Matteo Loiacono Obituary
Matteo Loiacono, a devoted fisherman whose life was as vast and enduring as the sea he loved, passed away peacefully at Seacoast Rehabilitation on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Born in Terrasini, Sicily, Italy, to Giuseppe and Graziella (Favazza) Loiacono, Matteo was a son of the Mediterranean, where the rhythm of the waves shaped his spirit from an early age.
Matteo lived in Terrasini until he was 24, honing his skills as a fisherman and serving proudly in the Italian Navy. In 1971, he set sail for a new horizon, arriving in Gloucester, Massachusetts, where he continued his trade, casting lines into the Atlantic and building a family rooted in hard work and unwavering love. Fishing wasn't just a profession for Matteo—it was his passion. He cherished the sea's boundless freedom, the grit of long days on the water, and the quiet pride of providing for those he held dear.
When the boats were docked, Matteo's world expanded to the lively camaraderie of St. Peter's Club in Gloucester. There, amid rounds of cards, stories, and the easy laughter of men forged by the ocean, he found his tribe. A man with an unquenchable appetite for life, Matteo savored every cuisine under the sun—Italian feasts, fresh seafood, or whatever the table offered—always with a hearty laugh and an open heart. In his earlier years, he made regular pilgrimages back to Terrasini, reuniting with his many siblings and lifelong friends, bridging the old world with the new.
Above all, Matteo's greatest joy was his grandchildren. Their laughter and energy filled him with immense fulfillment; his smile could light up the dimmest room when they were near, turning ordinary moments into treasures. Through decades of health challenges that tested his Sicilian resilience, Matteo defied the odds with a fighter's grace—his family often joked he might outlast the tides themselves. Yet, when God called him home, he departed with the peace of a man who had lived fully, loved deeply, and left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
Matteo is survived by his beloved wife of 44 years, Francesca Loiacono; his children: Joseph Loiacono and his son Travis; Vito Loiacono; Graziella and Wayne Saunders, and their children Stephen and Caleigh; Rosanna Loiacono and her children Elijah, Gianna, and Hannah; Josie and Robert Curcuru, and their daughters Olivia and Arianna; and Salvatore and his partner Rick. He is also survived by his brother Salvatore Loiacono in Italy; and his sisters Catherina Brancaleone and Zina Loiacono.
He was predeceased by his sister Rosa Grillo of Gloucester; and siblings Antonia Gallina, Vito Loiacono, and Antonio Loiacono, all of Sicily.
The family extends deepest gratitude to the compassionate team at Day by Day, where Matteo spent his last two years surrounded by warmth and support, and to the staff at Seacoast Rehabilitation, whose kindness and care shone brightest during his final week.
We will miss you, our Father, Nonno, and husband—Have one last voyage at sea, Dad.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 26, 2025, at St. Ann's Church-Holy Family Parish at 11:00 a.m. Refreshments to follow in the downstairs hall. Friends and family are cordially welcome.
