Gigetta Dan

Gigetta Dan was born Luigia Campigotto on February 25, 1923, in Peseggia—in the countryside outside of Venice, Italy.  She emigrated in 1955 from Mestre, Italy, with her husband, Ferdinando, and their two young children to make a new home in San Francisco.  She worked in North Beach first at Reina’s Drug Store and then at the Bank of America and, with the help of many new friends, began a challenging adjustment to life in the U.S.

Always elegant and stylish, Gigetta reflected her Italian heritage and the best of her era.  She was the supreme homemaker, in the highest sense of the word.  She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, skilled seamstress and tailor, gardener, upholsterer, house painter and decorator, and superb hostess.  But she was best known for her culinary skills—producing nuanced and refined northern Italian cuisine—and she derived great pleasure in cooking for those she loved.  She was a fabulous home chef, acknowledged by her friends (formidable cooks themselves) as “the queen of risotto…pasticcio…gnocchi….”—hers were such heavenly little pillows!

Gigetta was the innamorata of her husband Ferdinando, who preceded her in death after 65 years of marriage and who, we’re sure, eagerly greeted her with his sweet smile and loving embrace when she left us on April 13.  In this country, she is survived by her loving family: children Daniel (Susan) and Margherita (Ralph), and her granddaughter Jessica, who, in particular, appreciated her unique sense of humor.  In Italy she leaves her treasured family—sisters Irma and Regina, brothers, Carlo and Franco, and many other loving relatives—and many dear friends.  She was preceded in death by her younger sister Lucia (“Cici”).  In the U.S. she leaves many friends — including the very special group who helped ease her transition from Italy to the United States 59 years ago and with whom she and Fernando shared so many good times over the years, and also the new group of wonderful friends who came into their lives upon retirement in Petaluma.

Gigetta specified that no service be held.  Instead, to honor her memory enjoy the beauty of a spring garden, a good Manhattan, the best northern Italian meal you can find, or even a great hamburger, take a walk on the beach, but, mostly, love your family.  Family assisted by PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, Petaluma.