HUDSON FALLS – Giovanni “John” A. Catalfamo, 68, a life-long resident of Hudson Falls passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2017 at Albany Medical Center due to complications from heart surgery.
Born on October 10, 1949 in Glens Falls, he was the son of the late Angelo and Assunta (Renda) Catalfamo.
John was a graduate of Hudson Falls High School, where he played football. After high school, he worked as an auto mechanic at Sears in Glens Falls, and then spent nearly 30 years working for Finch Pruyn Paper Company in Glens Falls, where he was a machine operator and shop steward. In his retirement, John helped his daughter operate Jack and Jill Ice Cream in Hudson Falls.
The son of Sicilian immigrants, he grew up in a bilingual home. He lived in the home his father built and, just as his father had, grew a beautiful vegetable garden every year. John was a great cook and his family’s number one request was his spaghetti and meatballs.
For the past 21 years, John shared his life with his companion, Rose Coon. He and Rose were bowling league partners, spent time traveling in the United States, and took many cruises together.
John was a communicant of St. Joseph’s Church in Fort Edward and St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church in Hudson Falls.
He dabbled in the stock market and loved discussing politics or baseball. He was a die-hard Yankees fan. And, for many years, John coached Little League teams in Hudson Falls. He especially enjoyed sitting in his lawn chair along the sidelines watching his grandchildren participate in sporting events. He also took pleasure in a good game of cards with family or friends and fishing with his grandchildren. He was a horse racing fan, a member of the Harness Racing Association, and for a period of time, owned his own harness horse, “Brand New Liz.”
John was a very friendly man, who loved talking and laughing with anyone willing. He was a loving and generous man, who was quick to help others in need, and every year sponsored multiple children through the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging. John will always be remembered as a man who at a moment’s notice, would be at the doorstep of family or friend, happy to help, no problem too big or too small.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his older siblings, Anthony Catalfamo, Frances Bonnoyer, Phyllis Moak, Louis Catalfamo, Mary Schenk, James Catalfamo, Carl Catalfamo, Nora Catalfamo, Florence Weber and William Catalfamo.
He is survived by his children, Tony Catalfamo (Jean Keays) of Hudson Falls, Cathy Catalfamo (Andy Farry) of Glens Falls, Michelle “Cubby” Bergman (Will Bergman) of Lake George; his companion Rose Coon (Leslie Coon, Austin Stevenson, Penelope Stevenson, Chase Coon) of Hudson Falls; his grandchildren, Lexi Catalfamo, Tyler Bergman, Angelo Bergman, Adrian Bergman, Ollie Farry, Mia Bergman; his nephew and best friend, Larry Moak; along with several other nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
Friends may call on Monday, January 8, 2018, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Carleton Funeral Home, Inc., 68 Main Street in Hudson Falls.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Mary’s/St. Paul’s Church on the Park in Hudson Falls.
The Rite of Committal will be in the spring at St. Mary’s Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward.
Donations in John’s memory may be sent to Unbound (Christian Foundation for Children and Aging), 1 Elmwood Avenue, Kansas City, KS 66103.
