Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate in 1996 and served the Diocese of Sacramento for more than 24 years, died on Dec. 21. He was 75.
Bishop Jaime Soto will preside at a funeral Mass for Deacon Del Gaudio on Thursday, Dec. 30 at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, located at 1017 11th St. in Sacramento. Clergy are invited to vest in alb and white stole and sit as a vested body. The livestream of the funeral Mass may be viewed by clicking here. The rite of committal will follow the Mass at St. Mary Cemetery, located at 6509 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento at 12 p.m. A reception will follow the Mass beginning at 12:30 p.m. (early arrival is OK) at Giovanni Hall at St. Mary Parish, located at 1333 58th St. in Sacramento.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in St. Mary Church, located at 1333 58th St. A vigil service and rosary will be held the same day at 7 p.m. in St. Mary Church.
Deacon Del Gaudio served in various ministries at St. Mary Parish in Sacramento from 1996 to the present. He and his wife, Susan, and their daughters, Rachel and Emily, had been parishioners of St. Mary since 1974.
He served the diocese in many capacities, including seminarian formation coordinator in the Office of Priestly and Religious Vocations, Bishop Jaime Soto’s delegate for permanent deacons, a member of the Independent Review Board and a member of the Deacon Formation Policy Board.
Deacon Del Gaudio was born in Boston, Massachusetts to two Italian immigrants from Naples, Italy, the youngest child and only son of four children to his parents, Luigi and Emilia (Sarno). He attended Catholic elementary school in Sommerville, Massachusetts, where he was raised.
He was a dutiful altar server at St. Joseph Parish and grew up attending every kind of activity the church had to offer, from Catholic Youth Organization baseball to the drill team, where he played as part of the drum team. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic High School in nearby Cambridge and graduated in 1965.
A year after graduation, his family moved to Van Nuys, California. He married Susan Stockman in 1969. He attended California State University-Northridge and graduated in 1970.
They moved back to Boston for two years, where he earned his master’s degree in social work at Boston College. “All things ‘Boston’ bring me great pleasure,” he said.
In 1972, he and Susan moved back to California where he began his career as a social worker, working in both foster care and adoptions. In 2006, he retired as a manager in the child welfare services field for the State of California Department of Social Services.
On June 15, 1996, after four years of formation, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate by then-Bishop William K. Weigand.
In a biography he wrote for St. Mary Parish’s website, Deacon Del Gaudio noted: “Since my ordination, I have had the privilege of baptizing hundreds of children; preparing couples for their marriages and witnessing many of them; sharing the Gospel through preaching, counseling and teaching; and helping those mourning the loss of their loved ones by helping with funeral liturgies. I am also very involved in bringing holy Communion to our parishioners who are homebound.
“I love being a member of the team that participates in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and baptism classes, as well as Catholics Come Home. These experiences have been a blessing to me and my family as God has given me so much more than I have ever given in return.
“My time now consists of working around the house, visiting with and playing with our six grandchildren, and devoting time to my diaconate vocation, both at the parish and diocesan level.
“I have come to know that Christ is at the center of all that happens to us. I’ve also come to understand that he doesn’t love us if we are good. He loves us so we can be good. He sustains us, cares for us and cherishes us through the difficult and tragic times of our lives. He does this through his church. We always wind up the beneficiary for loving Him and others in his name. We welcome all to come and worship Him with us.”
Deacon Del Gaudio was preceded in death by his parents and two of his older sisters, Gloria Salamone and Evelyn Sylvester. He is survived by his wife Susan, his daughters Rachel Luhrsen (JamO) and Emily Margolis (Dave) and was proud papa to Eli and Isaac Margolis and Jonah, Holden, Talia and Mimi Luhrsen. He also leaves behind his sister Norma Del Gaudio, brother-in-law Sam Sylvester, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and storytelling, along with a huge community of people for whom he meant so much. His bright light will shine on in all who knew and loved him. The family wishes to extend their immense gratitude to all who have reached out in prayer, love and support. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in the name of Deacon Del Guadio to St. Mary School in Sacramento.