Contributions to the tribute of John Sbardella

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Dale Davis posted a condolence

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to your families. I went to high school with John Jr.

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Debbie posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Delcine, My only news connection to Indiana County since I've moved to Arizona is to look at the Gazette online. I am so sorry to read of the passing of your dad. You and your brother and sisters have my deepest sympathy on your loss. He was a sweetheart. I can still see him and that smile.

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Eva Jalbert posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Julie and all her family Your friends from Burlington send their sympathies. I hope your dad dosen't throw anyone in heaven clear across the road. Love the Jalberts and yoru burlington friends

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Lucy Sbardella Thornton posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dec.1, 2011, Dad You may think that because our family moved to South Africa, Grandpa Sbardella could not have been a major influence in the Thornton family. How wrong that would be. Dad was larger than life, particularly when you only saw him once every few years. Each of my children has distinct memories of him, and they will send some of those memories so that they can be shared with everyone attending the service. We are not able to be with you and for that we are truly sorry, but do know that we are all with you in spirit and sharing the sorrow but also celebrating the man who was Dad and Grandpa Spud. Being the oldest of 3 girls in the Sbardella family was not easy. Dad nicknamed me ‘Chunka Head’, and was happy to continue to call me that well into my teens. When I started to cook he would refer to some of my culinary creations as ‘slumgullion’. And then there was the challenge of what he called the “shaggy dogs” who would come to call on the Sbardella girls….. If I had been given $5.00 for every time Dad threatened to send me to a nunnery, I would now be a very wealthy lady. Some of you may remember a song which became popular in the 70’s, Wolverton Mountain. If I were with you today I would insist that Del and Julie and I sing it for you. The song is about how Clifton Flowers, a real mountain man, protects his daughter from the onslaught of young men who seek her favours. It seemed at the time that it was written about John Sbardella. On a more serious note, I want to pay special tribute to Kathryn. Her love and care gave Dad a new lease on life, and ensured that he would not only live longer, but that he would also enjoy a quality of life he would not have known if she hadn’t come back into his world. I must also pay tribute to my brother John and sisters Del and Julie. They were the ones who knew and respected Dad enough to know that he needed to remain as much in control as he could. That meant that difficult decisions had to be made and tough situations sometimes arose, but in their wisdom they knew that Spud would be better off at home than in any situation where he was too dependent on others. Special thanks also to Mike and Jake who were available for outings, gun cleaning, and other errand running, and contributed a great deal to the quality of life that Dad was able to experience in his latter years. Much love, Lucy Sbardella Thornton 2 attachments — Scan and download all attachments View all images lucy&julie&aaron&colin.jpg 263K View Scan and download family_with_horns.jpg 211K View Scan and download

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Lucy Sbardella Thornton posted a condolence

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Dec.1, 2011, Dad You may think that because our family moved to South Africa, Grandpa Sbardella could not have been a major influence in the Thornton family. How wrong that would be. Dad was larger than life, particularly when you only saw him once every few years. Each of my children has distinct memories of him, and they will send some of those memories so that they can be shared with everyone attending the service. We are not able to be with you and for that we are truly sorry, but do know that we are all with you in spirit and sharing the sorrow but also celebrating the man who was Dad and Grandpa Spud. Being the oldest of 3 girls in the Sbardella family was not easy. Dad nicknamed me ‘Chunka Head’, and was happy to continue to call me that well into my teens. When I started to cook he would refer to some of my culinary creations as ‘slumgullion’. And then there was the challenge of what he called the “shaggy dogs” who would come to call on the Sbardella girls….. If I had been given $5.00 for every time Dad threatened to send me to a nunnery, I would now be a very wealthy lady. Some of you may remember a song which became popular in the 70’s, Wolverton Mountain. If I were with you today I would insist that Del and Julie and I sing it for you. The song is about how Clifton Flowers, a real mountain man, protects his daughter from the onslaught of young men who seek her favours. It seemed at the time that it was written about John Sbardella. On a more serious note, I want to pay special tribute to Kathryn. Her love and care gave Dad a new lease on life, and ensured that he would not only live longer, but that he would also enjoy a quality of life he would not have known if she hadn’t come back into his world. I must also pay tribute to my brother John and sisters Del and Julie. They were the ones who knew and respected Dad enough to know that he needed to remain as much in control as he could. That meant that difficult decisions had to be made and tough situations sometimes arose, but in their wisdom they knew that Spud would be better off at home than in any situation where he was too dependent on others. Special thanks also to Mike and Jake who were available for outings, gun cleaning, and other errand running, and contributed a great deal to the quality of life that Dad was able to experience in his latter years. Much love, Lucy Sbardella Thornton 2 attachments — Scan and download all attachments View all images lucy&julie&aaron&colin.jpg 263K View Scan and download family_with_horns.jpg 211K View Scan and download

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Aaron Thornton posted a condolence

Monday, December 5, 2011

Grandpap. I could have imagined no better way to celebrate GrandPap’s life than going hunting. My brother and I, here in South Africa & so far away from Western Pennsylvania honoured our grandfather by doing what he loved best and what he taught us to do over 20 years ago. We went hunting. I hope he was smiling down on these two “City Slickers”, and he hopefully knows that his blood will run true in us even though we are all the way over here in Africa. I have mainly childhood memories of him, and he seemed a gruff and stern man sometimes, but he always had a twinkle in his eye when telling us kids what to do and then telling us what we’d done wrong. I will remember the smell of his house, I will remember the stories he and uncle Louie used to sit and tell on the front porch, I will remember fishing in the ponds behind the house, I will remember him mowing that HUGE backyard of his, I will remember the 4th of July picnics, But most of all I’ll remember those HUGE bear hugs I used to get everytime we came to visit. I love you Grandpap. Rest in Peace. Your Grandson, Aaron

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Juliana (Snicklefritz) Thornton posted a condolence

Monday, December 5, 2011

Dear Grampap, We will miss you. You are so much a part of my memories of Brush Valley, sitting on your lap as a little girl and marvelling at how big your hands were. You called me snicklefritz. I loved hearing stories of your childhood, you were a tough Italian immigrant and you overcame all the challenges life threw you. You got to marry your highschool sweetheart in old age. You were an amazing man. May your story live on forever. It will continue in your grandchildren far afield in "Africa". You taught us to survive Grampap. Your spirit lives on. Thank you. Julie

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RANDY & LONNY JONES posted a condolence

Monday, December 5, 2011

AUNT KAY AND FAMILY, WE ARE SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT SPUD. YOU ARE IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS.ALL OUR LOVE

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Cindy posted a condolence

Monday, December 5, 2011

Julie, Del, Spud, Lucy & Family, So sorry to hear about your Dad, he truly was a wonderful person and he will be sadly missed by everyone. You are in our thoughts and prayers. With sincere sympathy. Jim and Cindy McCurdy, and the entire Stiffler family.

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Colin posted a condolence

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Grampap influenced my life deeply and forever. He taught me how to cast a fishing rod in the little ponds below his house; how to find worms in his worm bed; how to identify and dig out sasafras roots in the woods up the hill; how to load and shoot a gun on his shootin range; how to find humour in just about anything. My life has gone in directions grampap wouldnt of dreamed of but these lessons stuck, and grampaps spirit has been with me thoughout. A funnier, tougher, warmer, and just plain BIGGER man you wont find on earth. I dont know what happens to a persons spirit after death but I sincerely hope Grampap gets to keep hunting Brush Valley woods forever and ever. May he rest in peace (with a bit of hunting thrown in for good measure)

John Sbardella

1923 - 2011

Funeral Service