A Chicago funeral home that handled memorial arrangements for the Chicago Cubs legend had filed a $35,000 claim against his estate.
President Barack Obama awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Hall of Fame baseball player Ernie Banks at the White House Nov. 20, 2013. Win McNamee/Getty Images
After a funeral home filed a $35,000 claim against the estate of Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks over unpaid bills, the baseball team and its owner stepped up Friday to pay the costs, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Cubs management and the Ricketts family [the team’s owner] have addressed the issue,” said Joseph Donnellan, owner of the Donnellan Funeral Home, which handled Banks’ memorial, the Sun-Times writes.
On Wednesday the funeral home filed court documents to obtain the money, writes the news outlet. The court file includes a bill the funeral home sent to Banks’ widow, Elizabeth Banks, and contains expenses for the casket, flowers, car service and staff fees, the report notes.
The court claim comes as Elizabeth Banks is contesting the validity of a will signed in October by her late husband—reportedly without her knowledge—that leaves all his assets to his longtime caregiver, according to the news outlet.
Ernie Banks, nicknamed “Mr. Cub” because of his tireless dedication to the team and sunny disposition, died in January at age 83.
