Iole Jannace Gardella died on May 10, 2016, at the age of 98.
She was born in New York City on May 18, 1917, to Italian immigrant parents, Giacomo and Ida Jannace. Her parents moved to Greenburgh, N.Y., and Iole graduated from St. John’s in White Plains, finishing high school at age 16. Iole received her B.A. from Good Counsel College in 1937, and went on to receive a master’s degree from NYU in 1944. One year later, Iole married World War II submarine veteran Silvio Joseph Gardella of White Plains.
From 1954 on, Iole served as professor of Italian at Good Counsel College. At the same time, she worked as a church organist, choir director, and music teacher in the Westchester parochial school system. After Good Counsel College merged with Pace University, Iole became an Italian teacher in the White Plains adult-education program for the next 34 years. After her children were raised, Iole loved nothing better than to travel on educational trips organized by her colleague and great friend, Helena Brady. They accompanied Good Counsel girls and others to China, Italy, Thailand, Egypt, Brazil, and beyond. Iole was predeceased by her parents, her brothers Louis and James Jannace, and her very good friend and companion, Theresa Praskach.
Iole is survived by her three children, James Joseph Gardella (Patricia Buckley Gardella), Nancy Gardella of Vineyard Haven, and John Silvio Gardella (Nancy McPartlin Gardella). Also surviving her are four grandchildren, David Gardella (Elizabeth Figueroa), Daniel Gardella (Moah Son), Christopher Leigh Clark (Librada “Lilly” Garza Clark), and Jonathan Gardella, as well as two great-grandchildren, Corbyn ClarkGarza and Dominic Clark. She is also survived by her brother Manlio Jannace and his wife Joan Jannace, her two canine companions, Silvio and Lil’Bit, and her feline companion, Teddy. Iole loved children, music, art, animals, her faith, her friends, and her country. She had a special love and appreciation for the Sisters of the Divine Compassion and Good Counsel College, which gave her a wonderful start on her path to her life’s desire, teaching.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10 am at Good Counsel Chapel, 52 North Broadway, White Plains, N.Y., followed by burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Friends may call on Tuesday, May 17, from 5 to 9 pm at the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home, 2 Maple Avenue, at South Broadway, White Plains, N.Y. Donations in Iole’s memory may be made to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion or the White Plains Beautification Foundation.