Gary Steven Tanzella, age 73, of Little River, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024. Born on September 12, 1950 in Easton, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Septemio and Mary Tanzella.
He is survived by Eleanor (Ellie), his loving wife of 14 years, his sister Michele, his daughter Nicole and her partner Larry Raub; step-sons, Terry Warren and his wife Stephanie; Christopher Warren and his wife JoAnn; grandchildren, who lovingly called him Pappy-G, Tanner, Riley, and Jake; and step-grandchildren, Samantha, Michael, Christina, James, Lia and Benjamin; and his dear sister-in-law and husband Joan and Ron Miller. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Vincent and his son, Steven.
After Gary and Ellie were married in 2009 they decided to postpone their honeymoon for a year. In 2010 they took their Mediterranean honeymoon cruise, which they referred to as a trip of a lifetime. They visited Rome, Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. After getting a little taste of Italy they planned their next trip when they learned of the Italia Bella Tour with Fr. Ray. They visited Rome, Assisi, Florence, Tuscany and Venice. The highlight of this trip was touring Vatican City where they attended an audience with the Pope.
Gary and Ellie relocated to Little River in March of 2018 from Barnegat, New Jersey. The couple was a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church. Gary was also a member of the Little River Elks 2840. Gary was known for his social personality and his kind nature. If he saw a neighbor tackling a project he would immediately go over and offer his assistance, retrieving the appropriate gadget from his arsenal of tools. He cherished time spent with his family and friends. He was a wonderful cook whether it was his special charbroiled New York Strip steaks or his famous tomato sauce and meatballs which his grandchildren always requested when they visited. Gary enjoyed competitive shooting, fly fishing, car shows and his Indian Scout motorcycle. Two of his most prized possessions were his motorcycle and his Chevrolet Corvette that he completely restored on his own. Gary could do anything. He continued to make personal improvements to his and Ellie’s home and would say: “This is our little piece of heaven.”
Gary loved taking Ellie on long motorcycle rides to St. Michaels, MD, Springfield, MA, to the Indian Motorcycle Anniversary Rally, and to Laconia, NH. The most memorable trip the couple shared included driving up Mt. Washington on Gary’s Indian Scout. Even though Ellie had her reservations about this endeavor, Gary was all about safety and assured her all would be fine. When they reached the summit they felt like they were on top of the world enjoying their time together.
A memorial mass will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at 11:00 AM, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1100 8th Ave., N. North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582. Inurnment will immediately follow the mass at the church columbarium. Lee Funeral Home and Crematory of Little River is serving the family.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.0