Oakfield - Mrs. Gioia Sofia Vallese, 84, of Oakfield, died peacefully Friday (September 27, 2013) at her home surrounded by her loving family while under the care of Homecare & Hospice.
Gioia was born September 25, 1929 in Casalbordino, Italy, a daughter of the late Vincenzo and Luisa (Tiberio) Cirilli. In Italy she attended two years of college to become a teacher before the onset of WWII and later married in 1948. Proud of sailing alone to reunite with her husband in America, she later worked as an electronic repair technician at the former Sylvania Plant in Batavia.
A member of Saint Padre Pio Parish, she loved her church and helping out at the many church functions, but always preferred remaining behind the scenes in the kitchen. Two of her favorites were the spaghetti dinners and making Honey Cicerchiata for the St. Joseph's table. She was also a long time member of the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group.
Gioia cherished her family and enjoyed cooking her Italian dinners, making every Sunday an Italian holiday. She also loved baking Italian cookies, crocheting afghans, and knitting Christmas bootie slippers for her daughter's classroom students, along with her former years of gardening tomatoes for sauce and peppers for roasting.
Gioia loved to return to her hometown of Casalbordino, and was especially proud to be able to take her grandchildren to see her native roots, childhood home, her beach, and large extended family there. She loved being the tour guide to what she always referred to as home.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary (Stephen) Northrup of Cumming, GA and Linda (Dennis) Beuler of Oakfield; grandchildren, Jason Northrup of Georgia, Janine (Rhett) Morgan of Plano, TX, Jonathan (Luz) Northrup of Ladera Ranch, CA, Jessica Northrup of Plano, TX, Ryan Beuler of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Peter Beuler and Kevin Beuler of Oakfield; a great-grandson, Brady Morgan of TX; a great-granddaughter, Reese Morgan of TX and several nieces and nephews.
She is predeceased by her husband, Frank Vallese, who died September 22, 1976. She is the sister of the late Dina Marchioli and Bruno Cirilli.
Calling hours are Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Burdett & Sanford Funeral Home, 11 Maple Avenue, Oakfield. A decade of the Rosary will be recited at 7:00 on Tuesday night at the funeral home. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Padre Pio Parish, St. Cecilia's Worship Site, 56 Maple Avenue, Oakfield. Burial will be in St. Cecilia's Cemetery, Oakfield.
Memorials may be made to Homecare & Hospice, 550 East Main St., Batavia, NY 14020, Saint Padre Pio Parish, 56 Maple Avenue, Oakfield, NY 14125 or the Down Syndrome Parent Support Group of Genesee County, 2121 Lewiston Road, Oakfield, NY 14125.
Please leave a condolence, share a story or light a candle at www.burdettandsanford.com.
