Salvatore "Sam" Natale

Salvatore “Sam” Natale, 84, died peacefully Monday September 2, 2013 at Danbury Hospital after a long battle with cancer. He was the husband of Ann Marie (Rodrigues) and would have celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary on September 6, 2013.

Sam was born on January 22, 1929 at the family home on Clason Place in Danbury, Connecticut. He was the son of the late Francis and Margaret (Barbarotto) Natale.

Sam began working at an early age at Gillotti & Sons on Liberty Street as a butcher. He served in the United States Army as a cook from 1947 to 1948. He recently retired from Dandy Distributors after 38 years of working as a warehouse manager.

He was a member of Saint Gregory the Great Church in Danbury. He was also a member of the Catholic War Veterans. He enjoyed participating in various duckpin-bowling and horseshoe leagues. He was an avid sports fan who enjoyed watching his favorite teams, the New York Giants, the New York Yankees and the UCONN Huskies.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughter Donna Kaplanis and her husband Nick and a son David Natale, all of Danbury. He will also be greatly missed by his grandson Matthew Kaplanis and his wife Silvia of Brookfield, CT and by his granddaughter Nicole Kaplanis of New York City. He is also survived by a brother Ronald Natale of Oklahoma, three sisters, Marie Landolfi of Rhode Island, Rita Casey and her husband Charles of New Fairfield, CT, Lucille Hrabcsak and her husband Rudy of Danbury as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents he was predeceased by five brothers, Sylvester, Ralph, Michael, Henry and Robert Natale and one sister Patricia Pannozzo.

Friends may call at the Green Funeral home on 57 Main Street in Danbury on Thursday from 5:00-8:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00am at Saint Gregory the Great Church. Interment will follow at Saint Peter’s Cemetery in Danbury. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Sam’s memory to Saint Gregory the Great Church, 85 Great Plain Road Danbury, CT 06811 or The Western Connecticut Health Network Foundation Oncology Department, 24 Hospital Ave Danbury, CT 06810.

The Natale family would like to thank the staff on 11 East and the 9th floor for their care and compassion. They would also like to specially thank Dr. Michael Cohenuram and all of the staff in the Praxair Cancer center for taking care of Sam throughout his battle. To offer online condolences and to sign a book of remembrance please visit www.thegreenfuneralhome.com.