Obituary of Samuel J. Cornacchio

Elmira: Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, October 5, 2015. Sam was born in Elmira NY on February 20, 1917 a son of Michael and Rosemarie (D'Ambrosio) Cornacchio. He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years Ida Marie (Scrocarelli) Cornacchio; brothers, Anthony Cornacchio, Joseph (Nellie) Cornacchio, Pasquale "Patsy" Cornacchio; sisters, Rosemarie Cornacchio, Carmella Cornacchio, Irene (Sam) Messina, Grace (Bill) Marrone; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Lee Conklin, Jack Fisher, Othello (Dora) Scrocarelli, Peter (Amelia) Scrocarelli, Caroline (Ralph) Saravullo, Matilda and Lawrence Ponzi. Sam is survived by children, Gloria Cornacchio, Michael Cornacchio with wife Sheila and Mary Cornacchio McDonald all of Elmira; grandchildren, Michael Cornacchio of Elmira, Matthew (Katie) Cornacchio of Elmira, Alissa (Mason) Goldberg of NYC and Samuel McDonald of Elmira; great grandchildren, Lily, Ava and Chloe Cornacchio and Carter and Cooper Goldberg; sisters, Lucy Rundell of Elmira and Theresa Conklin of Lawrenceburg IN; sister-in-law Linda Cornacchio of Elmira; along with several nieces, nephews and cousins. Sam was a WW II veteran and proudly served in the Army Corps of Engineers. While in the service he worked for two years on the Alaskan Highway in the Yukon before joining the war in Europe. He survived the battle on the beaches of Normandy and was also involved with the major campaigns of Northern France, Central Europe, Ardennes and Rhineland. Upon his return from the war he resumed his love for the sport of baseball. He was a member of the LON club which won the first NYS and regional softball championship in 1948. They went on to play in the World Series hosted in Oklahoma that same year. He was later inducted into the Chemung County Sports Hall of Fame. Sam was a founding member of the Italian American Veterans Club where he enjoyed many Bocce games. He was always a boy at heart and lived life to the fullest. Sam retired from New York State Electric and Gas after 35 years of service. After retiring , Sam along with several of his friends, enjoyed many years of morning coffee at Moretti's Restaurant. He also enjoyed stopping and having coffee with his sister Lucy. Being with his family brought him his greatest joy. Sam was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother and will be deeply missed. The Cornacchio family would like to extend their sincere thanks to niece Mary Ann Donnelly, and to Carrie, Ann Marie and Mary Lynn of the Bath VA Home Services and to Patsy of Care First for the wonderful care they gave to Sam. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 12:00 noon at St. Patrick's Church, Elmira. Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Peter and Paul's Cemetery.