Rudolph “Rudy” Giovannetti, 68, an Italian immigrant and longtime Blue Island mail carrier, died Sunday, March 3, of complications from cancer in St. FrancisHospital and Health Center, Blue Island. Mr. Giovannetti immigrated to the United States from the Tuscany region of Italy when he was about 14 years old. After some difficult years trying to master English, he graduated from high school and went to trade school, becoming a tool and dieengineer. “But he didn’t like being inside, sitting at a drafting table all day,” said his daughter Karen Kenney. “It made his eyes teary. He wanted to be outside where his allergies weren’t so bothersome.” Working for the U.S. Postal Service as a mail carrier became the perfect job. Mr. Giovannetti stayed with the Blue Island Post Office for 30 years. He served in the U.S. Army in Japan just after the Korean conflict and he kept alive the spirit of his Italian heritage in his children. “He instilled in us that you are blessed to be born in this country. … He wanted us to better ourselves,” his daughter said. In recent years, he and his wife, Oriana, spent time traveling the world and participating in local Italian social clubs. “He was a modest-income hard worker who was able to travel and do lots of things, not because he was a millionaire, but because he did things in a smart way,” said his daughter. Other survivors include another daughter, Sandra Erfft; a brother, Loreno; a sister, Rose Bosco; and six grandchildren. Visitation will be from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday in Hickey Memorial Chapel, 2429 W. 127th St., Blue Island. Mass will be said at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in St. Walter Catholic Church, 11741 S. Western Ave., Chicago.
