Obituaries

On Angels' wings, Maria Manuela Borja was carried to the arms of Almighty God on December 20th, 2020. 

Maria was a Florida resident for the past year, although most of her life in the US was spent in New York, and New Jersey.   Maria graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Accounting in her native Ecuador, where she worked at the British-American School. Once she moved to the United States, she became an accountant in the retail industry in New York, New York, until her retirement. 

Maria is survived by her children, SFC Boris P. Borja US Army Retired of TN; Ginger Borja-Quintana of New Jersey; and Miriam Borja-Fisher of Florida.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Timoteo Borja, who passed in 1988.

Everyone who knew Maria was captivated by her warm and caring heart, and wonderful sense of humor.  She was a dedicated and loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend.  Maria will be missed by all of the people whose life she touched. 

Visiting hours will be held at Cobble Hill Chapels, located at 171 Court Street, Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, December 29th, 2020 between the hours of 10:00am - 12:00pm.  Interment will follow at The Ever-green Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Floral Tributes are appreciated and welcome to be sent via https://www.floralfantasyus.com/ 

Alternatively, In Lieu of Flowers contribution in Marias name can be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association https://www.lbda.org/honor-memorial-gifts/ 

Robert Hume Thomason passed away on November 10, 2020 at the age of 92.

He leaves behind his loving wife the former Jane Mathers Toy, Daughters Katherine Mathers and Carolyn Black, Granddaughter Melanie Lynne, Great Granddaughters Anya Lyn and Kailyn Jade, Son In Laws Johnny Warner, Michael Wich and Edwin Lopez.

Robert was born on December 29, 1927 to Otey Hume and Margaret Black in Brooklyn, NY. He was raised in Forest Hills. His family moved to Flemington, NJ where he attended high school.

He joined the army at the end of WWII and served in Panama. With assistance from the GI Bill, he graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in North Carolina and received a BA in Social Studies / Education. He was also a graduate of Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut and became an ordained minister with church’s in Pemberton, Ohio and East Hartford, Connecticut. His third and final degree was from the Columbia School of Library Science in Manhattan in Library Science. He worked as a Reference Librarian at the Hewlett Woodmere Public Library in Nassau County, NY and more often than not, rode his bicycle from Brooklyn to Hewlett.

Bob and Jane met in her home town of Springfield, Ohio in 1960 when Bob was working in the Settlement House. After a very short engagement, they were married on June 12, 1960.

Bob was a staunch democrat and worked tirelessly for social justice. He founded The Prospect Lefferts Garden Neighborhood Association (PLGNA) after the death of Martin Luther King to create an integrated neighborhood. In 1974 they bought the three family home where Jane still resides. The family attended Judson Memorial Church. He was an avid bicycle rider and loved swing jazz music.

Upon his retirement in 1985, he planned a 6 month bike trip from New York to San Diego and when this was completed in late 1985, he looked at the Pacific Ocean and knew one day he would ride through China and Japan. In the coming years, he rode his bike through China 1987, The Netherlands 1989, France 1992, Thailand 1993, 3 trips to Japan and 3 trips to Germany among other European countries. His final trip was Austria.  Jane would meet him at several points during most of these trips.

Robert leaves us after a long struggle with dementia and complications from Lewy Body. He will be cremated and interred at the Westford Hill Cemetery, a family cemetery, in Ashford, Connecticut.

His exuberance, joy, love of life, family and friends, will continue long after the pain of saying goodbye subsides.

Raymond A. Rizzuti was born in Brooklyn Heights, NY, to Sandy and A.B. Rizzuti on February 29th, 1944, a leap year. He attended Grace Church School, Poly Prep Country Day School, and graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University. He finished medical school in Bologna, Italy, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at The New York Eye & Ear Infirmary. He joined his father’s ophthalmology practice in Brooklyn Heights, and continued there for 45 years. In 1979, he married Carol Estes of Boston, Massachusetts. Together they raised two daughters, Allison and Marley. He has one granddaughter, and another on the way. Raymond was a man of many passions, including boxing, the Brooklyn Nets, Key West, his dogs, a good steak, and fishing (he was awarded a World Record from the International Game Fish Association, which still stands). He was loved by his family, friends, and his patients, and will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor, boundless generosity, and stories from a life well lived.

