Obituary of Giovanna Anna Santilli

GIOVANNA ANNA SANTILLI Latham- Giovanna A. Santilli, 75, beloved wife of Vince for 48 years, died April 12, 2018 at home surrounded by her loving family after a prolonged battle with lung cancer. Born October 1, 1942 in Modugno, Italy (Province of Bari) to the late Giacinto and Antonietta (Fragassi) Pascazio, Giovanna, known as Jane to many, emigrated from Italy as a young woman as her family pursued the American Dream. A talented seamstress and pattern maker with a keen eye on quality control, she was trained in Italy at La Scuola del Taglio and developed a successful career in the garment industry here in America starting at Troymake then Marshall Ray and Ursula of Switzerland. She then started her own small business; Gio-Vin Quality Fashions with her husband Vince, specializing in the manufacture of evening gowns. After retiring, she continued to feed (and fund!) her love of fashion by working as the alterations manager at Lord and Taylor. As a hobby she also worked with brides to bring their one of a kind ideas to life in their wedding gowns. Her favorite creation was for Susan (McDermott) the daughter of her dear friend, the late Shirley Wagoner. She enjoyed escaping winter through her annual cruises with her husband Vince to "the Islands" and dickering with the local vendors to score her next piece of jewelry. She was addicted to the Game Show Network and playing computer games! In addition to her devoted husband Vince, she leaves behind her heartbroken daughter Lora (Dan Lang) of Castleton and devastated son Vince (Dianne) of Wilton as well as grieving son Peter of Cincinnati and his former wife Cathy. She cherished her six grandchildren Francesca (Scott) Lindgren, Sabrina Santilli, Alyssandra and Olivia Lang, McKenna Cox, their namesake Vincent Santilli and her two adored great grandsons, James and Ethan. They will forever miss Sunday dinners with their Nonna. The third of six children, she is survived by her loving siblings: 3 brothers, Franco (Chella), Raffaele (Fran), and Dan (Kathy) Pascazio and 2 sisters Nina (Rocco) DiCarlo and Rosa (Lello) Cavallo as well as her 13 nieces and nephews and their families: Gigi (AnnaMaria), Giacinto (Roberta), Maurizio (Donatella), Tonia (Steve), Sabrina, Cinto, Anthony (Moani), Daniel (Lynn), Nicholas (Laura), Angelo (Michelle), Mina (David), Antonia (Les), and Mariann. Predeceased by her niece Raffaella. She is remembered and mourned by a large loving extended family of Pascazio and Fragassi cousins as well as her sister-in-law America Fitzhugh, and the Santilli and DiNino families, and many dear friends including Italia and Attillio Crisafulli, Michele Krajewski, Jane Alessandrini and Johanna Valentini who brought joy to her days. The family wishes to thank her incredible medical team for years of extraordinary management of her complex health care needs including staff from the offices of Doctors Sulzman, Farooq, Roglieri, Benton, Verdini (and Valerie Whitney), and Morrison, Drs. Weissman and Juliano and the caring NYOH staff, Kelly and staff from Nicolla PT, staff from St. Peter's 6P, Eddy Heritage 4th Floor Rehab, Samaritan PCU and the Angels from The Community Hospice and Home Instead who strived to make her last weeks as comfortable as possible. Mommy always loved flowers (except mums!). Alternatively, those wishing to support the effort to cure and comfort may do so through a memorial contribution to the American Cancer Society or The Community Hospice. Family and friends are invited to visit on Sunday, April 15th from 2-5 p.m. at the Dufresne & Cavanaugh Funeral Home, 149 Old Loudon Road, Latham. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, April 16th at 9:00 a.m. at St. Ambrose Church, 347 Old Loudon Road, Latham. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Middletown Road, Waterford. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery, Waterford For directions, information, to light a memory candle or order flowers for the family please visit www.dufresneandcavanaugh.com.