Obituary of Gabriel A. Ciotti Sr.

Gabriel A. Ciotti Sr. 87, of Rome, passed away on Monday May 29, 2023 at home. He was born in Rome, N.Y. on April 04, 1936 son of the late Archangelo and Margaret (Siriani) Ciotti. Gabriel attended Rome schools and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1955 and was known as “Brother Gabe”. On May 9, 1959, he married Karen D. Barton at St. John the Baptist Church and together they went on to have six children. Gabe had 17 grandchildren and 12.5 great grandchildren. They were all his favorite, and he loved them all MORE! He was an uncle to many nieces & nephews whom he loved very much and enjoyed lots of laughter and good times with.

Gabe worked at Loblaw’s Grocery Store, Revere Copper and Brass, and Rome Developmental Center until his retirement in 1991. While working for the state, he organized a Boy Scout Troop for the disabled, which had not been done before. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church.

Gabe was a great hugger and cheek pincher, winemaker, fisherman, pastaciotti maker, and sausage maker. He loved to play cards at any time and anywhere. Gabe was an official Easter bread Judge and President of the Ciotti Family Circle Club for many years. He was an adopted dad to many neighborhood kids and an adopted grandfather to countless more. He enjoyed gardening and singing scout songs around the campfire. Gabe was a proud American patriot and a baby on the knee bouncer. You always knew when Gabe was coming before you saw him by his impressive whistling skills! If you walked through the door, he insisted he make you a sandwich. Gabe was a Wizard, washboard player, project manager for all backyard projects and a garage sale aficionado. He loved to show love to those who looked like they needed a surrogate family, and to his real family he was “The King”.

Gabe is survived by his wife Karen, and children, Renee (Cortus) Cassidy, Gabriel (Milana) Ciotti, Jr., Joel (Tammy) Ciotti, Greg (Kristie) Ciotti, and Elliott Ciotti, as well as several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, a brother, Anthony Ciotti, a sister, Louise Snyder,  sisters-in-law, Palma Ciotti, Ruth Ciotti, Donna Ciotti, and Johann Ciotti, niece, nephews, and cousins. Gabe was pre-deceased by his eldest son Andre Ciotti, a sister-in-law, Susan Ciotti, a brother-in-law, Bill Snyder, sisters and brothers-in-law, Clara (Tony) Montalbano, Olympia (Sal) Carletta, and Marion (Coleman) Comito as well as his brothers and a sister-in-law, Vincent (Gracie) Ciotti, Angelo Ciotti, Felix Ciotti, Patsy Ciotti, and Louie Ciotti.

The memory of Gabe lives on through his favorite grandchildren, Nicole (Brad) Pitt, Venessa (Bob) Bell, Justin (Kelly) Ciotti, Gabriel the Third (Kirsten) Ciotti, Jessica Griffin, Shane Griffin, Marcello Ciotti, Brandon Ciotti, Stephanie Ciotti, Chelsea (Dom) Tucci, Sandina Ciotti, Samantha (Richard) Swank, Zack Ciotti, Tyler Ciotti, Armando Ciotti, Alessandra Ciotti, and Aria Ciotti. The “greats” include Gary, Veda, Jackson, Nolan, Axel, Declan, Leo, Nora, Ella, Millie, Charlie, Senna, and soon-to-be-Baby Girl Swank.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, especially Kristen Nichols and Joseph Hazeltine, for their care and compassion shown to Gabe and his family. They would also like to extend their thankfulness and appreciation to the staff at Hospice and Palliative Care, for their care and compassion towards Gabriel at home.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 03, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick Street, Rome, N.Y., with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday June 02, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd. Rome, N.Y.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Gabriel’s name to Hospice and Palliative Care Inc, 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, N.Y. 13413-9954.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com