Elisa Giambelluca was an Italian mathematics teacher and school director who lived from 1941 to 1986. Born in Isnello, Sicily, she dedicated her professional life to education, eventually serving as a high school principal in Rossano. Known for her joyful spirit and deep devotion, she maintained a close spiritual connection throughout her life. Even after being diagnosed with a malignant tumor in 1983, she continued teaching, eventually offering her suffering for the sake of priestly vocations before passing away in Rome.
Life and service
After earning her degree in mathematics, Giambelluca joined the Theresian Institution in 1964. She worked as an educator in various capacities, including a role at a vocational school in Forano. During her illness, she remained committed to her teaching duties. She is remembered for her simplicity and her commitment to serving others through her professional and spiritual life.
Veneration
Following a popular movement to recognize her holiness, her cause for beatification was opened in the Diocese of Cefalù in 2009. In February 2021, Pope Francis declared her venerable after recognizing her heroic virtues. Her feast day is observed on July 5, the anniversary of her death. The process for beatification awaits the confirmation of a miracle attributed to her intercession.