You’ve probably seen her. Maybe it was a quick clip on TikTok of her expertly rolling out pasta dough or a YouTube Short where she’s playfully scolding her grandson, Orsino, for something he did wrong in the kitchen. She’s the personification of a warm hug and a home-cooked meal. Because she feels like everyone’s grandma, when the search queries start spiking for is Nonna Pia still alive, it hits a little differently than your average celebrity death hoax.
People are protective of her.
Nonna Pia—whose full name is Pia Quaglieri—became a global sensation not because she was chasing fame, but because her grandson Orsino Bandero decided to share her authentic, unfiltered Italian life with the world. She’s the heart of "Nonna Pia’s," a brand that has grown from simple social media videos into a legitimate culinary influence. But in the world of viral fame, silence is often mistaken for tragedy. If a creator doesn't post for three days, the comment sections turn into a digital wake.
The Current Status of Nonna Pia
Let’s cut to the chase: Nonna Pia is still alive. As of early 2026, she continues to be the spirited matriarch her fans adore.
It’s easy to see why people get worried. She’s in her late 90s. When you reach that age, every "break" from social media feels ominous to a fanbase of millions. However, the reality is much more mundane. Sometimes she’s just tired. Other times, Orsino—who manages the filming and the brand—is busy with the logistical side of their balsamic glaze business or life in general.
They live in Canada, specifically in the British Columbia area, having moved from Italy decades ago. That transition from a small Italian village to becoming a North American household name is the bedrock of her appeal. She represents a generation that is slowly disappearing, one that values manual labor, garden-to-table eating, and the "old ways" of doing things.
Why the Death Rumors Keep Surfacing
The internet is a weird place. Algorithms thrive on engagement, and unfortunately, "RIP" comments generate a lot of it.
There have been several instances where "is Nonna Pia still alive" began trending due to unscrupulous "news" sites that use automated scripts to generate death notices for famous figures. They do this to capture search traffic from concerned fans. You’ve likely seen those blurry YouTube thumbnails with a candle and a black-and-white photo. They’re almost always fake.
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Another factor? The confusion between different "Nonnas."
The "Nonna" moniker is popular. There’s Nonna Gracie, Nonna Maria, and several others who have gained traction in the "cooking grandma" niche. When one elderly creator passes away—as happened with the beloved Nonna Maria of "Feed My Friends" a few years back—the news often gets conflated. People see a headline about a famous Italian grandma passing, and they immediately fear the worst for Pia.
A Life Built on Tradition
Pia Quaglieri was born in Italy, in a town called San Donato Val di Comino. If you look it up, it’s exactly what you’d imagine: stone buildings, rolling hills, and a deep-seated culture of food.
She grew up during a time of immense hardship. We’re talking about pre-war and wartime Italy. That’s where her "waste nothing" philosophy comes from. When you watch her cook, you aren't just watching a recipe; you're watching a survival skill that turned into an art form. She doesn’t use measuring cups. She uses her eyes. She uses the feel of the flour.
Honestly, that’s why the brand Nonna Pia’s took off. While the world was getting more digitized and artificial, she was over there covered in flour, yelling at Orsino to stop talking and start eating. It’s authentic. You can’t fake the way she handles a knife or the genuine joy she gets from a garden-fresh tomato.
The Business Behind the Brand
It’s not just TikToks and Instagram Reels.
The family turned this viral success into a legitimate business. If you’ve been to a Costco or a high-end grocery store lately, you’ve probably seen the "Nonna Pia’s Balsamic Glaze." This wasn't some corporate takeover; it was a family-led initiative to bottle the flavors Pia has been using her whole life.
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- Slow-cooked: They emphasize that their glazes are reduced over many hours, not thickened with cornstarch.
- Family Owned: Orsino and his wife, Heather, are the ones driving the business side, ensuring Pia doesn't have to deal with the stress of corporate meetings.
- Non-GMO and Gluten-Free: They kept the ingredients simple, mirroring Pia’s own kitchen standards.
This business success actually contributes to the "is Nonna Pia still alive" rumors. When the brand grows, the family spends more time on production, distribution, and expansion. Sometimes, that means the "fun" videos of Pia cooking in her kitchen take a backseat for a few weeks. In the eyes of a TikTok follower, if she isn't on the screen, she must be gone.
Dealing with Aging in the Public Eye
There is a certain level of "death anxiety" that follows elderly creators. We saw it with Captain Tom in the UK and we see it with the various "Grandpa" accounts on YouTube.
The Bandero family has been relatively transparent about this. They know people worry. Orsino often posts "proof of life" style videos—usually just Pia sitting in her chair, having a coffee, or waving to the camera—specifically to quiet the rumors.
It's a weird dynamic.
On one hand, the fans feel like family. On the other hand, it’s a lot of pressure on a woman in her late 90s to stay "on" for the camera. The family has done a decent job of balancing her privacy with her public persona. They don't film her when she’s feeling under the weather, which is exactly why the gaps in posting occur.
How to Verify Information About Nonna Pia
If you’re ever worried again, don't check a random "Celebrity Death" website. Those are clickbait farms.
Instead, look at the verified social media channels. The Nonna Pia’s Official Instagram and TikTok accounts are the only places where the family shares real updates. If something significant were to happen, they would be the ones to announce it. They’ve built a community based on trust, and they wouldn't leave fans in the dark about something that major.
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Also, check the dates on the videos. Fans often repost old clips. If you see a video of her looking significantly younger or in a kitchen she hasn't used in years, it’s likely a repost. The "current" Nonna Pia has transitioned into a more relaxed role, often appearing in videos as the "taster" or the "critic" rather than the primary chef doing the heavy lifting.
The Legacy She’s Already Built
Whether she’s 95 or 105, Pia has already secured a spot in the digital hall of fame.
She’s part of a movement that brought "slow food" back to the mainstream. In a world of 30-second air fryer hacks, she reminded us that some things—like a proper sauce or a well-cured meat—take time. You can’t rush heritage.
People ask is Nonna Pia still alive because they aren't ready to lose that connection to the past. She represents the grandmother everyone wishes they had, or the one they lost and deeply miss. Her presence is a comfort.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you want to support her and the family, the best way isn't just by watching the videos.
- Check out the recipes: Actually try making the pasta the way she shows. It’s harder than it looks, but it’s worth it.
- Support the family business: Buying the balsamic glazes helps ensure the family can continue caring for her and keeping the brand alive without needing to resort to cheap sponsorships.
- Engage with the positive: Instead of commenting "Is she dead?" on an old video, leave a comment about a memory you have of your own grandparents. The family actually reads those, and it’s a much better vibe for everyone involved.
Nonna Pia is still here. She’s still feisty, she’s still Italian, and she’s still making sure Orsino doesn't mess up the dinner. Let’s appreciate the fact that we get to see this much of her life while she's still with us.
To stay truly updated, follow her official Instagram @nonnapias and keep an eye on their "Stories" section. That’s usually where the most current, raw updates on her daily life appear, far away from the polished production of their main feed. This is the most reliable way to bypass the rumor mill and see how she’s actually doing in real-time.