Sister Giovanna Sabia

Sister Giovanna Sabia, M.P.F., 85, died Thursday in St. Joseph's Hall Infirmary, Morristown, N.J., after a lengthy illness.

Born in Dunmore, daughter of the late Peter and Grace Sleyo Sabia, she entered the Religious Teachers Filippini in 1945. She received the habit in 1946, and made her religious profession in 1949. She received a certificate from Villa Walsh Normal School and pursued studies at Seton Hall University and the University of Notre Dame. Sister Giovanna served the community as local superior and school principal.

As an elementary school teacher, she taught primary grades at Most Holy Rosary School, Perth Amboy, N.J.; St. Ann School, New York City; Holy Rosary School, Jersey City, N.J.; St. Francis Xavier School, Newark, N.J.; Holy Redeemer School, Cleveland; Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, Meriden, Conn.; St. Rocco School, Newark; St. Mary of Mount Virgin School, New Brunswick, N.J.; St. Peter School, Merchantville, N.J.; Our Lady of Pompei School, Baltimore; Villa Victoria Academy, Trenton, N.J.; St. Nicholas of Tolentine School, Philadelphia; and St. Joachim School, Trenton. In 1999, she was admitted to the St. Joseph Hall Infirmary at Villa Walsh because of illness, and after eight years there, she died.

Surviving are a brother, Vito Sabia, Silver Spring, Md.; a sister, Kathryn Galasso, Clarks Summit; a sister-in-law, Virginia Sabia, Dunmore; seven nieces and nephews, Ann Brokus, Sharon, James and Judy Sabia, Dr. Peter Sabia, Terry Sabia Smith and Grace Sabia Bowman; grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Sue and Marguerite Sabia; and two brothers, Bernard and Jimmy Sabia.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 4 p.m. in St. Lucy's Chapel at Villa Walsh. Friends may call today, 2 to 4, at Villa Walsh. Arrangements by Doyle Funeral Home, Morristown, N.J.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Joseph Hall Infirmary Building Fund, c/o Sister Ascenza Tizzano, M.P.F., Religious Teachers Filippini, 455 Western Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960-4928.