Gianni Andriolo

Mr. Gianni Andriolo, of Waltham, died peacefully while surrounded by his loving family on Friday, September 6, 2024 at Care Dimensions Hospice House in Lincoln. He was 81. 

Gianni was born on January 20, 1943 in Santo Stefano di Briga, Sicily, a son of the late Michele and Anna (Restuccia) Andriolo. Gianni loved growing up in Sicily, especially spending time with his siblings, cousins, and friends. He could often be seen driving around his hometown on the family Vespa. After schooling in Sicily, he apprenticed as a woodworker. Following his move to the United States in the late 1960s, Gianni became a master woodworker. He worked with William Dowd Harpsichord for many years. Gianni then moved on to Mark Richey Woodworking of Newburyport, where he showcased his amazing talents as a master woodworker for several decades until his retirement in 2012. 

Gianni’s mastery of his craft earned him praise and admiration from his co-workers, customers, and family, who especially relied on his expertise to create custom work in many of their homes. Gianni was known for his beautiful kitchen cabinets and tables. 

On October 14, 1970, Gianni married the love of his life, Josephine “Pina” Gemellaro. Gianni and Pina raised their family in Belmont for many years. In 1984, he moved his family to Waltham. At home he took great care of his vegetable garden and could gain bountiful results every season. His tomato harvest every September yielded a year’s worth of homemade sauce for his family and friends. Gianni took great pride in his yard and always had the greenest lawn and brightest flowers in the neighborhood. 

Over the years he enjoyed taking several trips ‘home’ to Sicily where he was able to remain close to his family there. Gianni especially loved his most recent trip to Sicily in 2023, where he visited with family and friends and attended the festival in his hometown. 

He loved being the patriarch of the family and nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his children and his beloved grandchildren. Gianni especially loved when his grandchildren Jeremy and Danielle spent their summer vacations at his home. They loved spending their summer days with their Nonno and Nonna. He taught them how to take care of the garden and pick vegetables, which Nonna then used to make them a delicious lunch. He was often known to give his grandchildren an extra ice cream sandwich or two after lunch when Nonna wasn’t looking. After Josephine passed, Gianni could often be found in the kitchen recreating her recipes, and quickly mastered making her ricotta cupcakes. 

The husband of the late Josephine (Gemellaro) Andriolo († January 12, 2018), he leaves his daughter, Anna Pouliot and her husband, Neil, and their children, Jeremy and Danielle Pouliot of Waltham; his son, Michael J. Andriolo and his partner, Sandra Swisher, and her children, Justin Bibb and Alexandra Viteri of Waltham; his brothers and sister, Lillo Andriolo and his wife Maria of Sicily, Anthony Andriolo and his wife Grace of Belmont, Peppina (Andriolo) Muscara and the late Pietro Muscara of Sicily, his sister-in-law Lavinia Andriolo of Waltham; his brother-in-law Santino Gemellaro and his wife Graziella of Sicily and many nieces, nephews and their families. 

Gianni was also a brother of the late Giuseppe Andriolo. 

Family and friends will honor and remember Gianni’s life by gathering for an evening wake in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Wednesday, September 11th from 4 to 7 p.m. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning in Saint Luke’s Church, 132 Lexington Street, Belmont. [please meet directly at the church] Burial follow in Saint Patrick’s Cemetery, Watertown.