9/28/54 – 9/9/09
My name is Joyce Garofalo, the heartbroken widow of Matthew V. Garofalo. My husband Matt was taken from us tragically and violently. He was killed in a terrible car crash by a drunken driver. He was brain dead! He could never speak to us again. My two sons and I were devastated with the shock of his death! My husband was 54 years old, we would have celebrated 30 years of marriage two weeks after he was killed.
Matthew was art director and prep manager at Panel Prints in Old Forge for 32 years, before becoming manger of the prep and film department at Donray Printing Co. in Parsippany, NJ. This quilt square was printed at Donray Printing and they do heat-transfer printing at the company.
Matthew was a devoted father, friend, husband and brother. He was generous, creative and hard working. He spent all his spare time with family. A gentle and big-hearted person by nature, he was a hero to his family as well as the many people he touched. Although his passing was premature, he helped many as an organ donor. He was always there for his family and friends, but most of all for me and our two sons, whom he loved profoundly.
Matt was also preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Angelo and Angelina Garofalo; maternal grandparents, Onofrio and Rose Morreale; and a father-in-law, Lawrence Krisanda. Residing at home; four brothers, Angelo and wife Marise, Richard and wife Nancianne, Samuel and wife Andrea, Roland and wife Barbara, sister Elissa; mother-in-law Anna Mae Krisanda, several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
I hope today my husband is here with us in spirit and I want him to know what wonderful husband and father he was and that OUR LOVE FOR HIM WILL NEVER DIE! My husband was a "gift of life" to myself and the boys. In fact his name means "A gift from God," and the man that took my husband's life, took that gift away from us FOREVER!