Sarafina Savina Ghareeb

Sarafina Savina (Penna) Ghareeb, 77, of Springfield was called safely home on Wednesday, November 28, 2018.  She was born in Springfield on January 30, 1941, a beloved daughter of the late Michael and Maria Antoinette (Scimone) Penna.  She was raised in Springfield, graduated from Technical High School, and lived in Springfield her entire life.  She was employed in accounting at WWLP Channel 22 and at Lechmere’s in store control.  She was a communicant of Holy Cross Church as well as a teacher of Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for 20 years there.  She received the Pope Pius Award for her services to the church.  She organized functions for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind-Vision Community Services.  Sarafina loved acting and dancing, and had a love for opera and jazz, so at the age of 62, she became a contestant in the Ms. Senior Massachusetts Pageant.  She danced her way to the top of the pageant and was crowned Ms. Senior Massachusetts 2003 of the Senior America Cameo Club.  Following the pageant she became President of the Ms. Senior Massachusetts Cameo Club and was very, very active in it.  Sarafina was a wonderful, loving wife and is survived by her beloved husband of 48 years, George Gary Ghareeb.  She was an amazing mother to her four loving children, Maria Kazanjian and her husband David of Billerica; Theresa Zheleznyakov and her husband Roman of Longmeadow; George G. Ghareeb Jr. and his wife Davina of East Longmeadow; and Gregory M. Ghareeb and his wife Jennifer of Longmeadow.  She was a caring grandmother, Nonni, who loved spending time with all of her eleven grandchildren whom she cherished: Sara and Sophia Kazanjian; Mya, Anna, Alex, and Roman Zheleznyakov; Lea, Kayla, and Jessa Ghareeb; and Adelyn and Liliana Ghareeb.  She is predeceased by her brothers Steve, Phil, Michael, and Anthony Penna. Family and friends are invited to gather on Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 2-5 PM at Forastiere Smith Funeral Home, 220 North Main Street, East Longmeadow, MA. Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 3, 2018 beginning at 8:45 AM at the funeral home followed by a service at 10 AM at Holy Cross Church 221 Plumtree road, Springfield, MA. For more information, please visit www.forastiere.com