Dale D. Gianforte

Dale Douglass Gianforte, 71, a resident of Hershey's Mill in West Chester, Pa., survived a courageous 22-month battle with esophageal cancer. She passed away March 9, 2008.

She was the loving wife, companion and partner of Frank Gianforte for 48 years. Dale was a former math teacher at Radnor High School and also taught in Westfield, N.J.; San Diego, Calif.; and Daytona Beach, Fla.

Originally from Pittstown, N.J., she is the daughter of Stanley and Lillie Douglass. She graduated from North Hunterdon Regional High School, Montclair University (BA), and Villanova University (MA).

She was active in Paoli Presbyterian Church, Point Loma Community Presbyterian Church (San Diego, Calif.), and prior to that, Valley Forge Presbyterian Church.

She was a long-time resident of Wayne, Pa., (Bob White Farms) where the couple raised their three sons.

After retiring from Radnor schools, she and her husband owned and managed rental properties on Long Beach Island, N.J., including a Beach Haven Bed & Breakfast, and built oceanfront houses in Ship Bottom, N.J. They built a home in Beach Haven where they lived full-time prior to moving to Hershey's Mill.

They also spent winters in San Diego, Calif., where they had started their married life, both working for General Dynamics in the aerospace field. She considered San Diego home, as well as West Chester, being active there as a volunteer case worker for the Presbyterian Crisis Center and for her many California friends. Mrs. Gianforte also enjoyed sharing her talent for knitting for the residents of Pocopson Home (Chester County, Pa.) and for her church by providing infant caps.

Dale enjoyed playing golf with her friends and her husband at Hershey's Mill and San Diego.

Mrs. Gianforte is survived by her husband, and sons, Greg (Susan) of Bozeman, Douglass (Jan) of Downingtown, and Michael (Karen) of Brielle, N.J., and nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers, Manning of Pittstown, N.J., and Merlin of Tucson, Ariz.

Visitation and a church service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 13, followed by fellowship in the church hall at Paoli Presbyterian Church, 225 South Valley Road, Paoli, PA 19301.

Burial will be private for family members at the Douglass family plot at Locust Grove Cemetery in Quakertown, N.J., on a subsequent date.

In lieu of flowers, relatives and friends are encouraged to make donations in her memory to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111; www.fccc.edu.

Arrangements are by the Mauger-Givnish of Malvern, Pa.; www.LifeCelebration.com.