William J. Galletti

William J. (Bill) Galletti, 66, a resident of Swoyersville, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, Wednesday morning, Dec. 10, 2014, at his home.

His loving wife is Irene (Patti) Kiwak Galletti. Together, Bill and Patti celebrated their 37th wedding anniversary on Sept. 3.

Born Aug. 29, 1948, in Kingston, Bill was the son of the late Martin and Rita Handley Galletti.

Raised in Pringle, Bill was a graduate of the former Larksville High School, Class of 1966. During high school, Bill played baseball, basketball and football, and was named All-Scholastic fullback during his senior year.

Following high school, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving his country for three years during the Vietnam War. Upon his honorable discharge on Oct. 29, 1969, he attained the rank of specialist fourth class.

Prior to his retirement, Bill was employed for more than 25 years by Leslie Fay, formerly located in Plains Township. After retiring, Bill greatly enjoyed working part-time for Simonitis Enterprises, Luzerne, where he drove children with special needs to school.

Bill was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Parish, Swoyersville.

A proud veteran, Bill was a member of the American Legion, Andrew Lawrence Post 644, Swoyersville.

Bill was an avid fan of sports, especially football and baseball. When his son was growing up, he enjoyed coaching Little League and Teener League baseball. While working at Leslie Fay, he was a player on their company softball team, making All American first team in 1978 at the National Tournament in St. Louis, Mo.

A family man at heart, Bill cherished every moment he had with his loved ones. He held a special place in his heart for his granddaughter, who was the light of his life. He will forever be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.

In addition to his parents, Martin and Rita Galletti, Bill was preceded in death by his sister, Susie Martz.

In addition to his wife, Patti, Bill is survived by his son, William (Bill) Galletti Jr. and his wife, Maggie, Exeter; his granddaughter, Gianna Galletti, Exeter; his brother, Martin Galletti, Florida; his sister, Rita Wieczorek and her husband, Ronnie, Florida; his nieces, nephews and friends.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the funeral, which will be conducted at 9 a.m. Monday from Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. in St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 116 Hughes St., Swoyersville, with the Rev. Richard J. Cirba, family friend, officiating.

Interment with the Rite of Committal will follow in St. Ignatius Loyola Roman Catholic Cemetery, Pringle, where military honors will be accorded by the U.S. Army.

Family and friends are invited to call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

For additional information, or to send the Galletti family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home website, www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be given in Bill's honor by supporting his great-niece, Samantha Kiwak, in the American Heart Association Philadelphia Heart Walk, by visiting www.heartwalk.kintera.org/philly/samanthakiwak.