Obituary of Matteo Galati

October 24, 1937 – January 8, 2023

Matteo Galati.  Age 85 of South Rockwood.

Loving father of Monica (Edward) Neubauer, Giovanna (David) Williams, Matthew (Christine) Galati, and Michael (Michelle) Galati. Dearest grandfather of Brandon (Sara) Neubauer, Brittany (Jared) Kersten, Corey Neubauer, Hannah (Spencer) Oja, Lauren (Kyle Branum) Neubauer, Evan (Cassidy) Galati, Ethan Williams, Seth Galati, and Grayson Galati. Great grandfather of Riley, Ella, Faith, and Stetson. Also survived by the mother of his children, Dolores Galati-Boyd and many nieces and nephews, whom he loved dearly. 

 Preceded in death by his parents, Pietro Galati and Giovanna Sclafanni Galati; his sisters, Vita Galati, Giuseppa Galati-Vitale, and Caterina Galati-Biundo; and his brothers, Santo Galati and Vincenzo Galati.

Cremation will take place at The On-Site Crematory located within the Molnar Funeral Homes - Brownstown Chapel.

~Family Tribute~

Matteo Galati was born October 24, 1937 in Cinisi, Sicily. He came to America when he was 19 years old to pursue the American dream.  He worked with his Uncle Cash as a commercial painter and then met and married Dolores Vasicek in 1962.  They had 4 children together and many business ventures.  They owned several rental properties, owned their own construction company and eventually started their own pizzeria, Matteo’s Pizza in Rockwood. Matteo worked tirelessly at the restaurant. He loved to cook. He enjoyed owning his own business and doing something he loved.  Family gatherings always centered around “grandpa’s famous spaghetti & meatballs” He loved feeding his family and cooking with all the vegetables in his garden.  He loved to garden! He also loved to spend time with his siblings and nieces & nephews that were here in America, playing cards at family gatherings with great enthusiasm!

Matteo & Dolores did divorce, but their commitment to family never wavered. They continued to celebrate all things family, together.  Dolores continued to care for Matteo all the way to the end of his life.  In the late 80’s Matteo sold his pizzeria business and retired to Florida where he lived off & on for 20 years before eventually coming back to Michigan. He so enjoyed the sunshine there and the Florida orange trees & tropical fruit that he could grow in his own backyard.

Matteo was very popular among his nieces & nephews. He became the “infamous Uncle Matt” who was essentially a “trailblazer” that brought his brothers and sisters and their children from a little town in Sicily to Wyandotte, Michigan to achieve the “American Dream”.  All of them have been successful in their own businesses and have married and had children and achieved a better life for themselves.  They always credited Uncle Matt for being their sponsor and helping them achieve success. He was always the favorite uncle.

In his later years, Matteo lived with his children and continued to garden, “putz” in the yard, play corn hole and play Italian cards with anyone who would play with him. He loved just relaxing in the sunshine and teasing his grandchildren and son-in-laws. He was notorious for his teasing & joking and he gave everyone a nickname. He also enjoyed going to the casino with his niece Giovanna Biundo-Liparoto, who graciously helped care for him alongside his children until the very last day of his life.  The family is very grateful for her love and support.