Rona Gabin

12/08/1949-1/26/2026

Beloved daughter of Sylvia Lena Gabin (nee Sparber) and Abe Gabin, sister of Elyse Gabin Schifrien, brother-in-law of Bruce Schifrien, and aunt of Samantha Schifrien.

Rona always cared very much about people. She spent her life teaching, counseling and educating—treating each student as if they were her only one. Her goal was to help her students realize their true potential and work towards achieving their dreams.

Rona had always been a support for her family. While predeceased by her parents ten days apart in 1984, Rona had loved watching sports with her father, and shopping with her mother & sister.

Rona adored her niece up to the sky and back again, and was Sam’s biggest cheerleader.

Aunt RoRo took Sam on her first trip to California, which Sam came to call her second home.

Rona was the ultimate sister to Elyse and sister-in-law to Bruce.

She was more generous with her love than one could imagine. It was very important for her to know that she truly cared for each and every one of her friends, and she had many.

Rona had her daily early morning phone calls to friends and to her sister. She never missed a birthday or special occasion to send well wishes and congratulations. Her cards and notes will be missed.

Rona started working with autistic students, developing new programs at the Forum School.

She joined the faculty at Bergen Tech at Teterboro and then at the Bergen Academies where she became Director of Guidance. Rona finished her career back at Teterboro as Director of Guidance.

Along the way, she took great pride in teaching recent immigrant families English as a Second Language and still had time to be an adjunct professor at William Paterson.

She was loved in all schools by students, families and faculty.

To those of you who knew Rona and those reading about her for the first time, you must know how much she cared about each person in her life.

For all she has given to others, she was also a private person. She had requested a private service and her family has, of course, respected her wishes.

If you choose to make a donation to honor Rona, she has asked that you consider St Jude’s .

Being able to give to important causes mattered a great deal to Rona.

And from Rona (following her wishes) she had asked to thank everyone who allowed her to be a part of their lives. Her memory will be a blessing to us all.