Dolly Ann Giardina DiMaggio

Dolly Ann Giardina DiMaggio, born a proud New Orleanian/Louisianan, and an adopted Daughter of the great State of Texas, passed from this Earth on Sunday morning February 21, 2021. We have no doubt that a great chorus singing “Hello Dolly!” greeted her as she waltzed into heaven with a graceful twirl, adding her lovely voice to the celestial choir! She was faithful to her Lord until the end. Dolly was a delightful young Lady, with a lovely mezzo soprano voice, a woman of great beauty, dignity, character, and strength. She loved her Family, her Friends, the City that Care Forgot, the Bayou State, and her Catholic Church deeply. Her faith in Christ was integral to the life she led. Her prayers were a part of her daily walk from sun up to sun down.

Dolly was a good Daughter to her Parents, Norma Rodrigue Giardina & Joseph P. Giardina. She was a loving & loyal Wife to her Husband, the late Jake J. DiMaggio. Dolly was a loving Mother to her two sons, Mark DiMaggio & John DiMaggio, as well as to her Daughter-in-Law, Roberta Meyer DiMaggio, and her fuzzy ‘Daughter’, her Shetland Sheepdog, Skye.

As a young woman, Dolly studied voice as a music major at Loyola University of New Orleans. She sang soprano throughout her life in the Catholic Church until she was incapacitated by health issues only a couple of years ago. She successfully aided her Husband in building their Family’s safety engineering & urban planning businesses, Valiant Associates and Urban Transportation & Planning Associates. Dolly was one of a few key people who was responsible for bringing ‘The Treasures of Tutankhamen’ exhibit to the City of New Orleans in 1977. She was appointed by the Governor of Louisiana to serve as a member of the State of Louisiana Bicentennial Commission where she helped to develop the Louisiana Bicentennial Time Capsule, stored at the State Capitol. Dolly also supported her Community as an Assistant to the Mayor of New Orleans, serving as Secretary to the City of New Orleans Board of Building Standards and Appeals.

Dolly’s home on Mirabeau Avenue was destroyed in the flooding of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She lost all of her possessions, but she didn’t lose her determination and joy for living. She relocated to Highland Village, Texas, to be near her son, John. Dolly was a parishioner at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, in Argyle, Texas, where she joined the Church Choir. She enjoyed Church, dining out with Family & Friends, attending concerts at Bass Performance Hall and UNT Murchison Performing Arts Center, visiting Family in New Orleans, Mandeville, & Donaldsonville, and taking her Sheltie for a walk along the trails of Highland Village. Health challenges prompted Dolly’s move to the Isle of Watercrest community in Mansfield, Texas, in 2018.

Dolly’s enchanting charm, intellectual curiosity, delightful sense of humor, ethical character, dedication to Community service, and passion for celebrating life will be missed by all who knew her. Dolly clutched her crucifix in her hand as she took her last breath. May we all follow Dolly's example by holding onto our Faith in God, and our love of Family, Friends, Community & Country, through all of the twists and turns that this life presents to us.

Due to current health concerns, a service will be announced at a later date.

To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com