NATALE, EDWARD A., JR.

Edward “Ed” Anthony Natale, Jr., 77 of Avalon, NJ – succumbed to pancreatitis and related illnesses on May 27th, 2023 at 2:40pm at Cape Regional Hospital in Cape May County, NJ. Edward was born in Philadelphia, PA, to Mary and Edward Natale on April 6th, 1946. Ed grew up in West Philadelphia where he attended West Catholic High School and enjoyed time with his friends and his sisters, Louisa and Monnie. Ed was always a storyteller and his upbringing led to many anecdotes that Ed would happily recount to anyone ready to listen.
After holding a number of odd jobs in his youth and spending a year at Temple University where he briefly studied journalism, Ed spent most of his adult life working for the Sunoco Oil Refinery in South Philadelphia, eventually becoming a talented electrician. Work allowed Ed to support his family, which he always felt great pride in his ability to do. However, his truest loves existed outside of work where he enjoyed building things with his hands, like the deck and shed in the backyard of his family home in Springfield, PA. Perhaps more than anything else, though, Ed loved his wife, Barbara, and the beach. Always having a keen eye for real estate, Ed eventually purchased his dream vacation home in Stone Harbor, NJ, in 1987 where he would spend many weekends and summers tinkering around the house, lounging on the beach, crabbing, and taking his family out to dinner until they sold the house in 2013.
After retiring from Sunoco, Ed and Barbara moved to their beach home in Stone Harbor. However, retirement did not suit Ed’s unremitting wish to work and be useful. These desires led to Ed’s other two great loves: baking and the Sealark Bed and Breakfast in Avalon, NJ, which Ed and Barbara purchased in 2015. There, Ed found peace and happiness in baking wonderful breads and cakes, entertaining the many guests who passed through their halls, and hosting friends and family.
Throughout his life, Ed had a passion for music and entering any of his homes meant being enjoined into a world of melody. This great pleasure led to many nights listening to the NJ shore band “Animal House” and even dancing the night away with his wife Barbara, much to the surprise of his sons. This led to a reinvigorated social life in his golden years that was full of love, joy, music, and, of course, laughter at Ed’s ever-present corny jokes.
Ed persisted in his work at the Sealark Bed and Breakfast until becoming ill in April. Even in his illness, Ed found ways to continue to grow. He became more emotionally vulnerable and affectionate, desiring hugs and handholds from his family as he neared the end. At his side when he died were his sons, Eddie and Jimmy, his wife, Barbara, his sister, Louisa, and his brother-in-law, Rob. In addition to the above, he is survived by his sister, Monnie, his grandsons Matt, Mike, Jack, and Emerson, and his daughters in law, Kerrie and Becky.
Memorial service will be Friday, June 2, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Radzieta Funeral Home, 9 Hand Avenue, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210. Condolences at www.radzieta.com