Obituary of G. Thomas Gentile

G. Thomas Gentile of Hackensack, passed away peacefully on Sunday May 23, 2021 at the age of 72 years. Thomas dedicated his life to helping people at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. Amongst many honors, Hackensack UNICO once named him its "Man of the Year," while the city Chamber of Commerce selected him as its "Distinguished Citizen of the Year." He was a parishioner of Holy Trinity R. C. Church, Hackensack, where he served as a Eucharistic minister, CCD teacher and member of the usher society, choir, and St. Vincent de Paul Society – and was a lifetime member of the Holy Name Society at St. Francis Church, Hackensack. He was a member of the Hackensack Elks Lodge # 658, a past Grand Knight and member of Trinity Council #747, a past president of the Trinity Columbian Club, a member of the Bishop O'Connor General Assembly Fourth Degree of Knights of Columbus of Hackensack and a former district deputy for the New Jersey State Knights of Columbus. He also was a past president and member of the Bergen County Funeral Directors Association, as well as a member of New Jersey State Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association. It was in the early-70s that he bought the former Gormley Community Funeral Home in Hackensack and through hard work and dedication the business expanded. Soon after, he acquired three city institutions -- the Steward Funeral Home, Ricardo Memorial Home and, finally, the Rocciola Funeral Home. He combined the services of all the facilities into one convenient location built to accommodate the needs of anyone and everyone who came seeking his help. Beloved husband to Josephine A. (nee Post). Loving father to Joseph Gentile and his fiancée Marcie Tamberlli, Lisa M. Gentile and Dr. Nicole D. Gentile and her husband Dr. Robert E. Nugent Jr. Special Pop Pop to Joseph, Adrianna, and his fur grandbabies Sami & Miles. Dearest brother of Phyllis Liess and her late husband Jerome, Catherine Piciullo and her late husband Gabriel, both of Yorba Linda, CA. and the late Jean Gentile (2018). Loving brother-in-law to Warren Post of Stony Pt. NY. Adored uncle to Jerome Liess and his wife Debbie, Robert Liess and his wife Ginny, Nicole Piciullo, Jamie Giddens, Eric Post and his wife Sarah, Ryan Post, and Breanne Post. Thomas also leaves behind countless friends. He will truly be missed by all. The Funeral will begin on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at 9:30 AM at the G. Thomas Gentile Funeral Home, 397 Union Street, Hackensack, NJ. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 AM at Holy Trinity R.C. Church, 34 Maple Avenue, Hackensack. Entombment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Hackensack. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:00 – 8:00 PM for visitation. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Thomas's memory to: St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org/memorial.