Friday, December 6, 2013
Dear Marie and Family, My sincere sympathy and condolences to all on your loss. I was privileged to grow up on the Southside with Gayle and all of our family and friends. Throughout the years I have looked back fondly at all of the good times we shared together. Gayle was always full of life, she always was a private person, but she was always laughing with a great sense of humor, and caring for others. Your parents Rose and Tony were very special and your house was a place where all of us were welcomed at any time and throughout the years in Little Falls. If I had a nickel for every cup of coffee and cookie that I had at your house I would now be retired and living the good life! During our school days the Raiello home was where we met every Sunday for coffee with anisette and cookies, and listened to the latest 45 RPMS while the adults sat at the table and spoke in Italian occasionally when they did not want us to here the latest gossip. Gayle has left us for now, but she has touched each of us and left us with many memories which will keep her alive in our hearts forever. One of my earliest memories of Gayle and the Southside was when we were about 7 or 8 and as typical for those days we had decided to play around and hug and kiss each other over by the lift bridge and near Palkowski’s garden. One of us had a camera and the photos of Gayle, Billy, Barbara, David Yaworski and I still are some of my most precious memories. We played together all the time and shared every major holiday, family birthdays, and all kinds of adventures from early runs through the Columbus Park pool, listening to the radios latest rock and roll hits on summer nights, exploring all over Little Falls, buying treats at the various Southside stores, and as we grew older going to LFHS sporting events and dances, and then ending up our nights at Candyland or Violas Pizzeria! We did not realize it at the time but we had a very remarkable life filled with laughter and surrounded by family and friends. I never realized how “special” our childhood was until years later when I met new people from other areas and when they asked about what I did as a kid, and I listened to what they did, and they could not believe the crazy, funny things we each took for granted. Then again, I guess with an Aunt or an Uncle or some relative within every quarter mile of every place we hung out, we probably never realized how many eyes were looking out for us all the time! When we left Little Falls and went off to college, coming home for the holidays and catching up was always special. Gayle came through and helped me many times by patiently giving up her time and typing up my last minute rush, had to be completed, College Term papers. Anyone who has seen my absolutely terrible writing can imagine what a burden this must have been for her. The only enjoyment she got out of this was ridiculing and laughing at me for the “BS” I was writing, especially for my Psychology courses which Gayle being grounded in reality just chuckled and shook her head at. There was always cooking going on in your house, and especially around the holidays when your small little kitchen was Grand Central Station with your Mom, Aunt Lena, and Aunt Mary hovering about. The conversations among these ladies were entertaining to say the least as they all had different cooking styles and Gayle would chuckle to herself and roll her eyes as she listened to the banter back and forth. Whenever we went to visit she was happy-go-lucky and the room was filled with her contagious laughter, and the jokes and stories we shared at the kitchen table of what we were all up to, and the latest news or gossip. This quality of her to light up a room instantaneously with her laughter and silent gestures was something she never lost and of course, something we will never forget. Another precious memory I have of Gayle is when she came back home after living with Eddie and Millie in Kentucky or Ohio. I was startled when she came back home and the first time I heard her speak. I did not recognize her voice as somehow during this time period she picked up a “southern accent” to her voice. I guess I just burst out laughing uncontrollably and of course she was not happy about this and insisted I tell her what was so funny. When I told her she did not believe me at first, but then after she thought about it for awhile, she said that may explain why she had gotten some strange reactions from others upon her return to LF. We had always had a special relationship as we were growing up and it was unfortunate that our work took us to distant locations and kept us part over the years. I would call her up at GE every now and then and we would regress to our old selves and have a few chuckles over the latest family and LF news. I regret that I was not able to be closer to her as she fought a valiant fight against such a devastating disease, but I am blessed for all of these wonderful memories of a life shared together, and for me she will always be “forever young!” May each of you be blessed with joyful memories of the good times shared with Gayle to help you through the pain of your loss. With all my love, Gary T. Staffo 11/13/2013
