In grateful message to parents, Gia’s sweet example endures

MARYSVILLE — Two years ago on Thanksgiving, Gia Soriano surprised her parents with a note. Handwritten in tidy printing, with the sort of smiley face used in texting, it was a sweet 12-year-old’s expression of gratitude.

“I am writing this to you to tell you how thankful I am. I know I don’t always act like I am, but I am,” the Marysville girl wrote on Nov. 22, 2012. She thanked her parents for her home, for food and friends. It ends: “You have raised me good. So thank you. I love you! Happy Thanksgiving!”

What was then an unexpected gesture is now an irreplaceable gift. The note is a lasting remembrance, in Gia’s words, of a girl senselessly taken from her parents, Bryan and Susan Soriano, her 10-year-old brother, Anthony, and all who loved her.

Gia Christine Soriano, 14, died Oct. 26 at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett from injuries suffered in the Oct. 24 shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School.

In an interview Monday, her mother had a single word for the acts of Jaylen Fryberg, 15, whose gunfire also claimed the lives of 14-year-olds Zoe Galasso and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and 15-year-old Andrew Fryberg, and injured Nate Hatch, 15. The shooter took his own life.

“Unimaginable,” Susan Soriano said.

Today, the Soriano family is sharing their gratitude. Gia’s family wants to acknowledge the outpouring of love, concern and generosity they have experienced since the tragedy.

“Our hearts are heavy with sadness and grief, but we would like to thank everyone who has helped us through this tragic loss of our beautiful Gia,” the family said in a written statement shared Monday by Susan Soriano and her sister-in-law, Gia’s aunt, Gay Soriano. They wanted their message shared on Thanksgiving.

“Gia was an extraordinary young lady, and through her gorgeous smile and her kind words, she radiated sunshine in everyone’s eyes. She brought love and happiness to so many lives,” the statement said.

Bryan Soriano, a member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, is the youngest of six children of Everett’s John and Elaine Soriano. He and his wife are Everett High School graduates with deep roots in the city. Along with her paternal grandparents, Gia is survived by her grandfather, Jerry Boeder, and a large extended family.

“She was my favorite cousin,” said 11-year-old Gabby Soriano, Gay Soriano’s daughter. A sixth-grader at North Middle School in Everett, Gabby spoke at Gia’s memorial service Nov. 15 at Everett’s Immaculate Conception Church. “She was my cousin, my best friend and my hero,” Gabby said. “I always looked up to her.”

At the service, Gabby remembered sleepovers, shopping and trips with Gia to the ocean and Great Wolf Lodge. “We got to do a lot of special things together, like skip school and go to the Justin Bieber concert,” Gabby said.

“Gia taught her a lot of things about growing up. She was kind and patient,” Gay Soriano said. Anthony Soriano also spoke at the service, calling Gia “a great sister to me.”

“She had a way with kids. It was a calling,” Susan Soriano said. Her daughter wasn’t shy, but was so soft-spoken that people were drawn to her and listened closely.

Gia grew up in Marysville, where she attended Marshall Elementary School and Marysville Middle School before starting at Marysville Pilchuck this year.

An animal lover, as a child Gia set up a make-believe veterinary clinic. She dreamed of being a veterinarian. Her family had bunnies. And Gia used to ride horses at the Equine Rescue facility near her Marysville home.

She had an artistic flair. Her mother marveled at her knack for wrapping gifts, and her willingness to write the family’s Christmas cards. Growing up, she played basketball and violin. As a little girl, Gia’s curly hair reminded her mom of Shirley Temple. As a teen, Gia tamed her ringlets into sleek styles.

Her favorite color was purple. Cousin Gabby liked the purple decor of Gia’s room. On Monday, Susan Soriano shared a purple wristband printed with “GIA God’s Incredible Angel.”

