Sara Garibay

Sara Garibay passed away unexpectedly on May 2, 2023 surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren: Chloe, Liliana, and Ayden, who have been a constant in her life since they were born.

Sara was born June 29, 1933, to William and Bernarda Serrano, in San Fernando, CA. After marriage and while raising her own family, Sara worked for many years in produce sheds in Salinas, Castroville, and Watsonville. She also worked at Salinas and North Salinas High Schools. She relocated to San Jose and worked for San Jose Unified Schools as a Campus Supervisor and Janitor until her retirement. When Sara was raising her family, she could often be found attending and supporting her three athletic sons during their baseball, basketball, track and field meets, and a few Hartnell football games. She would often be heard cheering and shaking her "cowbell" when her sons made a play or scored, often upsetting mothers from opposing teams.

Sara enjoyed her bus trips to different casinos from a few hours away to as far as Lake Tahoe and Reno, often seeing old friends and making new ones. You could find her at Sunday Mass at the nearest Catholic Church. Sara wore her Rosary around her neck everywhere she went. She lived her life devoted to her family and her faith.

Prior to her passing, Sara resided with her daughter, Grace. Once again, she enjoyed going to watch and cheer on her great-grandchildren at their sporting events. She traveled as far as Las Vegas to attend her great-granddaughters basketball tournament.

Sara loved music and loved to dance. She enjoyed the outdoors and gardening. She also enjoyed sewing and making embroidered kitchen towels, often giving them away to family and friends. She was also a great cook as she learned from her mother at a young age. Sara never failed to put smiles on peoples faces and make everyone laugh.

Sara was a Sister, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Great-Great- Grandmother,Godmother, Aunt, and friend.

Sara is survived by her brother Robert "Bobby" Serrano of Southern CA, her six children; David J. Garibay(Joanne), Beatrice "Bea" Peck, Alex Garibay(Kristie), William "Willie" Garibay(Stacey), Mary "Denise" Garibay(Javier), and Grace Molina Toft(Jim), 25 Grandchildren, 38 Great-Grandchildren, 3 Great Great-Grandchildren, and many Nieces, Nephews, Godchildren, Cousins, and friends, who loved and will dearly miss her.

Please join us in honoring Sara Garibay's life with a Mass on Thursday June, 1, 2023 at 1pm at Madonna Del Sasso Church, 320 E. Laurel Drive, Salinas, CA 93906. A celebration of life will be immediately following at Spreckels Veterans Memorial Hall, 90 Fifth Street, Spreckels, CA 93908. 

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