Aug. 7, 1926 – Oct. 30, 2018

NATCHEZ — Mass of Christian burial for John Henry “Sonny” Sanguinetti Jr., 92, who died peacefully Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, at his residence after a brief illness in the presence of his family,will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary Basilica with the Rev. David O’Connor officiating.
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.       
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the church with a rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour before mass on Saturday.
Mr. Sanguinetti was a life-time resident of Natchez, and was recognized as the Natchez Democrat 2001 Unsung Hero.
He was born Aug. 7, 1926, in Natchez, the son of John Henry Sanguinetti and Doris Couillard Sanguinetti. He was one of nine children.
A graduate of St. Joseph High School in Natchez and Loyola University in New Orleans, he served as the terminal manager for Red Ball Motor Freight and then operated Sanguinetti Exxon for a number of years.
He served on the USS New York in the Navy during World War II.
Since early 1950, his hobby was to spend time helping Cathedral School maintain its high standard of excellence and to assist the Cathedral athletic programs. He was a former Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 158, a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and a charter member and cook for the St. Mary’s Men’s prayer breakfast. He was proud to chauffer Santa Claus for the Natchez Santa Claus Committee for 15 years.
Sanguinetti was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Mary Patricia Sanguinetti; one brother, Joe Sanguinetti; and six sisters, Betsy Yowell and husband, Kenneth, Mary Whitam and husband, Will, Abbie Arnold and husband, James, Dottie Arceneaux and husband, Henry, Frances Trosclair and husband, J.P., and Kathleen “Tootie” Officer and husband, Don.
Survivors include his loving wife of 67 years, Mary Estelle Puderer Sanguinetti; one brother, Jimmy Sanguinetti and wife, Claudette, of Covington; two sisters-in-law, Jeanne Sanguinetti of Natchez and Pat Puderer Decell Irwin of Baton Rouge; nine children, John H. Sanguinetti III and wife, Colleen, of Glenview, Ill., Paul Sanguinetti and wife, Trisha, of San Antonio, Texas, Charlotte Sanguinetti and David Sanguinetti of Natchez, Margaret Cooley and husband, Randy, of Dallas, Kathleen Pool and husband, Christopher, of Lexington, Ky., Pat Sanguinetti of Hammond, La., Mark Sanguinetti and wife, Julie, of Ferriday, and Andrew Sanguinetti and wife, Kelley, of Benton, La.; 13 grandchildren, Mary Alyce Cooley Kaetzel and husband, Daxon, of Dallas, Rebecca Cooley and Caroline Pool Hayes of New Orleans, Michelle Sanguinetti of Austin, Michael Sanguinetti of Dennis, Texas, Mary Margaret Pool of Lexington, Megan Sanguinetti of San Francisco, Nicole Sanguinetti of Houston, Frederik and Kirsten Sanguinetti of Ferriday, and William, Melissa and Benjamin Sanguinetti of Benton; two great- grandchildren, Margot Nichols and Eliza Kaetzel; and a number nieces and nephews.
When asked which of his children or grandchildren was his favorite, he would always reply, “whichever one I am with!”
Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Cathedral School or Cathedral Athletic Association, 701 N. Martin Luther King St., Natchez, MS 39120 or St. Mary Basilica or a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.