Obituary of Erna H. Mones

Erna H. Mones passed away peacefully in her sleep the morning of June 6th at the age of 94. The daughter of John and Mary Loschke, European immigrants, Erna grew up in old New York, eventually marrying Herbert Mones, her very special pen pal during the World War II. Erna And Herbert settled in Selden, Long Island, in the early 1950’s to raise their young family that would eventually grow to seven children - Steven, Herb, Jim, Peter, Bobby, David and Darlene. If Herbert, Sr. was the breadwinner and the respected head of the household, “Mom” was its heart and soul - a protective and loving mother who always found a way to indulge her children with the latest comic book, newest toy, expensive hobby, or candy store treat. Erna, in a very real way, understood the importance of ‘living in the moment,’ with a special appreciation for everything in life. She eschewed routine domestic chores in favor of family outings to the beach, drive-in movies, take out dinners, trips to see relatives, reading anything and everything, gossip - both neighborhood and Hollywood, and browsing antique stores for out-of-the-ordinary “treasures,” though some might call these items “ bric a brac.” While her children would grow up to excel in careers in business, finance, journalism, and education, her real joy was to see them engaged with the everyday richness and beauty of the world around them through their travel, spouses, friends, celebrations, and experiences. The amusing, heartwarming, and often hair raising adventures of the Mones children are forever memorialized in the multi-volume collection titled the “Mones Chronicles,” written largely by her son, Jim. Many of these stories are framed by Erna’s exclamations in German, Yiddish, and Gottscher, her humorous handling of the events in the boisterous household, and her unyielding devotion to her family. Erna is survived by her younger sister Margaret, seven children, ten grandchildren: (Jameson, Cara, Stuart, Jesse, Jarett, Casey, Ryan, Gabriel, Cameron, and Christopher) and nine great-grand children. When Erna was asked, not too long ago, the most important message she wanted to leave to her family, she thought, smiled, and said “Be kind, and enjoy life.” Words Erna lived by, and words that are probably more important today then ever before. A private funeral service will be held the week of June 8. A remembrance service is planned for later in the year. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to honor the memory of Erna by spreading both words and acts of kindness in your daily life. Erna would have liked that.