Matthew C. Capanna
Matthew C. Capanna, 58, of New Castle, DE passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on July 12th, 2026. He was a deeply loved Father, Son, Brother, Uncle, and dear friend to many. His spirit will continue to warm the streets of New Castle. He is already, and will forever be greatly missed.
Matthew was born on July 12th, 1968, in Woodbury, NJ, to parents Carmen S. Capanna and Janet (nee Marano) Capanna. Matthew’s early upbringing was in Washington Township, NJ, where he went to Hurffville Elementary School and spent much of his time playing in the woods in the back of their house with his younger brother and neighborhood friends. When his family moved to Pitman, NJ, Matthew could be found racing around town, delivering newspapers on his BMX bike, playing arcade games at Stan & Mary’s, or playing Nerf football in the street with his neighbor friends on South Summit Avenue. Matthew graduated from Pitman High School in 1986, after he and his family moved to a house on Ardmore Avenue, in Pitman.
Matthew always had a strong work ethic, and it wasn’t long after graduation that he joined the workforce. He worked at the Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard as a pipe fitter from 1988 to 1994, where he learned technical skills and made many great friendships. Matthew moved to Delaware in 1994, where for over 24 years, he worked at the United States Post Office. He was a bright shining smile behind the counter, representing the brand and his city as a welcoming place to be. Matthew poured his heart and soul into his work at the post office which inspired his move to Historic New Castle in 2012, bringing him just blocks away from his beloved place of work.
Matthew was also known for his adoration of the Buffalo Bills, NFL Football Team. There was never a day that you wouldn’t find Matty proudly representing his Bills gear, and finding a way to customize his home, car, cell phone, pool table, chandelier…you name it, it was Buffalo Bills themed. If he happened to miss your call, you would hear the joyous “BUFFALO MATTY” ring through from his voicemail.
He always had a life-long love for music. From an early age, he collected vinyl records, cassette tapes, and compact discs of classic rock, heavy metal, yacht rock and all kinds of varied genres. He attended many live concerts with his friends and loved ones. Wherever he would go, he had to have a speaker in hand. In his later years, he renewed his passion for collecting vinyls and playing them on his record player.
Matthew is preceded in death by his father, Carmen S. Capanna, and is survived by his children: Shanon, Tyler, Matthew, and Kasey, his mother Janet, his siblings Jude (Stacey) Capanna, and Gina (John) Campbell, his niece Julia, and his nephews Jackson, Chase and Sabatino.
A celebration of Matthew’s life will take place at Bethany UAME Church in New Castle on July 31st at 11 a.m. The family invites all who knew Matthew and wish to help us celebrate to join us. Wearing your favorite NFL gear and/or a groovy artist/band T-shirt is encouraged.
Rest peacefully, Buffalo Matty! You have brought a light into this earth with a beautiful family. Sending thoughts and prayers to all your loved ones.
Matt was the kindest soul I have ever met. Thank you for being big brother, fellow concert goer and much more important a friend forever.
May the four winds blow you safely home young man
Ps. I will be a Bills fan just for this year. lol
Mark McLane/ Lisa and Marisa
Matthew, the entire David Swindell family have very fond memories of you and your dear family, our neighbors on South Summit Ave. You and yours became family to us. As we moved away we drifted away geographically, but our hearts have always been close. David and Debbie Swindell, and family! ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
I aways felt a special bond to you Matthew since we met many years ago. You were the special little 4 year old boy that moved next door, who would stand outside waiting to play, since Jude was only a baby. We had so much fun living in the country, riding trail bikes, building forts and making roads in the dirt to play with your mattel cars. I loved being you and Judes babysitter. I also will never forget the fun weeks in wildwood with your family as a teenager. Thanks again for being my handsome ring bearer in my wedding. I will always hold you close in my heart. Love you, Susan Schiavone/Sebastiano
My first memory of Matthew is when my little Sister Susan babysat you & Jude when you guys lived next door on Egg Harbor Road, where we lived in a beautiful brick house built & lived in previously by the Capanna Family! My heart is breaking for your family, but pray the Happy Memories shared will be a comfort & bring smiles. I smile at the photo & memory of you as Ring Bearer at Susan’s wedding where your Mom & I were her Bridesmaids! Love & Hugs to Capanna Family, Joanie Schiavone Broglin
I love you Matty, I will never forget the Eagles/Bills game we went to in 2015. I was always glad when you called. I’m going to miss you dearly.
Matt was more than a coworker to me — he was a friend, and one of the brightest lights at that counter. Anyone who walked in got the same warm smile and genuine welcome, every single time. He took such pride in his work and in New Castle, and it showed in everything he did. I still have his USPS uniform, and I’ll keep it as a reminder of a good man who made the everyday a little better for everyone around him. He’ll be deeply missed. Rest easy, Matt.
Matt , thanks for the epic road trips to Buffalo and classic concerts. You are among my best of friends and thanks for helping me appreciate how cool Delaware is. Will be missed by many. Thanks for decades of good times and memories.
Every time I went to the New Castle Post Office, Matt was always a shining star who greeted me with welcomed smiles, as he also did whenever he saw me elsewhere around town! We need more Matts in the world~Carolyn Travers
WOW! This is hard never in a million years I thought I would receive this message about Matt. A great guy I had the pleasure to work with over 15 years in New Castle. Wonderful guy, father! Go BILLS! You will be missed Matt.
Matt,
It’s hard to put into words what it feels like knowing you’re no longer here. We started as coworkers at the Post Office, but over time, you became much more than just a colleague. You became a friend, someone I could talk to, laugh with, and share the everyday struggles and moments that came with working together.
I’ll always remember the conversations, the jokes, the laughs, and even the long days at work. Those ordinary moments mean so much more now because I realize how special they really were.
You left an impact on the people around you, and I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to know you and call you my friend.
My very precious sweetheart. I can’t put into words right now, because I am overwhelmed that you’re not here anymore. We have been together some 26 years in New Castle, sharing our thoughts, our jobs, our families, and how many laughs we had and spent lots of time together. I watched how much all the customers in Old New Castle loved you, because you always had a smile, a chit chat, always trying to help and give both of yourself or get them something they needed. The people loved you at The Main…and we shared a very special bond as friends and just reality…we helped each other in talking things out, always sticking together through the thick and thin. I loved your laughter, your smile, your generosity in sharing and giving. My heart is broken and a part of me is missing…you my buddy. My wish is that The Lord would have given me a chance to hug you one more time! I can tell the world how so very much I will never, ever forget you. And how very much I love you! I will keep your family all in my prayers and again…a wish to laugh again, joke again, and just be our true selves. A thousands thank you’s , a thousand tears, a thousand ways to express how much you have always meant to me! All my love, in Jesus…forever! 👩🏻🦳🙏🏻🇺🇸