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December 24, 2009
Services
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-6 PM.
He will be laid to rest next to his son Robert at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa.
Silvio Vito Giannella was born on June 15, 1921 in San Marco De Castellebate Italy, the youngest of nine children of his parents Raffaelle and Elizabeth Giannella. Silvio's father Raffaelle, fought with the Italian Army in World War l, who were allied with the United States. After the War, U.S. immigration laws were changed by Congress to allow soldiers who fought with the Allies to obtain a visa to come to America. Unfortunately these laws did not provide a visa for family members. Raffaelle was faced with the decision of leaving behind, his wife who was pregnant with Silvio and eight children and moving to America or staying in the poor economically torn fishing village of San Marco. Raffaelle and Elizabeth made their decision to pursue a better life for their children and applied to U.S. Immigration for a visa. Silvio was born in June 1921 while his father made the long journey by boat over 4,000 miles across the Atlantic in search of the American Dream.
Seven years passed. Raffaelle worked in an Italian bakery in Paterson, New Jersey and sent money home monthly to his family in San Marco. During this time he opened Giannella's Bakery and Pizzeria on East 19th Street in Paterson. In 1928 Raffaelle had saved enough money to return to Italy for a two month long visit. It is during this visit that Silvio met his father for the first time at the age of 7 years old. The visit ended all too quickly for young Silvio and his dad went back to America. 6 more years passed and in 1934 Raffaelle was granted American Citizenship allowing his wife and children to come to America.
Silvio arrived on a ship in New York harbor in 1934 and met his father for only the second time in his 13 year life. He went to public school in Paterson, New Jersey and learned to speak English. Silvio went to school during the day and worked at the bakery after school, nights and weekends along with his two brothers, Fiore and Mario. These were the years of the Great Depression and were tough times for all families.
In 1942 during World War ll, when he was 21 years old Silvio was drafted into the United States Army. His brother Fiore Giannella was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corp. Silvio went off to Europe and Fiore to the Pacific. As fate would have it these two brothers found themselves in two of the bloodiest battles of World War ll. Silvio on Omaha Beach in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944 and Fiore on the Island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean in April 1945.
On the morning of June 6, 1944 Staff Sergeant Silvio V. Giannella, with the Army 6th Engineer's Special Brigade hit Omaha Beach at H-Hour + 20. Which is 20 minutes after the invasion began and the first soldiers landed on the beach. The 6th Engineers went in with the Army 2nd Rangers with the job of clearing the beach of mines and opening a path so the rest of the thousands of Allied soldiers can more easily follow. History shows that it didn't quite work out that way. The first hour on "Bloody Omaha" was the worst, with enormous casualties. Silvio saw hundreds of his friends and fellow GI's slaughtered in front of his eyes in a massacre, while fighting for his life. Being dropped off a landing craft in water up to his armpits wearing 100 pounds of backpack, ammunition and rifle Silvio waded through the blood red waters to the beach and managed to survive the German onslaught, just 9 days before his 23rd birthday. The stories he rarely told of that morning and the days leading up to it are both truly amazing and heart wrenching. Silvio and his band of brothers, waited in ships in the English Channel for 2 days, most of them seasick due to rough seas, waiting to embark on the unknown and not knowing if they ever will survive. Rumors traveled around the ships of what they might be facing and unfortunately many of those rumors were true. They gave messages to each other to deliver home to loved ones if they didn't make it and reviewed last wishes to be carried out. They exchanged photographs of their children and families and they prayed together.
By a simple twist of fate, Silvio "made it off that beach". He and his band of brothers, who left footprints on Omaha Beach lived the rest of their lives haunted by the events of "The Longest Day". As boys they saved the world for freedom loving people everywhere and allow us, our children and future generations to live with the freedoms and liberties we so enjoy today.
Silvio survived Omaha Beach but unfortunately his brother Fiore did not survive Iwo Jima. Fiore was killed in action in April 1945 on Iwo Jima Volcanic Islands, Japan. The news was devastating to Silvio who was then Honorably Discharged from duty On December 7, 1945. He had lost his brother and best friend.
