Salvatore Farfaglia was born to James (Castiglione di Sicilia, Sicily) and Angelina Farfaglia (Hamilton, NJ) in Stamford, Connecticut on November 22, 1933. Sal was married to Eleanor (Ellile) Rinella for 65 years. It was an adventurous marriage that brought forth four children (including a priest and a nun), six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren (and one more on the way), two restaurants, thirteen rental apartment houses, many years of courageous and vocal conservative political activism, and a lifetime of living, loving and defending the Catholic faith.
While raising his family in Ridgefield, Connecticut, Sal was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus, and later of Our Lady of the Rosary chapel in Brewster, NY. Sal and Ellie were devoted volunteers to the Holy Innocents Elementary School that existed in Ridgefield during the early 70’s. Sal was also the co-founder and vice-president of the Ridgefield Taxpayers League.
After a short career in mechanics, his father-in-law got him into the restaurant business, his wife taught him how to cook and he became the owner, manager and chef of The Village Luncheonette in Pound Ridge, NY from 1958 to 1976 and of the Liberty Post restaurant in Towanda, PA from 1976 to 1979. Until his retirement in 1995, he worked as a corporate restaurant manager for Truck Stops of America in Binghamton, NY.
Sal and Ellie resided in Binghamton, NY from 1980 to 2019 where they were members of St. Athanasius Catholic Church. Sal served as parish coordinator and as the president of the Holy Name Society. One of his greatest joys was helping the priests, especially as a driver. By his example, Sal instilled in his family a love and fidelity to the Roman Catholic Church, our country, the family, the New York Yankees and Italian cuisine. He never missed a single Super Bowl and he was an avid classic movie fan.
Throughout his whole life right until the end, Sal entertained his wife, children and grandchildren with stories of all sorts of people he encountered whose voices and gestures he would imitate. He was famous for his one-liners, his quick wit and his great sense of humor. Perhaps unwillingly, Sal and Ellie became like a comedy team who enjoyed laughing and joking when they weren’t driving each other crazy. Miraculously, he survived his wife’s pranks and schemes. He easily gave people nick-names. No one could beat him in checkers. He couldn’t carry a tune, but he whistled all the time. He prayed the Rosary every day.
Sal is survived by his beloved wife Ellie of Phoenix, AZ; son Father James of Corpus Christi, TX; daughter Donna Montanarella of Phoenix, AZ; son John (Carol) of Port St. Lucie, FL; daughter Sister Aimee Dominique of Walton, KY; grandchildren Tommy and Michael Montanarella, Christina (Jared) Rutan of Phoenix, AZ; Vincent (Shannon) Farfaglia of Lake Worth, FL, Nicholas (Megan) Farfaglia of Chattanooga, TN; Andrew Farfaglia of Mountain Home, ID; great-grandchildren Bailey-Grace and Luca Farfaglia and Everett Rutan; brother-in-law Phil Rinella (Sue) of Mesa, AZ, a few nieces and nephews, and many dear friends in Binghamton, NY. He was predeceased by his sister Isabella Campanelli.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Hospice of the Valley in Glendale, AZ and Sonoran Senior Care in Peoria, AZ for their attentive and personal care, and especially the priests of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Phoenix for their spiritual care.
Viewing and Rosary (tentative time) 10:00 am.; Thursday, October 17th, 2019 with a Requiem Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church 750 E. Baseline Rd. Phoenix. Interment to follow at East Resthaven Park Cemetery 44st. and Southern Ave.
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