Arrivederci, amico dei cani

Giovanna and Jimi "The Rocker" Galvani pass the time with a friend near Capranica, Italy.

If you're a wire fox terrier, you already know that one of our icons has left us.
Giovanna Galvani, better known as "Jane in Italy," died (Aug. 15) Friday morning near Rome after a short illness.
She leaves behind Jimi and his two older, Bedlington, sisters, Nana and Tina, birds and turtles, and every creature she ever encountered. Wire fox terriers and Bedlingtons were two of her many passions.
Jane was a pioneer of the art of digital graphics and devoted much of her time and talent to making the wire world a lovelier place.
Jane worked for the Vatican, creating graphics, but she lived for animals. After a lifetime of work, she wanted nothing more than to retire to a small town in the Italian countryside and spend her days living with, and chronicling the lives of her animals.
A simple request for a simple life, no?
Jane did not make it to her simple life. Illness met her at the station, and she took her final journey, surrounded by her friends and small family. No, Jimi, Nana and Tina were not allowed in the hospital. They sat and waited for Jane in her small apartment, but she did not return to them.

What Jane always wanted was that simple life, a heaven of country and dogs and birds and turtles ... she created her own heaven with photos and graphics and bits and pieces of digital finesse that astonished all who viewed them. She helped mark the big events in countless wires' lives, the birthdays, the births and deaths, with beautiful and heartfelt photos to mark the time.

And time finally marked Jane.

She was a perpetual optimist who loved and endured life, finding pleasure and satisfaction in the small, but important, tasks of daily life. A few minutes, a dog, and a cup of coffee were all she needed to satisfy her deep love of being.

Being is something everyone does, but so few master. Jane "was."

For so many years, she was a fixture on the online wire world. She embraced the Internet with a zeal and friendliness that broke through all language barriers. She had an otherworldly, and Old World, aura about her. Jane knew that friendship could be found in many places, and why not in the Digital World?

Jane's death was seismic for us wires, bound as we are to those few who fully, and fulsomely, appreciate us. We grappled with creating a graphic. But we bow our wire heads to Jane's skill. No graphic mausoleum for Jane, but a simple, monument of words and photo. What more can be said of someone so rich in talent, joy and devotion?
For the woman who ushered so many wires, dogs and birds to The Rainbow Bridge, a final bridge of farewells and bouquets. We will remember you, and keep you in our hearts, and try to keep your joie de vivre alive.
Jane's work of art, her Web site.

Comments

[Elizabeth Pierce]

Dear Pat

Your tribute to Giovanna is beautiful, you were able to word and express the real true person she was.

We will miss her terribly.

Thank you

Elizabeth,
Montreal

[Phillip & Chris Savage]

Beautiful, beautiful tribute, Pat! Jane touched so many of our lives, so deeply, and for so many years. Her bright energy, her ready smile, her creativity, and her kindness were gifts in our lives that we will never forget.

With sadness in our hearts,
Phillip & Chris