Page 71 - Bulletin, Vol.83 No.2, September 2024

Fiorella often considered retiring to her chalet in Santa Maria Maggiore in Northern Italy,
close to her family. She treasured her international life, but she always remained both a
true and proud Italian, and one who honoured her mother’s French origin. She was
fluent in English and French, but when there was opportunity, Fiorella loved to speak
Italian and to read and to watch television in Italian. She remained faithful to Fiat cars,
Italian cuisine, and her pasta. Though borne in Florence, Fiorella loved Rome; and as
so many Romans do, she loved cats. It remains one of our biggest regrets that we didn’t
succeed in getting Fiorella another cat in her later years.

Yet, in spite of her roots in Italy and in Santa Maria, the draw of Geneva ultimately
proved strongest. She loved her apartment in Budé, enjoyed the cultural opportunities
and the easy access to services, indeed, she enjoyed “the life of Geneva”. In these last
few years, Geneva and her apartment were a lovely home where she remained happy
and content, and never tired of keeping up her friendships. Until the end, she was the
Fiorella she always was with those intelligent eyes that twinkled as they held you in their
piercing gaze. In our memories, she will be for ever the Fiorella whom we so much
respected and admired, the Fiorella with whom we share so much history, and the
Fiorella we loved.

May she rest in peace.

AAFI-AFICS BULLETIN, Vol. 83 No.2, 2024-09 69

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