It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce the passing of my Dad Roger Pagano.  He left us in the early hours of Monday, June 22nd.  I am truly heartbroken and the world has lost a special person and a one of a kind human being. Those of you who knew him, know that he was always jolly, always cracking a joke, usually a bit inappropriate, but funny nonetheless and always willing to help a friend. As a NYC Firefighter, he put his life on the line for 20 years in the service of others and loved every minute of it.

My Dad was a devoted and loving husband, father, brother, grandpa, and friend to all. 

Mom and Dad have been together since they were teenagers and he still looked at her the same way as if he was seeing her for the first time.  He would always say isn’t my “sweetie pie” beautiful. Even with my Mom battling dementia, he never wavered in his love and devotion to her. That is a sign of a great man. When I came out to my parents, I knew they would probably take it well, however, there is always some doubt. When I told them, my Dad’s response was “you are my son and I will love you no matter what” and he gave me a big Dad hug.  I knew no matter what the rest of the world thought of me, my Mom and Dad had my back. I realize how lucky I am to have gotten that response since many people do not have that type of support and unconditional love, especially from their Fathers. And for this, I am eternally grateful.

I will treasure the moments we had together from our big gatherings on Christmas Eve, to our 3-hour family dinners out when it would be just our family, laughing and enjoying a good meal and each other’s company; to me, you and Mom going to the diner and you “stealing” napkins and telling Mom to put them in her pocketbook.  And our times more recently with you and I sitting on the couch watching Judge Judy.  

I feel like this tribute is not doing my Dad justice, but it is so hard to put into words how WONDERFUL and accepting this man was.  For those of you lucky enough to have met him, if even for a minute, you know what I mean. I take comfort knowing that he is now with my Sister, Florence, his parents and my Mom’s parents.  I am broken right now but I know that I will laugh again, which is one of the greatest lessons you have taught me, the power of being able to find humor in even the worst of times. I will always smile when I think of you even though it is tough right now.  I miss hearing Rogerino.

His viewing will be at Cobble Hill Chapel, 171 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY, Thursday, June 25th from 2-4 PM and 6-8 PM.

https://cobblehillchapels.com/

We will have a short service for him on Friday, June 26th at 10 AM at Sacred Heart and St Stephens on  Hicks St. and Summit in Brooklyn, NY

http://sacredhearts-ststephen.com/

In lieu of flowers or gifts, we are requesting donations be made to the Alzheimer Foundation in my Father’s name. He has been caring for my Mom who is battling Dementia. The Alzheimer Foundation offers support and services to caregivers who are dealing with loved ones affected by this disease.

http://alzfdn.org/support-us/donate

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Jameela H. Massed, on June 09,  2020 

Friends and family will be welcome on Saturday, June 13, 2020, between the hours of 5:00-8:00pm

Private cremation service will follow, along with an interment to be held at a later date at Greenwood Cemetery, located in Brooklyn, New York. 

Juan Cano Marin

January 31, 1965 - May 22, 2020 

It is with heavy hearts and a great amount of sadness, Cobble Hill Chapels regretfully informs you of the passing of our dear colleague Juan Cano Marin, on May 22, 2020. 

Juan Cano Marin was born January 31, 1965 to Juan Cano and Norberta Marin ( both deceased ) in a little town in Mexico.  While I do not know the specifics of his childhood, I do recall his talks about how it was a meager life as compared to our childrens lives in America.  I know he went to elementary school, finished High School and he also managed to further his education with some college, minoring in theater classes and acted for a little while putting on plays in Mexico. He always spoke of this time in his life with great adoration.  As his young life went on whatever he lacked in the spoils of riches wouldn’t matter. His mother had found the ability to instill Juan with an abundant amount of the virtues necessary to be the caring, kind, compassionate, honest and loyal man that we have to come to know and love.  

