Friends, Family Organize Celebration of Life for John Giovannoni, Music Room Co-Owner

The friends and family of John Giovannoni, former co-owner of The Music Room in Palatine, will gather this weekend to celebrate the local man's life.

As a way to honor Giovannoni's dying wish to forgo a funeral and memorial service and instead throw a party, friends and family have organized a "Celebration of the life of John Giovannoni" for this Sunday, Feb. 17, according to the Daily Herald. Giovannoni, 45, died on Jan. 13, according to his obituary. 

The celebration will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at The Music Room, 20 North Brockway Ave., and will include music and fellowship with a brief tribute at 3 and 6 p.m., according to an invite posted online. 

There will also be a slideshow of pictures of Giovannoni at different points of his life, according to the Daily Herald.

"Our hearts are broken, but we are full with the memory of our beloved friend. We are grateful that his suffering has ended and he is finally at peace," according to a message posted on The Music Room website. 

Giovannoni had a strong love for music, according to his obituary, and played with the bands Simply Vintage and the Elmhurst Jazz Band and also taught school bands at the Quest Academy and St. Theresa's in Palatine

He was also a member of the National Association of Music Merchants and the Downtown Palatine Business Association, according to his obituary. He emceed the yearly Pet Parade and judged The Battle of the Bands, according to his obituary. 

"His talent was music and his ability to touch people's lives was his gift," according to his obituary. 

Giovannoni is a 1985 graduate of Harvard High School and a 2002 graduate of Elmhurst College. 

Donations can be made in Giovannoni's memory through The John Giovannoni Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Palatine Bank & Trust, 110 W. Palatine Road, Palatine, IL 60067, according to his obituary.