Obituary for Samuel J. Monti
MONTI
SAMUEL J.; March 27, 2022. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Lillian Monti (nee Shea). Devoted father of Carolyn (Ronald) Lassahn, Michele Monti, Stephanie Monti, the late Margaret M. Monti (Joseph Schulthise), Valerie Monti Holland, Sandra Monti Quiles. Loving grandfather of Samuel Holland, Gabrielle Lassahn, Alexander Monti, Hannah Holland, Nino Quiles and Efrain Quiles. Dearest companion of Rita DiBruno. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Sam was the founder and owner of the Monti (now Monti-Rago) Funeral Home since 1961, serving our community for over 50 years. Sam viewed his work as so much more than a profession or career. For him it was a vocation and he loved every moment of his working life.
Sam was born at 11th & Mifflin Sts in South Philadelphia, the only son of Antonino and Carolina (nee Caudo) Monti, both immigrants from the tiny village of Graniti, Messina in Sicily. President of his class at H.H. Furness Junior High School, he graduated from South Philadelphia High School in January 1944, just in time to be drafted into WWII where he served in the US Navy on the aircraft carrier, USS Lake Champlain.
While his high school yearbook lists his aspiration to be an engineer, life had other plans for Sam. After serving his apprenticeship, he earned his Funeral Director’s License in 1950 from Eccles College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.
In the meantime, he met the love of his life, Margaret Shea, on a blind date. She had immigrated from Bell Island, Newfoundland and was living with her aunt in Mayfair. Writing to her mother to ask for her hand in marriage, Sam explained that he was starting a business and that while it would be difficult, he would work hard and expected to succeed. They married in October 1953.
Sam and Margaret opened the Monti Funeral Home on April 23, 1961 at 2533-35 South Broad Street and they did succeed in both building a prosperous business and bringing six girls into the world. Many people winced at the prospect of paying for six weddings but Sam would retort “what about the six college educations?”. And all six girls did indeed go on to gain college degrees, supported by their parents support, both financial and moral.
In November 2007, Sam received the Filitalia International Humanitarian Award for his service and compassion. This was the latest in a series of honours and commitments to the people of South Philadelphia. He worked tirelessly for the Deborah Hospital, as a Master of the OBL (Order of Brotherly Love) as well as the Knights of Columbus among others.
Sam was so very fortunate in finding an apprentice and successor in Mark Rago who has continued the development and the standard of excellence that Sam envisioned when he established the business over 60 years ago.
Relatives and friends are invited to his VIEWING THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 2022, 6-9 P.M. and FRIDAY MORNING APRIL 1, 2022, 8:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. at THE MONTI-RAGO FUNERAL HOME, INC., 2531-35 SOUTH BROAD STREET. Funeral Mass, 11 A.M., St. Monica Church, 17th and Ritner Sts. Entombment Calvary Cemetery & Chapel Mausoleum, Cherry Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions be made in Sam’s Memory to St. Monica Church.
SAMUEL J.; March 27, 2022. Beloved husband of the late Margaret Lillian Monti (nee Shea). Devoted father of Carolyn (Ronald) Lassahn, Michele Monti, Stephanie Monti, the late Margaret M. Monti (Joseph Schulthise), Valerie Monti Holland, Sandra Monti Quiles. Loving grandfather of Samuel Holland, Gabrielle Lassahn, Alexander Monti, Hannah Holland, Nino Quiles and Efrain Quiles. Dearest companion of Rita DiBruno. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Sam was the founder and owner of the Monti (now Monti-Rago) Funeral Home since 1961, serving our community for over 50 years. Sam viewed his work as so much more than a profession or career. For him it was a vocation and he loved every moment of his working life.
Sam was born at 11th & Mifflin Sts in South Philadelphia, the only son of Antonino and Carolina (nee Caudo) Monti, both immigrants from the tiny village of Graniti, Messina in Sicily. President of his class at H.H. Furness Junior High School, he graduated from South Philadelphia High School in January 1944, just in time to be drafted into WWII where he served in the US Navy on the aircraft carrier, USS Lake Champlain.
While his high school yearbook lists his aspiration to be an engineer, life had other plans for Sam. After serving his apprenticeship, he earned his Funeral Director’s License in 1950 from Eccles College of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia.
In the meantime, he met the love of his life, Margaret Shea, on a blind date. She had immigrated from Bell Island, Newfoundland and was living with her aunt in Mayfair. Writing to her mother to ask for her hand in marriage, Sam explained that he was starting a business and that while it would be difficult, he would work hard and expected to succeed. They married in October 1953.
Sam and Margaret opened the Monti Funeral Home on April 23, 1961 at 2533-35 South Broad Street and they did succeed in both building a prosperous business and bringing six girls into the world. Many people winced at the prospect of paying for six weddings but Sam would retort “what about the six college educations?”. And all six girls did indeed go on to gain college degrees, supported by their parents support, both financial and moral.
In November 2007, Sam received the Filitalia International Humanitarian Award for his service and compassion. This was the latest in a series of honours and commitments to the people of South Philadelphia. He worked tirelessly for the Deborah Hospital, as a Master of the OBL (Order of Brotherly Love) as well as the Knights of Columbus among others.
Sam was so very fortunate in finding an apprentice and successor in Mark Rago who has continued the development and the standard of excellence that Sam envisioned when he established the business over 60 years ago.
Relatives and friends are invited to his VIEWING THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 2022, 6-9 P.M. and FRIDAY MORNING APRIL 1, 2022, 8:30 A.M. until 10:30 A.M. at THE MONTI-RAGO FUNERAL HOME, INC., 2531-35 SOUTH BROAD STREET. Funeral Mass, 11 A.M., St. Monica Church, 17th and Ritner Sts. Entombment Calvary Cemetery & Chapel Mausoleum, Cherry Hill, NJ. In lieu of flowers, family requests contributions be made in Sam’s Memory to St. Monica Church.