A funeral will be held Thursday, February 1st, 2024 for 99-year-old Wilma Elizabeth (Gisi) Zarinelli who who passed away January 27.
She was born November 23, 1924 in the Amoureaux House a daughter of Elizabeth (Bahr) Gisi who preceded her in death and William Gisi who passed away two months prior to her birth.
Wilma graduated from Valle High School in 1942, and was the last surviving member of her class.
Following graduation, she was employed at the Five and Dime Store until securing a position as bookkeeper at Elder’s Manufacturing.
She served as secretary of the Valle Alumni Association and published a newsletter, sent out to all Valle graduates stationed overseas during WWII.
The forties concluded with Wilma being the first woman in town to purchase an automobile from Lawrence and Tlapek.
Her dedication to Valle continued with planning class reunions, being active in the Patron’s Club, diligently raising funds for the school through collecting Box Tops for Education and also working for ProLife. Wilma was also a cancer survivor.
In June of 1952, she married Antonio Zarinelli, owner of Tony’s Home Bakery and formerly of the St. Louis Italian neighborhood known as The Hill.
They celebrated thirty-one years of marriage with a trip to Italy, prior to his death in 1984.
Wilma is survived by four children: Mary Tyann (John) Piazza, Gina (Thomas) Brown, Leesa (Don) Gawlik, and Antonio (Lisa) Zarinelli; seven grandsons and six great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
Wilma was also proceeded in death by a daughter: Anne Marie, a sister: Francis (Bianco), a brother Irvin (Bud Gisi); half-brothers Anthony and Thomas Jacob; a niece Debbie (Gisi) Figge and nephew Bill Gisi.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Valle Catholic School Foundation
or The Friends Foundation of Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital – Oncology
Visitation will be 9-10 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the Church of Ste. Genevieve.
A funeral for Wilma Elizabeth (Gisi) Zarinelli will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, February 1, 2024 at the Church of Ste. Genevieve. The Rev. Anthony Gerber will officiate.
Burial will be at Valle Spring Cemetery in Ste. Genevieve, Mo. 63670
Online condolences can be left at www.baslerfuneralhome.com.