53.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Funeral services held for Mayor Ed Sieban
Hundreds say goodbye to beloved village leader
Family members, friends, and residents, as well as state, town, county and village officials and local spiritual leaders of all demoninations filled St. Raymond's Church to capacity on July 9 to say goodbye to East Rockaway's Mayor Edward T. Sieban, who died suddenly on July 3 from acute pancreatitis. He was 49.
Sieban's son, Teddy, 15, sang "Ave Maria" during the service, which was led by Father Frank Eisele, who said "It takes an act of faith to say that this is not the end."
"My dad was an overall awesome guy," said Teddy. "The greatest part is that he came to see me graduate from [The Naval Sea Cadet Corps] boot camp in Chicago last weekend, and it was his birthday. We went to dinner, to Wrigley Field ... it was the best day of my life and will remain in my heart for as long as I live."
Sieban's brother, Tim,said that "we should not mourn our loss, but to celebrate a life that touched so many other people.
Village Trustee Irene Villacci, also a member of St. Raymond's, led the hymns throughout the service.
"I know that he still will be watching over me," Said Tim.
