Paul  J.  Catania – 62, of North Reading and formerly of Woburn, died Friday, October 11, 2024 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, after a lengthy illness.

Born in Woburn, MA on December 8, 1961. He was the son of the late James F., Sr. and Nancy Ann (Best) Catania. Paul was raised and attended school in Woburn and was a graduate of Woburn High School; he later received his Associate Degree through military trained electronics. He also had Oil Burner and HVAC Licenses.

Paul was a U.S. Navy Veteran, he served from 1980 to 1987, he was a proud Navy Submarine Veteran, spending most of his time on the USS Shark. He later worked for many years as an Emergency Generator Technician for Kraft Power, until his retirement in January of 2023. He was a union member of Teamster 25.

He was a quiet and private man who lived by the motto: Run Silent – Run Deep. His friends say: “A true friend that assumed nothing and asked for nothing in return.” Paul was a great man and touched so many lives. Paul also had a quirky side which often slipped out. He’d sing  “To Sexy” to get his kids off to bed or clear a room in general. He participated in hairy chest competitions while cruising and won not 1 but 2 competitions. As their wedding song said, and will always be, “ The wind beneath my wings.”

He enjoyed working on his 1944 Military Jeep, attending parades, car shows and  4 wheeling in his 1961 CJ5. He enjoyed attending many Jeep Jamborees in ME, MA and VT with his wife Dianne and friends.  Paul enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved the outdoors; He enjoyed movies, especially war movies which made the house rattle. He volunteered at the Martin’s Pond Haunted Playground and ran the graveyard on the beach with his daughters, their friends and his nephew. He recently had taken interest in raising Crawfish

He was a member of the Burlington DAV, Military Vehicle Collectors Club and the Woburn Minutemen. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 31 years.

Family members include his loving wife of 34 years, Dianne (Stewart) Catania; his daughters, Kathryn (Catania) Perry and her husband Ben and Amanda Catania; his son, David Hudson; his brothers, James and Jeff Catania and the late Andrew Catania; his sister, Leslie Catania.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday 12/8/ 2024 from 1-4 PM at The Lakeside Inn, 595 North Ave., Wakefield, MA 01880

 www.croswellfuneralhome.com