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Life story

" Peter Mark Gioia was born in Buffalo, New York, to Agnes Henrietta (Wheeler) Gioia. He was the youngest of four children. His fondest childhood memories always included his mother, and he often spoke of the many qualities he admired in her—qualities he would later embody in his own life: determination, love, and selflessness. Following his mother’s passing, Peter later moved to Virginia and attended Chantilly High School.

Peter became a talented chef, working at several restaurants in Northern Virginia and eventually becoming executive chef at Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton. It was at Airlie where he met the love of his life, Katherine Merten. After seven years, they married in November 2004. Over the past decade, Peter dedicated himself to completely renovating and managing their house in Culpeper. He rarely let a day pass without finding something to build, fix, or create.

Beyond his accomplishments as a chef, Peter found joy and success in a variety of hobbies. He maintained a beautiful saltwater reef tank, earned a pilot’s license, had a lifetime love of fishing and LEGO, and was a music enthusiast. He was a champion of friendly competition and a world-class trash talker. Known to spark late-night conversations about life, purpose, and everything in between, he had a gift for turning ordinary chats into philosophical adventures. A sentimental soul with a minimalist spirit- he was a stealthy declutterer, quietly lightening the family load one ‘missing’ item at a time. He was never without the companionship of a pet, adopting and cherishing many animals throughout his lifetime. His sense of humor was sharp and his memory for details even sharper. While he excelled in many pursuits, his greatest accomplishment was his family. A thoughtful and devoted husband, a caring father, and a beloved “Pops” to his grandchildren, his love was his true legacy.

Peter is survived by his wife, Katherine Merten; daughters, Henrietta Merten and Brittani Phelps (David Phelps); grandchildren, Rosemary and Theodore Phelps; brothers, Andrew Haley (Suzanne Zylonis) and Joseph Haley; brother-in-law, Keith Miller and nephew, Austin Miller. He is preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Gioia and sister, Sarah Miller.

Peter’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. A memorial celebration will be held on September 27. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alpha-1 Foundation (www.alpha1.org). "