Isabella Marie Sammartano
1996 - 2017
With deep sadness we mourn the sudden passing of our dear daughter Isabella (Bella) Sammartano, age 20, who succumbed to her battle with addiction and died from a heroin overdose in our home on March 24, 2017. Showing strength, determination, and a love for life, Bella lived clean for the last 16 months before her sudden relapse last week, succumbing to this terrible disease, now an epidemic and taking far too many of our loved ones from us every day.
Bella will be remembered as intelligent and full of love, conviction, empathy, and with a sense of humor well beyond her years. Bella loved her family first, and here at home was where she felt safe and truly loved. Her empathy for others knew no bounds, and Bella was always quick to come to the defense of others. Bella loved the outdoors, the woods, and all the animals that lived there. She loved bones, fossils, rocks, feathers, mushrooms, and was generally in reverence of everything in the natural world. Bella could be found exploring the woods, observing nature, and reflecting on the science of things with a passion. Bella was also a talented artist who though secretive and modest about her abilities, was occasionally proud to share her amazing sketches with her family or closest friends.
After graduating from Kirkwood High School in 2014, Bella soon found herself struggling with the disease of addiction, and entered a number of recovery facilities in Minnesota, California, and Missouri, before returning to her Kirkwood home in 2016 and to her supportive and loving family. Here she attended St. Louis Community College at Meramec receiving the highest grades, making Dean’s List last semester, and where Bella was preparing herself for a future in the biological sciences. Bella had dreams. She spoke of graduate school and of working in a lab someday, and all of this seemed possible until her life was tragically cut short last week.
Bella is survived by her devoted and loving mom and dad, Christy Hathaway Sammartano and Dan Sammartano, and her adoring sister Francesca (Frankie) Sammartano, all of Kirkwood, Missouri. She also leaves behind her loving grandmother Carolyn Clark (Grandma Lyn) of Turners Falls, Massachusetts, and a loving and supportive family of Aunts, Uncles and cousins in Missouri and Massachusetts. These include her Aunt Valery Griffin (Uncle Pete) of Gill, MA, uncles Michael Hathaway (Katherine Mitchell) and Matthew Hathaway (Jessica Hathaway), of St. Louis, MO, and her uncle Chris Sammartano (Ann Fitzgerald) of Ipswich, MA. She also leaves her cousins Lexi Griffin of Gill, MA, Cooper Sammartano of Ipswich, MA, and Lucy, Romy and Ivy Hathaway all of St. Louis, MO. She also leaves behind her loving godmother Missy (Michel) Lewis, and “Aunt” Angela (Buckley) Martin, both of St. Louis. Bella is also survived by a lifetime of schoolmates, close friends, and people she came to know in and out of recovery.
Visitation: A Visitation will be held for the public at Bopp Chapel in Kirkwood, on Thursday, March 30, 2017 between 4:00 and 8:00 PM. A private service will be held in Massachusetts for close family.
Bella was a strong-willed woman choosing to fight the addiction her own way, but who would ultimately succumb to this terrible disease. It’s her family’s hope that her passing will bring awareness to heroin addiction as a treatable and organic disease, and to drug proliferation in our communities and homes. In honor of Bella’s short and wonderful life, please consider a donation to the Harris House Foundation, harrishousestl.org.
Agnes Marie Droppelman
1927 - 2017
Agnes M. Droppelman (Szydlowski), Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Fri., March 24, 2017. Beloved wife of the late Francis Droppelman. Beloved mother and mother in law of Karen Odom (John), Dennis Youtzy (Sandy), Brian Youtzy (Linda) and the late Gary Youtzy. Beloved grandmother of Robert Van Pietersom, Laura Wagner, Kassandra Parks, Catrina Taylor (Darrell), Brad Youtzy, Lauren Russo (Nick), Matthew Youtzy, Jason Youtzy. Beloved aunt of Lorraine O'Halloran (Michael), Sherry Gullett, Sharon Bounds (Mike), Sandra Latham (Al), Kevin Patton (Sylvia), Kathleen Ceruttti (Mike), Robert Moeller (Joann), and James Moeller (Linda). Beloved great grandmother, great aunt, sister, cousin and friend.
