Samuel Letizia

AUSTINTOWN – Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, Austintown Chapel, 4303 Mahoning Ave. for Mr. Samuel Letizia, 90, who died Monday afternoon at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital Emergency Room.

Sam was born Dec. 2, 1928, in Youngstown, a son of Ralph and Ernestine Caparella Letizia.

He was an U.S. Army World War II veteran. Sam was employed as a Stationary Engineer for 36 years at the Sheet & Tube Campbell plant operating the main power stations.

Sam attended real estate classes and Youngstown State University obtaining his real estate agent license in 1969. In 1972, he was awarded the salesman of the year award by Manchi Realty Co. and later passed the brokers license test. Sam opened his own company in 1981 called the Letizia Reality Co. and also owned the Polar Bear Bar on the Westside of Youngstown.

He was a member of the Eagles Aerie 3218. Sam was musically inclined and enjoyed playing the organ and the accordion. Most important to Sam was his family. He was married to the former Lucille Merlo on Nov. 2, 1946, and she died Feb. 26, 1988.

Sam leaves his four daughters, Lynn (John) Best, with whom he made his home, Linda (Jack) Nerone of Austintown, Patricia (Joe) Longo and Christine (Dennis) Peebles of Campbell; his son, Samuel (Sonya Thompson) Letizia Jr., of Mars, Pa.; two sisters, Jean Clevidence of Youngstown and Elvie (Larry) Yount of California.; nine grandchildren, Jennifer(George) Kluchar, Doug (Jeanine) Miller, Jill (Ryan) Evans, Rachel Skok, Christina (Mathew) Satterfield, Justin Nerone, Aaron Todessa, Roxanne Al-Sharif and Brandon Best; 14 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and his dog, Lacey.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lucille; and three sisters, Elizabeth Naples, Viola Lane and Mary Martucci.

Family and friends may call Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Tuesday from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the funeral home.

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