May 19, 2025
Gianna Garofalo was born in Libya, North Africa during the Italian colonization preceding WWII where her father Michele Paoletti was stationed with her mother Laura Farcomeni. The family returned to Rome where she grew up with her three sisters Bianca Rosa Paoletti, Maria Sveva Passantino and Carla Pia Longobardi.
Gianna recieved her Doctorate in Philosophy from the University Sapienza of Rome in 1961. She soon after would marry Albert M. Garofalo an Italian American narcotics FBI agent stationed abroad in a double wedding with her sister Bianca Rosa and John Owens, also stationed abroad for the US government at the time.
After giving birth to her son Nicholas, the family moved to the United States, settling in Summit, NJ, where she pursued a degree in Clinical Pathology and spent many years working at Overlook Hospital and various clinics. She and her husband, Albert, eventually moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where he would pass away in 1991. In 1999, she married John Joseph “Cal” Colacurcio who passed in 2001. She moved to Italy for a few years to live with her son Nicholas, before returning to Florida where she kept close ties to her niece and nephew in Smithville, TN, helping at times to raise her great-niece Maria Little, and where she came to permanently reside as her own care needs increased.
She spent the last few months of her life in the wonderful care of NHC in Smithville. We only have kinds words and sincere appreciation for the facility and all of the incredible staff there.
Gianna will be lovingly remembered as being very social, warm, and generous with everyone (unless you got on her bad side, lol). She loved any party, dances, and theatrical arts, and especially children.
Gianna is preceded in death by her mother Laura Farcomeni, her father Barone Michele Paoletti di Sersale, husband Albert M. Garofalo, her second husband John Joseph “Cal” Colacurcio, sisters Maria Sveva Passantino and Bianca Rosa Owens, nephew Fabrizio Passantino and niece Antonella Passantino.
She leaves behind her son Nicholas and Kimberly Avagliano (both of NJ), niece Gianna Owens and nephew John Owens (both Dowelltown, TN), niece and nephew Milly Longobardi and Giancarlo Longobardi (both Rome, Italy), great-nieces Sarah Goodman (Liberty, TN) and Maria Little (Cookeville, TN), and great-nephew Michael Hay (NY), and her close adopted family of many years, the Chieras.
A memorial for Gianna will be announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Cancer Society or the Tennessee Technological School of Music are kindly appreciated.
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements
American Cancer society: Donate to the American Cancer Society
Tennesse Tech University School of Music mailing address:
Tennessee Tech University
School of Music
Campus Box 5045
Cookeville, TN 38505