Gia De Silva

Gia Mary Lou De Silva of Laguna Woods, California passed away on December 24, 2019 at the age of 71. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island on November 22, 1948 and was raised in Seekonk, MA. After graduating from Dighton-Rehoboth High School, she left Seekonk, MA for New York City at age 19 to pursue her career in musical theater. Her talents enabled her to travel the country with national touring companies; shows such as “Hello Dolly” and "Lorelei" starring Carol Channing, "Coco" starring Katherine Hepburn, and "Sound of Music" with Jane Powell. She left Broadway and accompanied her husband Herb Carter Schwartz, a comedian by profession, as he/they performed on Celebrity Cruises in the Caribbean. As "Lorelei" finished in California, she decided to remain there to try her hand at television. She did have one role in an episode of "Ellery Queen" with Jim Hutton. After this, she decided to retire from the entertainment business and focus on her second love, fashion. She was an associate buyer for J.W. Robinson of California, and a buyer for the ladies boutique Shelly's Tall Girls, before moving on into the health industry as an accredited medical assistant for 20 years for Dr. Grant Gould. She loved dogs, especially the Welsh Corgi, gardening, and completing cross word puzzles. She is survived by her loving companion, devoted friend, and caregiver of over 24 years Richard Dirricq. She is predeceased by her parents, Alice and Arthur De Silva of Seekonk, MA, and her husband Herb Carter Schwartz of 20 years, originally New York City and later Los Angeles. She is survived by her brother Stephen De Silva of South Kingstown, RI.