James D. Gilia
February 1, 2024

James “Dave” Gilia, 79, of Carbondale, died at home Thursday after a brief battle with brain cancer. His wife was the late Marie Wasley Gilia, who died in 2001.

Born in Carbondale, son of the late James J. and Sophia Suhosky Gilia, he was a 1962 graduate of Ben Franklin High School. Upon graduation, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and was stationed at Guantanamo Bay during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He then served in the Vietnam War where he was a tank commander attaining the rank of sergeant class E-5. He was honorably discharged in 1966. After getting married and working in Connecticut for a short time, he and Marie moved back to Carbondale and he started his career in 1970 at Tredegar Corporation being promoted to technical supervisor and retiring in 2005. While working full-time, he earned an associate’s degree from Keystone College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wilkes University. He was a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale.

His favorite thing to do was to spend time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed going to the casino with his brother, making soppressata and wine with friends, and having his morning breakfast at McDonnell’s Restaurant.

The family would like to sincerely thank Robert, Felicia, Judy, and the rest of the staff there for taking care of him each day or as he would jokingly say “Thanks…for nothing.” The family also extends its sincere gratitude to the Hospice of the Sacred Heart staff for their compassionate care.

Surviving are two sons, James Gilia and wife, Linda, Carbondale; and David Gilia, Carbondale; a daughter, Patricia Greene and husband, David, Houston, Texas; three grandchildren, Gretchen, Jimmy and Jeremy Gilia, Carbondale; a brother, Stephen Gilia, Carbondale; a sister, Ruth Roscioli, Jermyn; a sister-in-law, Maureen Schmid, New York; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Merly Gilia; three sisters, Rose Ellen Connerton, Patricia Gaiardo and Judith Granville; and a brother, Jimmy boy.

The funeral will be Monday from Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 74 N. Main St., Carbondale. A blessing service will be held in the funeral home Monday at 10 a.m. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.

A viewing will be held on Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. in the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to the funeral home website.