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Ware - Deacon Gilbert “Gibby” M. St. George-Sorel, age 71, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family. He returned to his Lord and Savior on Monday, June 27, 2022 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield following a brief illness.
Gibby was born in Ware on July 24, 1950, beloved son of the late Romuald A. Sorel and Mildred (Rymarski) Sorel. He was raised and educated in Ware, a 1964 graduate of the former St. Mary's School, and a 1968 graduate of Ware High School. In the summer of 1967, Gibby started as a summer worker for the Ware Highway Department, and worked continuously for the Town of Ware. In 1986, he become the Water and Sewer Superintendent, then was elected as the Department of Public Works (DPW) Superintendent in 1990. He retired for the first time in 2010, completing 42 years of service to the Town and its residents. While serving the community, he came out of retirement several times to assist the Town of Ware with its Public Works projects. In 2018 he returned to the DPW Superintendent position and worked until recently. Gibby also worked for various private consulting engineers, including Tighe & Bond from Westfield.
During this time, he met and married his wife, Lauretta (Arventos) St. George, who owned a local dance studio. He became the “Last Student” of the studio. Following their shared interest in education, they both took night classes at various local colleges and institutions, with Gibby attending both Holyoke Community College (HCC) and Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) to complete his Associate’s degree. He then transferred to UMass Lowell, until he satisfied requirements for a Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering.
Gibby was a life-long servant to the Lord and to the Roman Catholic Church, serving as an altar boy in his youth and continuing as an adult. In 1983 he became one of St. Mary's Church’s original Eucharistic Ministers. He also served as a church lector. Following his official retirement from the Town of Ware, he embarked on a four-year process of study and service, enrolling at Elms College to undertake the Deaconate curriculum. It was a highlight of his life to be ordained as a Permanent Catholic Deacon for the Diocese of Springfield in 2017, by the former Bishop Mitchell Rozanski.
It was a special honor to have him officiate at family ceremonies. He was a valued staff member at Cebula Funeral Home, and served both St. Mary's and All Saints Parishes until the time of his passing. Deacon Gibby always drew from his heart, his life and the Scripture when delivering his homily. He brought Jesus in the Eucharist to the shut-ins and homebound. Gibby baptized the young, taught the faith to the youth, and said prayers for those who passed on. Gibby helped bridge gaps when priests were transferred away from local parishes, often serving many Masses, christenings and committals on any given weekend.
Lauretta and Gibby enjoyed 32 years together. The light of Gibby’s life, her sudden death in November 2021 impacted him greatly. While he will be terribly missed by all who knew him, he has now returned to the place he most wishes to be: at his wife’s side.
To cherish his memory, Gibby leaves daughters Wendy Piche and husband Fred, Cindy St. George and Ginny St. George and partner David Ferris; his four grandchildren, Nicholas Martowski and wife Seda, Evan St. George and wife Erin, Jules Martowski and wife Tomi and Carolyn Piche; three great-grandchildren, Ethan, Logan and Eleanor. He also leaves his nephew Jeffrey Sorel of Ware and niece and godchild Robin Sorel Evans of Southold, Long Island, NY; sisters-in-law Shirley Higney and husband Joe and Charlotte Mansfield and husband Bob, and many Sorel and Rymarski cousins. In addition to his parents, Gibby was pre-deceased by his brother Romuald "Rom" Sorel and sister-in-law Lisa.
Final Services for Deacon Gibby will begin on Friday, July 8, 2022 with a Rite of Welcoming and Funeral Vigil Service which will be held at 4 PM followed by the Funeral Rosary Service both in St. Mary's Church, 57 South Street, Ware. Deacon Gibby will repose in St. Mary's Church, 57 South Street, Ware from 4:30-6:00 for family and friends to pay their final respects. A Funeral Mass will be offered at 11 AM on Saturday, July 9, 2022 in St. Mary's Church, 57 South Street, Ware. Deacon Gilbert M. St. George-Sorel will be laid to rest next to Lauretta, in St. Mary's Cemetery following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the following organizations: Dakin Humane Society, P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101-6307 (dakinhumane.org) or to St. Mary’s Church, 60 South Street, Ware MA 01082 (www.warecatholic.org.)
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