Andrea Zainab Gates

Andrea Zainab (Abdullah) Gates, born May 29, 1965 and passed away in her sleep April 16, 2018 at her Lakewood, CA home after courageously fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS - Lou Gehrig’s Disease) since her diagnosis in January 2014.

Andrea often said her greatest accomplishment in life was being the proud mother of her two children, Spencer Charles Gates (student at UC, Irvine), and Sydney Emma Gates (graduating senior at Millikan High School). Andrea is also survived by her husband, Kevin Charles Gates of 22 years, her mother, Marion Abdullah, her sister, Selma Mirante and brother-in-law, Thomas Mirante. She was a loving and supporting aunt to her nephews, Alexander and Nicholas Mirante, and her nieces, Timarie Kelly, Meghan Thonen and Shelby O’Brien. She also leaves behind her in-laws, Veronica and Richard Gates, sister-in-law Carri Gates O’Brien and her many friends.

A native of Brooklyn, New York, Andrea moved to San Pablo, CA when she was five years old. Her family then permanently settled in El Sobrante, CA where she graduated from De Anza High School in 1983. In 1986 she earned her Associate in Arts from Diablo Valley College. In 1989 graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from California State University, Long Beach and her Master of Science in School Counseling in 1993. After earning her graduate degree, she worked as a proud Children’s Social Worker for Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. She was assigned the Alameda office covering some of the toughest areas in south central Los Angeles specializing in family reunification. In 2000, she stopped working to become a full time stay at home mom raising her two children, one with a rare disease.

In addition, Andrea was an active parishioner and part-time staff member of St. Pancratius Catholic Church in Lakewood, CA. She was a distinguished member of Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Pancratius School room mom, Pack 247 Den mom, Troop 4173 Girl Scout Leader, Festival booth co-captain, hospitality team member and generally filling in wherever the parish or school needed help.

In Heaven, Andrea has joined her father, Mansor Bin Abdullah and her nephew Jason Mark Kelly.

A funeral mass will be held April 25, 2018 at 10am at St. Pancratius Catholic Church, 3519 Saint Pancratius Place, Lakewood, CA. A vigil will be held the night before at 7:45pm in the church.

In lieu of flowers, Andrea requested donations be made to ISMRD, a non-profit organization focused on her son’s disease. 20880 Canyon View Drive, Saratoga, CA, 95070. ISMRD.ORG

Luyben Dilday Mortuary (562) 425-6401