Irina Ciobanu

Irina Ciobanu, age 81, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, February 23, 2022, in San Diego. Irina was born in Braila, Romania, on September 1, 1940 to Gheorghe and Stana Toth, the eldest of two daughters. After a while, the family moved to Arad, where Irina grew up and studied to become a dental technician. She married Adrian on New Year’s Eve 1962 and together raised their son Dan and daughter Teodora with love and devotion.

Irina was a lively person, very sociable, intelligent, elegant, good and generous, and had a unique passion for her family, especially her three grandsons. She loved to travel so much, to see new places, to meet people, and together with her husband, she saw nearly the entire world.

Irina moved with her family to California in 1989 to offer her kids a better life. She fully embraced her new country, learned the language, found a new job, made new friends, and befriended neighbors – all the while taking care of her family. Once her first grandson was born, although only 54, she retired so she could devote herself full-time to caring for him, and later on for the next 2 grandsons. She wanted to make sure they were cared for with love and devotion, while giving her son and daughter the opportunity to continue their own careers. Paul, Alex and Anthony were loved and cared for like no others.

Courageous to the end, Irina never gave up in the face of adversity. She was strong and determined, so much so that she earned the nickname of “Dragon Lady”. She will forever be in our hearts.

A church funeral service will occur Saturday, March 5, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, immediately followed by a gravesite service at 5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, San Diego, CA 92121, at the St. Demetrios Orthodox Chapel and Garden.