Giovanni Della Corte

Giovanni Della Corte, lovingly known as Gianni, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025. He was 83 years old.
Born on February 9, 1942, in Naples, Italy, Gianni was one of eight children, growing up with three brothers and four sisters in a close-knit, loving family. From a young age, Gianni showed an extraordinary gift for cooking, a passion that would come to define much of his life and legacy.
He married his childhood sweetheart, Assunta, who survives him. Their love story was a testament to devotion, resilience, and partnership. Together, they raised two sons, Gennaro and Giacomo, who also survive him and carry forward his warmth and sense of family.
Gianni was the proud grandfather of four grandsons-Giovanni, Alex, Jayden, and Alessandro-and two great-grandchildren, Sofia and Kylo. He was joyfully awaiting the arrival of a third great-grandchild, Leo. Gianni had a special bond with his first great granddaughter, to whom he was particularly devoted.
In Naples, Gianni ran the beloved restaurant Gustus, where the food was exquisite and the patrons were treated like family. His culinary talents, coupled with his generous spirit, made his restaurant a cherished gathering place. In April 1980, Gianni relocated to the United States, and his family joined him later that year in October. Not long after, he settled in Provo, Utah, where he and his business partner, Donnel Wiley, opened La Dolce Vita-a vibrant and successful restaurant where Gianni was the chef and Assunta welcomed guests as the host. Together, they shared Neapolitan warmth, impeccable hospitality, and, of course, unforgettable cuisine.
Gianni's life revolved around good food and great company. He hosted countless family meals and gatherings filled with laughter, music, and the comforting aromas of home-cooked Italian dishes. His easy laugh, kind heart, and endless generosity touched everyone he met. Friends became family, and everyone who walked into his home or restaurant left with a full stomach and a full heart.
A lover of travel, Gianni explored the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America, savoring life with the same enthusiasm he brought to every dish he prepared.
Gianni will be deeply missed by his loving wife Assunta, his sons, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, and a wide circle of friends who adored him. His legacy lives on in the meals he taught others to make, the stories he shared, and the countless memories of joy and laughter that will continue to warm the hearts of all who knew him.
In honor of Gianni, cook a meal for someone you love, pour a glass of wine, and share a laugh-just as he would have wanted.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 12:00 PM in the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel; 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove, Utah. Family and friends may attend a viewing before the service at the mortuary from 10:00 - 11:45 AM. The interment will follow in the Pleasant Grove City Cemetery.
Flowers may be sent to Olpin Mortuary: 494 South 300 East Pleasant Grove, UT 84062