Giovanna Maria Dinello, 97, of Clearwater, Florida, formerly of Washington, PA, died on Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at The Preserve, an assisted living facility, with family by her side. She was born October 8, 1926, in New York’s “Little Italy” neighborhood, the only daughter of the late Agosto and Edith Troiani. She had three brothers who preceded her in death.

Giovanna was a graduate of Immaculate Conception High School and a proud graduate of Mount Mercy, now known as Carlow University. She saw nearly a century of history take place during her lifetime and broke through many barriers in the course of her career.

On October 19, 1949, she married the late William “Bill” Dinello in Immaculate Conception Church. She and Bill, whom she affectionately called “Nattie,” raised a family of five children, all while Giovanna worked full-time as a teacher first with the Washington Public Schools and then Immaculate Conception High School (I.C.H.S.) where in later years, she also served as Vice Principal. She joined the teaching staff as one of the first lay teachers at I.C.H.S. in 1956. Teaching was one of the things that she loved most, spending more than three decades at I.C.H.S until it was closed by the Dioceses of Pittsburgh. She finished her career at Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, retiring in 1990. Teaching World Cultures and World History, attending school functions, and supervising student clubs, she touched the lives of countless students, who still consider her to be “that special teacher” who made a profound impact on their lives. What most students did not know was that for many years she was also the person who decided whether to cancel classes for “Snow Days.”

Giovanna loved to sing and had a beautiful soprano voice. She sang in choirs and choruses throughout most of her life and also played the piano. She and Nattie also loved a good turn on the dance floor and could do a jitterbug to beat the band. However, she found her most joy in caring for family and friends and opening her home to others. She took many young teachers and students under her wing, sometimes even under her roof, offering encouragement, advice, a shoulder to cry on, or a scolding if needed. She was an iron fist in a velvet glove, small, but mighty, quick to share a smile or a pat on the back for a job well done or a little constructive criticism if she thought you could do better. She was never happier than when surrounded by family. Known for packing the house full of perennial guests and newcomers who were alone for holidays, such as Christmas Eve for the traditional “feast of the seven fishes.” The wine would flow, the conversations would get loud, and dozens of varieties of special holiday cookies disappeared in the course of the evening. If you weren’t family when you arrived, you certainly were by the time you walked out of the door, with a waistband that felt much tighter and an open invitation to return the next year.

Giovanna was a woman of strong faith and a lifelong member of Immaculate Conception Church until she left the area in 2001. She and Bill lived in Oakland, CA, with her daughter’s family and later in Clearwater, FL, with her son, Don. While in Washington, Giovanna was an active member of the Catholic Daughters and the Christian Mothers organizations at Immaculate Conception Church. Giovanna moved into assisted living in 2019. She was happily married for 70 years until her beloved husband Bill died in 2019.

She will be dearly missed by all who knew her as a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, godmother, teacher, and friend. Giovanna is survived by her five children, Donato Dinello, William Dinello, Jr. (Natalia), Fr. John Dinello (Sharon), Michael Dinello (Judy), and Joanne Dinello Karchmer (Scott); ten grandchildren, Donato, Jr., Jaime, Pamela, Iliya, Michael, II, William, Angelina, Nathan, Caroline, and Katherine; three step-grandchildren, Amanda, Kristy, and Nick; four great-grandchildren, Quinn, Layna, Archer, and Dominic; and a new step great-grandchild, Layla.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her siblings, Joseph and Louis Cancelmi, and Michael Troiani.

Friends will be received on Friday, October 27, 2023, from 2 - 4 and 6 – 8 P.M. in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at E. Katherine Ave., Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Owner/Supervisor, S. Timothy Warco II, Director, Holly Renay Warco, Director, Park N. Crosier, Director. The Christian Mothers and the Catholic Daughters of St. James Parish will recite the rosary at 3:30 P.M. on Friday in the funeral home. A prayer service will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. in the Immaculate Conception Church, St. James Parish, 119 West Chestnut St. Washington, PA, with the Rev. Michael Peck as celebrant. Burial will follow in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com

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