04/14/2026
On April 12, 2026, Rocky passed away peacefully as he wished at home surrounded by his wife of 59 years, Jane, sons Chucky, Jason and A.J., and wives Jenn and Maury.
Born in Dunmore in 1945, he was the middle son of Charles and Martha Boykus Sabatelle. He was a 1963 graduate of Dunmore High School where he played football with dear friends, Pat Sardone and the late Van Chiavacci.
Rocky had a great knowledge of the meat industry. In younger years, he worked for the Hodin-owned Giant Markets, Scranton, Meat Specialist for Wetterau Food Services. In 1978, Jane and Rocky opened Sabatelle’s Italian Market in Pittston, PA.
Gifted with an extraordinary art ability, he enjoyed drawing, sketching, and painting daily. Along with his Pittston friends, Joe and Sammy, Rocky enjoyed going to car shows, watching Bear Jackson, and shining his Studebaker. His looked forward to having coffee at Al’s Quickmart, Elmhurst and Family Night Pizza at Al’s with Jimmy Cortese and friends.
Charles life was filled with plans, determination, respect, and blessings.
Surviving is his wife of 59 years, Jane Dougher Sabatelle, sons Chucky and wife Maury, West Pittston, Jason, Scranton, A. J. and his wife Jenn, grandchildren Alisabeth Sabatelle, Brooklyn, NY, his namesake, Rocky and Movie Star Mauve Sabatelle and Cammy McDonough, Springbrook Township (who Papa truly adored), brother William Sabatelle and his wife Linda, Archibald, sister-in-law’s Martha “Dougher”, Mary Ellen Coelho, James Dougher and wife Cathy, Peter and Margi Parinisi, Joe and Patricia Cardoni.