Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory

Deborah (Debbie) Lee Gaffier, 69, of Edgewater, Maryland, passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2022, from an egregious battle with a brain tumor.

Debbie was the loving wife of Thomas, where they shared 28 wonderful years together. She is survived by their four children; Eric, Tifiny,  Trina, and Tricia, and joined in heaven by her daughter Nicole. She also had three grandchildren: Autumn, Jamison, and Emily. She was the eldest child of Fil and Barb and had two siblings, Kevin and Valarie.  

She was a kind and loving person to all those who knew her and was adored by her friends. Debbie loved Jesus and had been a member of the Chesapeake Christian Fellowship (CCF), where she was instrumental in starting the Annapolis Crosswalk on Good Friday. 

Debbie enjoyed: Nature, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and whitewater kayaking. She lived a healthy and happy life and enjoyed many adventures with her husband Thomas. 

“The years have passed, but not so far away. We lived our lives as if we only had one day. I held your hand when your soul said goodbye.  In God’s time I will look into your eyes.” - lyrics by Thomas Ray from the song, “Your Eyes”.  

In lieu of sending flowers, the family requests a monetary gift sent to Debbie’s husband, Thomas, to help pay for funeral expenses. 

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, September 23, 2022, at 11:00 am at the Chesapeake Christian Fellowship, 377 W Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD 21035. A 
Celebration of Life Reception to follow at South River Park Community Center, 1410 Circle Drive Edgewater Maryland


Please take a moment and leave a condolence for the family by using the memories tab on the left.



Friends are invited to celebrate Joan’s life on Thursday, September 29th from 10 am until her funeral service begins at 12 noon at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD. Interment Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, MD. Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.

Theresa Marino Busada passed away quietly on the morning of September 20th in her Ft. Washington, Maryland home, with her husband and daughter at her side. 
She joins her parents, Peter and Angelina Marino, and her brother, Joseph Marino. Theresa was a native Washingtonian. She graduated from St. Patrick’s High School, in the class of 1953. She married Norman Busada in 1956, and they enjoyed a wonderful life together for 66 years. She leaves behind one daughter, Susan, many nieces and nephews, family, and friends who have become family. Her smile and warm comforting ways will be missed by all who knew her. 

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Theresa’s life on Wednesday, September 28, 2022, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Columba Catholic Church, 7800 Livingston Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. Interment Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers (no gladiolas), donations may be made to Hospice of the Chesapeake (www.hospicechesapeake.org) or to RES Homecare, 26595 Lawrence Adams Drive, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.



David Alfonso Conte, 70, a 35-year resident of Lothian and previously of Upper Marlboro, passed away on Sunday, September 18, 2022, at CalvertHealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick. 

David was born in Washington, DC on May 30, 1952, to the late Anthony and Esther Conte. He was a self-employed builder.  A devoted grandfather, he adored spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed growing peppers in his pepper garden and driving around visiting family on his golf cart

In addition to his parents, David was preceded in death by his brother, Nicholas Conte, and his sister, Ann Marie Santoiemma.

He is survived by his son Joseph Conte and his wife Tara of Edgewater, and his siblings; Joseph Conte, Anthony Conte, Rosalie VanWie, and Mary Esther Finamore, all of Lothian. Also survived by his grandchildren, Joseph A. Conte, Jr., and Ella Noel Conte.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate David's life on Friday, September 23 from 10 am until 11 am at Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hall, 101 Owensville, Rd., West River, MD 20778. A Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 11 am in the main church.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery. 


Janet Marie Long, 86, passed away on September 15, 2022 in Jupiter, FL.  Born on August 31, 1936 in Washington, DC, she was the youngest child of the late Raymond and Mary Gicker.  Janet spent most of her adult life in College Park and then Annapolis, MD where she raised her family and proudly worked as an Administrative Assistant at the U.S. Naval Academy for 15 years.  She was a gracious hostess of pool parties and holiday gatherings at her home and was well-known for her Scotcheroos (a Rice Krispies treat) and Sand Tarts.  A longtime member of Davidsonville United Methodist Church, Janet also loved to play BINGO and eat out, especially when she could pick crabs or order a good crab cake.    

In addition to her parents, Janet was preceded in death by her loving husband of 52 years, Leon Long, all five of her siblings and her furry companion whom she adored, Harley.  She is survived by five children, Carl (Debbie), Cindy, Daniel, Donald (Diane) and Douglas; 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.  

Friends are invited to celebrate Janet’s life with her family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 22 at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 2973 Solomons Island Road, Edgewater, MD.  Janet’s funeral service will be held at 10AM on Friday, September 23 at Davidsonville United Methodist Church, 819 W. Central Avenue, Davidsonville, MD. A graveside service will be held at 2PM at National Memorial Park in Falls Church, VA.  

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC using this link: <a href="https://giving.childrensnational.org/site/Donation2?df_id=11925&mfc_pref=T&11925.donation=form1&amount=35".>Children's National Hospital</a>

Online condolences may be offered using the Memories tab on this page.

