Gerry was so much more than his obituary. He will always be remembered by everything he did and loved.
He was an excellent chef. His grandfather taught him everything he knew, cooking and modeling men could cook, too. Gerry made Italian pasta sauce from scratch every Christmas and drafted several cookbooks. His receipts still remain in the family. (Though nobody can replicate his special touch.)
He loved dogs. Two of his favorites were Maxwell (schnauzer) and Ginger (mutt) whom he admonished with treats and love.
He loved and hated the Cleveland Browns, affectionately referring to them as the "pumpkin heads." He continued to watch them up until his final day. He also enjoyed the American Pickers, Animal Planet, and How It's Made.
Gerry was an avid journal keeper. He kept notes of his every day life, occasionally asking the grandchildren to doodle in the margins for him.
Gerry had a sleek black Cadillac '67 which he loved. In it, he terrorized the road with his road rage and witty quips, often yelling at incompetent drivers. (His wife, Monica, was not fond of this habit.)
He enjoyed playing solitaire on the family computer and miscellaneous card games. He also loved reading the cartoon section of the newspaper, often doing so in the middle of the night with a bowl of cereal.
He spoiled his grandchildren exceedingly and served as a father figure for his granddaughter, whom he drove to and from school and watched most days. On the drive home, he almost always bought her a candy bar or a small blizzard from Dairy Queen.
Gerry served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He saw action and was stationed in Vietnam. He suffered PTSD following the events of the war and mostly kept quiet about his experiences.
Gerry's final resting place is Clear Creek State Park in Sigel, PA, the campsite he and his wife, Monica, frequented all of their lives. Trips to Clear Creek State Park remain tradition in the family. Gerry enjoyed photography and would take pictures at the park. He sat on the front porch of Cabin 3 early in the morning and would always feed peanuts to the chipmunks. Several times, the chipmunks would even crawl onto his palm.
Gerry's memory lives on in his immediate family. He will never be forgotten, and he will always be loved.
"Gerry was born July 2, 1947 in Youngstown, a son of the late Joseph D. and Rose Marie (Sherock) DeFabio. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Vietnam War. He worked at Delphi Packard as an artos cutter.
Gerry was a very active man, who enjoyed golfing, bowling in several leagues, cooking, photography, and taking family vacations. Most of all, though, Gerry was a true patriarch of his family. He loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren, whom he had many day trips and sleepovers with.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his beloved wife of 46 years, the former Monica Vasko, whom he married September 25, 1971, his children, Joseph DeFabio of Youngstown and Jessica (Kyle) Hillman of Boardman, his grandchildren, Joseph, Hayden, and Felix DeFabio and Camryn, Riece, and Rowen Hillman, and his siblings, Joseph R. DeFabio of Liberty and MaryJane (Tim) Isenberg of Hubbard, as well as many nieces and nephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant twin brothers Gerry and Terry DeFabio, and his uncle, Anthony "Tokie" Sherock, whom he had a close relationship with.
Military honors will be rendered at the funeral home immediately following services.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Dr. Knight and the staff of the Hope Center, as well as Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of Gerry in his time of need.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that material contributions be made to the Silver Lining Cancer Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 401, Canfield, OH 44406 in his memory." — Official Obituary
Gerry was so much more than his obituary. He will always be remembered by everything he did and loved.
He was an excellent chef. His grandfather taught him everything he knew, cooking and modeling men could cook, too. Gerry made Italian pasta sauce from scratch every Christmas and drafted several cookbooks. His receipts still remain in the family. (Though nobody can replicate his special touch.)
He loved dogs. Two of his favorites were Maxwell (schnauzer) and Ginger (mutt) whom he admonished with treats and love.
He loved and hated the Cleveland Browns, affectionately referring to them as the "pumpkin heads." He continued to watch them up until his final day. He also enjoyed the American Pickers, Animal Planet, and How It's Made.
Gerry was an avid journal keeper. He kept notes of his every day life, occasionally asking the grandchildren to doodle in the margins for him.
Gerry had a sleek black Cadillac '67 which he loved. In it, he terrorized the road with his road rage and witty quips, often yelling at incompetent drivers. (His wife, Monica, was not fond of this habit.)
He enjoyed playing solitaire on the family computer and miscellaneous card games. He also loved reading the cartoon section of the newspaper, often doing so in the middle of the night with a bowl of cereal.
He spoiled his grandchildren exceedingly and served as a father figure for his granddaughter, whom he drove to and from school and watched most days. On the drive home, he almost always bought her a candy bar or a small blizzard from Dairy Queen.
Gerry served in the Army during the Vietnam War. He saw action and was stationed in Vietnam. He suffered PTSD following the events of the war and mostly kept quiet about his experiences.
Gerry's final resting place is Clear Creek State Park in Sigel, PA, the campsite he and his wife, Monica, frequented all of their lives. Trips to Clear Creek State Park remain tradition in the family. Gerry enjoyed photography and would take pictures at the park. He sat on the front porch of Cabin 3 early in the morning and would always feed peanuts to the chipmunks. Several times, the chipmunks would even crawl onto his palm.
Gerry's memory lives on in his immediate family. He will never be forgotten, and he will always be loved.
"Gerry was born July 2, 1947 in Youngstown, a son of the late Joseph D. and Rose Marie (Sherock) DeFabio. He was a proud veteran of the United States Army, having served during the Vietnam War. He worked at Delphi Packard as an artos cutter.
Gerry was a very active man, who enjoyed golfing, bowling in several leagues, cooking, photography, and taking family vacations. Most of all, though, Gerry was a true patriarch of his family. He loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren, whom he had many day trips and sleepovers with.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his beloved wife of 46 years, the former Monica Vasko, whom he married September 25, 1971, his children, Joseph DeFabio of Youngstown and Jessica (Kyle) Hillman of Boardman, his grandchildren, Joseph, Hayden, and Felix DeFabio and Camryn, Riece, and Rowen Hillman, and his siblings, Joseph R. DeFabio of Liberty and MaryJane (Tim) Isenberg of Hubbard, as well as many nieces and nephews, and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by two infant twin brothers Gerry and Terry DeFabio, and his uncle, Anthony "Tokie" Sherock, whom he had a close relationship with.
Military honors will be rendered at the funeral home immediately following services.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the Dr. Knight and the staff of the Hope Center, as well as Hospice of the Valley for their compassionate care of Gerry in his time of need.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that material contributions be made to the Silver Lining Cancer Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 401, Canfield, OH 44406 in his memory." — Official Obituary
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