Maria Elizabeth Gianino

Maria Elizabeth Gianino, 3, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2025. The beloved daughter of Derek and Katherine (née Schryver) Gianino, Maria was born August 2, 2021, in Arlington, Virginia.
Maria attended pre-school at Stratford Landing Elementary School in Alexandria and enjoyed music, crafts, and recess with her friends and classmates. She loved long car rides and walks, pinwheels, and anything pink. Most of all, she loved being held and cuddled by family. Diagnosed with Lissencephaly at five months old, Maria was never limited by her challenges but met them with unmatched grace, courage, and persistence. She brought out the best in people, a radiant light eliciting compassion and tender care from everyone who met her. She helped open many eyes to seeing life differently through her presence and experience.
She is survived by her loving parents, Derek and Katherine, adoring brother, William; grandparents Jeff and Sherry (née Jones) Schryver of Stephens City, Virginia and Richard and Shelley (née Brown) Gianino of Grosse Pointe Michigan. Also survived by devoted uncle and aunt Jason and Ellie (née Schryver) Leonard of Inwood, West Virginia, uncle and aunt Peyton and Shannon (née) Gianino, great-uncle Mark Schryver of New York, New York, great-uncle Robert Gianino of Sarasota, Florida, and great-uncle and great-aunt Ed and Debbie (née Jones) Rosenbaum of Zion Crossroads, Virginia.
She was preceded in death by great-grandparents Larry and Mindy Schryver of Stephens City, Virginia and great-grandmother Peggy Dixon of Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held to commemorate Maria's life at St. Matthews Cathedral, 1725 Rhode Island Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20036 on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at 10:00AM. In recognition of the bright and beautiful impact she made in many lives, everyone is encouraged to wear an element of pink.
Maria's family extends their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the dedicated and tireless medical professionals, caretakers, and friends who rendered impeccable service to Maria during her lifetime, especially Dr. John Schreiber, Beth Dougherty, the staff of the Inova Children's PICU, and the Kennedy Krieger Institute.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maria's honor to the Kennedy Krieger Institute or Inova L.J. Murphy Children's Hospital (https://join.inova.org/p2p/mariagianino/).