Paul M. Cannata, 76, of Wind Gap, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 5, 2021 at St. Luke's Hospice House, Bethlehem. He was the husband of Rita O'Donnell Cannata with whom he celebrated 10 years of marriage. He was previously married to Patricia Ramano for 38 years.

Born November 11, 1944 in Bronx, NY, he was a son of the late Frank and Elizabeth Cannata.

Paul lived in Bethpage, Long Island NY and graduated from Hofstra University. He worked for Dell computers for 35 years, retiring to Wind Gap, PA. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in NY.

Paul was loving, loyal and had a great sense of humor. People recognized him by his voice which was so "New York". He loved his family and had a warm and sensitive side that he showed only to a few people. Paul enjoyed Fox news, politics and finances.

Rita's daughter Heather wrote the following about Paul. "Paul was the best choice my mother ever made. As I got to know him, I realized the difference he made in her life. He cared so much about her that he wouldn't let her make uninformed choices. He also didn't stifle her or smother her personality. Not long after they got married, my mom had major health issues. She ended up in a coma. I got to know Paul over the week we spent with him in her hospital room, as I alternated between crying and bored out of my mind. He was there every minute my sister and I were. And someone who was that dedicated was someone I could trust to take care of her the way my mother deserves. I never saw my mom as consistently happy as when she and Paul were just sitting there together. She was always smiling. And I know he is smiling now because he won't leave her side, even if they have to be parted for a bit. And he's probably still grimacing as he laughs any time she uses the credit card."

Following are thoughts of Paul from Rita's daughter Karen. "To say Paul was a wonderful grandfather to my children would be an understatement. They had him wrapped around their fingers since before they were born. Paul would light up as soon as they entered a room good-naturedly grumbling about the commotion and laugh the whole time. He'll always be an important part of them and of me. I'm thankful my mom found such a wonderful man to love and I'm grateful he joined our family."

Karen's husband Dustin said this about Paul; "A good man died today, and I want to talk about that. I've never given much thought to how someone gets into my family. I just concern myself with the fact that they are there. I got to meet Paul as a friend. I got to know Paul as family. I got to love him as a dad. My children knew him as Grandpa, and mom got to love him as hers. We have a tendency to think about loved ones passed through the rose colored filter of memory. I try to remember them as they were. But still my memory shines its own light. I remember when dad and mom would come visit. Karen and mom would go out to shop, and dad and I would stay home and talk. When we ran out of things to say I would play my guitar. I'm not much of a guitar player but dad would just sit and listen. When the room would go quiet dad would just say "Play it again, Sam." So I played on. When I would run out of things to play, dad would just say "Play it again, Sam." So I played on. When my hands started to hurt and my fingers felt like they were about to bleed, dad would just say "Play it again, Sam." So I played on. I think that's what I'm going to miss most about you dad. A soft spoken request to just "Play it again, Sam." So for you dad I will play on."

Paul is survived by his wife Rita and daughters, Heather and Karen, and grandchildren, Elizabeth, Joshua, Connor and Katie; and his former wife Patricia and their children, Donna and Joseph, and grandchildren, Samantha and Jeremy.

Paul's ashes will be scattered in Long Island Sound by his favorite fishing boat.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Paul's name may be offered to the Knights of Columbus, Delaney Chapter, 519 Central Ave., Bethpage, NY 11714.