Serafin O. Gabriel

Serafin O. Gabriel M.D. Funeral services for Serafin Gabriel, 61, will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, May 28, 2021 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until service time. Officiating the service will be Reverend Irving Barfield. Interment will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 29, 2021 at Forest Park East, 3700 St. Vincent, Shreveport, Louisiana. Serafin was born on November 21, 1959 in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines to Reynaldo and Digna Ortin Gabriel and passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2021 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Serafin was baptized into the Catholic faith at a young age and was taught the moral principles and canons of the church through his mother's guidance. Serafin and his family moved from Santa Maria, Bulacan Province to the suburbs of Milwaukee when he was eight years of age. He learned the English language quickly and thrived in several school subjects. His father shared his expertise of the game of tennis, and Serafin became a fierce competitor with awards and trophies in abundance. He enjoyed music during his school years, including participating in the orchestra as first chair trombone player. After graduating high school, Serafin matriculated to Marquette University where he completed a bachelor's degree in biology. Following in the footsteps of his father and maternal grandfather, he pursued a medical degree with the intention of practicing family medicine In 1997, Serafin was accepted into the residency program of Louisiana State University Medical Center in Shreveport. He developed friendships and served in several roles, including Chief Resident of Psychiatry. Serafin faithfully provided behavioral health treatment services to mentally ill persons for more than 20 years. His longest employment as a psychiatrist was through Northwest Louisiana Human Services District. In 2005, he married Cathy and one son, Roman, was born to this union. Serafin was a professed believer in Jesus Christ. Serafin's genuine love for family, faith and friends was known by all who encountered him. His enjoyment of cooking omelets, one pot meals, goulashes, and most recently loaf breads was shared with family and friends within the community. His kindness and generosity will be remembered always. Serafin is preceded in death by his parents. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Cathy Gabriel; son, Roman Gabriel; sisters, Maria Dequina, Emma Mendoza and husband, Carlito, Teresita Dirksen and husband, Eric and Melissa Fryman; brother, Reynaldo "Reggie" Gabriel and wife, Dixie; and a host of relatives, friends, and associates. Honoring Serafin as pallbearers will be Reynaldo "Reggie" Gabriel, Irving A. Barfield, Frank Melo and John Mammen. In lieu of flowers the family suggest that memorials may be made to the North Louisiana Food Bank, www.foodbanknla.org, or Project Celebration, www.projectcelebration.com.