Joseph Sabella peacefully passed away with family by his side on April 6, 2025.
He was born on March 23, 1931 in Brooklynn, NY to Frank and Rose (Schemitz) Sabella. He graduated from Farmingdale High School in 1949 and Long Island Agricultural and Technical Institute in 1951, both in NY. During the Korean War he served in the United States Navy aboard the USS Willis Lee (DD-929) and also in Nova Scotia, Canada. During this time he met Norma Weatherbee, who was serving in the Canadian Navy. They were wed in Verdun, Quebec on December 27, 1956 and were married for 49 years. He graduated from Saint Louis University in Missouri with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering in 1960. He then worked in the electrical power industry in St. Louis, upstate New York, and Connecticut. The family then moved to Derry, NH, and he worked for and retired from Public Service Company of New Hampshire. After 58 years in Derry, NH, he moved to Bothell, WA to be closer to family. He loved his family, his work, and the outdoors and spent many years hiking, canoeing and fishing in New Hampshire.
He followed the SLU men’s basketball team. In recent years, he continued touring the Northwest and Midwest with his two daughters. The annual family trip in 2023 was a visit to St. Louis to the Gateway Arch National Park and the SLU campus where he rubbed the belly of the Billiken mascot. The family also visited the place where he and had wife lived with their first two children. Daily prayers and having a strong faith were important for our father. He was thought of by many for being such a kind, humble and generous person.
He was preceded in death by his mother Rose Matzelle in 2003, his wife in 2006, and his son Paul in 2016. He is survived by his daughter Marion (James) Scichilone of Snohomish, WA; his daughter Margaret (Michale) Chanthavong of Bloomington, MN; his grandson Tyler (Kasey) Rajotte of Rosemont, MN; and a few cousins and several nieces and nephews in the US, Canada, and England. He is also survived by two step-sisters and two step-nieces. Our father, Papa, father-in-law, uncle and cousin will be greatly missed. He made his goal to reach his ninety-fourth birthday on Sunday, March 23; in recent weeks he had two celebrations with cake and balloons.
The family appreciates the staff and his friends at the Northshore Senior Center and SHAG Boulevard Place, both in Bothell, WA. Evergreen Health and Evergreen Home Health and Hospice, both in Kirkland, WA, and the Beautiful and Caring Adult Family Home, Silver Firs, WA, are thanked for the exceptional medical care and support that he and his family experienced.
Following cremation, A Mass was held at 9am on Tuesday, April 29th at Saint Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church in Woodinville, WA, concluded by a reception in the social hall. There will be a private burial in the Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry, NH, in the fall. Evergreen Funeral Home in Everett, WA and Peabody Funeral Home in Derry, NH are handling these arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local charity of one’s choice.