SARATOGA SPRINGS — On Friday, June 12, Giovanna Etkin died at home in the presence of her loving family.
In the Dolomite Mountains of Italy, Giovanna was born in the town of Sondrio, on December 21, 1944 to her parents, the late Salvatore and Maria Centonze where she joined her older brothers Carlo and Corrado. After WWII ended, her family moved back to Modena, from where they had fled during the war.
She grew up in Modena and attended University of Bologna where she earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in English. In Bologna, she met her husband Richard H. Etkin, an American studying medicine at the University. They met in 1967, married in Modena in 1970 and moved to the U.S. in 1972.
In 1974, Giovanna and Richard welcomed a daughter, Sarah. Giovanna devoted the rest of her life to being a mother to her only child; the kind of mother who surpassed all that a daughter could hope for. Her true passion was travel to the far reaches of the globe. She was always planning the next trip and was well versed in researching and executing the ultimate adventure from hiking in Nepal to scuba diving in Fiji – she was most content while “on the road.”
After her retirement in 1995, a dream of “living in paradise” came true with a move to the tiny island of Anguilla in the British West Indies, in 2002. For the last 13 years of her life, for 6 months of the year, she soaked up the sun, took up painting, spent time with the other “ex-pats,” and marveled at the view of the turquoise waters outside her bedroom window.
The greatest treasure of her life was the gift of her only grandchild, Maximilian Etkin Sefcik, who was born in 2005 (and who prompted a move to Saratoga Springs in 2007, just a few miles away from Max).
Giovanna is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dr. Richard H. Etkin, her daughter Sarah Etkin-Sefcik and son-in-law, Jonathan A. Sefcik, all of Saratoga Springs; her brother Corrado (Eugenia) Centonze of Modena, Italy; 2 nieces Federica and Ciara; a nephew Marcello; and many cousins in Italy. In addition to her parents, Giovanna is predeceased by her brother Carlo and his wife Anna Centonze.
Donations in Giovanna’s memory may be made to the Molly S. Wilmot Radiation Oncology Center at Saratoga Hospital, 211 Church St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 where Giovanna volunteered.
Giovanna’s family is fulfilling her wishes to not hold calling hours or a funeral service at this time.
Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funerals of 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373).
