Gabriele was born July 31, 1941 to Luisa (Gambacorte) and Carmine Di Michele in Isola del Gran Sasso, Italy. In 1961, at the young age of 19, he immigrated to Canada and made it his new home.
Gabriele worked for two years in Toronto before receiving a call from a friend that his stone expertise was much needed for a construction project in Nova Scotia. He decided to leave Toronto and take on the challenge of doing marble work for a church in Antigonish, NS. While working in Antigonish, he was invited to go back to a fellow worker/friend's home for the weekend in Sydney. It was that same weekend that he met the love of his life, Anna Di Sano. A chance meeting would lead him to finding his bride. In 1964 he married Anna, and the couple went on to have three children: Luisa, John and Paolo whom he adored and was most proud.
Gabriele worked many long and hard days as a stonemason and bricklayer to provide for his family. He was an early riser and late coming home type of man. He was a man of his word for deadlines being met. A simple handshake was a sealed contract as far as he was concerned. Gabriele would soon form his own company known as Sydney Masonry and it remained in business until his retirement. He was a well respected leader and employer within the construction community.
It was during his retirement where he truly enjoyed life the most. He traded his sweat from long hard days of work for endless hours of play with his grandchildren. This was his true labour of love.
In his spare time, he thoroughly enjoyed gardening, crafting pizzas in his backyard with his stone oven imported from Italy, making wine and attending Cape Breton Oilers and later the Screaming Eagles hockey games. He was a diehard Toronto Maple Leaf fan. He was an active longtime member and past president of the Italian Cultural Association.He was a longtime parishiner and eucharistic minister at Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Above all, his family was his favorite hobby.
Gabriele is survived by Anna, his wife of 59 years, daughter Luisa Capaccio (Jerry) of Pennsylvania, sons John (Kathy) of Pennsylvania and Paolo at home, his grandchildren; Brianna, Natalia, Giovanni and Carlo, great granddaughter Vienna, his brother Luigi Di Michele, sister Giusespina Di Martino, as well as many nieces and nephews in Canada, USA, France and Italy.
Gabriele is predeceased by his siblings Yolanda, Antonio, Adele, Pierino, Maria and Alberto.
The family would like to thank the Palliative care team, VON nurses, as well as the many physicians that provided care throughout his illness. We would also like to give special thanks and much gratitude for the endless compassion, empathy and love he received from his personal care worker, Shree. Shree will always have a special place within our family.
A visitation will take place on Friday, September 1st from 6-9pm at TW Curry Parkview Chapel, 755 George St., A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, September 2nd at 11am at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 1452 Kings Road, Sydney River with Fr. Conrad Edwards officiating. Interment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
