Nurse was dedicated to the children

Mary Grace Goslin DiGiorgi focused her 30-year career as a nurse on one goal: helping children.

A lifelong dedication to "the little ones," as she always referred to children, came naturally, her friends and relatives said. "She was the absolute, totally mature adult when required, but she still had the heart of a kid," said Dennis Olinger, of Swissvale, her best friend.

Mrs. DiGiorgi, of Forest Hills, the vice president of pediatrics at Interim HealthCare in Oakland, died at home from ovarian cancer on Sunday, May 9, 2004. She was 58.

"Everything she did was geared toward helping children," said her son, Thomas Patrick DiGiorgi. "Always keeping family close was another one of her goals."

Mrs. DiGiori, a champion at the Irish step dance when she was in college, had a zest for living.

"She still danced when her brothers would drag her out to show her off," said her brother, Thomas Goslin. "She helped teach us all how to embrace life, and live it."

Mrs. DiGiori was the daughter of Thomas and Julia Goslin. Born on Jan. 4, 1946, in Pittsburgh, she grew up in the city's Regent Square and Swisshelm Park neighborhoods.

She was educated at Mount Mercy Academy in Oakland, the Braddock School of Nursing and Duquesne University, where she received a bachelor's degree in nursing.

For the first 15 years of her career, Mrs. DiGiorgi was employed at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, where she worked in several positions, including nursing director of the intensive care unit.

She had worked at Interim HealthCare for the past 15 years.

"She really dedicated her professional career to children," said Delia Glaser Hook, general vice president with Interim HealthCare. "Interim HealthCare's pediatrics program for children is the largest in the country, and it's absolutely due to her leadership and dedication."

Mrs. DiGiorgi is survived by a daughter, Kathleen Mary DiGiorgi, of Verona; two sons, Thomas Patrick DiGiorgi and Brian Patrick DiGiorgi, both of Forest Hills; and two brothers, Edward Goslin, of Forest Hills, and Thomas Goslin, of Churchill.

Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Thomas L. Nied Funeral Home Inc., 7441 Washington St., Swissvale. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Bede Roman Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, c/o Magee-Womens Hospital, Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.