Piva Spinelli

We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Piva Gavasci-Spinelli-Fetter, a woman whose intellect, brilliance, kindness, zest, and passion for life continues to resonate, even in death.

Piva, of New Rochelle and Narrowsburg, New York, passed away suddenly on October 23, 2025, a few days after a beautiful 74th birthday celebration, at her most cherished spot on the Delaware River, with family and friends. Piva is remembered by her beloved husband Gerard (Jerry) Fetter, son Thomas Spinelli, son-in-law Mitch Forney, and the many, many people who over her life knew her as their chosen mother, second mom, bonus grandmother, aunt, friend, or just simply, "Peevy". She is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Rachel Gavasci.

Born on October 20, 1951 in Yonkers, New York, Piva, since she was a young child, always chartered her own course, questioning and challenging, always curious as to the "why and how" for everything. She was a talented gymnast, artist, and universally proclaimed independent free spirit, with an enduring superpower to seek out - and find - adventure and magic in all parts of life.

Piva will forever be known for her wit, humor, infectious laugh, fierce intelligence, generosity of spirit, unsurpassed empathy, silliness, playfulness, thankfulness, and pure love.

She will forever be our NYT Queen Bee, the bringer of wonder and whimsy, the keeper of memories, the weaver of stories, the ultimate collector of knick-knacks, the defender of democracy, the advocate for the voiceless, the protector of the woods, the cheerleader to lift us up, the mom we all needed, the friend we all cherished, the shoulder to cry on, the heart to love everyone, the rock to ground us, the feeling of home, the mama bear, and the mother fucking lioness.

Piva now returns to the cosmos - a soul that now soars, a spirit now joining the stars.

A visitation is scheduled for 4pm-8pm on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, and Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 1pm-2:30pm, after which there will be a celebration of life and sharing of stories from 2:30pm-4pm. All services will take place at the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home located at 2 Maple Ave, White Plains, NY 10601.

If you would like to send flowers, she loved all carnations, but especially the pink ones. You may order arrangements from Blossom Flower https://www.blossomflower.com/ and they can be sent to the Ballard-Durand Funeral Home in White Plains. For those who wish an alternative, donations can also be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Piva's name.