Gabriel “Fat” M. Scala, 97, of Berwick, died Feb. 9, 2019, at St. Luke’s Hospice House, Bethlehem. He had been residing with his son Gabe and his wife Gina, of Bethlehem, since May 2018. Born in Berwick, he was a son of the late Sebastiano and Maria Lucia (Cavaliere) Scala.

He was a 1938 graduate of Berwick HS.

He was a seaman first class in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1942, during World War II, in the Asiatic-Pacific area for 14 months.

He worked for his family’s restaurant, Scala’s Arcadian Grill, the Duplan Silk Mill and the A.C.F. prior to enlisting in the military. After he returned, he and his brothers, Michael and Sebastian,were partners in the Scala Brothers Wholesale Beer business until 1981.

He was a parishioner of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, Berwick, where he was an Eucharistic Minister.

In addition to his son and daughter-in-law, he is survived by two grandchildren, Francesca (Scala) and her husband, Christopher Ross of Whitehall Township and Alexa (Scala) of Bethlehem; a great- grandson, Grayson James Ross; and his second wife Mary Lee’s five children, Angela Harmon, Pennie Matash, Mark Melchiorre, Mary Faith Fisher and James Melchiorre.

He was predeceased by his first wife, Pauline Joan (Zaludek) Scala; his second wife of 41 years, Mary Lee (Phares) Melchiorre Scala; a brother, Michael C. Scala Sr.; a sister, Mary Scala DeMelfi; a brother, Sebastian “Gege” Scala; and a sister, Elizabeth “Babe” Scala Kachurka.

He was a member of the Maria Assunta Society, the Berwick V.F.W. and a life time member of the West End Fire Company.

Contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105.

Arrangements were made by Connell Funeral Home Inc., Bethlehem.