Angela (Rushnit) Garofoli

Angela Rushnit Garofoli passed peacefully surrounded by family on Feb. 19, 2026, in Mt. Lebanon, Pa., just weeks after celebrating her 100th birthday with family and generations of friends. 

Born on Jan. 5, 1926, in East Liberty, PA she was the daughter of Joseph and Luisa Rushnit, Italian immigrants from small towns in southern Italy. She was a proud lifelong PIttsburgher who grounded her life in faith and family and was a respected voice – and dispenser of tough love wisdom – in her extended family. She was the devoted mother of Joseph A. (Christine) Garofoli of Oakland, CA and August F.  Garofoli and his fiance Denise Frain, of Bethel Park, PA; loving grandmother (known as “Manna” and “Gamma”) of Gianna, Antonio, Cecelia, Talia and Lucas Garofoli; sister of the late Clementine DeGiovanni. Sister-in-law of the late August DeGiovanni, Jr. and Florence Garofoli and the late Anthony Garofoli of Cleveland, Ohio. Also survived by niece Dr. Lesley DeGiovanni, her partner Dr. Jack Montini  and nephew Mark (Donna) DeGiovanni, of Pittsburgh, Pa. and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. 

Angela was the first in her family to earn a graduate degree –in social work–from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie-Mellon University) in 1952 after receiving a bachelor of arts degree from Mount Mercy College (now Carlow University) in 1947.  She worked for several years as a social worker for Catholic Charities in Pittsburgh. 

She married the love of her life, Caesar Garofoli, of Swissvale, PA on Oct. 26, 1957 and they spent the next 53 years as an inseparable, loving pair, traveling everywhere together from Italy to the Middle East to Giant Eagle. After getting married, they lived briefly in Shinnston, West Virginia before moving back to Pittsburgh in 1960. They lived in Mt. Lebanon from then until their deaths. Angela lived at home until her passing, solo for the last 16 years but not without amazing family and friends stopping by to take her to church or out for dinner. She was a devout longtime member of Our Lady of Grace Church, where she sang in the choir and later, St. Anne’s Church – St. Paul of The Cross Parish.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 3-7pm at Laughlin Cremation & Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon. Her life will be celebrated Friday Feb. 27 at 10 a.m. at a Mass at St. Anne’s Church – St. Paul of The Cross Parish, 400 Hoodridge Dr., Castle Shannon. Interment will follow in Queen of Heaven Cemetery. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorials may be made to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, 1 N. Linden St. Duquesne, PA 15110.   Please share your memories of Angela at www.laughlinfuneralhome.com/obituary/Angela-Garofoli#tributewall