In memory of
Giovanna Compito
November 6, 1922 – January 7, 2022

Giovanna Costa, daughter of Giuseppe Costa and Caterina Ziino-Carasi, was born on 11/6/1922, in Gioiosa Marea, provincia di Messina, regione di Palermo, Sicily. She is survived by her brother, Domenico (Mimmo) Costa of Milano. She is predeceased by her husband, Dominic Compito, her son, Joseph Compito,  her brother, Ignacio Costa (Argentina) and her sister Giuseppina Costa Herrera (Peru).

Survived by children: Cathy, Jerry (and his wife Connie), and Toné; grandchildren: Shauna (husband Brian), Daniela (husband Matt), Diana, and David; and great grandchildren: Joseph, Adriana, and Luciana.

She married Dominic Compito on March 26, 1955 in Gioiosa Marea. Dominic was born In Mount Pleasant, PA. His family relocated to NYC by way of Torrington, CT. He was shown a photo of Giovanna when his family was living on 109th St in East Harlem. Giovanna’s paternal aunt (Zia Eduarda) was living in the area at that time and apparently supplied the photo. The rest is history. Giovanna and Dominic began corresponding by mail, eventually met and married on March 26, 1955. Giovanna arrived in NYC on October 26, 1955. The newlyweds lived with Matteo Compito, Dominic’s father, on 109th Street until October 1956, when they moved to an apartment in a new building in Elmhurst, Queens. Three months earlier, their first child, Catherine was born. 3 children followed: Gerard in 1958, Joseph in 1959, and Antonietta (Toné) in 1962.

She learned to speak and read English as her first child learned the language. She loved to learn and teach. She wanted her children to succeed and spent a great deal of time ensuring that homework was completed. She learned the language as they did. Once all of the children were in high school, she began to work as a home health aid for the City of NY. She passed her exam, in English, with a top score and continued this work until the early 80s. While her children were in Elementary school (and beyond), she served on the rosary society and always participated in school and church functions for St Bartholomew’s parish. Her cooking and baking was well known to all.

Her tenacity and determination likely contributed to her longevity, as well as the ability to uproot her life in Sicily at age 32 and relocate to NYC and learn a new language, culture and raise 4 children. She taught them to reach for the stars and encouraged them all to work hard to achieve all that might be possible. Her message about the meaning of family and what mattered in life was always loud and clear (even if not fully understood by teenagers).

In later years, she continued to participate in church functions to the best of her ability. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in early 2013 and slowly began to lose the ability to handle more complex tasks, but always maintained her will and ability to be a helper. She never lost the ability to recognize her family and those who had been part of her life.

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