1923
Giovanna
2011
Giovanna Redding Pekkanen
April 3, 1923 — August 24, 2011
Poland -Giovanna Redding Pekkanen, 88, of Poland, went to be with her Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at her home.
Giovanna was born April 3, 1923 in Exeter, PA, a daughter of Virginio and Rosina Gionco Mattiuzzo.
She was a graduate of Exeter High School and later received a degree in Interior Design. Giovanna worked as an interior designer for J.C. Penney and Fabric Fair, before starting her own business, Giovanna's Interiors, which she operated for nearly 30 years.
She was a member of Kingdom Community Church in Struthers and a former member of Pleasant Valley Church in Niles and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Poland. She was also a member of The Gideons International and the Tippecanoe Country Club. She loved being with her family, traveling the world with her husband, golfing, cooking, and sewing. An adventurous woman, she went hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro and kayaking in Antarctica while in her 70's. Giovanna never met a stranger. Everyone was equal and all were welcome in her world. And she was a true believer of reaching out to help those less fortunate... giving freely to countless missions, churches and non-profit organizations.
She leaves her husband, Walter E. Pekkanen, whom she married December 17, 1988; four sons, David (Teri) Redding of Coaldale, CO, Thomas (Paula) Redding of Durango, CO, Keith Redding of Siesta Key, FL, and Michael (Anna) Redding of Greensboro, NC; three daughters, Deborah (Lou) Daus of Canfield, Giovanna (Jim) Ramsey of Poland, and Rosanne (Jody) Cercone of Boardman; one step-daughter, Nancy (Robert) Gillette of Columbus; sister, Rose Sazio of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 24 amazing grandchildren; 13 beautiful great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Gerald "Skipper" Redding; three sisters, Adele Coletti, Yolanda Nocerine, and Maria Choate; brother, Anthony Matthews; her former husband, Gerald J. Redding; and granddaughter, Aleisa Rae Redding.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the Poland Village Baptist Church with Pastor Rusty Wills officiating. Interment will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland and Monday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church, prior to the service.
The family requests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in Mrs. Pekkanen's name to Mission Outfitter, 256 S. Windy Ridge Drive, Bayfield, Colorado, 81122 and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 9026, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
Giovanna will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.
Giovanna was born April 3, 1923 in Exeter, PA, a daughter of Virginio and Rosina Gionco Mattiuzzo.
She was a graduate of Exeter High School and later received a degree in Interior Design. Giovanna worked as an interior designer for J.C. Penney and Fabric Fair, before starting her own business, Giovanna's Interiors, which she operated for nearly 30 years.
She was a member of Kingdom Community Church in Struthers and a former member of Pleasant Valley Church in Niles and Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Poland. She was also a member of The Gideons International and the Tippecanoe Country Club. She loved being with her family, traveling the world with her husband, golfing, cooking, and sewing. An adventurous woman, she went hang gliding in Rio de Janeiro and kayaking in Antarctica while in her 70's. Giovanna never met a stranger. Everyone was equal and all were welcome in her world. And she was a true believer of reaching out to help those less fortunate... giving freely to countless missions, churches and non-profit organizations.
She leaves her husband, Walter E. Pekkanen, whom she married December 17, 1988; four sons, David (Teri) Redding of Coaldale, CO, Thomas (Paula) Redding of Durango, CO, Keith Redding of Siesta Key, FL, and Michael (Anna) Redding of Greensboro, NC; three daughters, Deborah (Lou) Daus of Canfield, Giovanna (Jim) Ramsey of Poland, and Rosanne (Jody) Cercone of Boardman; one step-daughter, Nancy (Robert) Gillette of Columbus; sister, Rose Sazio of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 24 amazing grandchildren; 13 beautiful great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Gerald "Skipper" Redding; three sisters, Adele Coletti, Yolanda Nocerine, and Maria Choate; brother, Anthony Matthews; her former husband, Gerald J. Redding; and granddaughter, Aleisa Rae Redding.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday at the Poland Village Baptist Church with Pastor Rusty Wills officiating. Interment will follow at Poland Riverside Cemetery.
Family and friends will be received Sunday from 3-6 p.m. at the Cunningham-Becker Funeral Home in Poland and Monday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the church, prior to the service.
The family requests that memorial tributes take the form of contributions in Mrs. Pekkanen's name to Mission Outfitter, 256 S. Windy Ridge Drive, Bayfield, Colorado, 81122 and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, PO Box 9026, Pittsfield, MA 01202.
Giovanna will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Giovanna Redding Pekkanen, please visit our flower store.