Ganel R. Sorrentino

Ganel Sorrentino was born on October 13, 1947 in New York City to Domenick and Carmela Ricupero. She married Nicholas Sorrentino and together they made their life in Boca Raton, FL. She passed away at home on October 6, 2010. Ganel is survived by her adoring husband, Nick. Friends may call on Sunday, October 10, 2010 from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at Babione Funeral Home, West Chapel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 AM on Monday, October 11, 2010 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, entombment will follow at The Gardens Memorial Park, Boca Raton, FL. Arrangements under the direction of Babione Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Boca Raton, FL.

To Ganel R. Sorrentino, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Ganel, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Ganel really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Ganel was born on October 13, 1947 at Beth Isreal Hospital in New York City, New York. Her parents were Domenick and Carmela Ricupero. Ganel was raised in New York City. Even as a child, Ganel had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Ganel was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Ganel managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Ganel was raised with three siblings. She had a two brothers, Cosmo and Guy, and a sister, Cilia.

All of Ganel's playful good humor carried over into her childhood. She was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed her to be constantly on the go. As a result, Ganel experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited her very well. She took part in basketball. In her spare time she liked religious readings. Ganel's memorable achievements included being a Spelling Bee Champ.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Ganel was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Ganel simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Ganel, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Ganel's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Ganel graduated from Transfiguration Catholic High School in 1961. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was History. The teacher she enjoyed learning from the most was Sister Angelica. She was an outstanding steno champ.

Ganel never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Ganel to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Ganel delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Ganel was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Ganel utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Brenda Abbate and Dona Polizzi. Later in life, she became friends with John and Nel Bloom, Irene Panarella, and remained very close with Brenda Abbate. Ganel loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Ganel very easy to approach. On September 20, 1986 Ganel exchanged wedding vows with Nicholas Sorrentino at St. Johns Catholic Church of Brooklyn, New York. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Ganel related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Ganel was blessed with two step-daughters, Joia and Andrea. They were also blessed with one grandchild, Anthony. Ganel had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Ganel's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Ganel had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Ganel was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Ganel liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Ganel was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Ganel's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Ganel as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was Office Manager. She was employed for 20 years with Citi Bank.

Ganel enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Ganel liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were reading. Ganel was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Ganel felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Ganel loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Ganel relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Ganel never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. In high school, Ganel ran track. Recreational sports included racquetball. Ganel was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.

Ganel had an endless appetite for new and different activities. She was always ready to join in the fun and add her flair and energy to an organization. Because of her personality, her humor, and her ability to get along with everyone, Ganel's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which she belonged. In high school, Ganel was a member of the Dance Club.

A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Ganel often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Outspoken in her beliefs, yet tactful in her dealings with others, Ganel was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the Disabled American Veterans. Politically, Ganel was a supporter of the Republican National Committee.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Ganel recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes for 13 years, and St. Johns Catholic Church for 4 years.

Living life in the fast lane suited Ganel just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included cruises throughout the Carribbean.

Ganel was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. One of Ganel's favorites was Sambuca, a cat. They were best friends for 15 years. Her family was rounded out by her other cat, Tia.

Ganel believed that you had to experience life, and her life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2009, Ganel took it in stride as one more way to have fun. Her new life involved relocating to Florida from New York. With her boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Ganel remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Ganel continued to stay in touch with her old friends and, since she'd never met a stranger, she made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Ganel passed away on October 6, 2010 at at home in Boca Raton, FL. Ganel fought lung cancer. She is survived by her husband, Nick; daughters, Joia and Andrea; son-in-law, Tom; Sister, Cilia; brother, Cosmo; sister-in-law, Linda; nephew, Sal; and niece, Camile. Services were held at St. John Catholic Church. Ganel was laid to rest in The Gardens Memorial Park in Boca Raton, FL.

Ganel brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Ganel R. Sorrentino lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.