Connie Giardini

Connie Giardini Nee: Glorioso. Beloved wife of the late Angelo Giardini; loving mother of Lisa Schullo and Nicholas Giardini, dear grandmother of Anthony Schullo  and cherished aunt of many nieces & nephews. . Connie was known for her fierce devotion to family, love and concern for all children, a brilliant wit and perpetually auburn hair. She was born on the south side of Chicago to Sicilian immigrants, Nick and Maria Glorioso. She had four brothers (Mauro, Tony, Nicky, and Dominic) who loved and protected her, but also taught her to stand up for herself, a lesson that served her throughout her life. Tragedy struck when her mother died of cancer at age 39 when Connie was 11 years old. Salvation came with Lucy Glorioso, a saintly woman and Maria's dear friend, who married Nick and raised his 5 children with an outpouring of love and devotion. Connie was blessed with a fifth brother, Eddie, when she was 18. 

Connie graduated from Fenger High School in 1939 and went to work for her father in his business, demonstrating the intellect and superb clerical skill that characterized her entire career. She loved ballroom dancing and was a self- avowed clothes horse ("I lived with my parents for free and spent every dime I made on clothes."). She met the dashing Angelo Giardini at the Aragon Ballroom, and the rest, as they say, is history. They married in 1950 and settled in Matteson where Connie's dream of becoming a mother finally came true with Lisa in 1958, and Nicky in 1961. She was the most loving and devoted mother imaginable, and her children were her pride and joy. 

The Giardinis moved to Glen Ellyn in 1967, and when the children were old enough, Connie began working at Sears Roebuck and Co. and then several other area firms. Angelo and Connie worked very hard to put their children through college, and Nick through Medical School. After a brief and and unsuccessful retirement in 1986, Connie returned to part-time work at the Village Offices of Glen Ellyn, a job she loved. She and Angelo were deliriously happy with the arrival of Grandson Anthony in 1996. Connie ultimately retired in 1997 to care for Angelo who died in 1999 after a long illness. She bravely maintained her independence in their Glen Ellyn home for more than 5 years despite the onset of early dementia.

She followed her son to San Francisco in 2004, where she became a commanding presence at Coventry Park Assisted Living, and then Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center, living a rich and meaningful life despite progressive dementia. Throughout these years, she maintained her unique persona and wonderful wit. She once said "I was born a redhead, I've lived my whole life as a redhead, and I want to die a redhead." She died peacefully in her sleep, still a redhead, after 96 wonderful years of life. 
We're going to miss you, Mom.

Visitation will be Friday, February, 16th from 3-8 PM at Leonard Memorial Funeral Home (leonardmemorialhome.com or 630-469-0032), 565 Duane St. Glen Ellyn. Funeral Mass Saturday 10 AM at St. Petronille Church, 420 Glenwood Ave. Interment Assumption Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Children’s Defense Fund http://www.childrensdefense.org/donate or a children’s charity of your choice.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Connie Giardini, please visit our floral store.