The Untimely Passing of Mary Patricia Peltzer

	The Untimely Passing of Mary Patricia Peltzer
Mary's remains were interred in her plot in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, Maryland, on Tuesday afternoon, July 22, 2008. Click here for more details. For those who wish to visit Mary's grave, here is a map of the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The location of Mary's grave is just below the grave of a "Marie Louise Geist," and to the immediate left of the grave of Mary's (adoptive) father Samuel S. Peltzer.

Links to Documents About and Photos of Mary
HTML file with 3 photos of Mary	Mary's Birth Certificate
HTML file with 2 photos of a Younger Mary	Mary's Adoption History
Mary's Artwork at Odyssey House	Mary's Missing Daughter, Tracie
Mary's Incredible Popularity	Love Poem to Mary
Emails of Condolence from Mary's Friends	Mary's Contribution to a Music CD

Urgent Appeal to People Who Visit This Web Page
Please contact me if you can supply pictures, or any other material about Mary, to post here!

One of Mary's childhood friends sent me this email, dated 1/9/08 (paraphrased): "Mary (Ruby / Patty) was always a mysterious and different kinda attention getting girl.. I remember when she modeled. She was so beautiful! And the pictures you have of her are not so good. Do you have any pictures of her life on stage etc. - in better times - that you can share on the website?"

Mary Patricia Peltzer
[known as "Ruby" among her peers, and as "Patty" (from her middle name) as a teenager in Baltimore.]

Mary's former phone numbers included 212-864-5342 and 646-703-2428

With great sorrow, I bring tragic news.

Our beloved Mary Peltzer passed away on or about Nov. 6, 2007. On that day she was found dead in her Transitional Housing room in the Bronx..

As you probably know, Mary was a former model and go-go dancer. Mary was an accomplished rock guitarist (her favorite artists included Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger / the Rolling Stones, and Steven Tyler / Aerosmith). During a telephone conversation on 3/16/2007, Mary mentioned that she knows Howard Stern, and had appeared 4 times on his radio show.

Mary was also very skilled in the creative arts -- painting, jewelry making, and interior decorating.

Mary was very athletic. She was adept at roller-blading, horseback riding, and swimming. She had the physical strength of most men her size. And despite her years of drug use, Mary never even lost her teeth -- let alone her singular beauty.

Mary was truly an exceptional personality. Indeed, she was a superstar.

Cause of Mary's Death: A final Toxicology Report, prepared by the NYC Chief Medical Examiner's office, revealed that Mary had died of an overdose of multiple drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

What Caused Mary to Turn to Drugs: In an email to me, one of Mary's friends wrote that the loss of her precious daughter Tracie probably had everything to do with Mary's eventual demise. Tracie -- who was abducted in 1995 and is presumed dead -- was probably the biggest, most important concern in Mary's life. Because of Tracie's loss, Mary could not control her drug use. Mary just wanted to be numb, to escape from her grief. She just couldn't stand to be sober and see life for what it really was. It must have been so hard for her to cope without being high

Click here for more about Tracie and her disappearance, and for a touching commentary on what it means to a mother to lose a child -- written by another mother who lost a child. Read also a poignant description, by a childhood friend, of Tracie's great acting talent -- who concludes that "Tracie was memorable in very much the way that her mother clearly was."

Below, I'll try to describe the events leading up to Mary's demise, and then discuss plans for her funeral.

On Thursday night, 10/11/2007, Mary wrote me following letter from the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, where she was an inmate:

Jason, by the time you get this, I'll be almost home. It's Thursday night now.

Please put the enclosed info on my computer mailing-list.

I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you and can't wait to get home.

A few more days!

Ruby

Enclosed in the envelope with the above letter were several letters of adoration from fellow inmates -- as well as scraps of paper with names and addresses of fellow inmates -- who congratulated Mary on her imminent release, and who wanted to remain in contact with her thereafter.

(The letter was postmarked 10/15/07, and was received 10/25/07 -- long after Mary had arrived home.)

