Giovanni Dima was born on November 16, 1937 in Calabria, Italy to Francesco and Grazia Dima who have since passed. Giovanni Dima passed peacefully on the evening of May 28th 2024 in Florida at an age of 86 years. He is survived by his three children, Nicola with wife Adele, Giovanni with wife Carmela, Frank with wife Lisa and his one sister Antonietta (Tonina). He is preceded in death by his wife Maria
Asunta Dima and his four brothers - Giuseppe, Franchesco (Ciccillo), Nicola, and Anselmo who have since passed.
Giovanni is best known by all as the farmer, the machinist, the carpenter, but most of all the loving and hardworking husband, father, and friend. Growing up in the small Calabrian town of Casabona, farming was his life and he knew his share of hard work. But the work with his brothers did not end in the fields producing subsistence for the people of that small town, it continued by building their homes with his
brothers. Although life was tough in that small farming town, life was good by being 1 of 5 children and together doing labors of the heart to enrich the lives of the people in his town. Life was not rich monetarily, but rather with love of family and commitment to service. He caught the eye of young women named Maria Asunta Alessio which he soon married in 1959.
In 1962, two and a half years after their first child Nicola was born, he wanted to cross continents to build a better life for his new family. He sent his wife to American where he would soon follow and where he would live out the rest of his life with his bride and sons as proud Italian Americans. The feeling of being away from his family soon came to an end as their heritage came along. His bride’s entire family came to America and life was just like old times…family, love, laughs, food, and music. Life was good in America.
Giovanni’s family would stretch across the oceans from Italy to the United States of America. He was the
very framework that held his family together, there is nothing he wouldn’t do for you.
In 1968, Giovanni and wife Maria gave birth to their second son Giovanni. In 1969, he was given an
opportunity to relocate to sunny South Florida and he took it. There, he would set his final roots and expand his family with another son, Frank. Again, continuing to provide a strong and healthy home for his wife and three children, he was rewarded by life getting a little richer and together with his wife, were able to finally purchase their very own first brand-new house on piece of land in a brand-new neighborhood. He proudly nurtured his grass using his farming skills until it was the greenest and healthiest in town. Then, he took to planting on his piece of land in his new country; getting grapes and figs to grow in Florida would become his life-long passion. When neighbors had landscaping issues, Giovanni would set time aside to assist. No tree ever went uncared for in Giovanni’s town. If a neighbor’s tree was not doing well then it was discarded, Giovanni would adopt it, plant it in his yard, and bring it back to life.
After his three children were all married and brought eight grandchildren (Marie Nicole, Giovanni, Nicholas, Alberto, Frank, Nadia, Massimo and GianAntonio) and one great grandchild (Leon Oliver) into his life, he was reborn by life giving him new meaning with nine more blessings. It seemed as if he waited his whole life to be called Grandpa “Nonno” and then when called Great Grandpa “Bisnonno”, his life’s journey was clear. First and foremost, he was a wonderful father and a father’s love is fierce and unrivaled. We can all learn much from his life of commitment. His passing causes each of us to stop, reflect on our lives, and measure who we are and who we’ve become.
He would not have wanted all to mourn his death but rather to celebrate his life, eat some grapes and eat
some figs. Then he would remind each to love family unconditionally and to hold them close because in the end, they are all that matter.
Closing our eyes, evokes memories of you that fill us with security, happiness, and laughter. Giovanni Dima you will be deeply missed by all that love you. Great memories of you will live far into eternity…rest in peace.
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