Gemma (Sifari) Rubini

Gemma Lucia Rubini (nee Sifari), of Philadelphia, passed away on February 25, 2023, at the age of 92 after a brief illness.

Gemma was born in Pola, Italy on April 4, 1930.  In her youth, she survived the Great Depression, the rise of fascism, World War II, and the rise of communism in what had then become Yugoslavia.  She witnessed unspeakable hardships that helped foster her strong personality.

Gemma came to America in 1949.  Once her mother and brother also emigrated to America in 1951, they settled in Philadelphia.  There, she met Andreino Rubini (“Pare”), whom she would marry four years later.  Gemma worked as a seamstress until the couple had Andrew Mario (“Nino”) in 1959, when she devoted herself as a stay-at-home mother.  Loredana Gemma was born ten years later.

Gemma frequented the Austrian Seacoast Society, also known as the Adriatic Club.  This was an active, flourishing group of immigrants and their families from towns in Istria.  For many years Gemma served as President of their Women's Auxiliary and as the club’s chef.  She was very social and loved to have fun with her friends from the “AD.”

Maria was Gemma's closest friend, having met in Europe before they each came to America, and she was Loredana’s Godmother.  They were a frequent vacation duo.  And Gemma loved to travel.  She visited Mexico, Morocco, Greece, France, Spain, Germany, the Caribbean, and traveled all throughout the United States. 

Gemma's Philly neighborhood friends - Vera, Maureen, Audrey, and Frannie - collectively known as the "Ya-Ya’s" - formed a friendship circle that lasted decades.  They would get together on Friday nights to play a wide variety of games and spend time together during the week shopping and knitting.  The tradition continues as "Ya-Ya's: The Next Generation" includes three daughters from the originals.

Purchasing three bungalows in Seaside Park, NJ in 1969, the family spent a lot of time fishing, crabbing, boating in the bay, and soaking up the sun at the beach. 

With her grown children and their families living in New Jersey, she and Andreino moved to Merchantville to be closer to them.  Andreino passed in 2009.  Gemma moved in with Nino and Sue in Tom’s River in 2014.  Later in 2018, Gemma moved back to Merchantville to live with Loredana and her family.

Gemma came to be known, by so many, as “Nonna” (“grandmother” in Italian).  Even friends of her grandchildren would call her Nonna.  And she adored her grandchildren; Andrew, Alex, Justin, Greg, and Abbi.  She loved playing games with them like LCR and cards, including briscola and poker.  She enjoyed cooking with them, travelling with them, she just loved being around them.  This adoration included her great-grandchildren Brooklyn, Finn, Andrew, Jamie, Nate and Lilly.  They were the light of her life.  Even in her last moments she was able to smile at them and blow them kisses.

She also enjoyed crosswords and playing Rummikub, Scrabble, and solitaire on her iPad.  She loved the Three Tenors (Pavarotti, in particular), Andrea Bocelli, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra.  She was tremendously talented as a seamstress, knitter and crocheter.  At 92, days before she passed, she finished knitting a sweater and altering clothes for her upcoming vacation to Florida. 

An excellent cook, Gemma was renowned for her German potato salad, gnocchi, pinza, meatballs, stuffed artichokes, fried chicken and zucchini, apple strudel, and many other dishes.  Cooking was one of her life’s passions and she excelled at it.  She always made sure everyone around her was well fed.

Gemma loved flowers, particularly roses, and she loved to garden.  She had gardens in the back yard of her house in Philadelphia and in Seaside, full of flowers and vegetables and herbs.  And she helped Loredana with her garden in Merchantville. 

She was an extremely personable woman and loved to talk to anyone.  She was friendly and kind.  She had a strong will and always knew what she wanted.  She was a force of nature until the very end.  Her memory will live on with her family and friends.  She is surely at the side of her love, Andreino, playing cards and bantering. 

Gemma is the beloved wife of the late Andreino. Devoted mother of Andrew (Ok Cha) and Loredana (David). Loving Nonna to Andrew (Colleen), Alexandria (Daniel), Justin (Karla), Gregory, Abigail, and Bis Nonna of Brooklyn, Finneus, Jamison, Andrew, Nathan, and Lillianna. Dear sister of the late Ermanno Sifari. Sadly missed by her niece Deanna Earle (Ernie) and her daughter in law Susan Rubini. 

Relatives and friends are invited to her viewing and funeral Saturday March 4, 2023 from 8:30-10:30am in the Hubert M. McBride Funeral Home 2357 East Cumberland Street Philadelphia, PA 19125. Funeral Mass 11am in Mother of Divine Grace Church 2918 East Thompson Street Philadelphia PA 19134. Entombment in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum alongside her beloved Andreino. Following the interment, a luncheon will be served at Il Villagio Restaurant.

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