Born in Cagliari (Sardegna) on 25 May 1914, she lived the years of her childhood in the home of her maternal grandparents because her mother had passed away when Germana was still an infant. Open to the faith, she soon discovered the allurement of the gift of self, and at the age of 9 dreamt of working in a leper colony so she could take care of those she considered the poorest of the poor, lepers. The gifts of grace showered upon her by God so she could place them at His service took firm root in a character which was vivacious and reflexive, sharp and critical, tenacious, strong willed, and at the same time most tender. Open to newness and ever alert in her impassioned quest for good, Germana was often far ahead of her own times.

She "encountered" St. Camillus de Lellis during her university studies, was fascinated by him, and decided to follow his spirituality, which she later carried over into the foundation of the Institute along with particular variants stemming from her own personality and her genial insight as a woman of her time. She graduated from the Catholic University of Milan, and her degree dissertation had to do with the work of St. Camillus in assistance to the infirm. As the years passed by she became a scholar and expert on the life and works of this saint. She wrote several biographies of him, and edited an up to date language version of his writings.

The "first idea" came to her on 6 January 1936 when secular Institutes didn't even exist: clear in her mind was the intuition about secular consecration, while still unclear were the ways to put this idea into practice. Here is what she wrote about that moment in her life:

"A sudden idea, fairly precise but still not crystal clear: remain in the world, give life to a movement of consecrated laywomen who, in the world, would assist the sick in the spirit of St. Camillus, penetrate into all surroundings, even the most wretched ones, and prepare the way for priests, for Christ".

Her encounter in 1937 with Fr. Angelo Carazzo, a Camillian priest, turned out to be a determining event in her life. He promised her his full support, and, ever most discretely, was an animator, spiritual guide and mainstay for her and for those early vocations.

In the meantime the second world war was being waged all over Europe. Italy was divided into two and Germana used every means she could devise to maintain contacts with the early missionaries and the other young women who embraced her project. Fr. Carazzo passed away in September 1945. Msgr. Giovanni Cazzani, then the archbishop of Cremona, kept a close eye of fatherly concern upon the Institute's beginnings, and, on 25 March 1948, recognized the new secular Institute "Missionaries of the Infirm" as an Institute of diocesan right. Later stages in the recognition of the Institute by the Church include:

- the "Decree of Praise" of Pope Pius XII on 15 July 1953;
- the definitive approval of the Institute as an Institute of Pontifical Right by Pope John XXIII on 6 January 1961;
- the definitive approval of the Constitution by Pope Paul VI on 6 August 1975.

Those trying times were followed by years of intense work and study on the part not only of Germana, but of all the missionaries she involved in the search for God's will for the Institute in both the present and the future. The Constitution was gradually updated in order to respond to the "signs of the times", the needs of those who suffer, and the expectations of the weakest in this world. And the Institute kept on expanding. Following its foundation in France and Belgium often upon the direct request of local bishops, new vocations were admitted in Latin America and Asia, and during recent decades in Africa as well. For as long as she could, Germana accompanied these Foundations herself.
During the General Assembly held in 1973, and with the consent of the Apostolic See, Germana made an act of profound humility and freedom of spirit in asking not to be re-elected General President of the Institute which by then had reached adulthood and was able to forge ahead without her guidance.

Nonetheless, Germana was always there; a vigil and precious presence, a priceless gift, and an example of fidelity, generosity, thoughtfulness and heartfelt affection. At the service of both the Institute and others who turned to her for counsel at the beginnings of their efforts, she placed her personal experience and the knowledge she acquired as a consultant to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life (Secular Institutes Dept.) and Societies of Apostolic Life.

Despite the waning of her physical energies and the arthritic pains which were her constant companion, she seemed never to tire as she continued to produce formation materials for the Institute as well as for Italian and foreign reviews of spirituality, to deliver talks on Vatican Radio, and some books edited by different Italian publishers. She had also contributed to the foundation of OARI (Association of Religious Assistance to the Infirm).

Germana's last years were years of great purification due to the progressive worsening of her state of health. Ever consistent with the style of our choice of life, in February 1988 she left her home in Milan and took up residence in a retirement home; first in Rho, and then in Capriate (Bergamo) with the Camillians, where her journey on this earth came to an end on 4 October 1995.

Here are a few select and particularly intense expressions from Germana's spiritual testament which so clearly reveal her inner self:

"Be simple and humble, serene, open to great ideals: a restless and ever alert peacefulness, ever prone to true fidelity, ever trustful in Christ our Hope, ever attentive to those who suffer...to all... Ever open to tomorrow, but attentive to here and now, to now's gift, to now's fidelity, to the Gospel, to the Constitution, to life!"