After the War, Silvio went home to Paterson and worked at Giannella's Italian bakery. He soon met Sylivia Martelli who worked in the hardware store up the street from the bakery. They fell in love and were married on September 21, 1947. Silvio and Sylvia have been married for 62 years and have 6 children. A daughter Dianna and 5 sons. Fiore, named after Silvio's fallen brother, Robert, Richard, Ralph and Thomas.
Silvio, Sylvia and their children built Giannella's Bakery into a flourishing business over the years and transformed it from a simple "mom and pop" operation to a commercial and retail corporation in Paterson known as Giannella Baking Company. They continued to expand the business with locations in Wayne and Glen Rock. Giannella Baking Company has employed thousands people throughout the years and has has become a household name in New Jersey, with Silvio as it's Patriarch.
Silvio helped many employees leave his employ and start their own bakery and delicatessen businesses. He also helped dozens of other Italian families obtain visas to come to America by "sponsoring" them and employing them at the bakery over the years. He was always willing to help others live the American Dream as he had.
Silvio is a true American Patriot and War Hero.
On his 88th birthday on June 15, 2009, The United States House of Representatives awarded Staff Sergeant Silvio Vito Giannella a Congressional Commendation and was presented with an American Flag flown in his honor over the United States Capital Building in Washington D.C., for his service to his country on Omaha Beach.
On June 15, 2009 The California Legislature and Assembly presented Staff Sergeant Silvio Vito Giannella a State of California Commendation and an American Flag flown in his honor over the California State Capital Building in Sacramento, CA.
Silvio is survived by Sylvia, his loving wife of 62 years. His daughter Dianna, sons Fiore, Richard, Ralph and Thomas. 10 Grand children and 1 great grandchild. Silvio's son Robert Silvio Giannella passed on from cancer when tragedy struck in 1996.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund, One Intrepid Square, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, NY, NY 10036 would be greatly appreciated. https://www.fallenheroesfund.org/Donate/Online-Donation-Form.aspx
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-6 PM.
He will be laid to rest next to his son Robert at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa.
December 24, 2009
Services
Funeral services will be held Monday, December 28, 2009 at 10 AM at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne.
Friends may visit with the family at the funeral home on Sunday from 2-6 PM.
He will be laid to rest next to his son Robert at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Totowa.
Silvio Vito Giannella was born on June 15, 1921 in San Marco De Castellebate Italy, the youngest of nine children of his parents Raffaelle and Elizabeth Giannella. Silvio's father Raffaelle, fought with the Italian Army in World War l, who were allied with the United States. After the War, U.S. immigration laws were changed by Congress to allow soldiers who fought with the Allies to obtain a visa to come to America. Unfortunately these laws did not provide a visa for family members. Raffaelle was faced with the decision of leaving behind, his wife who was pregnant with Silvio and eight children and moving to America or staying in the poor economically torn fishing village of San Marco. Raffaelle and Elizabeth made their decision to pursue a better life for their children and applied to U.S. Immigration for a visa. Silvio was born in June 1921 while his father made the long journey by boat over 4,000 miles across the Atlantic in search of the American Dream.
Seven years passed. Raffaelle worked in an Italian bakery in Paterson, New Jersey and sent money home monthly to his family in San Marco. During this time he opened Giannella's Bakery and Pizzeria on East 19th Street in Paterson. In 1928 Raffaelle had saved enough money to return to Italy for a two month long visit. It is during this visit that Silvio met his father for the first time at the age of 7 years old. The visit ended all too quickly for young Silvio and his dad went back to America. 6 more years passed and in 1934 Raffaelle was granted American Citizenship allowing his wife and children to come to America.
Silvio arrived on a ship in New York harbor in 1934 and met his father for only the second time in his 13 year life. He went to public school in Paterson, New Jersey and learned to speak English. Silvio went to school during the day and worked at the bakery after school, nights and weekends along with his two brothers, Fiore and Mario. These were the years of the Great Depression and were tough times for all families.
In 1942 during World War ll, when he was 21 years old Silvio was drafted into the United States Army. His brother Fiore Giannella was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corp. Silvio went off to Europe and Fiore to the Pacific. As fate would have it these two brothers found themselves in two of the bloodiest battles of World War ll. Silvio on Omaha Beach in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, on June 6, 1944 and Fiore on the Island of Iwo Jima in the Pacific Ocean in April 1945.
