Geraldine Joan Penna Guarino

Heaven gained another angel...Geraldine Joan Penna Guarino of Cary, NC, age 91, an Italian American born in Newark, New Jersey on November 28th, 1932 passed away of natural causes on April 2nd, 2024. She was a devout Catholic, a member and a volunteer at Saint Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church in Apex, NC.

Geraldine was the youngest surviving daughter of immigrants Giovanni Penna and Nicolina Dubiosa Penna of Naples, Italy. They came to America in the1920’s through Ellis Island and raised a family of 12. Geraldine is once again in Heaven with all her brothers and sisters, Peter Penna, Ralph Penna, Mildred Greco, Mae Del Buno, Antoinette D’Agostino, Mary Ricci, Rose Tiano, Chester Penna, John Penna, Nancy Green and Nicholas Penna. Geraldine was an Aunt, a Great Aunt and a Great-Great Aunt to all her siblings children and the children’s children.

Geraldine attended Barringer and graduated from Arts High School in Newark, NJ. In her early years she was a stay-at-home Mom. In the 1970’s she got her first job at Thomas Edison, moved on to B & B Productions and then went to Brown Keypunching Services.

Geraldine was married for 40 years to Nicholas Joseph Guarino of Newark, New Jersey, deceased 2012, a World War II Veteran, a butcher, an electronic engineer, and restaurateur. The two of them moved to North Carolina in 1979 to open and manage the family-owned restaurants, Casa Nicola, Raleigh, NC and Guarino’s Italian Restaurant, Cary, NC. Nick and Gerri brought their heritage to North Carolina and cofounded the chapter, TIAHA, Triangle Italian American Heritage Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Italian culture and cuisine.

Mother of Christina Marie Guarino, Kathleen Anne Guarino and Nicolina Marie Anne Guarino Hicks. Grandmother to Joseph Christopher Guarino, David Gerald Guarino, Ian Thomas Hicks and Nicholas Joseph Hicks. Great Grandmother to Shykhira Simone Guarino and Josephine Denise Guarino.

Beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, friend, aunt, godmother, grandmother, and great grandmother will be missed by all her family and friends here on earth.

A memorial service and celebration of life for Geraldine Joan Penna Guarino will be held on Thursday, April 18th, 2024. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 200 SE Maynard Road, Cary, NC 27511. The family will be receiving guests from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, the prayer service will begin at 11:00 am followed by a reception. The interment ceremony and prayer will be Friday morning, April 19th, 2024 at 10:00 am at Saint Andrew Apostle Catholic Church, 3008 Old Raleigh Road Apex, NC 27502.

Flowers welcome. Memorial contributions may be made to Autism Society of North Carolina, Attn: Donations, 5121 Kingdom Way, # 100, Raleigh, NC 27607 (https://www.autismsociety-nc.org/donate-online/).

For posting photos, memories and condolences please refer to the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home website… https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/cary-nc/geraldine-guarino-11755418.