Of Waltham & West Yarmouth, passed away peacefully Friday evening May 4th, 2018 with her loving family by her side at Briarwood Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Needham at the age of 92.
Gisella was born on June 8, 1925 in the town of Ripi, Frosinone, Italy. She was the daughter of the late Dominico and Teresa Mariani Nicolo. Gisella immigrated to the United States as a young woman in 1957. She spent most of her life in Waltham and West Yarmouth.
She was a devoted & loving homemaker to her family throughout her life. Her family was the single most important aspect of her life. She was a natural caregiver to her husband, two sons, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family. Gisella was an amazing cook who loved to bake for the holidays, special occasions, or just entertaining family & friends. She could whip up a feast for everyone and anyone and make all feel welcome in her home. She cherished being surrounded by family & friends.
It was from her younger childhood working on the family farm that she developed a love for gardening; her garden was her true passion. She grew all types of vegetables, but her tomatoes were the best. She would can hundreds of jars of tomatoes used to make her delicious homemade sauce to go with her homemade pasta and sausages. Her garden was not just local in Waltham, but also at her home in West Yarmouth where she had a back up supply of vegetables. She enjoyed just sitting on her porch watching her plants grow.
Having grown up in Italy during World War II when the Germans occupied her hometown, Gisella was determined to make the very best life for her family and was proud of all that she had accomplished in life with her beloved Giulio, They faced many hardships, but through their hard work, love, devotion, and faith they had a wonderful life while building a strong, loving foundation for their family. In the past few years she loved her morning coffee ritual with Giulio and to her family's surprise enjoyed watching Monday Night Wrestling.
Gisella is survived by her devoted & loving sons Nicola Mariani and his late wife Mary Lou (Bonica) and Gilberto Mariani and his wife Adrienne (Zuppe) all of Newton, her cherished grandchildren Annamaria Frabizio and her husband Bill, Christina Abele and her husband Karl, Juliana Zurawski and her husband Jon, Antonia Mariani, Michael Mariani and his wife Kaitlin, and her adoring great grandchildren William & Gisele Frabizio, Enzo, Lucy & Trescott Abele, Jack and Vincent Zurawski, Noelle & Julian Mariani. In addition, she is survived by many nieces & nephews in New York, Georgia, Italy & Canada.
She was predeceased by her dear siblings Luisa Venditti, Antonietta Perciballi, Ann Cortina, Gina Rea, Giuseppe, Michele, Vincenzo, & Angelo Nicolo.
Relatives & friends are respectfully invited to attend Funeral Services in celebration of Gisella's life from the Brasco & Sons Memorial Funeral Home, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM, on Friday morning May 11th @ 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington Street, Newton @ 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in Waltham. Visiting Hours will be held in the Funeral Home on Thursday, May 10th from 4 - 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Gisella Mariani to the Massachusetts General Hospital, Alzheimer's Research, 125 Nashua St. Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114
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