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Graziella Giannini
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Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, LLC
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Obituary for Graziella Giannini

Graziella  Giannini
POLAND - Graziella Nistri was born in the city of Florence, Italy, on April 20, 1927, the oldest child of Gianna and Guido. She died Sept. 16, 2016, as Grace Giannini in Poland.
Over the course of her life, she would be a daughter, an older sister, a member of the Italian Resistance during the Nazi Occupation of World War II, a war bride, a mother and grandmother, an Italian and an American, and a friend to many.
Graziella was raised by her mother and a large loving family in Florence. She had fond childhood memories of traveling throughout Europe and especially of her close relationship to brother Carlo and cousin Mario. As a teenager during World War II, she was a student at the Collegia di Giovanni Pasquale and employed at Florence’s City Hall, where she was also a member of the Italian Resistance movement. She assisted this anti-Nazi underground organization by forging identification papers for its members, dismantling weapons, and hiding those who would otherwise have come under Nazi persecution. At the age of 17, she met the Italian-American soldier Matthew Giannini when he was stationed in Florence during the American takeover. After six weeks of courtship, he proposed; they were married at the Church of San Marco in Florence. After traveling across the Atlantic with other Italian war brides on the ship Vulcania, Graziella, now Grace, reunited with her husband and settled in the East Side of Youngstown.
Over the years she would serve as a PTA president at East High School and a CCD teacher at St. Joseph’s. She was a lifelong Catholic and longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, where she would often deliver readings in both English and Italian. She was also known for her artistic skills, having made countless quilts, curtains, clothing, and Christmas decorations over the years.
After three decades on the East Side she and her husband moved from Youngstown to Poland. They would die 12 years apart in the same home after 59 years of marriage.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, as well as many beloved in-laws.
She is survived by her sons, Dr. A. James Giannini of Georgia and Atty. Matthew Giannini of Youngstown; the granddaughters she very much helped to raise, Juliette (Deke) of Pennsylvania and Jocelyn (Brian) of New York; as well as her step great-grandson Henry; her nephews, Roberto and Lorenzo and their families in Florence; and many nephews and nieces-in-law.
The family extends a sincere appreciation to the friends and neighbors who were essential to her comfort and contentment over the past few months.
Arrangements were entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman.
Family and friends may visit the Book of Memories at www.rossifunerals.com to view this tribute and send condolences to the Giannini family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Graziella Giannini, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

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330-788-9651 Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home | 4442 South Avenue | Youngstown, OH 44512 | Fax: 330-788-9785 | Email: rossibfh@rossifunerals.com 330-788-9651 Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home | 4442 South Avenue | Youngstown, OH 44512 | Fax: 330-788-9785 | Email: rossibfh@rossifunerals.com 330-788-9651 Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home | 4442 South Avenue | Youngstown, OH 44512 | Fax: 330-788-9785 | Email: rossibfh@rossifunerals.com 330-788-9651 Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home | 4442 South Avenue | Youngstown, OH 44512 | Fax: 330-788-9785 | Email: rossibfh@rossifunerals.com 330-788-9651 Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home | 4442 South Avenue | Youngstown, OH 44512 | Fax: 330-788-9785 | Email: rossibfh@rossifunerals.com