Yvonne Maria Sanghi

A former Warren, Pa., resident, recently of Altamonte Springs, Fla. “Vonnie” was born Sept. 22, 1930, in Wellington, New Zealand. She passed peacefully, surrounded by the prayers, music, and affection of family, who braved a hurricane to be by her side. At the memory care facility where she resided for a decade, she was saluted as the always pleasant unit “O.G.,” by care workers who filed in to pay respects.

Mrs. Sanghi was an artist (handlettering signs, dressmaking and sewing costumes, drawing and painting) and a homemaker, a proud mother of four. As a young woman, she was a novitiate in a Roman Catholic convent, leaving before the final nun’s vow when she realized she wanted children. They were her greatest joy, and she made sure they knew it.

Although Vonnie had many jobs before motherhood, she was also a veteran, serendipitously passing on Veteran’s Day. As a drill instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force, she lost a leg after an injury during training exercises for recruits. Honorably discharged from military duty, she worked as a medical secretary before marriage. Later, she was treasurer, vice president, and president of Warren’s Medical Auxiliary. Her cando attitude made for a full life of participation and accomplishments.

Enthusiastically involved in all her children’s activities, Vonnie volunteered her artistic skills often, at local schools, community events, and Warren Players. The latter included recovering the theater seats. For her eldest child’s pageant costume representing this northwest Pennsylvania region, she researched at the Seneca Museum. Guided by native Americans at the Seneca Reserve, she created an authentic design of dress, pants, and moccasins, using deerskin and beadwork. This is one example of her attention to detail and meaning. When her children were grown, she earned her GED and, at age 63, an Associate of Arts degree in Humanities from Jamestown Community College. Her favorite hobbies were travel and supporting causes, such as Greenpeace environmental conservation and human rights protection.

Vonnie’s delightful, open spirit will be sorely missed. She easily made friends of strangers with her warmth, sincerity, and down-to-earth humor. Her children’s friends welcomed her too, as the “cool” chaperone of choice. She had fantastic stories and a sense of adventure, even when it was just (reluctantly) accompanying kids to a scary movie. Togetherness was always prioritized and celebrated.

She is survived by daughter, Angel Burns (grandchildren: Serena and Rowan) of Los Angeles, Calif., daughter, Krishna Santullo (grandchildren: Asia and Niko; great-grandson Grayson) of Apopka, Fla; son Aryan Sanghi of Denver, Colo. and son Kiran Sanghi (grandchildren: Jackson and Jocelyn) of Phoenix, Ariz. She is also survived by brother, Ken Smith of Brisbane, Australia; longtime live-in family caregiver, Sandy Culp of Apopka, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

Vonnie was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Dr. Jodh Sanghi (formerly of Warren State Hospital employ), plus her parents, Gwen and Gilbert Smith; her older sister, Lorraine Wikeley, and her younger brother, Bert Smith, all of New Zealand.

As directed by her will, the family attended a private viewing and observed twelve days of mourning followed by a feast, which appropriately turned out to be Thanksgiving. Cremated remains will be kept in Angel’s garden until a planned 2023 scattering with Vonnie’s sister, Lorraine’s ashes, on a beach near their birthplace.

Unable to donate her corneas due to age, the family seeks to honor her wish to help blindness, such as her brothers suffered.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Yvonne Sanghi’s memory to Foundation Fighting Blindness, (800) 683-5555, https:// donate. fighting blindness.org/webdonation. (Please mark ecard notification to: yms@angel burns.com.)

Condolences may be posted at the following memorial website: https: //www.forevermissed. com/yvonne-sanghi/