Raffeala Gianino

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Raffeala ‘Bella’ Gianino, passed away peacefully at her home in Plantation, Florida on April 22, 2024 at the age of 94.

Born in Naples, Italy, Bella came to America when she was an infant and was raised in Brooklyn, New York.  She met, fell in love with and married her husband, Carmelo. The matriarch of the family, Bella was a homemaker and stay-at-home mom, but she was also an entrepreneur and businesswoman at heart.  While raising children, she helped her husband run and manage multiple businesses, even acquiring city blocks, owning hotels, apartment buildings and rental properties along the way.  In 1970, Bella and Carmelo moved their family to south Florida.  Bella was happiest caring for others, her greatest joy in life was being a wife to Carmelo and a mother to Orazio ‘Robert’, Basilica ‘Celia’, Joseph, Charles, Andrew and Vincent. 

Bella was predeceased by her husband, Carmelo, sons Robert and Vincent and daughter, Celia.  She is survived by her sons, Joseph, Charles and Andrew, fourteen grandchildren, Robert Jr., Patricia ‘Patty’, Storm, Raffeala ‘Bella’, Rose, Matthew, Carly, Christina ‘Chrissy’, Russell, Charles Jr., Joseph, Andrew, Michael and Sara and many other loving family members.

Viewings will be held at T.M. Ralph Funeral Home, 7001 NW 4th St, Plantation, FL 33317, on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 4pm-8pm and on Friday, May 3, 2024 from 10am-1pm. A Mass will be held at St. Gregory Catholic Church, 200 N University Dr, Plantation, FL 33324 on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 2pm followed by Entombment at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens, 2401 Davie Rd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 at 3pm.

Bella was beautiful inside and out, she cared so deeply for the people around her. She made such an impact on all of our lives. She will be forever missed. Until we meet again.