Gabriel Anthony DeMatto

Gabriel was born in Coaldale, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1933, the son of Italian immigrants Clement and Frances DeMatto. He grew up in Coaldale with his 9 brothers and sisters. After high school, Gabe joined the United States Navy and proudly served from 1952-1956 with the 3rd Marine Division Fleet Marine Force Medical Battalion in Japan during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he married his sweetheart, Thelma Neifert, on June 14, 1958.

In 1960, after the loss of twin daughters Donna and Diane, Gabriel moved his wife and firstborn son, Robert, across the country to California. Shortly thereafter he joined civil service and began working at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The family settled in Bellflower, CA and four more sons were born; John, David, Clement and Stephen.

Gabriel and his family relocated to the state of Washington in October of 1979, where he worked at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, WA until his retirement from civil service in 1989. Between his naval and civil service career, Gabe served his country proudly for over 32 years.

Gabe was an active church member and a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. He was never shy about sharing his faith and his love for God. Gabe also possessed an incredible love for the Jewish people. His first trip to Israel was a retirement gift from his wife. Gabe spent two life-changing weeks in “the Holy Land”. In the years to follow, Gabe took a total of 8 more trips to Israel, working with the organization Bridges for Peace. On these subsequent trips, Gabriel stayed anywhere from 2 to 6 months at a time, helping refugees returning to their homeland.

In 1996, Gabriel lost his wife of 38 years, Thelma, to pancreatic cancer. In 2008, his son, John, also passed away.

Gabe lived in Sun City, AZ from 2005-2014 where he enjoyed close friendships and continued his active lifestyle, which included his daily routine of lap swimming. Along with this, Gabriel also loved to cook (Italian cuisine was his specialty), and he never turned down a game of pool.

In 2014, Gabriel moved to Hanford, CA to be close to family in his later years.

Gabe was quite the optimist and never complained about his recent health problems. When anyone would ask, “How are you doing?” he would always answer, “If it gets any better, it’ll have to be in heaven!” On July 20, 2016 things got better. Gabe is in heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and together again with his wife.

Gabriel is survived by his sons, Robert DeMatto and wife Gloria of Moreno Valley, CA; David DeMatto of Bremerton, WA; Clement DeMatto and wife Deborah of Hanford, CA and Stephen DeMatto and wife Natasha of Cross Plains, TN. He is survived by 6 grandchildren, Alyssa, Breauna, Elayna, Rachel, Francesca, Nathanael; and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings, Genevieve Rutch of Summit Hill, PA; Gloria Barry of Eddystone, PA; Donald DeMatto of Summit Hill, PA; Joseph DeMatto of Allentown, PA; and Clement DeMatto of Glen Mills, PA.