Sam A. Monaco

Sam was always in motion. With eight kids to feed he didn’t have much free time on his hands. By trade Sam was a mason working for local construction companies including Azzari and Gahrs during the day and often had a night job as well. He’d split wood from trees he found to sell and mowed lawns (including St. Joseph’s Cemetery with a push mower). When Swedesboro ran bus trips to the skating rink Sam always volunteered to chaperone. His kids were amazed at how smooth he was on eight wheels. It was a byproduct of playing years earlier on a roller hockey team. With so many mouths to feed a garden was a natural. One year he won a contest for the largest cantaloupe, 20 lbs. Though he was a quiet man he enjoyed pro-wrestling, roller derby, and cleaning up the wrecks at Bridgeport Speedway.rnHe is survived by his wife, Barbara; his first wife, Shirley and their 8 children who always made his face light up: Catherine Moran, Thomas, Shirley Wissen, Sam Jr., Benjamin, John, Roseann Liles, and Susan Rentas; step children: Walter and Alicia Cooklin; his brother, Tom; and 13 grandchildren. rnCome celebrate 82 great years Thursday 6-8 p.m. and Friday (Sam’s birthday) 9-10 a.m. at Daley Life Celebration Studio, Swedesboro, where there will be a service at 10 a.m. Interment St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Donations to Woolwich Fire Company, 1517 Kings Hwy, Swedesboro will be appreciated. –