Jennie Oriano, 93, returned home to her Lord and Savior at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne on October 13 surrounded by her loving family.

She was born February 28, 1924 to Giovanni and Alfonzina Taglialvore in Cheyenne and was a lifelong resident. A family of Italian immigrants, she grew up in a large loving household in south Cheyenne that included her parents, 2 maternal aunts, a fraternal uncle, five cousins, and her sister Teresa. Jennie graduated from Cheyenne High School in 1942. She recalled taking FDR’s declaration of war, broadcast over the school’s PA system, in shorthand and then transcribing it on her typewriter. Graduating at the top of her class, she immediately went on to work in the Federal District court, where she eventually ended her professional career after 26 years of service.

She met the love of her life, Caesar Oriano, during WWII at Fort Warren. At the prompting of her Godmother, the Italian/American families went to the fort to meet the Italian soldiers, who had been made part of the Italian Service Unit of the U S Army, after being first brought to America as POWs. Caesar promised to return to America after the war and fulfilled that promise when they were married at St. Mary’s Cathedral on November 30, 1946.

A few years later, Jennie and Caesar built a home in Cheyenne and started their family that grew to include three daughters. Jennie was homemaker, mother, a renowned cook, flower gardener, and business partner with Caesar who truly lived the American dream. He was an entrepreneur who owned several downtown businesses with Jennie always at his side.

Jennie was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s Cathedral and a former member of Bishop’s Guild.

Survivors include her daughters Cathy (Dennis) Tytor and Ellen (BJ) Thompson; her sister Teresa Beghetto; grandchildren Melissa (George) Meares and Jennifer (Galen) Gough; and her great grandchildren, Emily, Norah, Sydney and Adelaide; and niece Christina (Dan) Miller and nephew Ronald (Jeralynn) Beghetto.

She was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, her husband, and daughter Francine.

Friends who desire may make donations in Jennie’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association or Davis Hospice.

Visitation will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. followed by a Vigil for the Deceased at 6:00 p.m. in the Lakeview Chapel at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral home. A Funeral Liturgy will be Tuesday 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Cathedral with interment to follow in Olivet Cemetery.

Services are under the care of Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

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