David Giarla

1945 - 2024

June 16, 1945 - January 15, 2024|Every person dies, not all people live.

The man, the myth, the legend, David J. (Dave) Giarla – husband, father, and papa – died on January 15, 2024. Dave died following a short battle with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease, and in the loving and wonderful care of his family and of Evelyn's House in Creve Coeur. We are grateful for the many people who contributed to his compassionate, knowledgeable, and loving care and that he is no longer suffering at the hands of this devastating disease.



Born in June of 1945, in Dorchester, MA, to Dorothy (Long) and Robert Giarla, Dave grew up in Nahant, MA, attending schools in Nahant and in Lynn. Dave was a very accomplished multi-sport athlete at Lynn Classical High (LCH) where he especially excelled at football, was a team captain, and inducted into the Lynn Classical Hall of Fame after graduation. LCH is also where he met his lifelong love and wife, Andrea (LeFebvre). He never missed the opportunity to tell anyone and everyone how he was the luckiest guy in the world to still be with his high-school sweetheart, Andrea, for 60 years, and married 57!



Dave and Andrea married while Dave attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst (UMass), on a full football scholarship. At UMass, Dave was a twice all-time letter winner, All Eastern, and is still in the record books for his 74-yard punt return in 1966 against Vermont. Dave graduated with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management which he put to extremely good use working at The Top of the Hub (Boston) and then opening Riccotti's Sandwich shops in several New England states before transitioning to McDonald's Corporation in 1980. At McDonald's Dave worked his way from assistant manager to multi-department head, ultimately becoming a McDonald's franchise-owner in 1994. That year Dave established Christian Foods, LLC. He and his son, Chris, would become eventual business partners owning 13 McDonald's restaurants in the St. Charles and Jefferson County areas outside St. Louis, Missouri. In 2024, Christian Foods proudly celebrates 30 years of doing business and has been blessed with a number of people and operations excellence awards. Dave was proud of his employees and loved his customers. He also had the honor of serving his fellow franchise owners as the Co-Op president for two-terms, serving on the Board of the local Ronald McDonald's House Charity and being in service at several local churches.



Beyond his many professional accomplishments, Dave's true fulfillment came from spending time with his family, traveling with Andrea – especially to Bristol, RI, for the 4th of July, watching Boston sports, attending daily Mass, crossing things off his daily to-do list, working the Harvester McDonald's drive-thru window (and seeing his "regulars"), and playing golf with his friends in Missouri, Ft. Myers, FL, and anywhere else there was a great course.



Dave had a life-long affair with Budweiser – the King of Beers, with the United States of America, with his loving and hilarious family, and especially with his God. He was one in a million – optimistic, loving, humble, and charitable. His kindness and generosity were boundless, especially in the way of prayer. He had scores of people on his prayer list, for whom he prayed faithfully – every single day. His ability to connect with people and make them feel good about themselves and become better people was a gift. A true example of God's light on Earth.



When Dave took off for that golf course in the sky, he left behind his wife and the love-of-his-life, Andrea (LeFebvre), his devoted children Tracey (Joseph) Eisman, Karyn (Walter) Saganic, Christopher (Dawn Moran) Giarla, his cherished grandchildren, Andrew, Christian, Ella, Marshall, Liljana, and Luka, and his bonus family – Donna Maurer, and Christopher (Candy), Thomas (Ariel) and Daniel (Taylor) Maurer and Sam Morris. Dave also leaves behind his siblings – Judith Giarla, Dorothy Giarla (John Govoni), Richard (Julie) Giarla and Betty Ann (Peter) MacIsaac, as well as Linda Giarla, Anne Giarla, and Joanne Giarla, the spouses of his late brothers Robert (Bobby), Gerald (Gerry) and William (Billy) Giarla respectively. Dave leaves behind many treasured nieces and nephews and his beloved McFamily in Missouri and around the country.



Adored by his family and treasured by many, his life will be celebrated with a viewing and funeral Mass. The viewing will be held at Hutchens-Stygar Funeral Home (5987 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Charles, MO) on Tuesday, January 23rd, from 4pm-8pm. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church (1355 Motherhead Rd, Cottleville, MO) on Wednesday, January 24th, at 11am. There will be a lunch reception at the Whitmoor Country Club (1100 Whitmoor Drive, Weldon Spring, MO) from 12-4pm – please join us to toast a can of Budweiser to Dave.



Memorial contributions in Dave's name may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis. 3450 Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104 Tel: (314) 773-1100 URL: https://rmhcstl.com/donate/