Emile "Sonny" Danos

Emile Joseph “Sonny” Danos, age 78, beloved husband of 30 years to Dorothy Davis Danos, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 21, 2023 after his courageous 6 year battle with lung cancer. Sonny, a lifelong resident of the Westbank of Jefferson Parish, LA was born to Dennis and Louise Barras Danos on December 17, 1944 and spent the first 20 years of his “dash” with them and his 3 older brothers doing all those mischievous things that boys do.  The next 24 years of his “dash” were with his only daughter and her mother, Arleen Becnel, working as a pipefitter at Avondale Shipyards Quick Repair Yard in Harvey, LA, and trawling, fishing and hunting at his camp in Myrtle Grove.  He did anything to provide for his little family. He even bought a Lafitte Skiff and tried his hand at commercial trawling. He and Rhonda’s grandpa, Norman Becnel, restored a 1966 Mustang “Tippy” which was and still is a never ending project.  He became a Jack of all Trades and believed that a roll of duct tape and a can of WD-40 could fix anything and that Amazon sold anything you needed.  The final 34 years of Sonny’s “dash” added Dorothy and her 3 sons whom he loved as his own.  He retired from Avondale and picked up many new hobbies like golfing (He was no Tiger Woods), cabinet making which became like another job (Without Pay) because he built almost anything for anyone (He even built his own Camping Trailer), watching and cheering on his favorite Nascar Driver, #48 Jimmy Johnson and gambling too.  He always managed to fit a little casino time into his travels. On Friday nights, you could find Sonny with a bottle of Midori and a microphone in his hand and you needed to fight him for it if you wanted a chance at a song for Karaoke. He loved to sing that old time country music.

Sonny was preceded in death by his father Dennis, his mother Louise, two of his brothers Dennis, Jr. and Calvin, his sister-in-law Judy Danos, his grandparents Emile and Anna Danos and Harry and Benoise Barras, Dorothy’s son Randal Sapp, Dorothy’s son Christopher’s wife Rachael Fowler and his brother-in-law Michael Sabogal and sisters-in-law Theresa Sabogal and Brenda Yoder.  He is survived by and will be sadly missed by his loving wife Dorothy, his devoted daughter and caregiver Rhonda and her husband John Combel, Sr, (his favorite son-in-law), his oldest brother, Connie Danos; Dorothy’s sons William Sapp and his wife Michelle and Christopher Fowler, his brother-in-law James Yoder, his 9 Grandchildren, Nicholas Jenkins and his wife Keri, Jacob Fowler and his wife Alyssa, Allison and Kaitlin Fowler, Bradley and Devin Sturm, Hannah Gofourth and Ulrick and Isabella Sapp, his 3 Great Grandchildren, Melody Fowler and Beaux and Trey Jenkins. Sonny will also be sadly missed by his Grandpup Popcorn.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the nurses and staff at Ochsner’s Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center, Dr. Suma Reddy Satti and Dr. Clayton Smith for their compassionate care during Sonny’s battle.  Also, a million times Thank You to Vital Caring Hospice’s Shannon Akins, Ms. Roberta and Mr. Walter for the physical, mental and spiritual support during Sonny’s short time with them, giving him the best quality of life with dignity, peace and comfort during the last stages of his “dash”.

For it matters not, how much we own,

the cars…the house…the cash…

What matters is how we live and love…

and how we spend our dash

Relatives and friends of the family, also employees and patrons of Schnell’s Restaurant and Bar, Combel’s Customs Auto Collision Center and members and supporters of the Combel’s Customs Cruisers are invited to attend Catholic Funeral Services on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 1:30pm at MOTHE FUNERAL HOME, 2100 Wesbank Expressway, Harvey, LA. Visitation will begin at 9:30AM until 1:30PM.   Burial will be at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetary, Gretna, LA.  Family and friends may offer condolences at mothefunerals.com.