Frances "Gail" Stignani, age 86, a former resident of Blue Ridge, GA passed away on Tuesday October 17,
2023 at The Retreat at Canton. Gail was born in Hope, AR and later moved to Forrest City, AR during her
youth. Gail continued her education at TCU in Fort Worth, TX before moving to California where she
began working for the U.S. Forest Service.
During her years at the Forest Service Gail met the love of her life, Bob, a handsome landscape architect.
They soon married and began their adventure of 59 years of marriage that included raising their two
children, Claire and Steve, and providing a home for a menagerie of animals over the years.
Gail had a lifelong passion for horseback riding and training, painting, and reading. She tackled life with a
sense of humor, feistiness and enjoyment of simple things. Gail shared with her kids her love of nature
and animals, and the value of friendship and faith.
Gail was preceded in death by her husband, Robert "Bob" Stignani; mother, Mary Virginia Hicks; father,
Henry Cooper Hicks; and sister, Jackie Hicks. She is survived by daughter, Claire (Bobby) Sims; son, Steve
(Alicia) Stignani; brother, John (Marilyn) Hicks; Grandchildren – Jason (Paige) Sims, Andrea (Ben)
Hammond, Rachel Stignani, Sophia (Jordan Williams) Stignani; and Great-Grandchildren – Jenna Sims,
Kyle Sims, Savannah Sims, Scout Hammond, Eve Hammond, Isla Hammond, Danielle Hammond, Noah
Stignani.
A Memorial Service for friends and family will be held Saturday October 28th at 2:00 pm in the Chapel of
Darby Funeral Home in Canton, GA. A private interment will be held at a later date at Georgia National
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Blue Ridge Humane Society in Gail's memory at
https://hsbr.kindful.com ; or by mail to Humane Society of Blue Ridge, P.O. Box 2126,
Blue Ridge, GA 30513; or by phone at 706-632-HELP (4357).
The Caring staff of Darby Funeral Home is honored to serve the Stignani Family.

The Memorial Service will be live-streamed at:
https://vimeo.com/event/3831423