(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 3)

Gilda's path in life was oftentimes rocky; obstacles popped up along the way. She faced her share of demons, some successfully, some unsuccessfully. Gilda was devastated by the loss of our sister Carol in 1999 whom she loved very much. And a piece of Gilda was torn apart by the loss of our father in 2006, a loss she never fully recovered from. Gilda

(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 3)

Gilda's path in life was oftentimes rocky; obstacles popped up along the way. She faced her share of demons, some successfully, some unsuccessfully. Gilda was devastated by the loss of our sister Carol in 1999 whom she loved very much. And a piece of Gilda was torn apart by the loss of our father in 2006, a loss she never fully recovered from. Gilda lost a step or two, became more private and withdrawn, her laugh more controlled and less spontaneous, her behavior more guarded.

Some of us have intimated that Gilda tilted at windmills, that she sometimes expended time and resources pursuing unrealistic causes or dreams.
Gilda would not disagree with that assessment. She believed windmills should be tilted when pursuing our dreams. She believed that behind windmills lie great treasures and wonderous things.

So, my dear sister Gilda, thanks for sharing your beauty, your smile, your laugh, your storytelling, your love and compassion. We do not say goodbye, but instead say 'Ciao,' a term used with ambiguity to mean hello and goodbye. Ciao, mia bella sorella. We will work to keep your spirit alive.

Ciao Gilda, sweet princess. And may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 2):

Gilda's mom and dad showed great foresight in choosing the name 'Gilda' for their first-born Giordano child. Like the heroine Gilda she was named for in Verdi's Rigoletto, my sister often put the interests of others ahead of her own. She was willing to make almost any sacrifice to help a friend or relative. Just 3 days before her death, I witnessed Gilda's attempts

(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 2):

Gilda's mom and dad showed great foresight in choosing the name 'Gilda' for their first-born Giordano child. Like the heroine Gilda she was named for in Verdi's Rigoletto, my sister often put the interests of others ahead of her own. She was willing to make almost any sacrifice to help a friend or relative. Just 3 days before her death, I witnessed Gilda's attempts to reach out to someone whom she felt needed a helping hands even as her illness made it extremely difficult for her to do so.

Gilda had a creative and fertile mind that seemed to go into overdrive after dark. I will always remember our early childhood when Gilda would share a scary bedtime story with me. Gilda loved the mysteries of Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson, two authors she learned and borrowed from when crafting her own stories. Gilda would rarely divulge the entire story in one night's telling, and would stop at an especially scary part with a promise to continue on a subsequent evening. At the time, I thought she stopped because she enjoyed seeing me beg for more. Years later, she admitted that she did enjoy me begging for more but the real reason for stopping was because she had not yet crafted the ending and needed time to come up with a suitable conclusion. Gilda was creating the story on the fly and needed time to recharge her creativity.

(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 1):

Gilda gave us many great memories. She had a fantastic smile and one great laugh. She loved spending time and sharing stories with those she cared deeply about, family and friends. Gilda was a keen observer of people and her surroundings and carefully watched, listened and asked questions. She had an uncanny ability for taking all that she learned from watching, talking and listening

(From memorial mass for Gilda on February 2, 2013 at St. Joseph's in Troy, NY: Part 1):

Gilda gave us many great memories. She had a fantastic smile and one great laugh. She loved spending time and sharing stories with those she cared deeply about, family and friends. Gilda was a keen observer of people and her surroundings and carefully watched, listened and asked questions. She had an uncanny ability for taking all that she learned from watching, talking and listening and putting it together to tell great stories.

Gilda instinctively knew which part of the story to accentuate or when to pause for greatest effect. And in her conversations and storytelling, Gilda was frequently animated with her hands, arms and legs all in motion, a glimmer in her eyes, her rear-end shaking--she became a bundle of raw emotions and would not, could not sit still.

Gilda was fun to be around and made us all laugh. We laughed at the stories she told, we laughed at Gilda the storyteller and most of all, we laughed at ourselves. Laughter and compassions were Gilda's greatest gifts. Gilda gave all of herself with us; all or nothing at all. No half measures, no fitful starts. She was genuine, through and through, the real thing. We opened up and shared our lives with Gilda because we knew she genuinely cared about our welfare, our well-being. Gilda trusted us and we, in turn, trusted her.

Gilda kept in close contact over the years with family and friends, wherever they might be and sometimes long after they stopped being friends or family. Time, distance, money, and status meant very little to Gilda. She frequently arrived at our doorstep hauling bags of gifts and food. In times of need, she was typically the first on the scene and the last to leave. She arrived willing to do whatever it takes to help us overcome an illness, death of a loved one, or just plain loneliness.

Gil is a beautiful person.

Always giving...always sacrificing for others.

I will alwyas cherish the time we spent listeng to opera with Babo.

The one thing that I will always be grateful to her was her introducing me to opera.. This was back in 1994.

Her laughter was contagious. Always the big smile.

Lots of love from he kids Sohrab and Natasha

Arivaderci ( until we meet again)

RIP

Andy

I enjoy working with you, always made me laugh. you always had funny stories and sweet treats to share. I will miss you. rest in peace. You will be miss. I learn from you to be true to you self and express your feelings just as they were.

My friend called you an angel. Your smile filled everyone with warmth.
Even if it was only for a short period of time, you made a big impression on me while you were working. It must have been hard on you working and suffering your pain. Rest in peace. I will always keep you in my prayer.

My Beautiful Aunt Gil,My words cant express what Ifeel for you.
I have so many Great memories, I can hear thatGreat laugh and
see that Great smile.And those Awesome expressions on your
face CLASSIC.You always made me laugh especially when i was
down.The days you came to visit me I never laughed so hard.I
tell the stories still and told you this before.Thank you for loving
Max so much I know how much he loves you. he to has some
hilarious ones of you to in

My Beautiful Aunt Gil,My words cant express what Ifeel for you.
I have so many Great memories, I can hear thatGreat laugh and
see that Great smile.And those Awesome expressions on your
face CLASSIC.You always made me laugh especially when i was
down.The days you came to visit me I never laughed so hard.I
tell the stories still and told you this before.Thank you for loving
Max so much I know how much he loves you. he to has some
hilarious ones of you to in N.Y.
Gil my favorite Aunt thank you for being you an aunt I so adore
you brought such happiness to my life. I will hold you in my heart
FOREVER. I LOVE YOU NIE.

A very pleasant person has passed on .May she find eternal rest. you will be missed greatly.

Gil was more than a kind woman, she was a real individual, an authentic human being, and just a true blue friend, as loyal as they come. I can count on a few fingers the number of close friends I have, and so her passing is a huge loss. Aren't we all lucky she came along? Gilly, I'm sorry I never got to meet your Dad whom you so adored, but I know you're together now, and you are so happy and free. High-five a few angels for me. With great love from your forever friend, Mo.

Oh Gilda......I am so glad I came to see you and met your family recently.....you were laughing and full of naughtiness that day!....I loved the months of closeness we had together and only wish they had been years. We shared a love for the same music and were able to share some concerts. How I miss knowing that your are next door, but I thank God you are at peace. I miss and love you, Penny