Troy Scattarella, 101 year old resident of Burtrum, MN, formerly of Minneapolis, MN, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at the St. Cloud VA, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and service. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Swanville, with a visitation starting at 9:30 AM on Saturday at the church. Burial will be in the St. John’s parish cemetery. Caring for Troy and his family is Shelley Funeral Chapel in Swanville, MN.
If you ever found yourself at the shores of Long Lake early in the morning, you might have seen him — coffee in one hand, fishing pole in the other, a peaceful smile on his face as the mist lifted off the water. That was Troy Scattarella’s happy place. It’s where he spent his life after retiring from the Minneapolis Public School Board at the age of 55, trading school halls for the quiet lapping of waves. Born in Minneapolis in 1923, Troy grew up in a world that was quickly changing. When his country called during World War II, he answered with courage and honor, serving in the United States Navy. Those years of service shaped the man he would become — steadfast, dependable, and always willing to put others before himself. After the war, he returned home, he met and married the love of his life, Patricia Moore, in 1946. Together they raised four children and built a life rooted in faith, family, and community. He was a proud charter member of the Knights of Columbus, living out their values of charity, unity, and fraternity every day. But it was at the lake where Troy’s light truly shone. He could coax tomatoes to grow in the most stubborn soil, reel in the best catch of the day, and keep the laughter going at a card table well into the night. Friends and family will forever remember his legendary pancake breakfasts and his spaghetti dinners — served in generous portions with seconds encouraged. He was a man of simple joys: a well-buttered stack of flapjacks, a good hand of cards, the pride of a well-tended garden, and the sound of children’s laughter drifting in from the dock. But more than anything, he cherished people — his family, his friends, and anyone lucky enough to cross his path.
Troy is survived by his children, Daniel (Mary), David, Julia Patnode (Richard), Timothy (Maribeth); grandchildren, Elizabeth, Matthew, Sara, Amy, Katie, Samuel; 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Herbert (Judy) and sister, Lucille DuBay (Thomas).
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia; parents, Lucille and Louis; and brothers, Donald and Robert.
And if you listen closely on a quiet morning at the lake, you might still hear it — the soft clink of a coffee cup, the gentle splash of a line hitting the water, and the easy hum of a man who knew that a life well lived is not measured in years, but in the love you give away.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-