Obituary of Ann Gibas

Born: Anna Pane in the Bronx, NY, NY.

Ann loved life and lived it to its fullest.  She was a hard-working, fiercely independent, forward-thinking woman, long before it was fashionable.  Ann was the daughter of proud Italian immigrants.  Her father was a butcher and her mother raised five children in a two room apartment. When she was a teenager Ann started working as a seamstress in the garment district where she was paid by the piece…. But from there…. she traveled the world, supported her family, became a clothes designer, and started and ran a successful business.  She even changed her name from Anna to Ann, because it was “too old fashioned”.

Ann took care of her sister Marie for Marie’s entire life and even saved her life by donating her kidney.  She met and married the love of her life, Chester Gibas, when she was 50.  They were married for 10 wonderful years before Chester died.  Ann said to the end of her life, “I loved that man”.  She is with him again.

Ann had three sisters and one brother, Marie, Celestine, Jelsomina and, Gido, who are waiting for her in heaven.

Ann was survived by numerous nieces and nephews across the nation. But she was especially close to her nephew Sal Raineri, his wife Barbara and their children and grandchildren.  She was always proud of her “Soldier” nephew and said he reminded her of her beloved brother, Gido. Sal and Barbara have three children, Carla Raineri Padilla, Sal “Lil Sal” Raineri and Gino Raineri. Carla’s children are Celestine, Vincenzo “Vinny”, Vesperia, Alexander “Placido”.  Celestine has two children, Giuliana and Genevieve.  Lil Sal has two children, Elizabeth and Casey.

Ann was blessed with loving friends who care for her across the decades, especially Angela Taborda, Antonio Del Duca and Carolyn Hildebrand. Ann lived with Angela and her husband Tony for the last year of her life.

We love you and miss you.  But we will see you again.

You will always be my “Aunt Anna”. Love, Carla

Visitation Monday, January 3, 2021, from 3-7 PM at McCorry Brothers Funeral Home, 780 Anderson Ave., Cliffside Park, NJ. Funeral Mass to be held Tuesday, January 4, 2021 at Epiphany RC Church, 247 Knox Ave., Cliffside Park, NJ at 9:30 AM. Entombment to follow at Madonna Mausoleum, 2070 Hoefleys Ln, Fort Lee, NJ.

             Due to the current health concerns, masks will be required to enter our building and limitations on number of people in the chapel will be enforced.