It is a pain that has wounded and upset the depths of the soul of the entire Nebrodi community, gathered yesterday in San Marco d’Alunzio to say their final goodbyes to Gabriele Di Simone, a 29-year-old who died last Tuesday after crashing his off-road vehicle into the valley of Borgo Stella in Alcara Li Fusi.
The evocative Church of Aracoeli in the Aluntine village listed in mourning was unable to contain the emotional crowd of friends, acquaintances and ordinary citizens who came from the various centers of the hinterland to gather around their parents, brothers and sisters and all their family members. on the day of the funeral. Celebrating the funeral were Father Basilio Rinaudo, vicar general of the Diocese of Patti, together with Don Salvatore Miracola, parish priest of San Marco d’Alunzio, and Father Carlo Musarra.
Incessant tears streamed down the faces of the hundreds of those present, unable to find either peace or explanation for the tragedy that Gabriele had brought upon himself, the dreams and hopes of his young life, torn away from the love of his family. Particularly poignant and touching were the messages read by a girl on behalf of her closest friends, her nephew and her fiancée Chiara, with whom Gabriele had already planned the wedding and was building what would be their home in Militello Rosmarino.
The mayor of San Marco d’Alunzio, Filippo Miracula, expressed the population’s unanimous condolences, recalling the availability, courtesy and vitality of Gabriele, «a son of San Marco d’Alunzio whom we all loved. We no longer have tears or words, we will remember you forever, now pray for all of us and one day we will see each other again” said Miracula, thanking the nearby municipal administrations in these terrible days, starting with Alcara Li Fusi and Militello Rosmarino. Citizen mourning was also observed in the latter center yesterday.
Long applause and balloons released into the sky to the tune of Vasco Rossi greeted the exit of the coffin, accompanied by the roar of the off-road vehicles of the friends of the Nebrodi 4×4 Lions Club, of which the 29-year-old was part and with whom he shared his innate passion.