Salvatore "Sal" Papandrea

Salvatore (“Sal”} Papandrea, 91, of Auburn, passed away peacefully, Sunday June 23, 2019, surrounded by the ones he loved, at Rose Monahan Hospice Home. 

Sal is survived by his beloved wife of 65 years, Grace (Ventura) Papandrea; Their six children and their spouses, Elizabeth M. and her husband Leonard Lariviere of Groveland; Anna M. and her husband Richard Bellows of Oxford; Mary C.  and her husband Nikolaos Glykis of Stoughton; Anthony J. Papandrea of Pocasset; Michael J. and his wife Michelle Papandrea of Auburn, Joseph R. and his wife Jill Papandrea of Sturbridge; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; Many in-laws, nieces, nephews and their families.   Sal is predeceased by his two brothers Arthur and Joseph Papandrea and two grandsons, Donnie Timmins and Georgios Glykis.

He was born in New York, NY, son of the late Anthony and Mary (Lobello) Papandrea.  Sal and his family moved to Massachusetts from New York, during the depression and settled in Worcester where Sal graduated from North High School.  Upon graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served proudly during WWII.  Sal then graduated from Boston University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work.    His professional life was spent helping those less fortunate, serving as Social Worker, then as Director of Welfare for the town of Auburn and when the state assumed all local city and town welfare programs, he became Director of the Food Commodity Program for Central Massachusetts, continuing as Director when the Program became the Food Stamp Program.  Sal retired from state service for the Commonwealth after 20 years and began the next phase of his life, devoting his time to his family.  In retirement, he loved spending his summers at the Cape with his “Lucrezia”, the love of his life and doing those things that brought him joy, especially digging for quahogs off the shoreline and listening to opera.

Sal loved the game of handball and was a regular YMCA champion in several divisions.  He played the game into his 70’s.  Sal was active in his church St Joseph’s and participated as a Lector at Our Lady of Loreto Church.  Even though he was born in NY, he was a devoted Red Sox fan and relished their not one, but three World Series wins in his later years.  Sal was, and still is a hero and role model to his children and grandchildren.

Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours, Wednesday, June 26th from 4 to 7 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St.  His funeral will be celebrated Thursday, June 27th from the funeral home with a procession to St Joseph’s Church, 189 Oxford St. Auburn where his funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am.  Burial with Military honors will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in his name can be made to the Rose Monahan Hospice Residence, care of the VNA Care, 120 Thomas St.   or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601