Obituary of Gean Di Stasi

DI STASI, Giovannina (Gean)

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, Giovannina (Gean) Di Stasi (nee Calabrese), recently crowned Queen Gean, with all of her family by her side on Saturday, August 14, 2021.  She was predeceased by her first husband, Feliks Zebryk (1961) and her husband of fifty years, Domenico Di Stasi (2018).  She is survived by her children, Silvana Tota (Joe), Rick Zebryk (Gillian Arlidge), Theresa Ballantyne (Brian), Doreena Di Stasi and Debbie Portanova (Gianni).  She was the proud grandmother of Joey (Lindsay), Emilio (Christina), Nicholas (Mona), Matthew, Brendan, Giuliano, Alessandro and Dylan and proud great-grandmother of Anise, Luca, Jashon, Brianna, Amara and Miles. Gean is also survived by her two sisters, Maria and Lucy and many nieces and nephews. Gean was predeceased by her parents, Filomena and Nicola and her siblings, Apollonia, Angelina, Michelina and Vince. 

Gean lived her life to the fullest.  She immigrated to Canada from Italy as a 17-year-old in 1951.  She quickly learned English and worked incredibly hard in many fields.  She was happiest when she was surrounded by family and friends, and in particular when she was feeding them.  She was an extraordinary cook, kept a bountiful vegetable garden and lived to see her grand and great-grandbabies.  She loved to dance the tarantella with Domenico, dancing circles around anyone else on the floor.   

Thanks to the many kind nurses and support workers particularly in the Dialysis Unit at the Niagara Health System in St. Catharines, with a warm thank you to Melissa and Krista.  Also thanks to Jessica and Donna from the March of Dimes. Special thanks to Marguerite & Moe for being such fantastic neighbours for 30 years.

Visitation will be held at the GEORGE DARTE FUNERAL HOME, 585 Carlton St., on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Vigil Prayers will be held on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 169 St. Paul Cres., on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at 11 a.m. Entombment will follow at Victoria Lawn Cemetery. For those who are unable to attend the funeral mass due to capacity limits, you are welcome to join the family at Coppola’s around 1 p.m. to help celebrate Gean’s life. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the March of Dimes or the NHS-Kidney Care Unit.   

Following the funeral, a celebration of Gean's life will be held at Coppola's Banquet Hall, 203 Carlton St., beginning at approximately 1 p.m. Guests who are not able to attend the funeral due to capacity restrictions are welcome to join the family for Gean's celebration of life.

All guests attending the visitation or the funeral must wear a mask. Funeral capacity is limited to 80 guests. All guests attending the funeral are asked to call the funeral home to RSVP, 905-937-4444