John Lawrence Giovannetti
Born In: Port Morien, Nova Scotia, Canada
Born: October 1st, 1921
Passed in: Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Passed on: January 19th, 2011
It is with deep sorrow that we, the family of John Lawrence Giovannetti, announce his passing Jan. 19, 2011, at Taigh Na Mara Nursing Home in Glace Bay.
Born Oct. 1, 1921, in Port Morien, John was a son of the late Joseph and Mary (Thomas) Giovannetti.
He was a member of St. Mary parish and Branch 55, Royal Canadian Legion, Port Morien.
John served with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers in the Second World War. He landed on Juno Beach on D Day June 6, 1944. John was wounded in Goerlie, Holland, in October 1944. As a result, his left arm was amputated at the shoulder. John returned home in 1945, married Alena Miles and raised 11 children.
John worked for 30 years with the Department of Highways as a labourer, foreman and area supervisor retiring in 1985.
Despite having only one arm, John became a top flight athlete. He was inducted into the Cape Breton Sports Hall of Fame in 2004 and the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007, in recognition of his many achievements in the sport of trap shooting. He competed across Canada and the United States winning the Nova Scotia Championship in 1967 and two Canadian Championships in 1974 and 1985. His proudest accomplishment in the sport was his win of the Southern Grand American in Florida in 1982.
John is survived by his wife, Alena (Miles); four sons, Gary, Port Morien, Clement, Port Morien, Eric, Sydney and David (Susan), Port Morien; seven daughters, Sherry (John) Warren, Almonte, Ont., Judy Giovannetti (Jim Surette), Mira Gut, Patricia Giovannetti (Real Courcey), Numeau, New Caledonia, Lynn (Terry), Port Morien, Anita Giovannetti, Port Morien, Jennifer (Robert) Seeley, Montague, P.E.I., Joy Giovannetti (Scott Retford), Glace Bay; 25 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by brothers, Raymond (Elaine), British Columbia, Joseph, Ontario; and sister, Dolores Zorychta, Glace Bay.
Besides his parents, John was predeceased by brothers, Clement, Charles and Edmund and sisters, Florence, Marguerite, Gladys, Eileen and Colleen.
Visitation will take place at Curry's Funeral Home, 775 Main St., Glace Bay on Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011, from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A funeral service will be held at St. Mary's Church in Port Morien on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011, at 2 p.m.
Memorial donations may be made to Taigh Na Mara or charity of your choice.
Email condolences to jmcurry@ns.sympatico.ca.
