Sam Spiteri, age 80, of Golden Living Center in Rush City passed away September 19, 2007 at Fairview Lakes Regional Hospital in Wyoming. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 22nd at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rush City with Father Xavier Thelakkatt as Celebrant. A visitation will be held from 4:00 – 8:00 PM on Friday, September 21st at Strike Funeral Home – Cambridge Chapel and also 1 hour prior to the funeral Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery in Harris.
Sam Spiteri was born April 27, 1927 in Malta to John and Helen (Bonnet) Spiteri. He grew up in Malta and in 1947 he came to the United States, settling in Detroit, Michigan. He met Viva Moore in Detroit and on September 9, 1948 they were married in Bowling Green, Ohio. They made their home in Detroit for a time and then raised their two children, Bill and Deborah in Riverview, Michigan. Sam worked in the culinary field for the majority of his working years. In June of 1987 Sam and Viva moved to their daughter and son-in-laws farm in Harris. He later needed additional care and resided at Lakeside Care Center in Pine City for seven years and for the last two years at Golden Living Center in Rush City.
Sam enjoyed politics, history, reading and writing. He was a big sports fan, especially of the Detroit Tigers and Lions. Sam also loved spending time with his family and his grandchildren always had a special place in his heart.
Sam Spiteri passed away September 19, 2007 at Fairview Lakes Regional Hospital in Wyoming at the age of 80 years, 4 months and 23 days. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by one brother, Rev. Brother Alfred Spiteri.
Sam will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 59 years, Viva, of North Branch; son, Bill (Kayoka) Spiteri of Ann Arbor, Michigan; daughter, Deborah (Gary) Guse of Harris; three brothers, George (Tessie) Spiteri of Malta, Tony (Yvonne) Spiteri of Malta, Joseph Spiteri of Malta; four sisters, Carmen Spiteri of Malta, Connie Zammit of Malta, Theresa Orzechowski of Michigan, and Josephine (Willie) Swiecki of Michigan; five grandchildren, Gary (Crystal) Guse Jr., Jennifer (Scott) Hemmelgarn, Jody (Todd) Klein, Nami (John) Nielipinski, and Osamu (Junco) Spiteri; seven great-grandchildren, Emily, Zachary, Bradley, Kaylee, Jacob, Carson and Levi; and by other relatives and friends.
The Spiteri family wishes to publicly thank the staff of Golden Living Center, and all the nurses, aides, and doctors for their loving, compassionate care for the last many years.