On Friday, 10/12/2007, Mary arrived in NYC at Grand Central Station. She had just been released from state prison. Mary had been incarcerated since 12/28/2006 -- and her joy upon being set free was indescribable.

At about 1 PM, I met Mary across the street from Grand Central Station (Park Avenue and 42nd Street). Mary was accompanied by a worker from the Women's Prison Association (WPA). Mary was lugging several bags of possessions which she'd brought along from Bedford Hills -- most of which were to be stored by me until she found housing.

I presented Mary with her cellphone and her wallet -- which contained Mary's Citibank ATM card, her late mother's SS card, her Chelsea Recreation Center membership card, her 1/2-fare Metrocard, her keys, et al). (I had been storing these things for Mary, pending her release from custody.)

I then drove Mary (and her WPA worker) to her Parole Office at 119 West 31st Street in Manhattan, and went home.

At 3:40 PM Mary called me from the Parole Office. She had finally finished her business there.

But, Mary told me, she was not willing to stay -- even temporarily -- at the Women's Shelter (116 Williams Avenue in Brooklyn) that had been assigned to her by the Parole Office. Rather, she wanted me to help her find suitable accommodations in Manhattan -- at her own expense (she had almost $3000 in her Citibank account).

(Note that not staying in accommodations assigned by the Parole Office is, of course, a violation of Mary's Conditions Of Release from Prison to Parole Supervision.)

We arranged for to meet at my VW, which was parked on West 24th Street. I met Mary there, and drove her to the Chelsea Hotel on West 23rd Street. But there were no vacancies at the the Chelsea Hotel. So, Mary left me at about 4:20 PM, and went off to visit with a girlfriend -- a former prison mate who had recently been released and was now living in Brooklyn.

Later, I found out that Mary had changed her mind, and hadn't gone to see her girlfriend in Brooklyn.. Rather, she'd spent the night wandering about Greenwich village, and visiting with a friend who lived in Stuyvesant Town. Mary said that she'd then left that friend about 6 AM, and spent more time wandering about in the Village.

On Saturday, 10/13/2007, Mary left me a message that she is staying (until Monday) at the Chelsea Inn, Room 211, 184 11th Avenue (at 23rd Street) in Manhattan. In the message, she also said that that she had attended an AA Meeting on West 4th and Perry Streets.

I called Mary back at 9:01 PM, and went to visit her shortly thereafter. I brought her some clothes that I had acquired for her while she was in prison; as well as the bags of her possessions which she'd brought from Bedford Hills (picked up at Grand Central Station yesterday). Mary went through these things, sorting out which things to keep with her at the Chelsea Inn, which to store with me until she is permanently housed, and which to discard. I returned home at about 11:30 PM.

On Sunday, 10/14/2007, at 7:35 PM Mary called. She asked me to bring her some Tylenol PM, 2 bottles of Rolling Horse beer, a print-out of her phone book (which I have on my computer), and some snacks. I arrived at the Chelsea Inn at about 8 PM with these items, visited for a short while, and left.

On Monday, 10/15/2007, at 1:29 PM, I called -- but was unable to reach Mary. So I went to the Chelsea Inn in person. Once there, I was not allowed to go upstairs to Mary's room. This is because Mary was supposed to have checked out by 12 noon; hence she was not allowed visitors.

However, the kind gentleman at the front desk did go upstairs to check on Mary's room. He got no reply when he knocked on her door. When he returned downstairs to the lobby, he said that it seems that Mary was asleep.

At about 6:20 PM, I returned to the Chelsea Inn. There I spoke with the clerk at the front desk. The clerk told me that he had entered Mary's room earlier this afternoon to inquire if Mary was planning to renew her rental of the room, as she was supposed to have checked out by 12 noon today.

The clerk said that he had found Mary in an unconscious state, so he called 911. An ambulance arrived and took Mary to the St. Vincent's Hospital Emergency Room. There Mary was revived -- and then discharged.

