Gloria Giannini

May 16, 1928 - October 30, 2022

Our dear mother, Gloria Giannini, sadly passed away peacefully in her home in Redwood City on Sunday October 30, 2022 at 8:24 in the morning at the age of 94. She is survived by her son, Robert Giannini, and her beloved granddaughter, Aidan.

Gloria’s father and mother, Daniel Del Carlo & Gina Venturini, both came to San Francisco from Italy in the early 1900’s with their families. They met while working at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory and married in 1916. Gloria was born in San Francisco in 1928, the third of four daughters. Gloria grew up in San Francisco and attended school there, graduating from Balboa High School. In the 1940s she married her beloved husband of over 50 years, Alfred Giannini. Her son Robert was born in 1950, and son Michael was born four years later. Michael and his wife, Kelly, welcomed their daughter, Aidan, into the family in 1993. Gloria doted on Aidan and never missed a chance to spend time with her.

Gloria was a 1950’s stay-at-home mom as her boys were growing up. One of the memorable home movies Alfred shot, was her crossing a wildly bucking, floating bridge at a newly opened Disneyland; pushing Michael ahead of her, and pulling Robert behind. It created quite the amusing scene as she worked to keep two sure-footed boys from falling in, all the while struggling to stay upright herself.

As Bob neared the time to enter college, Gloria secretly applied for a job at Safeway, finally was accepted into the union, and went to work to save money for Bob’s tuition. After retiring from Safeway, she stayed very busy with organizations such as the Native Daughters of the Golden West, Bonita Parlor where she served as President. It was during her time in this organization that she developed her obsession with our state flower; the California poppy. She also undertook a variety of volunteer jobs; a docent at Filoli in Woodside, working at the Redwood City Library bookstore, and manning the Information Desk for the County of San Mateo Superior Court in Redwood City.

Gloria had many nieces and nephews who will fondly remember her fun sense of humor and attentiveness, as well as, her thoughtful birthday and holiday cards, which she sent without fail to each of them as they were growing up. She will be missed by them all.

Interment will be a private ceremony for family and friends at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma. She will rest in “Fern Grotto” in a glass-faced niche, alongside her dear husband, Alfred, and overlooking a beautiful garden. We will have to discretely add some poppies where she can see them.