Mathew (Matie) Gardella, of Ansonia, CT, died peacefully on May 7th, 2021 in Woodbury, CT, succumbing to the infirmities of old age at 94 in the home of his niece, Gina Gardella, who provided loving care to her “Uncle Matie,” the last of the Gardella boys.
Matie was born February 23rd, 1927 in Ansonia, CT to Giacomo and Angela Gardella, the sixth and youngest of four surviving children, two having died of the Spanish Influenza in 1918. Giacomo (A.K.A. Jack) and his partner established Gardella & Dondero Grocery Store on 288 Main Street, Ansonia.
Then, in 1932, he bought a home and a store on the corners of Tremont and Cliff Streets in Ansonia. It was here at the “Gardella” store that Matie’s life was lived. Matie grew up helping the family tend the store.
The impact of the Great Depression is what Matie remembered, hard times, but the store hung on. The Model A truck Giacomo used to deliver groceries also delivered families to Savin Rock Amusement Park to help make ends meet. Matie remembers the spare tire strapped to the side of the truck, and how it was needed more times than not on that bumpy road to the West Haven Shore. And so, they survived the Depression. All three boys fought in World War II, Matie signing up at the tail end when he was 18. They all came home safely. He returned from Germany with a forever love of German Shepherds and the Volkswagen Beetle, enough to have a 1956 VW Bug sent to him.
Matie took over the store after the war. It was where he worked for another thirty some years, an integral member of the community. The corner store was a gathering place where neighbors found themselves on Saturday afternoons, or Sunday after dinner, telling stories, discussing the news of the day, and looking out for one another.
Matie often helped Mrs. Murphy’s son, Bill, get out of the bathtub for example. Polio had him in metal arm crutches, he was part of the neighborhood too, often wandering down to the corner to join in the news of the day.
Up to the end of his life, he remembered in such detail the family’s stories of the generations he watched grow and pass. Soon came the mall and with it, Finast Supermarket. Corner stores were becoming obsolete and converting to simple convenience stores. A different service, a different clientele, and so Matie shut the store in the 80’s and closed the doors for good.
Though Matie never married, he led a full life of friendships and family. He enjoyed fishing but would be quick to tell you he wasn’t the type to tell fish tales. Matie was a voracious reader after the store closed; he finally had the time to immerse himself in books. He took so many books out of the Ansonia library, he took to making his mark, a small x, on the inside cover of all the books he read to be sure he would not read them again. He had a passion for Zane Grey, mysteries of all types, and Western adventure tales. Matie loved dogs, especially his old German Shepherd, Marko.
If you wanted to see a grown man cry, all you had to do was ask him about Marko. “Best dog ever,” as he wiped the tears away. Matie had a team of friends he liked to walk with at Osbornedale Park in Derby. He soon became a Steward of the Park and received an honorary hat for his service. And so he lived a graceful life of long walks, good friends, and hundreds of books.
Seven years ago, he took up life with his niece Gina, Angelo’s daughter. Gina, Tim, and a great team of home health workers helped Matie navigate the difficulties of old age with grace and dignity. Though Matie led an “under the radar” life, he accomplished a lot on that micro level. A lifetime of IOUs that never came due and “pay me when you can” was how he took care of neighbors and friends. He never had a lot, but he always answered the call when a neighbor needed a hand. It was a life well lived.
Mathew was predeceased by his parents, Giacomo and Angela, brothers Johnny and Angelo, and sister Mary. He is survived by his niece Gina Gardella of Woodbury, great-niece Julia and husband Justin Einhorn, their sons Luke and Leo, of Southbury, CT, Gina’s son, Eli Gardella-Westervelt of RI, Matie’s nephews, Joel and his wife Kathy Gardella and their daughter, Sherry and husband Tyler Fobes and their sons, Wyatt and daughter Ruby, Ashley and husband Ron Weber all of Washington State, and nephews, Daniel Gardella of Plymouth CT, Tim Gardella of CT. Mathew exemplified the Greatest Generation and would tip his hat if he could to all the fellows at Osbornedale Park and Ansonia Library and wish them all the best.
We can imagine “the old days” when 3 to 4 generations might be mulling about, cooking sauce, cleaning, playing, all while the elder was placed “front and center”…to slowly fade away, with all those sounds and all those scents.
Family and friends are invited to attend a walk-through visitation on Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the chapel of the SPINELLI-RICCIUTI/BEDNAR-OSIECKI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver Street in Ansonia. Visitors are asked to wear masks, walk-through to pay their respects and exit without lingering to ensure all guests can come through.
On Friday, May 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., all are invited to attend a graveside service with U.S. Army military honors (Directly) at Mt. St. Peter Cemetery, 219 New Haven Avenue in Derby with Rev. Jeffrey Gubbiotti, officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Matie’s memory may be made to Friends of the Ansonia Library, 53 S. Cliff St., Ansonia, CT 06401. To sign Matie’s guestbook or to share a memory, please visit www.spinelliricciutifh.com.
