Luigia "Gina" Cristiano Manzi

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Luigia Cristiano Manzi, affectionately known as Gina by her family and friends, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, the 12th of April 2026 in the comfort of her Brownsville residence surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years of age.

Gina was born on the 22nd of August 1931 in Fiume, Italy, daughter of the late Luigi Manzi Carlomagno and Maria Rotundo, and grew up in post-war Italy, the fourth of nine brothers and sisters. She married the love of her life, Silvano Cristiano, on the 22nd of January 1948, wed by a bishop turned Pope in Venice. On the constant pursuit to better the lives of her children, Gina and her husband immigrated to Mexico and finally to the United States of America in 1975. Apart from her family, she loved traveling the world where she picked up four languages, and also enjoyed bowling. She was infamous for her chic appearance and warm attitude. She leaves behind 47 family members, all of whom she instilled with the values of knowing that family is the most important thing one can have.

Preceding Gina in death are her husband of 57 years, Silvano Cristiano, and her parents, Luigi Manzi Carlomagno and Maria Rotundo.

Survivors include her children, Rafaelle Cristiano (Angelica), Silvana Cristiano (Antonio Llongueras), Margarita Cristiano (Jorge De Castro), and Luigi Cristiano (Terri); her grandchildren, Sharon Cristiano, Silvano Cristiano (Connie), Karla Llongueras Smith (Travis), Silvana Llongueras Demirtas (Cem), Antonio Llongueras III (Bethany Dawson), Gina Vargas Ortiz (Miguel), Xavier Vargas (Jessica), Luigi Cristiano, Lucas S. Cristiano, Andre Cristiano, and Annette Cristiano; her great-grandchildren, Alexa Cristiano (Oscar Ruvalcaba), Maria Fernanda Cristiano, Manolo Alvarez (Maria F.), Sebastian Cristiano (Paola M.), Paola S. Cristiano, Nicole Cristiano, Silvano Cristiano, Talya Demirtas, Luca Smith, Natalie Smith, Lily Smith, Lara Demirtas, Micah Vargas, and Emilia Vargas; and her great-great-grandchildren, Alfredo Fuente, Jr., Sophia Fuentes, and Claudio Silvano Ruvalcaba.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, the 13th of April 2026 between the hours of four o'clock in the afternoon and eight o'clock at night, with the recitation of the holy rosary to be recited at half past six o'clock Monday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

The Funeral Mass is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday morning, the 14th of April 2026 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1914 Barnard Road, Brownsville. Entombment will then follow, via an escorted procession, within the Buena Vista Burial Park Mausoleum, 5 McDavitt Boulevard, Brownsville.

Memories of Gina may be shared at www.darlingmouser.com.

Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.