Obituaries and Memories
Christy Gurto
June 24, 1949
July 19, 2024
Obituary
CHRISTY P. GURTO, of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, a man of Catholic faith went to the Lord on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.
Christy was born June 15, 1921 in Conneaut, Ohio he was the son of Peter and Mary (DelVecchio) Gurto.
A man whose greatest love was his family who will miss him dearly, the love of his life, his wife of 64 years Margaret (Peggy) Harkabus Gurto, his adoring daughters and sons-in-law Diane & Barry Vorse of Jacksonville, FL, Lynne & Henry Quartullo, of West Palm Beach, FL, and Michele & Michael DeLong of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, his beloved grandchildren Alan & Shannon Vorse of Bloomington, MN, Steven Veil of Orlando, FL, Lauren Veil of PBG, FL, James DeLong of California & Jared DeLong of Georgia, brother & sister in law Pat & Gayle Gurto, sister Florence Lewis of Conneaut, sister in law Joanne Cummins Fox of Georgia, sister in law Lorraine Gurto of Conneaut and BAnn Gurto of Wexford, PA, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Christy was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Mary Gurto, and nine brothers and sisters, James, Anthony, Frank and Joseph Gurto, Rose Speer, Mary Moneypenny, Sue Petrovski and two infant sisters.
A man of our nation’s Greatest Generation who served his country in the U.S. Army in the Aleutians Campaign and saw action at Dutch Harbor and Kiska. An electrician by trade, he helped build Mother Cabrini Catholic Church and the Veterans Memorial Wall in front of Conneaut City Hall. He moved his family to Florida in 1966 and became a small business owner of motels and dry cleaning establishments.
A man who believed in serving others as an usher at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic
Church, past Faithful Navigator of Knights of Columbus Father Andrew Doherty
Assembly, past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Council 2075, Trustee of Knights of Columbus Council 4999, a life member of the American Legion Post 12 in WPB and Cowle Post 151 in Conneaut, Ohio.
A man who helped his community especially the children through his dedicated service to the Hope Rural School in Indiantown and R.J. Hendley Christian School in Riviera Beach, FL and helping the needy by volunteering daily by picking up and delivering food to the St. George’s Soup Kitchen. He touched the lives of all those who were fortunate to have known him.
The family will receive friends at the Quattlebaum Funeral Home, WPB on Friday, March 18th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. A celebration of his life and Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 11:00 am at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Palm Beach Gardens. Burial with full military honors immediately following at Royal Palm Garden Cemetery.
To continue his charitable work, the family suggests that donations be made in his memory to Hope Rural School, 15929 SW 150th Street, Indiantown, FL 34956 or the R. J. Hendley Christian School, 2800 Avenue R , Riviera Beach, FL 33404.
Let this be his epitaph that he spent his life helping the poor, the needy and the less fortunate. He now goes to his final reward leaving a legacy of good works and charitable deeds. A long life well lived.
Comment (5)
Christy’s Funeral Mass Book
Christy P Gurto Mass Book
That Man is a Success – Robert Louis Stevenson
Who has lived well
laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect
of intelligent men
and the love of children;
Who has filled his niche
and accomplished his task;
Who leaves the world better
than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy
or a perfect poem
or a rescued soul;
Who never lacked appreciation
of earth’s beauty
or failed to express it;
Who looked for the best in others
and gave the best he had.
That man is you, Christy Gurto,
our Hope Rural Angel.
We love you and we will never forget you.
Christy Gurto Eulogy
Reflections on Christy Gurto, Our Hope Rural Angel
Sister Mary Dooley, SSND
A true Christian is one who seeks to embody love, reaching out to embrace others in both their beauty and their agony. St. Augustine describes this well:
“Love had hands to help others,
It has feet to hasten to the aid of the poor and needy
It has eyes to see misery and want,
It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of others,
That’s what LOVE looks like.”
Christy Gurto embodied love to his many loves- his dear Peggy, his precious daughters, Diane, Lynne and Michelle and their families, his beloved brothers and sisters and their families, his church, the Knights, St. George’s Soup Kichen, the Hendley Christian School, Hope Rural School and so many others.
As I reflect on Christy and his relationship with Hope Rural School, the song that resonates with me is “You Are Always On My Mind.” Hope Rural School was always on Christy’s mind. He was like the persistent person in scripture- constantly begging, requesting, asking- not for himself but for the children of Hope Rural School.
You never knew WHEN-you never knew WHAT but you always knew that every few weeks Christy would appear in Indiantown. His car could go on automatic pilot from Palm Beach Gardens to Hope Rural. Most of the time he drove out alone but when he wasn’t feeling well, Mike or his grandson, George McDonagh or another knight would bring him out.
He’d come to the back door to Tonya, drop off candy, toys, food, school supplies or whatever- then he’s find his way to my office, many times with a small white envelope and his camera. He’d sit in the chair and with a big grin on his face, say, “I got a little something for you.” and present me with a check. It might be for a Christmas party for the kids, a luncheon for the staff, something for the girl scouts or for the school. Next would always be the same 2 questions and a statement-
How are you? What do you need? I’ll see what I can do!
I’m sure many of you in this church today were asked those same two questions and received the same statement. Christy always wanted to know how you were, was there anything you needed and he’d see what he could do.
We all know how much Christy loved being a Knight and all that went with that role. He tried to get the Knights to see that his charities were the most important. Whenever I would go to a Knights function, Christy wanted me to work the room, meet all the Knights, especially the Grand Knight to seek support for the school.
Hope Rural has so many reminders of Christy’s persistence- our beautiful flag pole and flag, the 20 keyboards in the music, room ,and the list could go on and on. My last conversation with Christy was a week ago when he was in the hospital. He was on oxygen, not feeling great but he said, “I have to make a few phone calls- we have to get your kids socks and underwear for Easter.” I pleaded with him to forget it and just get well but he told me to let him be.
Peggy and family, Knights and friends of Christy, we know what an advocate he was for us here on earth. Can you imagine what he’s going to put God through now!!!
The roles have been reversed. I think God is now asking Christy those same 2 questions- how are you? what do you need?
And Christy’s response will be, “ I’m great but my Peggy needs this, my family, my grandkids, my knights, my Hendley and Hope Rural kids need that, and God will smile at Christy and say” I’ll see what I can do”
What an advocate we have in heaven. Christy will never forget us and we will never forget him.
Hope Rural School extends its deepest sympathy to Christy’s many loves. Joining me today is Sister Kate, the principal of Hope Rural, two representatives from our Hope Rural Girl Scout Troop, Eliza Esteban and Lizzie Dominguez and Brian Mendoza, a 2nd grader, who will now offer a tribute from the Hope Rural Family for our dear friend, Christy Gurto.
Dad, Missing you even more today on your 90th Birthday and Father’s Day this Sunday. I am visualizing you and your brothers and sisters and Grandma and Grandpa all sitting around a big table celebrating your day and enjoying a glass of wine and Grandma’s delicious ravioli (3 ravioli would fill a plate). I can hear the laughter as Uncle Joe tells one of his silly stories that you all have heard before, but you enjoy it as if hearing it for the very first time. Our hearts are still so badly broken, but we know you are at peace forever with perfect joy and beauty in God’s everlasting light – Safely home in Heaven.
Loving you and all the memories we have of you that we will continue to cherish.
Diane, Barry, Alan, Shannon (June 15, 2011)