Gay Soriano organized the service at Immaculate Conception, where Gia was baptized as a baby by Deacon Matt Zuanich. More than 1,000 mourners filled the church and the gym of Immaculate Conception &Our Lady of Perpetual Help School to celebrate Gia’s life. In the gym, the service and slide show of Gia’s life were shown on a screen, with the help of technician Mike Schafer. The Rev. Bryan Hersey, pastor of the Roman Catholic parish, officiated, along with Zuanich and Deacon Dennis Kelly. A reception followed the service.

Along with expressing thanks to the church, the family’s statement acknowledged the Marysville Getchell TV production program, Starbucks and Olive Garden in Everett, Costco, McDonald’s in Marysville, Jersey Mike’s Subs at Smokey Point, Fred Meyer, Nordstrom at Alderwood, Pacific Copy &Printing, Solie Funeral Home, Gary Sundseth, and “all our brothers and sisters at the ILWU Local 32 and Local 52.”

Susan Soriano felt the community’s love at Gia’s memorial. “It just hit home, how much they care,” she said. Her family also appreciated the compassion of the Providence hospital staff.

The family plans to have a bench installed in Gia’s honor at Legion Memorial Park, within sight of her Soriano grandparents’ home. Elaine Soriano also has notes from her granddaughter. One Thanksgiving card, sent several years ago, says: “Sorry I couldn’t be here this night, so I made you all this pumpkin cake in honor of my love and appreciation.” Gia’s mother remembers helping her make that cake.

Gia didn’t have one best friend, she had many. Her mother and aunt said she made each one feel like a best friend.

“Everybody loved her,” Gay Soriano said. “She had a way about her that touched people.”

Julie Muhlstein: 425-339-3460; jmuhlstein@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Cascadia College Earth and Environmental Sciences Professor Midori Sakura looks in the surrounding trees for wildlife at the North Creek Wetlands on Wednesday, June 4, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cascadia College ecology students teach about the importance of wetlands

To wrap up the term, students took family and friends on a guided tour of the North Creek wetlands.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen goes through an informational slideshow about the current budget situation in Edmonds during a roundtable event at the Edmonds Waterfront Center on Monday, April 7, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Edmonds mayor recommends $19M levy lid lift for November

The city’s biennial budget assumed a $6 million levy lid lift. The final levy amount is up to the City Council.

A firefighting helicopter carries a bucket of water from a nearby river to the Bolt Creek Fire on Saturday, Sep. 10, 2022, on U.S. 2 near Index, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Snohomish County property owners can prepare for wildfire season

Clean your roofs, gutters and flammable material while completing a 5-foot-buffer around your house.

(City of Everett)
Everett’s possible new stadium has a possible price tag

City staff said a stadium could be built for $82 million, lower than previous estimates. Bonds and private investment would pay for most of it.

Jennifer Humelo, right, hugs Art Cass outside of Full Life Care Snohomish County on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘I’ll lose everything’: Snohomish County’s only adult day health center to close

Full Life Care in Everett, which supports adults with disabilities, will shut its doors July 19 due to state funding challenges.

Stolen car crashes into Everett Mexican restaurant

Contrary to social media rumors, unmarked police units had nothing to do with a raid by ICE agents.

Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. (Olivia Vanni/The Herald)
Providence Everett issues layoff notices to over 100 nursing assistants

The layoffs are part of a larger restructuring by Providence, affecting 600 positions across seven states, Providence announced Thursday.

Junelle Lewis, right, daughter Tamara Grigsby and son Jayden Hill sing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during Monroe’s Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Where to celebrate Juneteenth in Snohomish County this year

Celebrations last from Saturday to Thursday, and span Lynnwood, Edmonds, Monroe and Mountlake Terrace.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Lake Stevens in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Judge rules in favor of sewer district in Lake Stevens dispute

The city cannot assume the district earlier than agreed to in 2005, a Snohomish County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday.

Herald staff photo by Michael O'Leary 070807
DREAMLINER - The first Boeing 787 is swarmed by the crowd attending the roll out of the plane in on July 8, 2007 at the Boeing assembly facility in Everett.
Plane in Air India crash tragedy was built in Everett

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner in the crash that killed more than 200 people was shipped from Everett to Air India in 2014.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.