Final Salute

Gabriel “Sonny” Moschella, beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and a treasure of a man to all who knew him, passed away peacefully on Nov. 13 at age 94 with his family by his side.
Sonny – he got his nickname as a child to distinguish him from his father, Gabriel Sr. – grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood in the South Bronx. He cherished the memories of his upbringing – stickball, summertime walks to Yankee Stadium to see the great DiMaggio, dance halls, train trips to Manhattan with his mother, Anna, to catch a movie and stop for Chinese food, hanging out in bars, hanging out “on the avenue”, where a local beauty named Gloria first caught his eye.
Sonny boxed with his older brother, Willie, welcomed his kid brother Danny to tag along with his buddies, and adored his sisters Peggy and Rita.
He enlisted in the Navy during World War II and was proud of his service as a Seabee on Okinawa.
Sonny and Gloria’s nearly 70 years together began at their “football wedding” – so-called because the entrees were an array of submarine sandwiches crafted by family members and neighbors the day before, then tossed among the guests like so many gridiron spirals.
They were among the first in the neighborhood to migrate to the suburbs, purchasing a home in Tappan, from where Sonny commuted while working as a food salesman/delivery truck driver in New York City.
Sonny always worked hard to provide for his family; he even owned two businesses, including a restaurant in Cape Coral that he purchased with his brother, Willie, upon moving to Florida in the early 70s.
At the Clock Restaurant, Sonny became a customer favorite more for his easy going demeanor, good conversation and movie star smile than his short order cooking skills. He later became a longtime salesperson and equipment consultant for an air conditioning and heating supply company, winning over customers and fellow employees alike with his know-how, charm and friendly approach.
Sonny never needed a handyman, read the daily newspaper from cover to cover, could cut a mean rug, and enjoyed watching football and boxing.
Most of all, he loved being with his family, reveled in any success or adventure of his children, and beamed with joy over his nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter, attending as many sporting events, recitals and other performances as he could.
No surprise that Disney World, site of so many family gatherings through the years, truly was Sonny’s “Most Magical Place on Earth.”
He was a quiet, wise, kind and caring person and will be missed. But we take heart in knowing that Sonny is back with everyone in his beloved Bronx neighborhood.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria of Palm City, Fl; daughters Victoria (Don) Defenthaler of Hobe Sound, Fl, Gloria Moschella (Terry) Lenamon of Parkland, Fl, Carol Moschella (Todd) Petrina of Nutley, N.J., and son Nicholas (Dani) Moschella of Boca Raton, Fl; grandchildren Matthew Defenthaler, Jenna Defenthaler (Scott) and Krista Defenthaler, Nicole Moschella (Peter) Einisman, Jessica Moschella (Nick) Sklorenko, Jude Lenamon, Gabriel Lenamon, Jonah Lenamon, Megan Rochford (Travis) and great-granddaughter Laken Sklorenko.
We will celebrate Sonny’s life with a Dec. 8 memorial gathering from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at Forest Hills Memorial Park, 2001 S.W. Murphy Rd., Palm City, Fl, and a Dec. 9 Mass at 10 a.m. at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, 1454 S.W. Mapp Rd., Palm City, followed by a luncheon at Manero’s Restaurant, 2851 S.W. High Meadows Ave., Palm City.
In lieu of flowers, Sonny’s family asks that you make donations in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association (act.alz.org) and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (jdrf.org).

Published by Forest Hills Funeral Homes – Palm City Chapel on Nov. 29, 2022.