Samuel Lawrence Condella

Samuel Lawrence Condella, “Sammy”, 75, passed on Monday, November 10, 2025 in Queen Creek, Arizona. While Sam enjoyed the past decade living his best retired life in the sunshine of Arizona, he spent much of his early life in Chicago (still always in shorts, even in the dead of winter). Born January 27, 1950, to Salvator and Vera Condella; Sam was a smart, adventurous, and athletic boy who made friends easily, adored his family, and spent many many afternoons at Wrigley Field watching his beloved Cubs. He attended a variety of Catholic schools, including all the Loyola’s in town, where he was a National Merit Scholar and an athlete. At Loyola University, Sam was a member of Pi Alpha Lamba fraternity where he served as president from 1971 to 1972. He earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree there.

He met the love of his life, Carol Condella (nee Jones), outside Chicago as well. They married in July of 1984 and spent every single day of the last 41 years loving each other. (Joke’s on the betting pool that gave them 6 months). They raised two daughters, Laura Condella and Jackie Condella (Joseph Paylo), for which he was a steady foundation that they could always come home to. He was amazed and delighted by his two grandchildren, Caden and Chloe Paylo.

Sam was an only child, but he had so many brothers. In fraternities, at companies, and in new homes, Sam made his friends into his family. His easy-going nature and ‘live and let live’ approach to life made him fun to be around and impossible not to love. His brothers (and sisters) bridged geographic, political, and generational divides, and they all made his life fuller.

Sam spent his career making things you use every day – soap, candy, meals, power tools – and later supporting the diverse groups of people who made those things. But his work wasn’t his life’s work. Sam lived for the everyday joys that he filled his world with: a hot cup of coffee, a cold beer with his brothers, a meal with his wife. A drive with the top down on his BMW, a big cigar, and the radio volume turned to 11. The soccer tournaments, the gymnastics meets, and later, the late-night bottles of wine and deep conversations by the fire with his daughters. A quiet fishing trip on an off-the-grid lake, the whitewater spray of the Snake river from the bow of a raft, and the laughs after he got tossed in. The quiet drumbeat of waves on the beach in Hawaii, the bass thrum off a really good pair of speakers, and the crackle of logs in the fireplace. A Tuesday evening in the right field bleachers, a Sunday afternoon cursing out Joe Buck (and often the Bears themselves), and a Saturday morning on the 18^th green.

Sam will be missed by so many, in so many small moments, and in so many big ways.

If anyone would like to pay forward the big or small moments of joy that Sam brought into their lives, the family asks you please send:

• Monetary donations to the American Cancer Society or House of Refuge in Mesa, AZ
• Memories, stories, and photos to Carol, Laura, and Jackie via your favorite social media, email platform or carrier pigeon (JK please don’t send birds)
• Positive vibes for a few more Bears wins to round out a year of playoff seasons for all his Chicago teams

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.