Gilda Renee Cerasoli

Gilda Renee Cerasoli, 59, of Hendersonville NC, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 29, 2025. The world became a brighter place when Gilda was born on May 11, 1965 to Betty and Robert Price in Elizabeth City, NC. After her birth father's passing, she was later adopted by Charles Kenneth Minkema.
Gilda loved Jesus. If you knew her even a little, she was probably praying for you. She might have preached at you a time or two, but she likely gave you a ride, made you food, offered to help you in some way. She never had much but she was always willing to give to every need, listen to every story, and rescue every animal needing help. She was a true representation of love in action. Gilda had a Thoreau quote on her wall for many years: "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." She marched to the beat of her own drum and didn't care what people thought of her for it. She was a free spirit who loved openly and forgave easily. Gilda loved her children with abundance and never hesitated to tell them how proud she was of them. She always knew when to listen as a friend and when to step in as Mom. She was happiest knowing her kids were happy.
She is survived by her children, Jennifer Cerasoli Stiver and Robert Cerasoli; her former son-in-law, Ephraim Stiver; one grandchild, Malachi Stiver; her mother, Betty Minkema; her sisters, Kristen Howard and her wife Monika, Melissa Featherstone and her husband Bryon; Laura Paige and her husband Mark, several nieces and nephews, Seth, Ansley, Kimberly, Katlyne, Bry, Anna, Mark, Michelle; several great nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members; her dear friends Wendy and Doug Jones, Marie and Joe Cavanaugh, Melissa Stone and her children, Jeannette Shook, along with many other special friends and loved ones. She was preceded in death by both of her fathers Robert Price and Charles Kenneth Minkema; and her brothers Robert Price, Jr and William Minkema.
Gilda was looking forward to her 60th birthday in May. For this reason there will not be a funeral service to mourn her but rather we choose to celebrate her, as she would've preferred.