Samuel Colella, Jr.'s Obituary
Samuel Colella, Jr., 67, entered Heaven, surrounded by his loving family on September 5, 2023, following a long illness. Sam was born on June 15, 1956 in Syracuse, NY to the late Samuel Colella, Sr. and Carmella (Caruso) Colella. Sam graduated from Henninger High School and received an associate degree from OCC and later attended Le Moyne College. In his younger years, he played and then coached baseball, and liked hunting and fishing with his brother at their camp. Sam loved to watch sports and enjoyed listening to the saxophone. He was a hard worker and family man, often working multiple jobs, both day and night. He started his career as Production Operator with Carrier Corp. for 10 years. Sam then owned and delivered a Post Standard route for several years and worked for Onondaga County until suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury. Sam was a devout Catholic and had a lifetime devotion to St. Anne de Beaupre. He enjoyed family gatherings and holidays, especially Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve with his family. In recent years, Sam loved spending time at his camp, on the St. Lawrence River with his fiancé.
Sam is survived by his devout fiancé, MaryAnn Begay; sisters, Carol (James) Procopio, and Joanne (Dominick) Leo; his brother, Rocky (Lori) Colella; children, Kayleigh (Brian) Cregg, Samuel III, Alissa and Nicholas Colella; his grandson, Mason Cregg; his beloved nieces and nephews, Peter, Kerri, Kristi, Brian, Jenna, Joseph and Joshua; great nieces and nephews, Evan, Preston, Ian, Carmella, Adrianna and Lucas; as well as uncles, aunts and cousins.
A funeral Mass in celebration of Sam’s life will take place at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at St. Rose of Lima Church, 409 S. Main St., North Syracuse, NY, with burial to follow in Assumption Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4:00 – 7:00 pm on Friday, September 8, 2023 at the THOMAS J. PIRRO JR. FUNERAL HOME, 3401 Vickery Rd. (corner of Buckley Rd.) North Syracuse, NY.
Donations may be made to Crouse Stroke Center at https://www.crouse.org/services/neuroscience/stroke/ or to St. Anne de Beaupre, https://sanctuairesainteanne.org/en/donation.
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