Lydia Ercolina Gatti

Lydia Ercolina Gatti passed away on Friday, Feb. 22, 2008. She was 95.

She was a former Hunterdon resident, living in the Flemington-Croton area from 1948 until 1986.

Born on Aug. 28, 1912, in Torino, Italy, Lydia was the daughter of Antonio and Josephina (Zanino) Trucco. Lydia immigrated to the United States with her mother on the ship Conte Verde in October 1924. (Her father had come to the U.S. the year before.)

The family settled in New York City where Lydia attended school, excelling in her classes despite having to learn a new language. After completing eighth grade, Lydia attended Manhattan Trade School for two years, majoring in dressmaking. Lydia completed an additional year in public school, and then was old enough to apply for a work permit.

She worked as a seamstress for the couture dress designers at Saks Fifth Avenue, until her daughter was 1-year old after which she remained a homemaker, but still designing and sewing clothes for the family, including her daughter's wedding gown.

Lydia was married to Julius Edward Gatti for 62 years. He died in 2001.

Mr. Gatti was a machinist and with his brothers formed the Transomatic Corp., which performed metal-fabricating defense work during World War II at their plant on Route 12 in Flemington. After selling the building in 1956 to the Bemis Brothers Bag Co., the family entered the wholesale electrical, heating and plumbing supply business by opening the Circle G Supply Co. on Route 202-31 in Raritan Township.

The Gattis moved to Toms River in 1986, then to Texas about eight years ago.

Mrs. Gatti is survived by her daughter, Alba Kuhlmeier and husband, Jim, of West Hills, Calif.; her son, Richard Gatti and wife Gloria of Double Oak, Texas; three grandchildren, Ronald Kuhlmeier and wife, Stephanie of Simi, Calif., Valerie Kuhlmeier of Kingston, Canada, and Robert Gatti and wife, Kathryn of Coppell, Texas; and three great-grandchildren, Thomas, Timothee and Toby, all of Simi, Calif.

Both Lydia and her husband will be buried in Flemington in May with the assistance of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ. Please visit www.holcombefisher.com for further information or to send condolences.