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, NY, on April 4, 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 6 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 and 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 on making 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; children, Renee (Cortus) Cassidy, Gabriel (Milana) Ciotti, Jr., Joel (Tammy) Ciotti, Greg (Kristie) Ciotti and Elliott Ciotti; sisters-in-law, Palma Ciotti, Ruth Ciotti, Donna Ciotti and Johann Ciotti; niece and nephews; and cousins.
The memory of Gabe lives on through his favorite grandchildren, Nicole (Brad) Pitt, Venessa (Bob) Bell, Justin (Kelly) Ciotti, Gabriel III (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.
Gabe was pre-deceased by his eldest son, Andre Ciotti; sisters and brothers-in-law, Clara (Tony) Montalbano, Olympia (Sal) Carletta and Marion (Coleman) Comito; as well as his brothers and sister-in-law, Vincent (Gracie) Ciotti, Angelo Ciotti, Felix Ciotti, Patsy Ciotti and Louie Ciotti.
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 3, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick Street, Rome, with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio, officiating. Burial will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Calling hours will be held on Friday June 2, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd. Rome.
In lieu of flowers, please make contributions, in Gabriel's name, to Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 4277 Middle Settlement Rd., New Hartford, NY 13413-9954.
To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.