OBITUARIES
Obituaries » Donald W. Sands Funeral Home Hessling Funeral Home Share your Memorial with Family & Friends Donald W. Sands passed away peacefully at the age of 97 years, at Bethany Village near Honesdale, PA on October 28, 2023. Donald was born on October 24,1926, in Brooklyn and lived briefly in St. Albans, NY before growing up in Bellmore on Long Island, NY. He served in the US Army during World War II and was stationed in the Philippines. Don was trained as a professional chemical engineer at Perdue University, and he was employed by major companies including Dupont & Nabisco. During most of his career, he lived in the northern New Jersey town of Riverdale with his wife Julia DeCicco Sands, who pre-deceased him in 1977. Don enjoyed traveling, reading, following the stock market, boating, photography, languages, telling jokes, dining out, and dessert. In his retirement years he lived in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, enjoying small town life. He spent time in these later years with long term companion, Elaine Reitchel. He is survived by his four children: Mark Sands and his wife Nila, Donna Jo Van Tieghem and her husband Richard, Valerie Wrobel and her husband Mark, and Michael Sands. Donald had five grandchildren: Julia Flath and her husband Evan, Lisa Foster and her husband Lee, Michelle Van Tieghem and her husband David Fox, Shannon Benedikt and her husband Erik, and Sean Wrobel; as well as three great grandchildren: Mira Flath, and Rowan & Skye Foster. Friends may visit Hessling Murray Funeral Home, 428 Main St. Honesdale on Friday, 4 to 5 and on Saturday, 9 until 10:30. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Magdalen Church in 11 am. Interment will be on Monday at Christ the King Cemetery, Franklin Lakes, NJ at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to one of his favorite charities, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Covenant House.Check your settings when you are happy with your print preview press the print icon below.
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For well over a century, Hessling Funeral Home has offered traditional and non traditional services. We provide funeral services to all cultures and religious faiths. Making this difficult time a little easier for our families is our primary concern. In this spirit, we created our website, in which you will find information about our services and facilities, useful items such as directions, obituaries, and monuments. Please browse through our website and feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.