Theresa Giagnocavo

September 8, 1914 - October 28, 2013 Theresa Pondozi Giagnocavo DeRocco was born in Terracina, Italy. She grew up in St. Johnsville, New York with her parents Mary and Dominic Pondozi and three sisters, Pauline, Viola, and Amelia. She was the granddaughter of Domenico and Filomena Capece also of St. Johnsville. On October 17, 1935 she married Anthony Giagnocavo, the oldest son of Patrick Giagnocavo, of Bally, Pennsylvania, mentioned in the book Local Lives written by Millen Brand. Theresa and her husband lived in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1947 following the birth of their second child, they moved to Utica, New York. The marriage ended in divorce in 1967. Theresa continued to live in Utica. On November 24, 1988 she married Armand DeRocco, Senior. They lived a happy, fulfilling life in Utica until his death on February 26, 2005. In 2007 Theresa moved to California to spend the final years of her life with her children. She lived with her daughter and was active for several years in both the Sunlight Senior Center and the Bernardi Senior Center. She moved to a nursing home in 2012 following a hip injury. She died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, October 28, 2013 in Studio City, California at the age of 99. Theresa will be remembered for her long life and her love of all things Italian. She was devoted to family and an excellent cook. She worked in textile mills, the General Electric factory, and as a hospital worker. She was generous and supported her daughter in completing her college education. Theresa is survived by her sister, Amelia Starczek, of Surfside Beach, SC, 6 nieces and nephews, her son, Anthony Giagnocavo, II, of Apple Valley, CA, her daughter, Joan Maldonado Gius, of Valley Village, CA, six grandchildren, and three great grandchildren, and her step-son Armand DeRocco, Jr. of Utica, New York and his extended family. A service and interment was held on November 1, 2013 at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California. Contributions in memory of Theresa Giagnocavo may be made to the Alzheimer's Research and Prevention Foundation.