Salvatore P. Armato

Salvatore ""Sam"" P. Armato, 79, a loving husband, father, brother, ""Nanu"" and lifelong resident of Rockford, went to be with the Lord on May 25, 2008 peacefully in his sleep at his home. Sam was born August 1, 1928 in Rockford the son of Peter and Pauline (Guastella) Armato. Sam married Adeline Salamone on November 19, 1949 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Rockford. Sam was a loving man who most valued his family and friends. He had a sense of humor and timing like no other. Sam graduated from West High School and was a US Army Air Corp veteran. He worked as a district supervisor for Eagle Foods for 25 years until retiring in 1988. Sam was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Council 470, Eagle Drum & Bugle Corp and VFW Drum & Bugle Corp, played the trumpet as a member of the U.S. Air Force Band and traveled with Bob Hope. Sam loved golfing, gardening, cooking (pizza and pasta every Monday night for his family), traveling and had vacationed in Palm Springs every winter for the last 28 years and especially loved his family vacations. His life was rich with friends and family and his smile and stories were one of his biggest assets. Sam is survived by his wife Adeline; his sons, Steven M. (Katharine) and Dennis E. (Cheryl) Armato; his grandchildren, Steven S. (Lissa) Armato, Katharine P. Armato, Richard T. Armato, Cara (Randall) Warkentien and James Habedank (Kara Peterson his great-grandchildren, Hailey Anne, Alaina Ann and Kyla Leigh; his brother, Joseph (Mary) Armato; his sister, Sara (David) Mulvain and many nieces and nephews. Sam was predeceased by his parents and his brothers, Michael and Leonard Armato and his nephew Peter. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Rita Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Drive with Fr. William R. Wentink and Msgr. Gerald P. Kobbeman followed by entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Visitation will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2008 from 5 7 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd., with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Family and friends may