Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral and Silent Auction a Success Once Again

Congratulations to the Bethany Beach-Fenwick Island Chamber of Commerce from your friends at Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral. The Chamber’s Boardwalk Arts Festival was another resounding success this year, kicking off “Season Two” for Quiet Resorts. The events planned by the Town of Bethany Beach and the Chamber will continue to give our summer vacationers and Season Two visitors more reasons to visit Quiet Resorts. With this exciting lineup of events, we all have something to look forward to.

Even the weather cooperated for the chamber event and our jazz funeral, held on Labor Day Monday.

The goal of the 39th annual Jazz Funeral Fundraiser was to support the American Red Cross of Delmarva so they can continue to assist local community residents with emergency and preventative services. The American Red Cross received funds raised by Jazz Funeral Attendants, Red Cross volunteers and St. Anne Parish parishioners who sold T-shirts on the Bethany Boardwalk on Labor Day. The generosity of Bethany Blues Restaurant owner Jim Weisgerber helped raise similar funds. On August 30, Bethany Blues hosted the Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral Silent Auction for the 18th consecutive year.

According to Theresa Young, executive director of the Delmarva Chapter of the American Red Cross, the Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. She noted that the Red Cross responds around the clock to help local families affected by disasters, military families who have an emergency and need to communicate with loved ones, and many other situations. New this year, the Red Cross also demonstrated how to resuscitate an injured and unconscious person. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure performed after sudden cardiac arrest, which is different from a heart attack. According to Young, it involves a combination of artificial respiration and chest compressions, which deliver oxygen to a person’s lungs and help circulate blood. The demonstration allowed marchers to work hand-in-hand with a Red Cross representative and explain the best way to save a person’s life, according to Red Cross Director Bob Rhodunda, who also served as the event’s master of ceremonies. Rhodunda also noted to the Red Cross that first aid training in Delaware is available in three ways: online, in-person and through their simulated learning experience, which combines online classes with in-person skills sessions. How many good things can be said about the Jazz Funeral Band? A lot. Led by John Strawley, the “Jazz Funeral Irregulars” come together to entertain at the Jazz Funeral. These serious professional musicians have been coming together every year to perform their best and have done so for a long time. For example, musical director Strawley has led the Jazz Funeral Band for over 30 years. While the Jazz Funeral is a fun and spontaneous experience, there are many subtle elements to jazz celebrations. While there are too many people to thank for their efforts since our beginnings in 1985, as well as a long list of loyal silent auction donors, we recognize the tireless group of members of this year’s long-standing Jazz Funeral Committee, which included Marilyn Panagopoulos, Carolyn Bacon and Dave Rickards as well as Sister Marie Wright.

The Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral and Silent Auction was a success and was enjoyed by those in attendance. Any apparent success was due to the hard work of Sarah Dietz, Parade and Auction Director. She is very knowledgeable and experienced in event management as demonstrated by her work with Marriott Corporation. We appreciate the efforts of those affiliated with St. Ann Parish in Bethany Beach for their involvement in this and previous Jazz Funerals. A winning ticket was drawn at the Bethany Bandstand for a brand new 2025 KIA Sorrento. St. Ann’s received this generous donation from Holly KIA in Selbyville. The Sorrento is a premier SUV and was valued at $36,000. Jazz Funeral thanked Alexis Sclama for choosing Jazz Funeral to help organize the event and Pastor John Klevence for drawing the winning ticket.

Finally, we would like to thank the local media for their assistance to Jazz Funerals and the Red Cross in spreading the word about our activities. While many well-intentioned charities fade away after two or three years, Jazz Funerals has been going strong for over 39 years. Our events could only have survived year after year because of the generosity and support of the trade press. Please check out our information and help us out.

Paul Jankovic is president of Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral & Silent Auction.

This article was originally published in the Delaware News Journal: Bethany Beach Jazz Funeral and Silent Auction