Community Corner
Westonite of the Week: Debbie Giannelli
This week's Westonite has worked in gardening her entire life, but that has not stopped her from keeping her passion for animal care in her daily routine.
Name: Debbie Gionelli
Age: 46
Occupation: Owner of Weston Gardens
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Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My parents lived in Westport when I was a baby. I was adopted by Marianne Gilbertie and Michael Gilbertie at around 30-days-old. I was born in Boston. I have three kids of my own now. My daughter, Samantha is 24, Kristen is 20, Michael is 18 and he is a volunteer firefighter in town. I also have two stepsons, John is 31 and Patrick is 23. My husband’s name is John Giannelli.
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How long have you lived and worked in Weston?
My family and I just moved back to Westport, but I lived here in Weston for 25 years. I’ve worked in Weston all of my life. My father, Michael Gilbertie, started the Weston Gardens in 1955. He bought it from Pete Foods. My ex-husband and I bought it from him in 1987. I bought my ex-husband out two years ago.
What is your favorite aspect of Weston?
I love it because it’s a close-knit community. I like the fact that it’s a small town.
What is your best memory in Weston?
There are so many because I worked with the Weston EMS for a long period of time and there are so many good memories there. I delivered a baby on a call when I was volunteering for them and that baby is now 11-years-old.
What keeps you in Weston?
My business. It’s a great place to work. The only reason that I moved back to Westport is because my mother is 88-years-old and she lived there. We might move back here one day. Nothing is carved in stone.
Do you volunteer for any organizations in Weston?
I was an EMT in Weston for 16-years. I donate to schools and churches and anybody that needs anything. People always bring us baby animals—I care for them and if I can’t handle it then I recommend people to go to Wildlife and Crisis. We have five kittens that we are bottle feeding now. We think that these kittens are number 32-37 of the kittens that we’ve taken care of. They all have homes ready for them when they are 8-weeks-old.
Have you always had an interest in caring for animals?
I’ve taken care of animals for as long as I can remember. People have brought us squirrels, chipmunks, baby ducks and rabbits.
What do you do for fun in Weston?
I play on a softball team called the “20-30-40 Somethings, Deb’s Pink Ladies.” We are all about the pink!
