On Tuesday, October 8, 2019, Giralda “Gigi” Silva-Lanier, 71 of Hamden, CT transitioned into eternal life in heaven.
She was born in Ansonia, CT to the late Antonio N. Silva and Marion Silva on May 3, 1948. She was a graduate of Ansonia High School. She received her associate’s degree from South Central Community College on June 5, 1988.
Gigi was employed at Yale New Haven Hospital for forty-four years. During her tenure at Yale she held multiple positions before retiring as a Free Care Coordinator in June of 2019. She was recognized by Pro-Files Magazine after receiving an award for collecting three million dollars in a single month for the commercial insurance department. Gigi was also inducted as a member of the Continental “Who’s who” for the lifetime achievement of professional excellence.
Gigi has been a member of Mount Calvary Revival Center for the past five years.
She served as the director of the Christian Education Department, whose mission was to ensure the church as a whole was equipped with the knowledge and tools to be mature, spirit-filled, and successful Christians. Gigi loved being involved in various activities of the church.
Most recently she organized a fashion show at Mount Calvary to raise money for the Bishop James and Dr. Tanzella Perkins scholarship fund. This scholarship is given to youth in the church in order to support them in their ventures in higher education.
She was previously a member of Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church of New Haven, CT and Star Bethlehem Church of Ansonia, CT. She always enjoyed singing as a young child raised in church and sang with the choir at Mount Calvary.
Gigi enjoyed music, shopping and collecting dolls. She loved being a mother and grandmother, and had a passion for helping others; always offering love, support, and guidance to everyone. Gigi had a great sense of humor and her laugh will be remembered by all who knew her.
Gigi leaves to cherish her memory two daughters Takiya Lanier and Tomika Lanier of Hamden, CT and one son Jamal Lanier (Felicia) of Marietta, GA. She was a beloved grandmother “VaVa” of Dakarhi Lanier, April Lanier and Amiya Lanier.
She is survived by three sisters Marion Wright of New Haven, CT, Gladys Nelson of Iselin, NJ, Alice Moore of Cheshire, CT and one brother Anthony Silva of New Haven, CT. She was predeceased by her three brothers Leroy Marshall, William Barnett, Charles Silva and one sister Betty Green.
She will be remembered and greatly missed by a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, great nieces, nephews, great nephews, cousins, and close friends.
A celebration of her life will take place Friday, October 18, 2019, at 11:00 a.m.
The services will be held at Beulah Heights First Pentecostal Church, 782 Orchard Street, New Haven, CT 06511. Family and Friends are welcome to calling hours from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Interment services will be held immediately following the service at Pine Grove Cemetery, Ansonia, CT.
Services by Howard K. Hill Funeral Services, 1287 Chapel Street, New Haven, CT 06511. To leave a message of comfort for the Lanier family, please visit, http://www.hkhfuneralservices.com.
