Giovanna Pompele's Obituary
Born in Verona, Italy, Gio immigrated to the U.S. to complete a Ph.D. in English from University of Southern California. Until 2016, she taught English and Gender Studies at the University of Miami until ME/CFS made it impossible for her to work.
Gio struggled with severe and always increasing physical disability. She also carried an enormous amount of emotional pain which remained resistant to all her valiant efforts to soothe it. Despite having immense courage and strength, she was unable to continue to bear the suffering and chose to end her pain.
She was deeply loved and is survived by her husband, Simon, her partner, Jennifer, and her family: mother, Mariella, sisters Silvia and her husband Massimo, Sandra and her husband Franco, Anna and her husband Federico, and nieces and nephews Pietro, Tommaso, Cecilia, Francesca, Camilla, and Bianca.
Gio’s wit, her intelligence and, most of all, her love were always in evidence to those who knew her. Those she loved became t heir best selves because she saw in them the best. We are grateful to have known her and to have been touched by her spirit.
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