NORWICH – Joseph D. Natoli, 86, of Park Street, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2011 at the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford.
Born in Fulton on Dec. 31, 1924, Joseph was the son of Christopher and Santa (Favorito) Natoli. After moving to Norwich at a young age, Joe graduated from Norwich High School with the Class of 1944 where he was a member of the football team. He was drafted into the army out of high school and served with the 41st Armored Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, known as the “Hell on Wheels” Division. He served in Northern France, Ardennes and the Rhineland campaigns and fought in the Battle of the Bulge where he was seriously injured. He received the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign medal with three bronze stars and two Purple Hearts.
Following his recovery from his injuries, Joe married the love of his life, Angelina Favorito, in 1946 in Norwich. He joined the workforce at the Norwich Shoe Company where he remained for forty-four years.  Joe was a member of St. Bartholomew’s Church where he was a long-time usher, and of the Knights of Columbus. He loved music, marching bands and drum and bugle corps. He was a dedicated fan of high school and college football and an avid Syracuse University fan.
In addition to his wife, Angelina, of Norwich, Joe is survived by a son, Christopher Natoli and his wife, Maureen, of Norwich and a daughter, Sandra Petruzzelli and her husband, Michael, of Rochester; four grandchildren, Beth Anne Natoli of New Orleans, La., Nathan Natoli, of Norwich, Natalie Tortoretti and Michael Petruzzelli, both of Rochester; and a great granddaughter, Madison Petruzzelli, of Rochester. Several cousins also survive.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Joe will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at St. Bartholomew’s Church. Committal services will follow in Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel in St. Paul’s Cemetery.  Friends are invited to call at the Wilson Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of St. Bartholomew’s Church, 89 East Main St., Norwich, NY  13815.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the Wilson Funeral Home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.