Carolyn Gioia Davis

Carolyn was born on September 4, 1944 in Chicago, IL to parents Eugene and Phyllis Dellorfano Gioia. Her sister Sharon joined the family 1 ½ years later. Seeking new opportunities in the West the family moved to Southern California when Carolyn was 5 years old. She fondly talked about orange groves on every corner and the smell of the blossoms filling the air. Carolyn loved school and adventures. She remembered Disneyland opening and going with her parents and sister the first year it opened in 1955. She reminisced about being a baton twirler and flag girl in high school and being in the Rose Parade. She loved to tell the story of getting a bug in her eye at the beginning of the parade route and not being able to stop and get it out, she just kept marching on. Much like she did in all of her life pursuits. In 1960, her little brother Gene was born, and she would later share that when they were together, older women would shake their finger at her Tsk Tsk..thinking she was a teen mom.

After graduating from Temple City High School in 1962 she became a student at Pasadena City College. It is there that she met the man who would become her life partner for over 60 years. She married Michael in 1965 and in July 1966 their first child Christine was born. Because one baby wasn’t enough Philip was born in June 1967 and she and Mike would joke about their “Irish twins.” Andrew joined the family in February 1972. They spent these early years near Carolyn’s family in the Los Angeles area. Being proud of her Italian heritage, there were pasta dinners with family and never a shortage of cousins to play with.

Carolyn took a break from school to raise her children and pick up new hobbies. There was macrame, artificial plant arranging, being a girl scout leader and tennis. She loved tennis and was very good and competitive. Her secret weapon was her ability to switch her racket from her left hand to her right hand when needed and was proud of her ambidextrous advantage. She continued playing tennis until her mid 50’s when a torn ACL sidelined her game.

The family made its way back to California in 1978 and settled in Fresno. Shortly after moving to Fresno, she resumed her studies and majored in Accounting. Carolyn graduated college and became a CPA, starting her career at Deloitte and Touche accounting firm. She transitioned to Danish Creamery, became their controller and spent the rest of her career there until her retirement in 2015. But her biggest joy and accomplishment were her family, and she loved her children and being a Nonna. She loved playing board games and spending hours in the pool with her grandchildren.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 60 years Michael, her children Christine and Tom, Phil and Stacey, Andrew and Shauna and their families including 7 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: https://www.alzdiscovery.org/. Alzheimer’s has affected many members of Carolyn’s family and finding a treatment is the best way to honor her legacy.