Juan made his way to Cobble Hill Chapels shortly after 09/11 during such a tragic time.  Juan found a home here in Cobble Hill after striking up a friendship with our Manager, Charles F. Each.  Juan started working here doing light maintenance work here and there, however that was not the right fit for him.  After watching Charlie, and our Owner, Gregory G. DeJohn work with families tirelessly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Juan began to take interest in making a difference more directly in our families lives.  The day Juan put on a suit, he looked so handsome and sharp, and on that day he wiped away any meager existence of his former life and began to actively engage with our families making funeral arrangements. He went out of his way to make sure every single family here got a personalized and dignified funeral service, never missing a detail.  After a short tenure working on wakes, taking families to churches and being available all night to take in decedents, Juan began to master his craft of cosmetology under Charlie and Greg. He took great pride in asking families about special requests they wished to have honored.  He would work so hard to see that every detail was attended too, and our families would feel comfortable entrusting us with their funeral servlces. 

Juan was truly committed to making sure every single person received his undivided attention for their final wishes.  Juan would introduce himself to everyone here and offer his help in any manner needed. His tenure here exceeded the description of the job, as he loved to help everyone he met outside the funeral home as well.  Juan was a resident here in the Cobble Hill area and he would see a thousand people just on a walk to the bank, a card party at St. Pauls, a few drinks at Mexicali, or even at Trader Joes.  Many of you who will read this obit will always remember his big smile and warm genuine greeting as he would stop to say ‘hello’, or ‘where are you going?”.  It was also impossible to get out the door for a simple errand, Juan was like the ‘Mayor of Court Street’ all the time, but he was actually much more helpful and he genuinely loved being among everyone in our community. 

Juan had a magnetic personality which managed to attract friends and friends which became family from all diverse types of life.  He enjoyed going out to dinners with friends, having some drinks, and dancing the night away. Juan was able to comingle with just about anyone with his enchantingly warm and inviting personality.  Juan was able to bring almost anyone together for the sake of a good time creating unity in this divided world.  This trait speaks to his character when we describe him as such a special person being able to unite all.  Everyone and anyone would enjoy his company whether it was a local church event, a nightclub, a parade or a block party, a bbq, or as we know him to well to do, a wake. 

When I think of anything that made him prouder to be a part of Cobble Hill Chapels, I think of his dream of being an American citizen.  Becoming a citizen became a major part of his journey, as it is not made so easy for immigrants.  Juan finally achieved this dream shortly before his passing.  I am so glad so many of us here got to celebrate with him, congratulate him, and hug him, proud of his journey.  

It hurts us so much to write this.  We lost an amazing human being, especially right now in this world where everyone seems to hold onto hurt every which way you turn.  Juan had the most precious gift of being able to mitigate that pain, be it sorrow, heartache, or grief, and make it seem so much lighter than the heaviest cross one could ever bear.  When I think back to my earliest years working with Juan,  it seemed as though every sentence he said to our families in Spanish or his version of English seemed to lighten the air.  It seemed like magic to me, as someone who looked up to the way he genuinely loved taking care of people.  He aimed to give solace and comfort when most of the other people run out of our lives.  He was soothing, calm, and almost ethereal with his ability to console.   Juan’s most prized possession was definitely his cat Shadow.  It’s almost surreal that shadow passed on as well, just a few days after Juan. Its extremely heartwarming to think about them being able to be together again without the weight of our ordinary everyday world weighing upon them.  I know they found each other again in another realm and here they will remain together forever. 

We would like thank everyone in the community for their consistent support during this time.  The phone calls, the stop in visits, the stories we all share with Juan are so important to remember right now.  Juan was an integral part of our chapel, a vital part of our community, an indispensable friend in our times of need, and an endearing and devoted family member, partner, and caregiver. We will forever keep him in our hearts and prayers and we can all look forward to a bigger party one day reuniting us all with him.    

