Virginia S. Gilabert

Virginia Santee Gilabert, known as ‘Gigi’ to friends and family, passed away peacefully in the loving arms of family on February 20, 2024. She was born March 15, 1941 in Batavia, NY. As a teenager she moved with her family to California, where she procured her first job as a greeter at the newly opened Disneyland with her older sister.

She married young and moved to East Africa with the Foreign Service. She climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, cried when the train doors opened at her first sight of Venice, Italy, lived in a VW van traveling Europe with her children, ascended Machu Pichu, and learned how to rock climb at Joshua Tree. She taught us about music, art, and how to love nature as we lived in a campground for an entire school year. She returned to school for Film Studies after her children were grown and arranged film director lectures at small independent film houses. She lived life on her own terms.

For the last 10 years she has lived at home in Austin, Texas with her daughter Stephanie and son-in-law Houston while she traversed the challenges of her Alzheimer’s journey. This was all possible due to the support from all the families and friends who have love her as their own, taken her to the movies, out on the dance floor, watched SNL and music videos for hours on end, “Gigi-sat” so her family could get a break every now and then. We had set out to have her be part of the family, in the mix, out in the open, and damn if we didn’t succeed.

She is lovingly remembered and missed by her siblings Anne, Wendy, David, and Billy, her children Elizabeth, Peter, Stephanie, and James, and her grandchildren Thomas, Erika, and Vivien as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and family who were more like friends and friends who were more like family.

We will miss her gentle soul, childlike giggles, and fierce love for us. We are deeply saddened yet relieved that her 10-year dementia journey is now over. She was the family storyteller – we will do our best to keep those stories alive.

Sweet Dreams, Mom – we love you. xoxo

For those who are able we are including a donation link in Gigi’s honor to Age of Central Texas, a caring center that helps older adults and their caregivers thrive as they navigate the challenges of aging and caregiving. https://ageofcentraltx.org/index.php/get-involved/donate/