Havilah Appia Giannetta

1985 - 2024

Havilah Appia Giannetta

January 18, 1985 - November 10, 2024

Havilah Appia Giannetta, 39, entered into the joy of her Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday November 10, 2024, when a hit-and-run driver fatally struck her. Havilah was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Anthony and Inez Giannetta, paternal grandparents Barbara and Calvin Cage, uncle Gregory Giannetta, aunt Maureen Giannetta, and cousins Mario Giannetta and Michael P Giannetta, Jr.

Havilah was born in Atlantic City, N.J. and raised in Charlottesville, Va. From an early age she demonstrated interest in and aptitude for many things. She possessed an enduring love for the arts. She began taking dance lessons at age 4, wrote and starred in her first play in the 3rd grade, participated in dramatic productions at the Live Arts Theatre in Charlottesville, attended the Governor's School for the Arts in Richmond, loved to paint and draw, enjoyed opera, and enthusiastically participated in the annual Messiah sing-in at the University of Virginia.

In addition to being strongly artistic, Havilah possessed a keen intellect. Even as a child she was a voracious reader and was exceptionally good at expressing her ideas in writing. Deeply thoughtful, Havilah thrived on the exchange of ideas, and reveled in provocative discussions, particularly those involving attempts to unravel the mystery of our awesome God. An honor graduate of The Covenant School in Charlottesville, Havilah excelled at her studies, particularly English and French, and later added Italian to her repertoire. Havilah went on to attend Columbia University, where she was appointed a Kluge Scholar, spent a year studying abroad at the University of York, in England, and earned a B.A. in English literature. After some travel and exploration, Havilah felt called to be a writer. She was one of the first Artists in Residence at Epiphany Space in Los Angeles and, most recently, a member of the Columbia Fiction Foundry. Havilah's magnum opus was her memoir, which she finished writing shortly before her passing.

Travel was another of Havilah's passions, one she liked to combine with her desire to express God's love to others. With her family Havilah enjoyed Hawaii, Aruba, the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, New Orleans, Florida, Italy, Maine, and New Zealand. In high school she participated in mission trips to Budapest and Kiev, explored Europe while studying abroad, spent a summer at Koinonia Farm, a spiritual retreat in Americus, Georgia, and lived in places as diverse as Australia, North Carolina, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and New York.

Wherever Havilah went, she forged deep and authentic friendships. She will be deeply missed by those who love her. Havilah is survived by her mother Eve T. Giannetta of Lake Monticello, Va.; her aunts Denise Giannetta and Sue Giannetta of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Jodi Jones of Zion Crossroads, Va., and Cindy Samples of Palm Coast, Fla.; her uncles Tony Giannetta of Elyria, Ohio, Michael P. Giannetta of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Steven Giannetta of Palm Coast, Fla., and Chris Jones of Zion Crossroads, Va.; her cousins Tony, Jill, and Julie Giannetta of Ohio; Cherish, Gabriella, Lacey, Joshua, Marigold, and Daisy Giannetta of Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; Melissa Johnson of Jacksonville, Fla., and Zachary Jones of Zion Crossroads, Va., as well as extended family and many loving friends from across the United States, England, and Australia.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday January 18, 2024 at 2 p.m. at Calvary Chapel Fluvanna, 2772 Thomas Jefferson Parkway, Palmyra, VA 22963. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Epiphany Space at www.epiphanyspace.com/donate.