Jim Giovando

JIM GIOVANDO, a retired teacher and a native of Petaluma, passed away on December 25th at the age of 85. Jim was born at Petaluma General and was very proud that he lived most of his life in Petaluma.  As a child, Jim attended Phillip Sweed Elementary School and Washington Grammar.  In fourth grade, he transferred to St. Vincent Elementary and continued through high school.  His favorite teachers were Sister Mary Lucette and Sister Mary Noreen, who remained his life-long friends.  Jim graduated valedictorian from St. Vincent High School with a four-year scholarship to the University of San Francisco.  After graduating with a master’s degree in education, he was a student teacher at Galileo High School and then taught at Antioch High School for two years. In 1958, Jim returned to Petaluma, where he taught Math, Chemistry, and Physics at Petaluma High School over the course of 38 years.  He was notorious for assigning a lot of homework.

In his retirement, Jim especially enjoyed attending Sage meetings to socialize and discuss the history of Petaluma.  He also made several trips to his parent’s hometown in Borgiallo, a small village in Northern Italy, to visit cousins and remodel his grandparent’s home that he inherited.  Jim always impressed the locals by his mastery of the Piemontese dialect.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Lucy, father, Peter, sister, Mary, and brother, Charlie.  Jim is survived by his wife, Cathy, of 47 years, and his four daughters: Mary (Rob), Lucy (Jim), Lizzy and Caroline (Marty).  Jim was also blessed with six grandchildren: Tony, Charlie, Maddy, Andrew, Caterina and Martino.

Friends and family are invited to attend the Funeral Mass, Friday, December 29, 2017 at 11:00 am at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 35 Liberty St., Petaluma.  A Visitation will be held Thursday, December 28, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 8:00 pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00 pm at the PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma. The family would like to extend their gratitude to all of the staff at the Adobe House Memory Care Community and Heartland Hospice of Santa Rosa.  The family prefers memorial contributions be made to Hospice or the charity of your choice.  Private Entombment.

Visitation

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Thursday, December 28, 2017 1:00 PM - 8:00 PM 850 Keokuk Street Petaluma, California 94952 Directions Vigil Service

Parent-Sorensen Mortuary and Crematory

Thursday, December 28, 2017 7:00 PM - 7:30 PM 850 Keokuk Street Petaluma, California 94952 Directions Funeral Mass

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

Friday, December 29, 2017 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM 35 Liberty Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Directions