Ninetta Gift

Ninetta (née Cozza) Gift, 71, of Rotonda West, Florida, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home surrounded by her brother Joe Cozza and sister Linda Pepe. Devoted and loving wife of 47 years to the late Ken Gift, Ninetta spent her final years in their Gulf Coast home they had shared with their cherished Boston Terriers.

Born in Cosenza, Italy, Ninetta and her family immigrated to the United States when she was 7. She grew up in Philadelphia where she met Ken. Right out of high school, Ninetta started her fulfilling, self-made career in banking at Third Federal and completed it as Vice President at SunTrust.

Ninetta and her husband traveled the world, making friends wherever they went. Along the way, they developed exquisite taste, and the kind of company others sought out. But she never forgot her original hometown of Roggiano Gravina in Cosenza and would reminisce about it in great detail. Ninetta’s loved ones will remember her as an excellent conversationalist, animal lover, and giving person who regularly visited family and friends across the country and cooked the perfect frittata.

Ninetta relished life after retirement on the Cape Haze Peninsula. She created a beautiful home and outdoor paradise, as she had a knack for design and green thumb. Ninetta touched the lives of many in her neighborhood with her generous spirit, outgoing nature, and zest for life. She spent much time with a core group of friends—especially best friends Mary Ann and Bob—participating in neighborhood dinners, traveling, thrifting at the local shops, and going out for frequent lunches with her girlfriends. She is loved and will be sorely missed by her Rotonda West “family.”

Ninetta is preceded in death by her husband Ken, mother Filomena, father Francesco, sisters-in-law Patty, Lorraine, and Eileen, and brothers-in-law Rich and Frank. She will be dearly missed by her brother Joe and sister Linda, nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

A tribute to Ninetta was held in Florida in June, and a funeral service will take place in Philadelphia at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.