Regina Marie Marasciullo
Regina Marie Marasciullo, 53 passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on August 25, 2012 in Santa Barbara, CA. Gina, as her family and friends knew her, grew up in Farmingdale, NY and attended what is now known as Farmingdale State College after graduating high school. She was an avid swimmer and loved cats and children. She held numerous jobs and positions in and around the Farmingdale area until the mid 1980s when she moved to Oceanside CA with her parents, Angie and Pat. While in Oceanside her love for animals led her to a job with the ASPCA. Cats were her biggest love and she wound up adopting a couple of them and loved them like children. Gina also served as a lifeguard and worked in childcare in Oceanside after working hard to receive an associates degree in child care from Mira Costa College.
After her parent’s passing, her sister Diane lovingly cared for her along with close friends Josie, Carol and Kitty until her move to Santa Barbara in 2005.
Regina made her home in Santa Barbara and acquired many friends along the way. She loved going to the YMCA to swim and attending Fellowship Club to visit friends, sing Karaoke and play basketball. It was said that you often heard Regina coming before you saw her at Fellowship Club. She had a BIG personality.
She was well known and respected in the mental health community throughout Santa Barbara and was training to be a mental health advocate at the time of her death. The list of people helping her along this path is long, and all of you are appreciated for your help and guidance.
Regina loved being with family. She was so proud of all of her nieces, nephews, siblings and cousins. Regina was a fixture at her nephew’s athletic and community events in Goleta. She was recognized and well loved at the events. She found joy in all children.
Regina had an incredible work ethic and always wanted to contribute. She constantly sought work and volunteered at several places in the community (Red Cross, Catholic Churches, Fellowship Shop and others). She was in constant motion, cleaning her room, offering to clean your home, cleaning up your plate before you finished eating, etc. She liked to keep busy and never felt satisfied sitting around.
Regina also never tired of trying to improve herself, her situation and life. She constantly strove for independence and thankfully achieved it before leaving this earth. She was “living her dream” when she passed and we’re all so very thankful that she met her biggest goal in life. She was undoubtedly the strongest person I have ever met and her newfound independence seemed to motivate her more.
Her big, beautiful heart was in overdrive with her new joy but seemed to run out of steam too soon. We will all miss you Gina, your cage here has been opened and you can join Mom, Dad and Dee.
Her parents Pat and Angie and her loving sister Diane predeceased Regina. Regina leaves behind a loving family and group of friends that include: Sister: Lisa (Gloria) Childs; Brothers: Phil, Andrea and their Marasciullo Family, Steve, Stephanie and Patrick Marasciullo; Nick and Erik Patton, Jules and Joyce Marasciullo and lots of other uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins who she dearly loved.
A memorial service will be held for Regina on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 11:00 AM at SB Zoological Gardens next to the lions. Please call 805 729 6012 or e-mail smarasciullo@ecorithm.com if you’d like more info.
Regina’s family would like to thank Dr. Bindu Kamal for her care, love and patience, the incredible people at Phoenix of Santa Barbara (especially Bill Smart, our angel), who helped change Regina’s life immensely, Debbie Trinidad who helped Regina meet her lifelong goal of independence, all of the amazing people at the Fellowship Club who loved and helped Regina, the people at Casa Juana Maria who supported her and Celia Cheney and Duncan Wright who were angels to Regina and to our family. We will never forget you.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Phoenix of Santa Barbara, 107 E. Micheltorena
Santa Barbara, California 93101, 805-965-3434 and can also be done online by clicking HERE
Donations can also be made to PathPoint of Santa Barbara, 315 W. Haly Street, Suite 102, Santa Barbara, CA 93101 and you can go on line to determine your donation by clicking HERE