Giovanna Barbaro

Giovanna Barbaro was born on Ocotber 7, 1940 in a small town called Archi, Reggio Calabria in Italy. The Lord took her back on Christmas Day 2025.

She is survived by her children: Santina (Paolo), Antonino (Caterina), Maria (Peter), her grandchildren: Rosa (Shawn), Giovanna (Bret), Gino (Ashley), Christina, Giovanna (Jack), Carmela (Joel), Joseph, Mary, and her great-granchildren: Vincent, Michael, Lina, Julianna, Joseph, Sean, and Luca.

She grew up working in her mother's small grocery store, helping her mother and father provide food for the community. She, like most young girls that time, finished her 6th grade education and, as the oldest of 4 children, began to cook, clean, sew,and help with the family upbringing. Her favorite thing in the world was to dance. Be it the tarantella, or polkas and waltzes, she absolutely loved it. She told us many stories about finishing her chores as soon as possible so she could spend the afternoons listening to her favorite records and dancing with her cousin Maria. Later, her father in law used to brag that she and my father were the best dancers when they used to go out at the Italian Club.

In 1962, she married her husband Joseph and she came to live outside of Washington, D.C. with his family. They took her in like a sister.

She was married to our father for 62 amazing years, where she supported his every endeavor.

She was an amazing cook, as she cooked daily for 7 people in our home for about 20 years. She was obsessive about cleaning as well. You really could eat off the floors at our house. Her other love was her grandchildren. She helped my sisters and I raise all of our children. She taught them Italian and played Italian music for them all the time.

She was a great wife and mother. She raised us to be proud of who we are and to do the very best at whatever we did. I think her obsession with being clean was passed on to all of us. She was strict but very fair and taught us how to respect others.

She brightened every room and was the most gracious host. They say that a mother can take care of 50 people and 50 people cannot replace a mother and I believe that.

Mamma, we feel so blessed to have you as long as we did and we will miss you more than words can say.