Dara Marie Stewart Dillree, 61, of Crofton, MD, passed away on September 15, 2022. Dara was born on October 22, 1960 in Washington, DC.

Dara grew up in Prince George’s County, MD before moving to Fishertown, PA in 1977 where she graduated from Chestnut Ridge High School. After graduation, Dara returned to Maryland for a short while, then moved to San Diego, CA to attend National University. She moved back to Maryland in 1988 and worked at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP as a legal secretary for over 15 years.

Dara is preceded in death by her mother, Frances E. Broderick Miller. She is survived by her father, Robert P. Stewart and his wife, Paula; and her stepsister, Beth Waters, all Edgewater, MD.

Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Vietnam Veterans of America, 8719 Colesville Road, Suite 100, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Online condolences may be made using the Memories tab on this page.


All services for Mr. Choate will be private at this time.

Please take a moment and leave a condolence for his daughters, by using the memories tab on the left.

Passed peacefully at his home on September 11, 2022. He was born on May 7, 1941 in Washington, D.C., where he was raised in the Hillcrest area by his parents Lester and Beulah Cox (deceased). He was a 1959 graduate of Anacostia High School and later received a degree from Prince George’s Community College. He served in the United States Army Reserve and worked in various positions during his 36-year career at the Potomac Electric Power Company. He was a perfectionist in all that he did. His exemplary work ethic and desire to always remain active led him to continue his work life doing consulting work, being a Tour Mobile host, and assisting seniors by driving a bus for the Woodbine Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. He also worked most of his adult life at RFK Stadium for Washington Redskins games and at the University of Maryland for football and basketball games.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 60 years, Alice Cox, and his loyal
sons, Jeffrey Cox (Christine) and Christopher Cox, grandchildren, Shelby King,
Ryan Cox, Victoria Cox, and Matthew Cox. He also leaves behind great-grandchildren, Robert King, Claire King, and Kennedy King. His ability to make you
laugh with his wonderful sense of humor will always be remembered.


Relatives and friends are invited to Lester's memorial gathering on Saturday, September 17, 2022 from 11 a.m. until the start of the memorial service at 12 p.m. at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. 

Sara E. Deeb

September 9, 2022

Sara Elizabeth Deeb, 81, of Fort Washington, MD peacefully passed away on September 9, 2022 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Sara was born in Boston, MA on January 6, 1941 to William Junius Bates and Mildred Ingeborg Carlstrom Bates. Sara was a graduate of Framingham High School, Class of 1958. After high school, Sara pursued a degree in Nursing at the Children’s Hospital School of Nursing, in Boston, MA where she graduated in 1961. She later joined the Peace Corps and served in Malaysia for two years. In 1965, she returned to Massachusetts and married Carl Anthony Deeb of Fall River, MA. Shortly after, Sara and Carl settled in Maryland.

Sara was completely devoted to caring for children. She was a registered nurse for 44 years.  She started her nursing career at Hadley Hospital and later retired from Greater Southeast Community Hospital NICU and Children’s Pediatricians & Associates.

Sara loved to crochet and collect angels. Her husband Carl regularly referred to Sara as an “Angel”. She never complained no matter what. She was strong, proud, generous, kind, thoughtful and will forever be remembered for her loving smile.

Sara was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Anthony Deeb; parents, William and Mildred Bates; brother, William “Billy” Bates; stepmother, Rita Davis; and grandchild, Caleb Burge.

Sara is survived by her son, John Deeb and his wife Shari; daughter, Anne McKissick and her husband Eric; son, David Deeb and his wife Melissa; daughter Mary Deeb; daughter, Nancy Chaves and her husband Christian; daughter, Beth Riggs and her husband Farron; daughter, Susan Burge and her husband Brent; grandchildren, Ashley Deeb, Alanna Deeb, Edward Gillison Jr., Ciara White and her wife Tiana, Sara McKissick, Cajetan Deeb, Justin Deeb, Sophia Deeb, Grayson Deeb, John-Paul Deeb, Catalina Chaves, Sebastian Chaves, Baylor Burge, Max Riggs, Emma Burge; great grandchildren, Sa’Mari McGinnie, Cheyanne Deeb. Sara is also survived by her brother, Kenneth Bates; brother, Joseph Davis; sister, Judith Vohden; brother, John Davis as well as many other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill, MD on Saturday, September 24 at 11 a.m. A repast will immediately follow. Inurnment will be in Fall River, MA at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Parkinson’s Foundation, Children's National Hospital Foundation, or the Peace Corps Partnership Foundation.  











Relatives and friends are invited to Maudis' Life Celebration on Friday, October 7, 2022 from 10 a.m. until the start of the service at 11 a.m. at the Kalas Funeral Home & Crematory, 6160 Oxon Hill Rd., Oxon Hill, Maryland 20745. Interment Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

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Deborah Gaffier

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William Choate

Lester Cox, Jr.

George Merriweather

Sara Deeb

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