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The death of a University of Mississippi freshman from Commack just before the holidays has touched hearts across Long Island, with community support pouring in for her grieving mother, a single mom employed by Patchogue-Medford schools.
Gianna “Gigi” Solimine, 18, died just before Christmas, after completing her first semester at college. Family and friends gathered for her funeral in Commack on Monday at Christ the King Roman Catholic Church.
Family friend Jennifer Musante of Commack on Thursday organized a GoFundMe campaign to assist Solimine’s mother, Nicole, with funeral expenses and the costs of retrieving Solimine’s belongings from her dorm room in Oxford, Mississippi. The campaign has raised over $4,000 as of early Friday.
2024 Commack High School graduate
“Nicole devoted her entire life to giving her daughter the best future possible, working several jobs just to squeeze by,” Musante wrote on the GoFundMe page. “Now, she is left navigating this profound grief while facing overwhelming financial challenges.”
Click here to contribute to the GoFundMe for Gigi Solimine’s mother, Nicole.
Musante described Gigi Solimine, who graduated from Commack High School in June, as a “vibrant, loving and kind soul who brought joy and light to everyone who knew her.”
“She was her mom’s pride, joy, and reason for pushing forward through life’s struggles,” she added.
‘A beautiful light’
Gigi Solimine was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega (AXO) sorority at her university, where her sisters also paid tribute to her bright spirit.
“To our sweet Gigi, you were so vibrant and kind. You brought such a beautiful light to our home,” the sorority wrote in an Instagram post. “The world was a better place with you in it, and we miss you dearly. You were not just our sister but also our friend.”
How to help
The GoFundMe page established for Nicole Solimine had received over 60 donations as of early Friday. Tap below to donate.
Top photo: Gianna “Gigi” Solimine, 18, of Commack died just before Christmas (Instagram).
