Obituary of Michele Gozzo

Michele Gozzo, 94, of Manchester passed away surrounded by his family on Monday, June 21, 2021 at home.   Michele was born and raised in Siracusa, Sicily, Italy and came to the United States in 1958 settling in Brooklyn.  He lived in Paterson and moved to Manalapan in 1975.  Michele moved to Howell in 2002 and just recently settled to Manchester. He was the owner of Distinctive Gardens in Marlboro until his retirement.  A former parishioner of St. Thomas More Church in Manalapan, Michele was a devout Catholic.  He loved playing cards and tending to his vegetable and flower gardens.  Michele had a passion for Formula 1 racing and was affectionately known as Papa.

Michele was predeceased by his wife, Antonina just last year.  Michele is survived by his three children, Salvatore Gozzo and his wife, Maureen of Islamorada, Florida, Teresa Craven and her husband, Donald of Freehold, and Gioacchina Gozzo of Manchester; grandchildren, Michael Gozzo and his wife, Laura, Daniel Gozzo, Kyle Craven, Dylan Craven, and Danielle Craven; and greatgrandchild, Kaylee (Daniel’s daughter).

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. For those that cannot attend the Visitation, the family invites you to participate via Webast through the Funeral Home Website HERE. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at 9:30 AM at the funeral home for the procession to his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass on Thursday, June 24, 2021 at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, 61 Georgia Road, Freehold Township.  Entombment will take place in Ocean County Memorial Park, Toms River.  For those who desire memorial contributions in Michele’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.