Mary slept inside my VW that night. She was unable to return to the Chelsea Inn because of what had happened there.

On Tuesday, 10/16/2007, at about 3:45 PM, I went to my VW -- and found Mary still inside. From inside the VW, Mary called her Parole Officer. This was probably to keep him informed of her whereabouts, and to avoid problems stemming from the fat that her behavior -- not staying in accommodations assigned by the Parole Office -- was in violation of her Conditions Of Release (as noted above).

Shortly thereafter, Mary withdrew money from her Citibank account. Then she left (and probably went to the Village).

At 11:22 PM. Mary called and said that she now wants to go to HASA tomorrow to be housed. She sounded completely coherent and rational.

Again, at 12:49 AM (now Wednesday, 10/17/2007),. Mary called and repeated that she wants to meet me at the VW in the morning, and from there go to HASA to be housed. Meanwhile, she was spending the night at a friend's apartment in Stuyvesant Town. There she could shower and freshen up.

< More details to be filled in from my notes -- as time permits >

On Friday, 11/02/2007, at about 8:30 PM, I stopped by my parked car. Mary had slept in the car all day, and was still there when I arrived. I walked Mary to the nearest subway station (8th Avenue & 25th Street). She descended into the station to take the C Train home to her residence in the Bronx -- the Davidson Transitional Housing. I went home. (This turned out to be the last time that I ever saw Mary alive.)

On Saturday, 11/03/2007, at 4:36 AM (as I later found out by accessing Mary's Citibank statement on the Internet), Mary withdrew $102.00 from her bank account. (This turned out to be the last withdrawal that Mary ever made.)

On Saturday night, 11/03/2007, at 8:54 PM, at 9:22 PM, and at 11:09 PM, I called Mary on her cellphone. There was no answer.

On Sunday, 11/04/2007, at 10:40 AM and at about 1 PM, I again called Mary on her cellphone. Again, there was no answer. (And there was also no further activity on Mary's bank account).

On Monday, 11/05/2007, at 8:50 AM I again called Mary -- and again got no answer. At 9:18 AM, out of desperation, I called Davidson Transitional Housing (718-329-5968). As usual, the woman who answered the phone disclosed nothing. (The personnel at Davidson had habitually disclosed nothing whenever I'd called about Mary. This is because of the Privacy Rule provisions contained within the "Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)." That's why I didn't bother to call them until today.) I left a message that Mary should call me ASAP.

At the time, I assumed that the reason that I'd been unable to reach Mary was because Mary must have again been taken away to a drug detox program -- as had happened to her on 10/28/2007. (Then, Mary had been away in a detox program at St. John's Riverside Hospital in Yonkers, and I'd been unable to reach her for several days. In fact, on 10/30/2007 Mary called me and said that she had walked out of the detox program, and was now at Grand Central Station asking that I pick her up there.)

So I figured that the same scenario was being repeated.

I couldn't have been more wrong ... for:

On Tuesday, 11/06/2007, at 3:06 PM, I received a phone call from a Police Officer. He said that he was calling from Davidson Transitional Housing in the Bronx. He had been given my phone number by the personnel at Davidson Housing, because Mary had listed me as her Emergency Contact. The Police Officer said that Mary had been found dead in her room.

Regrettably, Mary wasn't as fortunate this time as she had been back on 10/15/2007. Then, the front desk clerk at the Chelsea Inn had found Mary in an unconscious state in her room, and had called 911 in time to save her life. Evidently, the personnel at Davidson Transitional Housing were not as effective.

