Obituary of Gilda M. Mariani

With great love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of Gilda Maria Mariani — a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and cherished friend. A lifelong resident of Pennsylvania, Gilda passed away peacefully in her Concord Township home of 65 years following a short illness. She was surrounded by love, faith, family, and memories that spanned nearly a century.

Born on February 20, 1927, in Ardmore, Gilda was the third of five children of Giovanni (John) and Enrica (née Baiocchi) D'Angelo. Like her siblings, she learned English when she began school. The family move to a farm in Bristol, PA for about 8 years. Her family returned to Ardmore while Gilda was still in grade school. She later attended Haverford High School.

After World War II, Gilda married the love of her life, Frank J. Mariani Jr., at St. Denis Catholic Church in Havertown, PA in October of 1946. The newlyweds first lived in her father-in-law's home in Ardmore and later moved to Broomall with their young son. After eight years and the birth of two more children, the family moved to Concord Township, where Gilda and Frank had their "second family" of three more children. They became active members of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Chester Heights, PA.

While raising six children—and caring for her parents who lived with the family—Gilda still dedicated herself to helping others. She belonged to an informal but impactful group of the St Thomas Parish women affectionately known as the "Do Gooders," who provided aid to community members in need. Always eager to learn, she took adult-education classes at Our Lady of Angels College (now Neumann University) in Aston, PA and went on to earn her real estate license.

Her blessed life took a heartbreaking turn with the passing of her beloved Frank on October 26, 1980, after a short illness. At 53 years old, with two children still at home, one in college, and already a grandmother, Gilda bravely and out of necessity began a second career in real estate. Over the next 25 years, she guided countless buyers and sellers through major life moments. She was admired for her kindness, honesty, and patience. She tended to get the "challenging clients" in the office but that lead to her remarkable stories about the people she met and collected as friends along the way. She did all of this while helping to raise her grandchildren.

Gilda's greatest pride and joy was her family. She was the loving and supportive mother of

Frank III (Sandy), the late John, Rebecca Brady (the late Jack), Peter (Erin), Gilda Mock (Bill), and Christopher (the late Stacey).

She had 15 grandchildren: Frank, Mathew (Astrid), Danael (Leslie), Andrew (Melissa), Sara (Kevin), Patrick (Jennifer), Robert (Meghan), Peter, Joe, Ting, Maria, Billy, Tori, Heather (Brad), Casey (Kieth), 19 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild and scores of nieces and nephews. All with a special place in her heart.

Gilda is survived by her sister Gloria Terranova and sister-in-law Santa Mariani (nee Sienna). She was preceded in death by her husband Frank Jr.; her son John; grandson William ("Billy") Mock; her sisters Norma Widhalm and Antoinette (Toni) Connor; and her brother Louis (Lou) D'Angelo.

To honor Gilda's life of faith, kindness, patience and generosity, memorial gifts may be made to:

• The Billy Mock Foundation, Chadds Ford, PA

• The Frank Mariani Jr. Scholarship at Archmere Academy, Claymont, DE

A visitation will be held on Saturday, November 29th, from 9:00-10:15AM at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 430 Valleybrook Road, Glen Mills, PA, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.

Online condolences may be made at www.paganofuneralhome.com