Gayle Frances Sanfilippo

Gayle Frances Sanfilippo, aged 83, passed away on Wednesday, October 31, 2018, after a short battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, Josephine and Salvador Sanfilippo, and her daughter, Kilene. She is fiercely loved and will be greatly missed until we see her again in Heaven.

Gayle was born November 18, 1934, in San Jose, California. She was a 1952 graduate of Notre Dame High School. After she retired from IBM in the mid-1990s, she moved to Lincoln City, Oregon. Gayle loved her coastal home, especially its proximity to the beach for long walks with her dogs, the visiting seagulls she fed on her back deck, and her garden. She was inspired by the wildlife and landscapes surrounding her.

Her love of nature was evident in her art. An independent and creative soul, Gayle was a talented artist who worked primarily in oils and pastels. Through years of experience, she perfected a technique that produced photograph-like images. This skill was most powerful in her paintings of wildlife, which highlight Gayle’s true respect for and connection to animals. She was a lifelong advocate for all creatures, whether through her support of countless organizations or personally adopting new senior dogs.

Gayle was a beloved Mother, Grandmother, and GreatGrandmother. She delighted in the achievements and milestones of family and friends. She was faithful to send cards or notes for every occasion, often on animalthemed stationary, and always offered her hand-written love and encouragement. She cherished stories about and photographs of her great-grandchildren and proudly displayed their artwork. She was a long-time member of St. Augustine Catholic Church, Lincoln City, Oregon, and enjoyed attending daily mass and seeing her friends.

Gayle is survived by two sisters, Lynda (Terry) Moudakas and Lois Sanfilippo, and brother, Don (Pauline) Sanfilippo; daughters, Debi (Jerry) Bennett, Laurie (Dave) Fiebich, Talia (Matt) Neely, and son Kirk (Jody) Sanfilippo; grandchildren, Jayme (Sean) Travis, Karyn Fiebich, Max (Jamie) Murray III, Gery Fiebich, and Lacey McKim; great-grandchildren, Cooper Travis, Josephine Travis, Judy Neely, Alice Neely, Madeline Neely, and Abigail Neely; and a number of other cherished relatives and friends.

There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 1139 NW Highway 101, Lincoln City, Oregon 97367, on November 16, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. A Funeral Service will also be held at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, St. Clare Chapel, 490 Lincoln St., Santa Clara, California 95050, on November 19, 2018, at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Augustine Catholic Church, Roof Fund, 1151 NW Inlet Ave, Lincoln City, Oregon 97367; or, Lincoln City Animal Shelter, 510 NE Harney St., Newport, Oregon 97365.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8