Charles Robert Morreale
Charles Robert Morreale passed away at Santa Barbara’s Serenity House on May 17, 2018. Charles was born in Boston, Massachusetts on August 23, 1923 the son of Vincenzo Morreale and Rosa Bruccoleri, Italian immigrants from the island of Sicily who moved to America shortly after World War I. Vincenzo and Rosa had three children; Nofrio, Charles and Maria. Maria was not quite three when she died in a tragic accident and as family lore tells it, Rosa passed away soon after from a broken heart. Vincenzo then returned to his hometown of Grotte, Sicily where he met and married Antonina Zaffuto and returned with his family to Boston. During that year in Sicily, Charles recalled wearing a uniform to school and being ordered to salute Mussolini’s portrait.
Some of Charles’ most memorable experiences came from his service during World War II. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 as an Electrician’s Mate 3rd Class and during his three years of service was stationed on four ships. In 1946, Charles received an Honorable Discharge having been recognized with a World War II Victory Medal, an American Theater Medal and an Asiatic-Pacific Medal.
Charles met Margaret (Peg) Morreale in a dancehall in 1950 and married her the following year. Shortly after, they moved cross country to begin a new life in Orange County, California. Early on, Peg set her sights on a beach community and they soon moved to Corona Del Mar followed by Laguna Nigel before settling in Laguna Beach where they raised their sons, Steve and Phil.
Chuck is predeceased by his wife, Peg, and survived by his brothers Frank and Sam, sons Steve and Phil Morreale (Catharine), granddaughters Ali Manset Morreale and Jessica Morreale Therkelsen (Peter), great grandchildren Soren and Sage Therkelsen and numerous nieces and nephews. The family offers a warm thank you for the care provided by the wonderful staff at Serenity House. Chuck, we will miss your warm smile and incessant humor. Salud!
A service celebrating Charles’ life will be held at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel on June 22 at 1 p.m. Memorial contributions in Charles’ name can be made to the “George and Peggy Manset Memorial Scholarship Fund” (made payable to the Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 3620, SB, CA. 93130 )