Peter William Sunday, devoted to family, friends
Peter William “Billy” Sunday, 81, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2025, in Reading, Pa. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Billy was the son of Peter Sunday and Eleanor (Moriarty) Sunday. He grew up in an apartment in the heart of the Arthur Avenue neighborhood. As a boy, Billy spent countless hours exploring with his brothers and friends. He fondly remembered slipping into the Bronx Zoo and New York Botanical Garden after hours to play. These childhood adventures remained some of his favorite stories to share.
Billy graduated from St. Helena Catholic High School before moving with his parents and brothers to Brewster, N.Y., in 1962. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Patricia (Kerner) Sunday, beginning a 48-year marriage marked by deep devotion to family, raising two children, hard work and a large network of lifelong friends. Patricia passed away in 2014.
Billy is survived by his daughter, Lynn (Sunday) Racz and her husband John Racz of West Hartford, Conn.; his son, Jim Sunday and his wife Jennifer (Murray) Sunday of Poughquag, N.Y.; and his six beloved grandchildren, Patrick, Colin, Brendan, Shannon, Olivia and Julia. He is also survived by his brothers, Dennis Sunday and Jerry Sunday, both of Florida. He was predeceased by his brother, Richard Sunday.
Billy was known throughout his life as a man who never shied away from hard work. He often worked at least two jobs at a time and took enormous pride in providing for his family. In his early career, he worked for Durkin Fuel in Brewster, N.Y. In 1986, during the construction boom, Billy took a leap of faith and went into business for himself as a building contractor—one of the decisions he was most proud of. He worked closely for many years with his partner and best friend, Bob Lockwood, forming not only a successful business partnership but a lifelong bond. Together, they later worked for the Sisca Foundation, a Brewster-based building and development company. Even after “retiring,” over 20 years ago, Billy continued taking on small projects for neighbors and maintained a lawn-mowing business to earn what he cheerfully called his “golf money.”
Billy lived life with generosity, loyalty, industriousness, and a sociable ease that made him instantly likable. He loved golfing, hunting in the Catskills with his buddies, going to the beach, spending hours in his shed, tackling projects around the house and yard, lounging at the neighborhood pool, going out to eat or to the movies, and especially, all-you-can-eat shrimp nights at the American Legion.
In recent years, Billy embraced a simpler, freer life. He spent time donating, selling, and gifting many of his possessions—especially to his grandchildren—before selling his home in Lewes. Last April, he and his partner, Judy, set off full-time in his RV, traveling through Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire. When asked where he planned to go next, he’d grin and say, “I don’t know… I’m just going to follow the weather.”
Billy’s warmth, humor, and unwavering devotion to his family and friends will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
