Tommaso F. Gentile

Tommaso, Dad, Pop Pop, Uncle Tom, Tommy, Tom, as he was known to everybody who knew him ended a long and fulfilling life on November 17, 2010 , surrounded by his children. His 91 years witnessed many exciting and worldly events but in the end Tommaso would have liked to be remembered as a simple man who loved everybody, especially his family. He had an exceptional memory of his life and consequently hundreds of stories that we all loved.

Tommaso was born in Andali, Catanzaro, Italy on June 5, 1919, the son of the late Domenico and Maria (Lavorati) Gentile. At age 11, he quit school to help support his widowed mother and 3 siblings. Subsistence life in a poor Italian village was hard but made for very interesting cooked meals. Tom would often say, " this is poor people's food " and was it ever good! At the age of 19, Mussolini drafted him into the Italian Army and he regretfully served in Northern Africa. As Tom would tell the story, he was offered 2 jobs ….. to fly in the air force or be a cook. Tom didn't have to think long .. he became a cook. Tommaso was pleased to surrender to the Americans, who brought him to a prisoner of war camp in the United States. In 1944, Tom was offered the chance to and joined the American Army and cooked for our troops while they trained in New Jersey. At that time, he met his future wife Rose and the American Dream began.

On Christmas Day, 1946 Tommaso married Rose Capilo, an American born Italian who was raised by one of his distant relatives. Shortly thereafter he became a citizen of the country that he grew to love, America. Tom's first and last job was at Textile Machineworks Foundry. Tom always said that Textile liked the Italian Americans because they were hard workers.

Tom provided a solid foundation and direction for not only his family but for many Italians who immigrated to this country. In his life he made many, many friends but his wife and family were his life.

His hobbies included walking, cooking, baking, playing his numbers and scratch tickets, playing his poker machine, 500 rummy, taking care of his birds (Ricky and Lucy) and watching Americas Home Videos

Tommaso was pre-deceased by his wife Rose (Capilo) Gentile on July 25, 2002. He is survived by his son, Thomas D., husband of Phyllis (Hagan) Gentile; son, Ferdinand, husband of Karen (Walker) Gentile, and a daughter, Mary E. (Gentile), wife of Steven Wolfinger.

There are five grandchildren: Thomas Gentile; Lisa (Gentile), wife of Victor Brown; Michael, husband of Tara (Seefeldt) Gentile; Marisa (Gentile), wife of William Martin and Paul T., husband of Megan (Hurst) Wolfinger.

There are four great-grandchildren: Gabriel Gentile, Emily Brown, Lola Gentile, Kayla Brown.

In addition, there are two brothers surviving, Domenico Gentile, Sinking Spring and Savio Gentile of Andali, Italy and a sister, Bettina (Gentile) Greco of Como, Italy.

Tommaso is a member of Holy Rosary Church.

A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in Walter R. Christ Funeral Home, Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at the Chapel of St. George, Gethsemane Cemetery, 3139 Kutztown Road, Muhlenberg Township. Entombment will follow in Gethsemane Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Tommaso's memory to the American Heart Association P.O. Box 15120, Alexandria, VA 22312 and the American Cancer Society, 498 Bellevue Ave, Reading, PA 19605.

The family would like to take this time to say "Thank You" to all who have helped Tom these past years, allowing us more time and giving us more memories.

St. Joseph Hospital CCU doctors & staff; Reading Hospital; Cardiology Associates of West Reading; Laureldale Family Practice

"Family is first. Love one another and laugh every day"…Tommaso F. Gentile

For online condolences, visit www.christfuneralhome.com