Cobble Hill Chapels will host a Memorial Mass in honor of Juans' first year of passing into eternal rest, on May 22, 2021, 1:00pm at St. Pauls RC Church, located at 234 Congress Street Brooklyn, New York 11201 

Maria A. Olano

Beloved Mother / Artistic Dancer

Jan. 18, 1933 – Apr. 14, 2020

On April 14, 2020, we celebrated the life of Maria A. Olano. In 1950 she arrived from Santurce, Puerto Rico where she joined her family in East Harlem, NY. For the last 35 years, she settled in the Red Hook, Cobble Hill, and Clinton sections of Downtown Brooklyn. In the early 1950’s, she met photojournalist Joseph A. Olano Sr., they were married and her career as an artistic dancer began. She performed during the Mambo Era, in elaborate clubs such as the Palladium Ballroom, Teatro Puerto Rico, the Apollo Theater, the Savoy Manor, and the Copacabana. Maria is survived by sons Joseph Jr, and Reinaldo Olano. She will join husband Joseph Sr. and son Feliberto Olano in the Gates of Heaven. Maria is also survived by 5 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Due to the current Health Pandemic, Maria will be directly interned at Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Putnam Valley, NY. She will join her husband Joseph Sr. There will be a future memorial service for Maria A. Olano at Cobble Hill Chapel Funeral Home in Downtown Brooklyn, NY. The OLANO FAMILY Sincerely Thanks the COBBLE HILL CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME, for their expeditious and sensitive handling of our Mother with DIGNITY.

Isaias “Cy” Ayala was born on February 10th, 1934 in Brooklyn, New York to Francisco Natai Ayala and Teofila Maria Fletcher. His parents emigrated from Puerto Rico in the late 20’s and settled in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. They had a daughter, Jennie and later Isaias. 

Quick with a smile and blessed with a wonderful sense of humor, Cy loved all things baseball. He loved the Brooklyn Dodgers and later, the New York Mets. As a young man he loved playing softball and stickball with his friends from the neighborhood. Eventually they would form a team, calling themselves the “Tumblers’ as they would tumble from neighborhood to neighborhood taking on all comers. The Tumblers would continue to get together on Saturday mornings well into their 50’s to play softball in the very same parks where they played as children. 

At the age of 18. Cy would marry Gloria Pinedo and they would have three children, Carol, Julia and Michael. Isaias would work a number of factory jobs until settling into a career as a mail carrier with the US Postal Service. Cy would leave every morning at 5am to walk his “route” delivering the mail. He would return in the afternoon with his signature whistle letting the family know he was home. He believed in hard work and rarely took a day off. After a full day of work, he happily spent time with his family often driving his children to rehearsals and practices. Beloved and respected by everyone in the neighborhood, Cy was a beacon of light in the Marcy Housing projects and often acted as a surrogate father to many of the young men growing up there. 

Upon retiring at 62, Cy devoted much of his free time studying the word of God and expanding his musical talent. Cy loved to sing and could often be heard crooning songs by Johnny Mathis, Nat King Cole and Perry Como to name just a few. No  Our New Year’s celebration was not official until Cy played his trumpet out the window.  A true man of God, Cy remained devoted to God and the church until his death. He was a devout Christian and spent much of his free time studying the bible to expand his understanding of God. He was a Deacon at the Antioch Pentecostal Church at 201 Atlantic Ave in Brooklyn, N.Y. , a church his mother and sister faithfully attended for more than 50 years. 

Nothing compares to losing a father. A real father; One that was always there for you, always did his absolute best to make sure you were happy and had what you needed. His love of God was only exceeded by the love for his family; a love he gave so willingly and unconditionally. 

Isaias Ayala leaves behind his three children Carol Ayala, Julia Ayala and Michael Ayala as well as three grandchildren, Jessica, 34 , Noah, 16 and Nicolas, 9.

In Lieu of flowers, The Ayala Family would greatly appreciate donations made to

ANTIOCH PENTECOSTAL CHURCH

201 Atlantic Avenue 

Brooklyn, New York  11201 

Please mention donations made In Memory of Isaias Ayala

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of Flozell Telfair on March 18, 2020 

Visiting Hours will take place on Sunday, March 22, 2020 between the hours of 2:00-8:00pm 

Funeral Services will begin Monday, March 23,m 2020 10:00am at Cobble Hill Chapels with departure to Greenwood Crematory at 10:45am.