Mary "Dana" Giardina

Dana Shuman Giardina of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida passed away peacefully on May 5, 2021. She courageously battled Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease most of her adult life.  Dana was a creative and artistic woman who loved fashion and designed jewelry.  She will be remembered by her family and friends as a charismatic, warm, and loving woman.

Born in St. Mary’s City, Maryland on October 14, 1960 into a Navy family, Dana grew up in Virginia Beach, Virginia and always considered the North-End her home. She was a 1978 graduate of First Colonial High School and attended Virginia Tech and Old Dominion Universities. She lived in Annapolis, Maryland for many years where she raised her two children and worked in the hospitality industry as a Director of Sales for several prominent Annapolis properties. She and her husband Tom returned to Virginia Beach in 2008 before ultimately settling in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Dana was a unique soul who brought joy and shared her love with those fortunate enough to cross her path. She possessed an innate ability to see the best in people and form lasting friendships. Dana enjoyed being around people she loved and having a good time. She loved to dance to Motown music, shop, and spend time sailing and at the beach. Dana was a phenomenal mother who loved her children deeply and enjoyed spending time with her three grandchildren.

Dana is survived by her husband, CAPT Thomas J. Giardina, USN (ret); her brothers, Mr. J. Brant Shuman of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan and CDR Edwin Arthur Shuman IV, USNR (ret) of Annapolis, MD and their spouses; her two children CDR John N. Van Wagoner, USN of San Diego, CA, and Mrs. Helen Rosemont of Tunbridge Wells, UK and their spouses.  She was blessed with and survived by her three grandchildren, Freddy, Mary, and Eleanor. She is pre-deceased by her parents, CAPT E.A. Shuman III, USN (Ret) and Mrs. Eleanor Sue Matthews Shuman.

Information on memorial services will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers or charitable donations, Dana’s family requests that you purchase something nice for yourself or a loved one, because that’s what she would have done.