Developments in Arranging Funeral for Mary Peltzer ("Ruby / Patty")
Return to Top to read details of events leading up to Mary's death

On Monday, 11/12/2007 (Veterans Day), at about 9:55 AM, Mary's Insurance Agent, called and spoke with me -- in reply to an email that I had sent him informing him of Mary's death. The agent said that the amount of money to be paid by Prudential Insurance to Mary's estate, the so-called "death benefit amount," is $3955.17

However, the agent said, the beneficiaries of this insurance policy are Mary's parents -- and they both are deceased. Because there is no living beneficiary for this policy, and because Mary died Intestate (without a will) -- then the Public Administrator ("PA") of the County in which Mary died will serve as the Administrator of Mary's estate. In this case, this is the Bronx (County) Public Administrator ("PA"), since Mary died in the County of the Bronx. Consequently, the aforesaid "death benefit amount" of $3955.17 can only be paid to the Bronx PA, who will then use this money for Mary's funeral and interment (burial) expenses.

On Tuesday, 11/13/2007, I called and discussed the above with "Anna" of the Bronx PA's Office. Anna agreed that her office would indeed get Mary's death benefit from the Prudential Insurance Company, and use this for the expenses of Mary's funeral and interment.

Note that in case the aforesaid insurance Death Benefit ($3955.17) is not adequate, several of Mary's friends have expressed their willingness to finance the difference.

There are many people who loved and cherished Mary, and who are determined to do whatever is necessary to see that Mary is afforded decent and honorable last rites.

I also mentioned to Anna that I have been in touch with a funeral director in the Bronx.

The funeral director told me that, for an affordable fee, he could perform Mary's funeral -- including

Transporting Mary's remains from the Office of the Bronx Medical Examiner to the funeral parlor,
Dressing and preparing the body,
Doing the required paperwork (burial permits, death certificates, etc.),
Providing a chapel where guests could congregate for a memorial service, and then
Transporting Mary's remains for interment in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens -- a cemetery in Finksburg, MD. (Mary already owns 4 plots in this cemetery, 2 of which are vacant.)

On Friday, 11/16/2007, at 9:43 AM, I called the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the Bronx. I reminded them that when I'd last spoken with them (on 11/12/2007), they'd told me that they were gong to place Mary's body on "hold" -- pending receipt by the Bronx PA's office of the insurance money (Mary's death benefit) to pay for Mary's ultimate burial in her plot in Maryland.

At 10:30 AM I called the Bronx PA's office, and told them that I had in my possession Mary's original Insurance Policy from Prudential. Anna of the Bronx PA's office said that that is important, and she would like to have it. Accordingly, I drove to the Bronx PA's office (at 851 Grand Concourse), arriving there at about 12:30 PM, and hand-delivered to Anna the original insurance policy

On Monday, 01/14/2008, I spoke by telephone with Steven L. Alfasi, Deputy Public Administrator for Bronx County. Steve Alfasi is the person in the Bronx PA's Office that is actually handling Mary's case. (Steve is assisted by Anna, mentioned above.)

What Mr. Alfasi told me is shocking. He said that:

He has contacted the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD, where Mary supposedly owns 4 plots. They told him that Mary does NOT have any plots there.
The Bronx PA's office has no assets whatsoever (no money) to use for Mary's funeral expenses. This is because they have not yet received the death benefit payment from the Prudential Insurance Company. (I got the impression that the Bronx PA's office had submitted the required paperwork to the Prudential Insurance Company, and that Prudential had failed to send the Death Benefit money to them. This turned out to be wrong. In truth, it was the Bronx PA's office that had not yet supplied Prudential with said paperwork.)
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (where Mary's remains are being stored) has told Mr Alfasi that they are not willing to hold Mary's remains much longer. They plan to bury Mary soon in "Potter's Field" (a paupers’ burial ground) on Hart Island.
Mary's friends are at liberty to arrange for Mary's funeral and interment by contacting a funeral director of their choice.
When funds are received by the Bronx PA's office from the Prudential Insurance Company, these funds will be used to reimburse those who have paid for Mary's funeral and interment..
If Mary's remains are, in the meantime, buried in Potter's Field, then she will be disinterred from there, and transported to the grave site selected by her friends.
Another friend of Mary's has also been in touch with Mr Alfasi, and has said that he will try to collect money from Mary's friends to bury her.

