Juventina Sapien

On the morning of December 24, 2024, Tina Sapien (born Juventina Ramirez) took her final breath just before the Christmas Eve sunrise. Her peaceful passing was free of illness or pain—a graceful close to a life well-lived.

Born on January 26, 1926, in San Cristobal de la Barranca, Jalisco, Mexico, Tina was the second child of Pablo Ramirez (1890–1969) and Maria Varela (1903–1988). Her parents were her foundation, teaching her the values of hard work and love for family that she carried throughout her life. At just one year old, her family moved to Glendale, Arizona, in pursuit of a better life.

Tina met the love of her life, Joe Luis Sapien (1925-1994) the two married on February 4, 1944, shortly before Joe served in WWII. Together, they built a family that included seven children: Frank (1945), Terry (Howe, 1948), Danny (1951–1952), Jesse (1955), Helen (Hernandez, 1959; Richard), Benny (1961), and Joe Jr. (1963). Their family grew to include several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Tina is welcomed in death by her three sisters, whom she loved with her whole heart and missed every day: Otilla Ramirez (1932–1952), Delfina Porras (1921–2002), and Dorothy Vasquez (1939–2012), as well as her brother, Eliseo Ramirez (1928–2009), whom she loved dearly.

She leaves behind her adult children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, two younger brothers, Jose Ramirez (1930) and Bobby Ramirez (1938), along with many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and many more—some of whom she cared for well into her 80s.

Tina's legacy is one of unwavering loyalty, hard work, and love. She was known for her spirit, her love of dancing, and her sharp sense of justice—as proven by her undying love for the television shows Cops and Cheaters. Whether folding laundry or cooking meals for her grandchildren, she always found time to laugh and enjoy life.

She lived for trips to the casino, cherished her parents’ enduring love through countless stories, and found joy in growing and tending to the many flowers and plants in her garden, sitting on her porch, and enjoying long evening nights with her family.

At 98 years old, Tina lived a full, remarkable life and is now at rest.

A memorial service will be held on January 10, 2025, at 1 p.m. at Greenwood Memory Lawn, 719 N. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009 (Serenity Chapel), down the street from her beloved home where she proudly raised her family.