Obituary of Edith V. Sontag

Edith V. Sontag passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at Spring Hills Livingston.

Edith was the third of six children born to George and Grace Sweeney in New York City.  She was a devoted sister to Grace “Tod” Biondo, George Sweeney, Joan Graham, Robert Sweeney and Elizabeth MacLachlan, all of whom most surely greeted her with open arms and joyous laughter when she at last joined them in the hereafter.

After graduating from Mother Cabrini High School, Edith studied piano at the Mannes School of Music. Later, she joined Time Inc., where she worked at Life Magazine as the Assistant to the Editor.  Through her work at Life, Edith had the opportunity to meet and work with the author Evelyn Waugh.  She also spent six months in France as a guest of the Duke of Windsor as she worked on his memoir, “A King’s Life,” which was published in 1951.  After working on the election committee for then-candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower, she moved to Washington to work as a member of the administration’s staff in the West Wing during Eisenhower’s term as 34^th President of the United States. Later in life, after moving to South Orange, New Jersey, Edith was an active member of the Our Lady of Sorrows family where she also served as a lector “with a radiant peaceful way by proclaiming God’s word with a depth of understanding and union with Him, which made everyone eager to listen.” (Sister Mary Selina and Sr. Judith).

Edith was predeceased by her husband of 43 years, Frederick Sontag in 2001, and her nephew, Richard Biondo in 2016. She will be missed dearly by her nieces and nephews: George Biondo, Robert Biondo, Joan Biondo, Edi Callas, Peter Graham, Beth Sweeney, Sarah Sweeney, Kate Sweeney Fry, Robert MacLachlan, John MacLachlan, and Grace Berry.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 29, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange. Interment will follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Montclair.  For those unable to attend the service, it will be live-streamed. LIVESTREAM LINK

In accordance with Aunt Edith’s wishes, there will be no viewing, but the family asks that you remember her in your prayers.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the charity of your choice or to Our Lady of Sorrows in her name.

To share a message of condolence, please visit prestonfuneralhome.net.