Funeral Services For FDNY Firefighter William Tolley Announced

BETHPAGE, NY — Funeral services for FDNY firefighter William Tolley, who died after falling from the roof of a five-story burning building in Queens Thursday, will take place on Long Island next week.

A public viewing will take place on Tuesday, April 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday, April 26, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Chapey and Sons Funeral Home at 20 Hicksville Road in Bethpage.

A funeral service will take place starting at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 27, at the St. Martin of Tours Church at 220 Central Blvd. in Bethpage.

In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations be made to the William N. Tolley's Children's Educational Fund by clicking here: www.fdnyfoundation.org/donate and selecting the fund from the drop-down menu.

In addition, in honor of the Bethpage resident, Nassau Executive Ed Mangano announced that all flags will be flown at half-staff at all Nassau government buildings until next Thursday.

“My wife Linda and I express our deepest sympathies to the family of fallen FDNY Firefighter William Tolley - a Bethpage resident, Bethpage volunteer firefighter and former Hicksville volunteer firefighter - who tragically died in the line of duty while battling a fire yesterday," Mangano said.

The 42-year-old FDNY firefighter was working on the roof of a burning building in Ridgewood, Queens, Thursday afternoon along with other members of Ladder 135 when he fell to his death. The circumstances of his death are under investigation.

Tolley, who leaves behind a wife and an 8-year-old daughter, is the 1,147th member of the FDNY to die in the line of duty.

A memorial was created in his honor in front of the firehouse in Glendale, Queens, where several people paid their respects and left flowers.

Tolley was the drummer in the death metal band Internal Bleeding, which was set to embark on a nationwide tour at the end of May. The band announced on Friday that they will be releasing, their song "Final Justice" along with a video.

Photo via FDNY