Trending
CANFIELD -- Gilda DiPiero passed away Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.
She was born in Bugnara, Abruzzo, Italy, on April 28, 1924, to her parents, Francesco and Angelina LaMarca Ventresca. She emigrated to the United States from Italy in 1947, after World War II. During the war years in Bugnara, her family home was seized by German soldiers and the family was made to live in a stable with little or no food, while at the same time Gilda and her sister Delia were forced to cook for the German officers occupying her family's home. Like most in her generation, she rarely spoke of those dark days.
After emigrating to the U.S., Gilda married Amerigo DiPiero on Oct. 9, 1948, in Youngstown, and embraced life in her new country while keeping many Italian traditions alive. In the early years of their marriage, Gilda was employed as a seamstress at various businesses, including Hartzell Rose and Sons, after which she devoted herself to raising her family in Liberty Township. Gilda and Amerigo were married for 54 years until he passed away in 2003.
Family was the most important thing to Gilda, and she enjoyed cooking for everyone. Her specialties were pasta, pizza, bread, tiramisu and Italian cookies. Sunday dinners were large, loud and always delicious. She had coffee and dessert nearly every evening with her sisters, Mary and Delia. Gilda's hobbies included reading and collecting cookbooks. She enjoyed gardening and fed family and friends all summer long with the vegetables she grew. She also enjoyed traveling to Italy to visit Bugnara and her relatives who still lived in the village. Gilda was a member of the Bugnarese Ladies Society and the St. Anthony Altar and Rosary Society.
To cherish her memory, Gilda leaves three children, Maryjane (Don) Tabor, Frank (Darien) and David (Tami) DiPiero; seven grandsons, Mike Tabor, David (Julia), Jason (Renee), Daniel (Hannah), Nathan (Nicole), Justin and Anthony (Morgan) DiPiero; and three great-grandchildren, Paxton Tabor, and Saiya and David Michael DiPiero. She also leaves special neighbors, Marguerite and Philip Mazzocco, who were of great comfort to her in recent years.
Gilda is reunited in heaven with her parents; husband, Amerigo; sisters, Mary (Nino) Colaluca and Delia (Dominic) Scardina; brother, Ennio Ventresca; and her in-laws, Filomena and Francesco DiPiero.
There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 1125 Turin Ave., Youngstown, with the Very Rev. Msgr. Michael Cariglio celebrating. Family and friends may call 9 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, at the church, prior to Mass.
Gilda's family would like to thank Windsor House Canfield, Traditions Hospice and Dr. James Demidovich for their kindness and care.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests monetary donations be made in Gilda's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN. 38105, or at www.stjude.org.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi Brothers and Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave., Boardman. Family and friends who cannot pay their respects are encouraged to offer prayers for the family and support via phone call, text, or email or at the Book of Memories at www.rossi
funerals.com.
(special notice)