Gaeten (Farinelli) Johnston

Gaeten Farinelli Johnston, 75, of Arnold, Pennsylvania died on Monday, March 23, 2026 surrounded by family after a long illness.

Gaeten was born in New Kensington in 1950 to Angelo and Margaret (Runco) Farinelli. She attended Arnold High School, where, at age 14, she met the love of her life, Harold "Jay" Johnston. Gaeten studied chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1972, she married Jay in San Leucio, Italy. Gaeten worked in the lab at UMPC for over 25 years as a medical technologist while raising a family. After Jay died in 2021, Gaeten moved to Forest Hill, Maryland to be closer to her daughters. 

Gaeten is survived by her children: Erica (George) Johnston-Earl of Bel Air, MD, Amy (Thom) Johnston Ellenbecker of Forest Hill, MD, and Sam (Jessica) Johnston of New Kensington, PA; her siblings: Daniel (Jennifer) Farinielli of New Kensington, PA, and Stephen (Yie-Hsin Hung) Farinelli of Port Washington, NY; and her grandchildren: Jake, Livia, and Malcolm Earl; Ben, Vivi and Clara Ellenbecker; and Beck and Kellen Johnston. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jay, and her brother Michael (Cindy) Farinelli. Gaeten leaves behind a large community of loving family and friends.

We will celebrate Gaeten's life at Ross G. Walker Funeral Home at 217 Freeport Road in New Kensington from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on Friday, April 10. A funeral mass will be held at Mount Saint Peter's Church, 100 Freeport Road in New Kensington at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 11. Mass attendees will meet at the church.  Inurnment will be in the columbarium at Greenwood Memorial Park, Lower Burrell.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution in Gaeten's honor to Gilchrist Hospice, 11311 McCormick Rd., Ste. 350, Hunt Valley, MD 21031, or make an online donation at gilchristcares.org/donate.

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