Giuseppina Spagnolo Coates

Giuseppina Spagnolo Coates, age 85 of Flower Mound Texas, crossed over from this world to rejoice in the presence of our Lord on October 13, 2023 at Baylor Scott and White in Grapevine TX after a three year battle with breast cancer. She was surrounded by the love of her family and friends.

Pina was born on January 01, 1938 in Asmara, Eritrea to Amelesu Aberra and Benjamino Spagnolo. She was the oldest of four children her siblings, Yolanda Spagnolo, Lidia Spagnolo, and Furio Spagnolo. Life was not easy for them but they were always surrounded by a lot of love and laughter that forged how they would always conduct their lives.

Pina met her husband, George Coates, when he was stationed at Kagnew Station in Asmara. They had one daughter, Roberta Coates Goff, prior to taking their new life’s adventure on the road. Being a military wife meant she had to adapt quickly and figure out how to navigate being in a new country, America, knowing some English, but not knowing a single person. She put on a brave face and navigated her new world with grace and determination.

When they moved to Ft. Rucker, Alabama, she earned her American citizenship for which she was immensely proud. Their next adventure landed the family in Heilbronn, Germany, where they were greeted with the dreary, cold German weather for which they were completely unprepared. In true military wife fashion, she adjusted, adapted, and made a wonderful and inviting home for all who visited. Pina made Heilbronn home for the next 5 years, planning trips and visiting family in Italy every summer. When George's next assignment lead the family to Selfridge Airforce Base, she learned what true winter felt like! Pina always found a way to help her family make the absolute most out of living in Michigan, including teaching her daughter how to ice skate without ever stepping out on the ice. When George was called back to Germany, Pina felt more prepared and began work at the Post Exchange. Pina never missed an opportunity to host family or friends; anyone that visited always had wonderfully cooked meals and always felt like they were part of her family and if you spent any time with her you became family.

When military life ended, Pina and George settled in California where she looked forward to hosting her three grandchildren every single summer and planed many trips to Disneyland, Legoland, zoos, museums, and of course many beach trips. Eventually, retirement allowed her and her husband to move to Texas to be closer to their family,

Pina loved going to many of the of her grandchildrens events and could not be more proud of each one of them.

Everyone that met Pina/Nonna immediately fell in love with her.She was so effervescent, full of life and could make you laugh without trying. She loved her granddaughter's dance family and the many crazy laughs they brought to her life. In addition to the love of her daughter's friends all these wonderful people became extended family.

For Pina, life was always about being surrounded by her strong faith, family, love, and laughter. She was absolutely the most incredibly strong, wife, mother, Nonna, and friend.

Pina is survived by her daughter, Roberta Coates Goff, her son-in-law, Andy Goff, three grandchildren: Benjamin, Maxwell, and Daniella Goff of Coppell, Texas, sister Lidia Spagnolo, and brother Furio Spagnolo, of Rome, Italy, Sister-in-law Pam Gagnon, of Windsor CT, nieces and nephews Cristina Spagnolo and Nicholas Papini, Italy, Greg and Eric Gagnon, CT, Elizbeth Lafont, TX, Branch Lewis, NY, and Gabriele Kubrom, TX

Pina is proceeded in death by her husband of 53 years, George Coates, sister Yolanda Spagnolo, nephew Timothy Gagnon, sister-in-law Cindy Lewis and brothers-in-law Claude Gagnon and Eddie Lewis.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023 form 4 – 8 PM at Rolling Oaks Funeral Home, 400 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, TX

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St Ann Catholic Parish, 180 Samuel Blvd, Coppell, TX

Committal Service will be held immediately after mass at Rolling Oaks Cemetery.