On Tuesday, 01/15/2008, at 6:28 PM, a doctor from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner called me. He said that the Toxicology Report has been completed. The Report revealed that Mary Peltzer had died of an overdose of multiple drugs, including alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.

The doctor discussed with me whether or not Mary's death was from an accidental overdose, or a suicide.

The doctor mentioned that he was about to finalize a Death Certificate, including an amended Cause of Death -- as indicated in the aforesaid toxicology report.

The doctor warned that it might take 4 to 6 weeks for the NYC Dept. of Health to issue an official Death Certificate for Mary. And an official Death Certificate is what might be required by the insurance company (Prudential) before they can release Mary's Death Benefit money to the Bronx PA's office.

However, the doctor noted, in cases of dire need -- for example, if the Death Benefit money is needed to pay for the funeral and interment, then the chief Medical Examiner can provide a letter on official stationery that Mary is in fact deceased. Most insurance companies accept such a letter, said the doctor.

On Wednesday, 01/16/2008, at 10:45 AM, I called the Prudential Insurance Company's Claims Dept. They gave me the exact requirements for processing the claim for Mary's Death Benefit. They said that

They need an official letter from the Bronx Public Administrator's office.
They need a Prudential Claim Form, properly filled out by the Bronx PA's office. (The Bronx PA's office received a blank Prudential Claim Form from me on 11/16/2007, as well as a second one by mail directly from Prudential.)
They need original and certified copies (not photocopies) of the Death Certificates for Mary and for both of Mary's parents.
Upon receipt of the foregoing documents, Prudential will process the claim in 12 to 15 business days.
A Death Benefit check will then be mailed out to the claimant (the Bronx PA's office) within 7 to 10 business days.

On Monday, 01/21/2008, I spoke with Mary's cousins in Baltimore. They said that they have just FAXed to Steve Alfasi a copy of the deed to Mary's plots. In addition, they have sent by postal mail to Steve Alfasi and to me another copy of the deed, plus a map of Mary's 4 plots in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. (Two of the plots are occupied by Mary's parents. The other two plots are for Mary, and for Mary's daughter Tracie -- if Tracie's body is ever found.)

On Friday, 01/25/2008, I spoke with Anna of the Bronx (County) PA's Office. Anna said that her office has received the aforesaid FAX of the deed to Mary's plots. (And yesterday I received by mail a paper copy of the deed.)

On Monday, 01/28/2008, I again spoke with Anna Anna said that her office had ordered Death Certificates for both of Mary's parents on January 17th. (These are needed in order to obtain from the Prudential Insurance Company the Death Benefit money -- which is to be used to pay for Mary's funeral.)

In the evening I spoke with Mary's longtime friend, the talented songwriter and guitarist James T. Foley. Jimmy said that he'd composed a song about Mary, and wanted to play it at her funeral. (Jimmy really adored Mary.) I told Jimmy that I would love to post the song on this website.

On Tuesday, 01/29/2008, I received from the Prudential Insurance company a very compassionate letter, accompanied by blank Claim Forms to be filled out. The letter stated that Prudential wants to process the Death Benefits claim as quickly as possible. But in order to do so, Prudential needs the enclosed Claim Forms filled out. Prudential also provided a list of additional documentation that Prudential needs (Death Certificates for Mary and for her parents) in order to process the claim.

Since providing documentation is in the purview of the Bronx PA, I emailed a copy of the Prudential letter to the Bronx PA, asking them if they need the Claim Forms that I'd received with this letter.

On Monday, 02/04/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office and spoke with Anna. I mentioned the email that I'd sent last Tuesday to her office. Anna said that the email had been received. Anna further said that she didn't need the Prudential Claim Forms, since her office had their own copies of these forms -- and that she had in fact begun filling them out. Meanwhile, her office is still waiting for the Death Certificates (for both of Mary's parents) that her office had ordered on January 17th from the State of Maryland.

