Angela G. Hignett Obituary
Angela (Giancarlo) Hignett, of Pittsburgh, PA, passed away on July 9, 2025, surrounded by her beloved children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Born in Scranton, PA on September 10, 1927, to Enrico "Harry" Giancarlo and Christina (Piserchio) Giancarlo, Angela was the eldest and last surviving of five children: the late Frank (Patricia) Giancarlo, Maria (William) Carden, Enrico Giancarlo, and Christine (Walter) Hamm. She was married to the late William Frederick Hignett on October 14, 1950, and they shared four beloved children, William (Janet) Hignett II, Carla (Brady Lewis) Hignett, Karen Hignett, and the late Mari Hignett; loving grandmother of six grandchildren, Kali (Robert) Laskovich, Mae Rubio (Pascual) Hignett, Jane (Justin) Casella, Marley (Josh) Martin, Liam Hignett-Lewis and Luca Hignett-Lewis; also survived by ten great-grandchildren, and many dear nieces and nephews.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude from Mother Cabrini Catholic high school, Angela attended business courses and began her career as a legal secretary for prominent Scranton attorneys. These were happy and fulfilling years, and she proudly related tales of the important work accomplished by the firm. Soon she met William Hignett, they married, and she devoted her time to raising her children. Angela and her family moved to New Castle, PA in 1963, where she worked as a secretary for Junior Achievement.
The family then moved to Pittsburgh in 1968, where she began a 35-year career working as a library assistant at Mount Lebanon Public Library. She was a devout Catholic, an avid reader, and loved music and the theater, especially the Pittsburgh Public Theater where she had season tickets for over 30 years. After the passing of her husband, Angela moved to an apartment in central Mount Lebanon and enjoyed daily walks along the main street where she could visit local shops, St. Bernard's church, or access the transit stop into town.
She loved nothing better than a strong cup of coffee at her favorite coffee shop and good conversation with the many new friends she met there. Always active, after retiring from the library she volunteered at OASIS Pittsburgh, traveled annually to the Niagara-on-the-Lake Shakespeare festival, and enjoyed frequent bus trips organized by OASIS. Beautiful, intelligent, hard-working, and devoted to family and friends, Angela lived a full life and touched many with her kindness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 19th.
Mass time is to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Save the Children, http://www.savethechildren.org http://www.laughlinfuneralhome.com.
Family planning a Public Memorial Service to be announced at a later date.
Laughlin Cremation and Funeral Tributes, Inc.
