that it is
entirely up to the family to make the
selections for a personalized ritual
to meet their emotional needs and
economic situation.
Aft er the arrangements have been
agreed upon, the funeral director will
provide a written statement showing
the total cost of each item selected.
In addition to removing the deceased
from the place of death and caring for
the body, the funeral director will
arrange all details of the funeral service
which may include the following :
Contacting clergy and arranging
an appropriate time and place for the
services
Writing and distributing obituaries
Contacting the cemetery/crematory
staff , fl orists, fraternal organizations
and memorial gift organizations
Working cooperatively with organ
donation teams
Preparing all legal documents
(death certificates, burial transit/
cremation permits, medical examiner
certifi cates, reports of death, social
security and all Veterans Administration
benefi ts, and in some instances
fi ling insurance paperwork)
Providing an emotionally and spiritually
comforting environment for
visitation and life celebration services
Transporting family and friends
in a funeral procession to the place of
fi nal disposition
The funeral director provides quiet
support to the family during a time of
great emotional stress, and attends to
all aspects of the funeral service in a
professional and caring way.
Always remember that any questions
you may have may be directed
to your local funeral director.
Courtesy of NYS Funeral Directors
Association