Gaetano
(Guy) Vincent Coniglio, who emigrated
to America from Sicily in 1914, died at his Cheektowaga home
on June 24, 2006 after a long battle with Alzheimer's
disease. He was 93.
Born December 21, 1913 in Serradifalco,
Sicily, Coniglio emigrated to America as a one-year-old,
with his mother, in December 1914. It was at a time during
World War I when German U-boats were sinking passenger ships
in the Mediterranean. He and his mother
Rosa Alessi Coniglio joined
his coal-miner father Gaetano
in Robertsdale, PA. The family moved to Buffalo in 1920,
joining a large contingent of other Serradifalco emigrés.
Coniglio was a winner of the Buffalo City
Schools' Jesse Ketchum Award in
1926. He served in the US Naval Reserve prior to World War
II, and then worked in the war-defense industry at the old
Delavan Avenue Chevrolet plant, where he was a tool-and-die
maker for 38 years. He and his family were residents of
Buffalo until 1969, after which he and his wife, the former
Mary Modica, resided in
Cheektowaga. He and Mary would have celebrated their
71st wedding anniversary on June 29th.
One of a hundred descendants of his
parents, Guy Coniglio was a patriarch of his own family,
with six children, eleven grandchildren, and seven
great-grandchildren. A home gardener with a green thumb, he
frequently gifted friends and relatives with the bounty from
his efforts - fruits, vegetables, roses, and especially
Rose-of-Sharon bushes, which today bear blooms in dozens of
back yards in Western New York, and even some in Illinois.
In addition to his wife, Gaetano Coniglio
is survived by his sons Guy Vincent III, Ronald C., and
Brian R., daughters Rosemary Childs, Joan Ketterer, and
Carole Pedrick, eleven grandchildren and seven
great-grandchildren; brothers Raymond A., Anthony F., and
Angelo F.; and sisters Concetta Miller and Mary Sowa. He
was pre-deceased by his brothers Leonard and Felice S., and
his sister Carmela Volo.
My big brother Guy
was a gentle, sweet brother, and with my sister-in-law
Mary christened me, all those years ago. I'll
always remember the special trips he would make to my
house at Christmas-time, years after I was an adult,
with a 'little gift for his godchild'. Rest in
peace, Guy. We love you forever. ~ Your baby
brother Angelo, sister-in-law Angie, and nephew Angelo
|
June 25, 2006 |
Dear Grandpa,
We are honored to have had you in our lives all
of these years. You have inspired us to be
honest, hardworking, generous, and gentle people
who should always remember to "live and let
live". We'll forever cherish the memories we
have of our fishing trips, our shopping trips,
your Christmas visits, your beautiful gardens
and polished stones... but most of all - your
happy smile and laughter.
We love you, Grandpa. Enjoy heaven! |
| |
Kim, Jim
and Hope Sedita (Tonawanda, NY ) |
June 25, 2006 |
Dear Mary and
family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Sincerely,
Jerry and Ann Modica |
| |
Giro
and Ann Modica (Redlands, CA )
|
June 26, 2006 |
|
We were saddened to learn of Uncle Guy's
passing. Although we cannot be with you in
Buffalo, our thoughts and best wishes are with
the family. He will always be remembered in
loving thoughts. |
| |
Al
Sue Sam & Megan Volo (Albany, NY )
|
June 26, 2006 |
Ang,
Our deepest sympathy. He will be remembered in
our prayers. |
| |
Joe & Ann
Cardinale (The Villages, FL ) |
|
June 25, 2006 |
Dear Ange and
Angie:
Sit tibi terra levis. |
| |
Bruce
Sanders (Buffalo, NY ) |
|
