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Gia, who was born in White Plains on June 9, 2010, died on Sunday, March 9, leaving behind a legacy of love, friendship, and selflessness, according to her obituary.
Gia was known for her warm heart, boundless energy, and unwavering kindness. Whether she was excelling in academics, cheering as a flyer on the Westlake Varsity Cheer Team, or participating in student council and service club, she was always lifting others up, her obituary said.
Her dedication to cheerleading began at just four years old, and she recently earned All-League and All-American honors in Section 1 in the Fall of 2024. Gia was also a proud member of the National Junior Honor Society, consistently making the Honor Roll, and was beloved by her teachers and classmates.
Above all, she loved spending time with her family: "Whether it was game night, doing crafts, watching movies, or dancing (without fail at the ending credits)," her obituary reads.
Gia is survived by her loving parents, Carmine and Dana Gentile, her siblings, Jordana and Tino, and a large, close-knit extended family who cherished her deeply.
To honor her memory, her family has launched a scholarship initiative through a GoFundMe page, hoping to keep Gia’s spirit of kindness alive through an annual event called "Gia's Kindness Week."
The initiative, led by her sister Jordana, will encourage acts of kindness, community service, and inclusion, awarding scholarships to students who embody Gia’s selfless nature, the family wrote on the fundraiser page.
"Gia was our everything, and she will be missed greatly," the family wrote on the page, adding, "We want our Gia to be the inspiration for people to be better humans, treat each other with kindness, empathize with people that are sick or with disabilities, and be more inclusive."
"We will award a scholarship at the end of the week to one student that exhibits everything that Gia was. We will also award a scholarship a year to a high schooler on the Westlake Varsity Cheerleading Team, where Gia dedicated her life to," the family continued.
As of Monday afternoon, March 10, the fundraiser had collected over $41,000 in donations out of a $50,000 goal.
Those who wish to donate can do so by clicking here.
A wake for Gia will be held at Hawthorne Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 12, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will take place at Holy Name of Jesus in Valhalla on Thursday, March 13, at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Gia’s Kindness Scholarship Fund, aimed at making the world a kinder, more compassionate place in her honor.
Click here to read Gia's full obituary.
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