On Thursday, 02/14/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office. This time I spoke with Steve Alfasi. Steve said that they'd finally received the Death Certificates that they'd ordered from the State of Maryland. Anna (who is not in today) is in charge of submitting the filled out Claim Forms, together with the Death Certificates, to Prudential Insurance.

On Tuesday, 02/19/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office. Anna said that she finally has in her possession the 3 required Death Certificates -- but may yet need the Prudential claim forms that I have. This is because she can't seem to locate HER copies of these forms. She'll let me know whether I should bring her my copies.

At 10:24 AM, I called the Office of Chief Medical Examiner in the Bronx, and provided Mary's Case Number: (B07-4237). I was told that Mary had been buried today at 6 AM in Potter's field. I was shocked. (This is despite what I'd been told by them on 11/12/2007 -- that they'd place Mary's body on "hold" pending receipt of Mary's Death Benefit to pay for Mary's ultimate burial in Maryland.)

At 10:29 I called Anna back and told her about Mary's interment in Potters Field. Anna said that the $4000 insurance Death Benefit should cover the cost of disinterring Mary's remains from Potter's Field, and transporting them to Mary's plot in Maryland.

On Thursday, 02/21/2008, at about 10:15 AM, I received a phone call from Anna. Anna said that she can't seem to locate the Mary Peltzer file -- which contains HER copies of the needed Prudential claim forms. I thanked Anna for calling, and mentioned that coincidentally I was on my way to bring to Anna my copies of these very forms. And indeed, at about 11:15 AM I hand-delivered to Anna these forms.

Anna said that she will now fill out these forms and send them on -- together with the 3 required Death Certificates (which Anna already has) -- to the Prudential Insurance Company. Prudential, in turn, will then send to the Anna's office the Death Benefit (about $4000). Once the Bronx PA's office receives this Death Benefit money, they will use it to disinter Mary's remains from Potter's Field, and then transport them to Mary's plot in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD.

On Monday, 02/25/2008, I called the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in the Bronx on 718-829-2030. I was told that there will be no charge for storing Mary's remains at their Bronx location (at the Jacobi Hospital) from 11/06/2007 (when Mary was found dead in her room) until 2/19/2008 (when Mary was laid to rest in Potter's Field). I was also told to call a Mr Serrano (of their office) for information on what it will cost to disinter Mary's remains from Potter's Field.

I have left several messages for Mr. Serrano, and am still waiting to hear from him.

On Thursday, 02/28/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office. Anna said that the completed paperwork went out yesterday to the Prudential Insurance Company. This means that (theoretically, as described above), upon receipt of the foregoing paperwork, Prudential will process the claim in 12 to 15 business days. And then, a Death Benefit check (around $4000) will be mailed to the Bronx PA's office within 7 to 10 more business days.

Anna said that once her office has received the aforesaid Death Benefit check, they will probably arrange for Ackerman's Funeral Chapel in the Bronx (which I'd originally recommended) to perform the funeral. This includes disinterring Mary's remains from Potter's Field, and transporting them to Mary's plot in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD.

On Monday, 03/17/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office. Anna said that she had recently heard from the Prudential Insurance Company, and that the Death Benefit check should be forthcoming.

On Thursday, 03/27/2008, I called the Bronx PA's office. Steve Alfasi said that his office had just received today a $4100 Death Benefit check from the Prudential Insurance Company, and that he (Steve Alfasi) would arrange with Ackerman's Funeral Chapel in the Bronx to perform Mary's funeral.

(Note: IMHO, the long delay in obtaining the Death Benefit check is due solely to the actions of the Bronx PA's office. The people at the Prudential Insurance Company themselves were wonderful -- they'd done everything possible to accelerate the payment of Mary's Death Benefit.)

I then called and spoke with Ackerman's Funeral Chapel. I told Ackerman's that Steve Alfasi had just received today the Death Benefit check from Prudential, and that Steve Alfasi had agreed that Mary's funeral would indeed be performed by Ackerman's.

