Samuel S. Sartoris

PONTIAC - Samuel S. Sartoris, 15, Pontiac, died at 9:11 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 1, 2009) at OSF Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center, Pontiac.

His funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac, with Monsignor Thomas Mack, Father Michael Bies, Deacon Jim Wallace and Deacon George Wagner officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Pontiac. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday with the rosary to be recited at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Pontiac. Duffy Funeral Home, Pontiac, is in charge of arrangements.

The family wishes all contributions be made to the Children's Hospital of Illinois at Saint Francis Medical Center, Peoria; St. Vincent dePaul Food Pantry; or St. Mary's Catholic Church.

He was born Oct. 11, 1993, in Pontiac, son of Vincent M. and MaryAnn Gernentz Sartoris.

He is survived by his parents of Pontiac; brothers, Vinnie Sartoris, Chicago, and Donald Sartoris, Los Angeles, Calif.; sister, Rhiannon (Jason) Long, Pontiac; aunts and uncles, Tony (Jacquie) Sartoris, Christine Sartoris, Nick (Caroline) Sartoris, Donna Sartoris, Sue Harrington, Phil (Carol) Sartoris, Kathleen (Roger) Reum, Mike (Sandy) Gernentz, Barb Thompson, Jim (Cheryl) Gernentz and Diane (Jim) Johns; nephew and best friend, Marcus Long; niece, Maria Long; maternal grandmother, Vera Gernentz, Pontiac; and paternal grandparents, Dave and Ann Sartoris Pontiac.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Donald Gernentz.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Pontiac. Sam was a Pontiac Township High School freshman.

He was an avid golfer, and helped keep score for the Nik Macker Association Basketball. He was an altar server for St. Mary's Catholic Church and was Disney's No. 1 fan.

Sam was a special gift we were given for such a short time on earth. He loved everyone he met and truly enjoyed life to its fullest.