Services: Visitation Wed., March 29, 10:00 am at St. Peter Catholic Church, Kirkwood, followed by funeral Mass at 11:00 am. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriner’s Hospital.
James Robert Baldridge
1926 - 2017
James Robert Baldridge, 90 peacefully passed away Sun. March 26, 2017 surrounded by his family and loved ones. James was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico to James and Evelyn Baldridge, June 26, 1926. Beloved husband of the late Helen Kendig Baldridge and Elinor Bendorf Baldridge.
Loving father to Becky (Chris) Crowley, Debbie Baldridge, Andy (Trish) Baldridge, Linda (Tom) Berndsen, Cindy (Bob) Grandcolas and Jim (Robin) Baldridge. Loving grandfather to Greg (Tanya) Garcia, Teresa and Sara Garcia, Nick and Zach Berndsen, Jessica (Cory) Bowman, Allison (Jim) Underwood and Alex and Victoria Baldridge. He was also a loving great grandfather, father-in-law, uncle and cousin.
Jim worked for Wohl Shoe Co. for 35+ years ending his career as Vice President of men and children merchandising. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He also enjoyed traveling. Jim loved his family and greatly enjoyed spending time with them.
Funeral Service Thursday March 30th, 10am at Bopp Chapel. Interment Bellerive Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Visitation Wednesday March 29th, 4:30pm - 7:30pm
Robert S. Olsen
February 8, 1942 - March 29, 2017.
Born in Platteville, WI to the late Vivian and Harold Olsen. He was a 1964 graduate of Brown University with a degree in International Relations. Rob worked in the flooring industry for 44 years. He loved the outdoors: boating, fishing, golf, tennis and spending time with his family. He was an active member of Salem in Ladue Methodist Church.
Survived by his wife of 52 years, Karen Olsen (nee Fykse); daughters Kimberly (Tom) Adams of St. Louis, MO and Katherine (Mike) Douglass of Houston, TX., grandchildren Morgan and Brooke Drew, Sara and Matthew Douglass; mother-in-law Barbara F. Eynon of Medford, NJ. Dear brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend.
Memorial Service Thurs., April 6, 10:30 am at Salem in Ladue Methodist Church, 1200 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63131. In lieu of flowers, American Parkinson’s Disease Assoc., 1415 Elbridge Payne Rd., Suite 150, Chesterfield, MO 63017 or to Salem in Ladue Methodist Church.
Ann M. Geraty
1932 - 2017
Ann Blais Geraty died on March 29, surrounded by her family and fortified with the Sacraments of the Church. She was born August 3, 1932, in Muskegon, Michigan, the seventh of 10 children of Angela and Louis Blais. She married her beloved husband of 45 years, James Geraty on November 8, 1958.
Ann’s life was defined by her faith, family and joyful service. She spent 30 years as the parish secretary at Our Lady of the Pillar, where she and Jim made lifelong friends. For the past nine years, she treasured her role as a member of the St. Peter’s Parish community. In 2014 she became a Benedictine Oblate.
Ann is survived by her seven children: Michael (Susan), Colleen Raley, Maureen O’Brien (Bill), Kathleen Davis (Jack), Patrick (Becki), Daniel (Wendy) and Mary Broun (Bill) . She dearly loved her 17 grandchildren and her four great-grandchildren. They loved her right back.
She is also survived by her brothers Jerry (Bonnie) Blais and Tom (Karen) Blais, by many nieces and nephews who have wonderful memories of Aunt Ann, and by friends too numerous to count.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 2 from 3 pm to 7 pm at Bopp Chapel. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, April 3 at 10 am at St. Peter’s Church in Kirkwood.
Memorial tributes can be sent to Catholic Charities, 4445 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108.
