John Gibbons died peacefully on February 11th with his children at his side at the age of 90. He was born in the village of Askelane in Louisburgh, County Mayo, Ireland, the youngest boy of thirteen children born to Geoffrey and Sarah Kate.

John left home at the age of 14 to work in England before immigrating to the United States in his 20s. He initially settled in Chicago among his siblings Bernie, Mike and Richard before setting out to San Francisco to join his brother Ray. He met his wife, Julia (nee O’Toole) at an Irish dance in the city. They were married in 1965. For the next 24 years, they raised their children Bridget, Sarah and Jeff in Daly City before the early passing of Julia in 1989 from ALS.

John spent time working as a laborer and landscaper. He was a long-time employee of Stonestown Properties maintaining the grounds, sharing his stories and making friends along the way. He retired at the age of 65.

In 1998, with grown kids and a quiet house, John decided to sell his Daly City home and move to Redwood City to be closer to his family. He joined St. Pius Parish and was a regular at the 8 a.m. mass.

In the golden years that followed, he beautified his home and garden, cared for his grandchildren, putting them down for naps and later proudly cheering them on at their games, enjoyed taking his car rides and stopping to talk with his neighbors. Nothing gave him greater joy than spending time with his family.

He is survived by his two sisters, Bernadette O’Grady in Chicago and Eileen Daly in Cork, Ireland, his daughters Bridget and Sarah, his son Jeffrey, daughter-in-law Meredith, beloved grandchildren Isabella, Jack, Declan and Delaney, brother-in-law John J. O’Toole, and sister-in-law Mary Gibbons (nee Feeney). In addition to his immediate family, John was uncle to nieces and nephews in San Francisco, Chicago, Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The family thanks the staff of Home Health Agency and Kaiser Home Hospice for their care and kindness in the last months of his life.

A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, February 21st at 10:30 a.m. at St. Pius Church in Redwood City. Those in attendance are invited to wear something green in honor of John’s Irish spirit. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the ALS Foundation, Wings Learning Center in Redwood City, or One Step Beyond, Inc. in San Carlos, providing opportunities for life experience for those with developmental disabilities.

May John’s gentle soul rest in peace.