Mrs. Santina Fernanda Kazanfer died peacefully on March 30, 2021 at the home of her daughter in Tehachapi, Calif. She was 93 years old.
Visiting will be in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona, on Tuesday, April 13, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be offered in St. Catherine of Siena Church, Cedar Grove, on Wednesday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m.
Born in San Valentino (Scafa), Province of Pescara, Italy, Mrs. Kazanfer came to the United States in 1962 and lived in Newark and Montclair before moving to California in 2015.
She worked as a language teacher at the Berlitz Language Center for 42 years, retiring in 2008. She was fluent in Italian, Turkish and French. Besides raising her family, teaching was her passion. Mrs. Kazanfer graduated from Montclair State University in 1990 with a bachelors degree in Italian.
She was predeceased by her husband, Zohrap Kazanfer, her son, Vakif Paul Kazanfer, her daughter, Gabriella Kazanfer and her sister, Giuseppina DelRe.
She is survived by her daughters, Meryem (Michael Popelar) Kazanfer, Fran Kazanfer, her son, Aladdin (Kari) Kazanfer; her brother, Ugo (Sylvia) DelRe; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Donations in her memory may be made to Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, 194 Route 10 West, East Hanover, N.J. 07936.