Nathaniel Claiborne Pentland
December 16, 1980 – March 23, 2017
Beloved son of David L. Pentland, Sr. and Virginia Skinner Quick. Dear stepson of Deborah Curran Pentland and Richard T. Quick, M.D. Dearly loved brother of David L. Pentland, Jr., Joseph C. Pentland and William M. Pentland. Our dear step-brother, nephew, uncle, cousin and friend. Clay was the creative spirit behind Number One DJ’s, a company he started while he was an undergraduate at St. Louis University. He was a DJ par excellence who got everyone out on the dance floor from toddlers to teenagers, their parents and grandparents. He made friends with everyone he met. We will miss his loving spirit and his beautiful smile.
Services: Visitation at 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, Ste. Genevieve du Bois Church, 1575 No. Woodlawn Ave., Warson Woods, 63122, followed by Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. Burial at Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions to St. Louis University High School or St. Louis University.
William C. Shilling
1925 - 2017
Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church, Thursday March 23, 2017. Beloved husband of Philomena Shilling (nee Natale) for 67 years; loving father Lillian (Alan) Collins, Stan (Paulette), Tom (Liz Peters), Ed (Robin), Steve, and Al (Maria) Shilling; proud grandfather of Allison (Bill) Ingrassia, Casey (Beth) Collins, Toby Collins, Joshua Collins; Christina and Angela Shilling; Joel and Jessica Shilling; Nicholas Shilling; Ashley, Albert, Jr., and Julia Shilling; dear great-grandfather of four; dear brother of the late Paul Shilling; dear uncle, and friend of many.
Bill served in the US Navy during WWII.
Visitation at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 2618 S Brentwood Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63144, Tuesday, April 4th, 9:30 am followed by 10:00 am Mass. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions appreciated to St. Mary Magdalen Church or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Gateway Area Chapter, 12125 Woodcrest Executive Dr., Suite 320, St. Louis, MO 63141.
Joseph Ward Driscoll
1928 - 2017
Driscoll, J. Ward, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2017, brother of Mary Rose Heil and Susan Schultz.
A memorial mass will be held at a later date. Interment private. Thank you to St. Luke’s Hospice and Mason Pointe.
Robert A. "Blu" Lucas, Jr.
1967 - 2017
Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Sunday March 19, 2017.
Loving son of Robert and Rita Lucas. Dear brother of Ken (Hope) Lucas and Paul (Sara) Lucas
Known as “Blu” to many of his friends, he was passionate about music whether playing with a band, hosting karaoke, or as DJ at a wedding. Bob loved entertaining and bringing joy to the crowd. He played guitar and sang in his family’s band, The Sons of Bob, and was the lead singer of Divine Chaos. He could often be seen jumping on stage to sing with other bands, and clearly loved every moment of the limelight. Blu’s energy on stage was contagious and brought the music to life for friends and strangers alike. Bob’s good nature and compassionate spirit will be missed by everyone.
In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Focal Point. http://thefocalpoint.org/donate/bob-lucas/
Memorial Mass Saturday March 25, 9:15am at St. Peter Catholic Church. Interment private. Visitation Friday March 24, 4-8pm at Bopp Chapel.
Frederick Edward Barker
2017
Frederick Edward Barker, passed away Mon., March 13, 2017. Fred was born in New Bedford, MA to George and Agnes (Dennet) Barker. He graduated from Collinsville High School on June 2, 1950 and enlisted in the Navy on June 12, 1950. He was honorably discharged in 1954. He married Agnes McDaid on Nov. 13, 1954. He is survived by his son Paul (Aleta) Barker; his daughter Claire Johnson; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and one expected; His sisters, Joan Collodi, Jane Meinert and his brother David (Susan Wegner). He was preceded in death by his wife, Agnes, his brother-in-law George Collodi and his son-in-law, Craig Johnson.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Shriners Hospital or Habitat for Humanity.
Services: Memorial service will be held at Bopp Chapel 10610 Manchester Rd. Kirkwood, Mo. at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 25.
