Della Santa

Thomas Angelo Della Santa — retired mailman, thespian, barbershop singer, beer salesman and lifelong Butler resident — peacefully passed away on Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, at the age of 97.

Born in Butler on Jan. 31, 1927, he was the only son of the late Angelo and Edith Mazzanti Della Santa.

Tom is remembered by many as the friendly mailman who walked his downtown Butler delivery route for more than 25 years.

Others may remember him as a talented stage performer at the Butler Little Theatre and Musical Theatre Guild, where he sang and danced in many productions, including “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Annie,” “Nunsense,” “The Music Man,” “The Sunshine Boys,” “Where’s Charley?” and many others.

Or perhaps you heard Tom sing with a barbershop quartet or barbershop chorus, as he often did.

Some people knew him as an affable beer salesman for Goettler Distributing.

Maybe you heard him call bingo at a charity event or on a Wednesday morning at the Butler Elks Lodge.

But — no matter the relationship — everyone knew Tom Della Santa to be a gentleman.

Tom was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, who was honorably discharged in November 1946.

He retired from the U.S. Postal Service with 31 years of service, and he worked for Goettler Distributing for 20 years.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, American Legion Post 778, Elks Lodge 170, the Italian Society of Butler and the Barbershop Harmony Society.

In celebration of his 90th birthday year and in response to a dare, Tom made a parachute jump. His skydiving excursion was reported in the Butler Eagle on Aug. 18, 2017.

He is survived by three daughters, Lisa (Vincent) Johns, Mary Anne (James) McBride and Joyce Della Santa; his stepchildren, George (Margy) Vorel, Deborah (Richard) McCandless and Barbara Vorel; nine grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his wives, Frances Vorel Della Santa and Avanell Wright Della Santa; one daughter, Cynthia Percy; and two sisters, Jacqueline Mills and Joyce Cipolla.

DELLA SANTA — Friends of Thomas Angelo Della Santa, who died Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024, will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave., Butler.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 120 Sunset Drive, Butler, with the Rev. Joel Benson officiating. Everyone is asked to please meet at the church.

Entombment will take place at Greenlawn Burial Estates Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, a charitable donation is requested to Butler Little Theatre, One Howard St., Butler, PA 16001; the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler, P.O. Box 2001, Butler, PA 16003; or the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, 259 S. Main St., Butler, PA 16001.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.