I told Ackerman's that Steve Alfasi will probably soon call them to make arrangements. I also told Ackerman's that Mary had meanwhile been buried in Potter's Field, and will have to be disinterred.

Ackerman's said that it is a shame that Mary's friends hadn't chipped in to pay for Mary's funeral -- which then could have been performed months ago, thereby avoiding the Potter's Field burial.

I replied that they are absolutely right, but that I had thought that the Bronx Chief Medical Examiner would have stored Mary's remains in their Bronx office (at the Jacobi Hospital) until the insurance money arrived. Also, I had never dreamed that it would take so long for the insurance money to arrive.

On Tuesday, 04/29/2008, I called and spoke with Ackerman's Funeral Chapel. They said that they'd just received from the Bronx PA's office the paperwork necessary to (fill out in order to) proceed with the disinterment of Mary's remains.

On Thursday, 05/08/2008, I called and spoke again with Ackerman's Funeral Chapel in the Bronx. They said that it may yet take another few weeks before reburying Mary's remains in Maryland can take place. They are waiting for payment from the Bronx PA's office for an invoice that they'd just sent them. They are also waiting for NY City approval for disinterring Mary's remains from Potter's Field.

They said that they have also been in touch with the the people at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD.

Ackerman's again noted that once Mary's remains are disinterred from Potter's Field in the Bronx, they must be shipped immediately for burial in Finksburg, Maryland. Therefore, a memorial service in the Bronx is not possible, but it would be possible at the grave site in Finksburg, Maryland.

On Sunday, 06/15/2008, I called Ackerman's Funeral Chapel again. I told Ackerman's about a new website about which I'd just learned. It is about the Bronx PA's office, and is called StopRaniolo.com. StopRaniolo.com claims that "The Bronx Public Administrator's office, headed by John Raniolo, has created a state of crisis with its mismanagement of millions of dollars of family estate money." I told Ackerman's that because of what I read on this website, I am concerned about Ackerman's being paid by the Bronx PA's office.

On Tuesday, 07/15/2008, I called and spoke with Ackerman's Funeral Chapel. They said that they have completed all of the requisite paperwork, and they are still waiting to hear from the City of NY regarding disinterring Mary's remains from Potter's Field

On Friday afternoon, 07/18/2008, Ackerman's Funeral Chapel telephoned me. They said that they are planning to disinter Mary's remains from Potter's Field next Tuesday morning, July 22, 2008, and to then reinter (rebury) her remains in her plot in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Finksburg, MD. Ackerman's advised that people who wish to attend Mary's funeral and interment (burial) should try to be present at Mary's plot by about 12 noon that day.

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Summary - Mary's Funeral (Interment)

On 07/22/2008, a total of five people came to afford Mary (Patty) the "final honor" of being present as she was brought to her eternal resting place.

I feel that our presence was very beneficial for Mary's soul.

These five people were Joe and Shirley French, Stephanie Lurz and her mother Cherie, and myself.

While waiting for the hearse with Mary's remains to arrive from the Bronx, New York, the five of us sat inside the office building of Evergreen Memorial Gardens. We reminisced about Mary ("Patty"), and looked at some photos and literature that I had brought along. These came from a large box that Joe French had shipped to me in May 2007 -- to hold for Mary until her release from custody. That box had contained the last of Mary's inheritance from her (adoptive) mother Emma Loretta Peltzer, who had passed away on 7/30/2006.

At about 1:20 PM the hearse arrived. We all went outside and observed as the coffin with Mary's remains was removed from the hearse, placed inside a concrete enclosure, and then lifted by a tractor and transported to Mary's grave site.

Into the waiting open grave, the tractor lowered the concrete enclosure containing Mary's coffin.
Then I symbolically threw some earth onto the concrete enclosure. Finally, the tractor brought more earth and dumped it onto the concrete enclosure, thus completing the burial.

I recited the traditional El Moley Rachamim prayer, and we left.

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