ANSONIA — Giovanna Diurno, 84, of Ansonia, died peacefully Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her family. Born in Monte Sant’Angelo, Province of Foggia, Italy on June 11, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Matteo Scarano and Maria Casarola.
Mrs. Diurno emigrated from Italy to the U.S. in 1977, settling in Stratford for a year, before moving to Ansonia in 1978. She worked as an assembler for the Nitsuko Co. of Shelton for 10 years and then worked in the environmental services department of Shelton Lakes Health Care Center for many years, until her retirement in 1999.
As the matriarch of the family, Mrs. Diurno’s passion was her family, instilling strong faith and values in her children and grandchildren. She will be forever remembered for her incredible devotion to St. Padre Pio. Proud of her Italian culture, every Sunday meal was an event spent together with family and she so enjoyed preparing recipes passed down through generations, especially her famous meatballs. Mrs. Diurno traveled to Italy often to visit family and friends, enjoyed jaunts to the casinos and delighted in an a pizza from the original Frank Pepe’s on Wooster Street, New Haven.
She is survived by her devoted children, Maria (Tomasso) DiPalma of Ansonia, Lina (Rocco Basiele) Diurno of Italy and Michael (Kim) Diurno of Beacon Falls; nine cherished grandchildren; two cherished great-grandchildren; four brothers and two sisters in Italy, as well as several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by three sisters.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 25, 2019, at 10 a.m. in Holy Rosary Church, Father Salemi Drive, Ansonia. Interment will be private. The Wakelee Memorial Funeral Home, 167 Wakelee Avenue, Ansonia is in care of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Center for Cancer Care at Griffin Hospital through the Griffin Hospital Foundation, 130 Division St., Derby, CT 06418.
Online condolences may be made at www.wakeleememorial.com.
