Serina R. Sirna

Serina R. Sirna, 98, born on May 17, 1919 in Frazzano’, Italy, daughter of Gaetano and Giuseppina (Castrovinci) Scionti, died Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Courtyard Manor of Fenton. She immigrated from Sicily with her family and arrived at Ellis Island on April 19, 1924. She grew up in Brooklyn, NY when Italian was the primary language and English was a second language for many. She was a talented seamstress; she made her own wedding dress and her sister Marie’s wedding dress. Serina married her childhood sweetheart, Anthony Ronald Sirna, on June 7, 1942 and moved to St. Louis while her husband attended St. Louis University Medical School. After Tony graduated from medical school, he accepted a job as a physician for Chevrolet and they moved to Flint. Serina was devoted to her family and she raised six sons. She lived in Flint, Grand Blanc and Fenton since 1945. She was a member of St. John Vianney Church in Flint, Holy Family Church in Grand Blanc, and the Genesee County Medical Society Auxillary. She was an avid Bridge player and enjoyed playing Bridge with her many friends. Serina is survived by her sons, Robert (Gail), Ronald (Jessie), Richard (Patricia), Gregory (Susan) and Thomas (Michelle); daughter-in-law Gloria (Michael) Sirna; grandchildren, Michele Grace, Cheryl (Carl) Leitz, Anthony (Rachel Katz) Sirna; Andrea (Peter) Clarkson, David (Megan) Sirna; Serina, Dominic and Antonina Sirna; Rebekah (Joseph) Gruber; Rachel and Sarah Sirna; Devin and Louis Sirna; great-grandchildren, Connor and Isabelle Grace; Theodore and Veronica Leitz; Ryan, Jacob and Colin Clarkson; Everett, Spencer and Elliott Sirna; Kaitlyn, Jonathan and Arianna Gruber; sister-in-law Giustina (Lawrence) Scionti, special niece Mari Jo Drago, Nephews, Doug (Debbie) Drago, Gary Drago and Chris (Gina) Drago; Thomas (Jeanie) Scionti, Vincent (Patricia) Scionti; Steve (Gina) Scionti, Joseph (Marisa) Scionti, Paul (Cristina) Scionti, Marty (Amy) Scionti and Michael (Michelle) Scionti; Nieces. Jo Ann Polan, Evangeline Hurst, Mary (Denny) Vaughan, Nina (John) Mueller, and Theresa (Michael) Levy. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Anthony R. Sirna, Sr., M.D., her beloved son Michael Sirna and husband, Kenneth Downing. She was also preceded in death by her brother and sister-in-law, Anthony and Lena Scionti, brother, Lawrence Scionti, sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Joseph Drago, mother-in-law, Marianna Sirna, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Sal and Tillie Sirna and nephew, John Drago. Cremation has taken place. A Funeral Mass will be held for Serina at Holy Family Church, 11804 S. Saginaw St, Grand Blanc, MI 48439 on Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 10 a.m. A gathering in memory of Serina will follow the mass, with a luncheon afterward at the church. The family gratefully declines flowers, but donations may be made to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association. A special thanks to Amy, Nicole, Malaika, Megan and the staff at Courtyard Manor of Fenton and Hospice Nurse Patty, all of whom provided kind and considerate care for Serina.