Obituary of Samuel Ciapanna

Samuel Ciapanna, Sr., a life long Malaga resident, died Saturday, August 4, 2012, at the age of 80 after a long illness. Mr. Ciapanna was a 1950 graduate of Clayton High School where, due to his good fortune of having a tailor for a father, he was named best dressed in his class. He was a lifelong devotee of Pine Grove Camp in Malaga, where he met his wife of 49 years, Ruth Anna, who predeceased him in August 2004. After a brief foray into farming, he became a driver for UPS servicing the Woodstown area, where he was very much loved by the regular customers on his route and enjoyed daily lunch at the Wagon Wheel Restaurant. He retired from UPS after 30 years of service, including time spent as shop steward for the Teamsters Union. In retirement, he served on the board of Cardinal Village Retirement Home. Mr. Ciapanna loved to garden, producing many more fresh vegetables than his family could eat, and to cut lawns using his riding mower. He indulged his wife in her collection of pelicans as a way of justifying his own collection of toy trucks. Although he lived his entire healthy life within one mile of where he grew up as a child, he enjoyed traveling, especially places he could drive. Mr. Ciapanna was elected to the Franklin Township Board of Education where he served as President for many years and actively supported the Democrat Party. He was a life long member of the Malaga Pentecostal Assembly of God where he held many positions, including Treasurer, Trustee, and Youth Leader. He was a loyal Delsea Regional High School Football fan, inducted into the Delsea Sport Hall of Fame for his work on the field running the chains. Although not a college graduate himself, Mr. Ciapanna put his wife and all three of his children through college. He enjoyed watching the Phillies, the Eagles, and just about any car race, especially while eating a big bowl of ice cream and sitting in his recliner. He is survived by three sons, Samuel, Jr. (Dean Williamson), of Bellevue, WA, Steven Andrew (Chuck Bennett), of Malaga, and Joseph Frank, Sr., of Smithville, two grandsons, Joseph Frank, Jr., of Medford and Sean Patrick Talley, of Seattle, brother, Alfred, of Malaga, and sister, Stella Calvelli, of Malaga. Viewing Wednesday, August 8th, from 7 - 9 PM and Thursday, August 9th from 10 - 10:30 AM at Kelley Funeral Home, 125 Pitman Ave, Pitman, NJ. Funeral service will be Thursday at 10:30am. Internment at Lawnside Memorial Park in Woodstown immediately following the service Thursday. The family acknowledges the loving care provided by Juniper Village Wellspring Unit and Samaritan Hospice. Contributions in his memory may be made to the National Alzheimer's Association, 11000 Lincoln Dr, Marlton, NJ 08053. Memories may be shared at www.kelleyfhpitman.com.