On the morning of June 6, 1944 Staff Sergeant Silvio V. Giannella, with the Army 6th Engineer's Special Brigade hit Omaha Beach at H-Hour + 20. Which is 20 minutes after the invasion began and the first soldiers landed on the beach. The 6th Engineers went in with the Army 2nd Rangers with the job of clearing the beach of mines and opening a path so the rest of the thousands of Allied soldiers can more easily follow. History shows that it didn't quite work out that way. The first hour on "Bloody Omaha" was the worst, with enormous casualties. Silvio saw hundreds of his friends and fellow GI's slaughtered in front of his eyes in a massacre, while fighting for his life. Being dropped off a landing craft in water up to his armpits wearing 100 pounds of backpack, ammunition and rifle Silvio waded through the blood red waters to the beach and managed to survive the German onslaught, just 9 days before his 23rd birthday. The stories he rarely told of that morning and the days leading up to it are both truly amazing and heart wrenching. Silvio and his band of brothers, waited in ships in the English Channel for 2 days, most of them seasick due to rough seas, waiting to embark on the unknown and not knowing if they ever will survive. Rumors traveled around the ships of what they might be facing and unfortunately many of those rumors were true. They gave messages to each other to deliver home to loved ones if they didn't make it and reviewed last wishes to be carried out. They exchanged photographs of their children and families and they prayed together.
By a simple twist of fate, Silvio "made it off that beach". He and his band of brothers, who left footprints on Omaha Beach lived the rest of their lives haunted by the events of "The Longest Day". As boys they saved the world for freedom loving people everywhere and allow us, our children and future generations to live with the freedoms and liberties we so enjoy today.
Silvio survived Omaha Beach but unfortunately his brother Fiore did not survive Iwo Jima. Fiore was killed in action in April 1945 on Iwo Jima Volcanic Islands, Japan. The news was devastating to Silvio who was then Honorably Discharged from duty On December 7, 1945. He had lost his brother and best friend.
After the War, Silvio went home to Paterson and worked at Giannella's Italian bakery. He soon met Sylivia Martelli who worked in the hardware store up the street from the bakery. They fell in love and were married on September 21, 1947. Silvio and Sylvia have been married for 62 years and have 6 children. A daughter Dianna and 5 sons. Fiore, named after Silvio's fallen brother, Robert, Richard, Ralph and Thomas.
Silvio, Sylvia and their children built Giannella's Bakery into a flourishing business over the years and transformed it from a simple "mom and pop" operation to a commercial and retail corporation in Paterson known as Giannella Baking Company. They continued to expand the business with locations in Wayne and Glen Rock. Giannella Baking Company has employed thousands people throughout the years and has has become a household name in New Jersey, with Silvio as it's Patriarch.
Silvio helped many employees leave his employ and start their own bakery and delicatessen businesses. He also helped dozens of other Italian families obtain visas to come to America by "sponsoring" them and employing them at the bakery over the years. He was always willing to help others live the American Dream as he had.
Silvio is a true American Patriot and War Hero.
On his 88th birthday on June 15, 2009, The United States House of Representatives awarded Staff Sergeant Silvio Vito Giannella a Congressional Commendation and was presented with an American Flag flown in his honor over the United States Capital Building in Washington D.C., for his service to his country on Omaha Beach.
On June 15, 2009 The California Legislature and Assembly presented Staff Sergeant Silvio Vito Giannella a State of California Commendation and an American Flag flown in his honor over the California State Capital Building in Sacramento, CA.
Silvio is survived by Sylvia, his loving wife of 62 years. His daughter Dianna, sons Fiore, Richard, Ralph and Thomas. 10 Grand children and 1 great grandchild. Silvio's son Robert Silvio Giannella passed on from cancer when tragedy struck in 1996.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to the Intrepid Fallen Heros Fund, One Intrepid Square, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, NY, NY 10036 would be greatly appreciated. https://www.fallenheroesfund.org/Donate/Online-Donation-Form.aspx
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