Liberia M. Safranski

LIBERIA M. SAFRANSKI, Sunrise, February 4, 1942; Sunset, September 10, 2022

Liberia "Libby" Safranski, Malden, Massachusetts, went to her heavenly home on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at the age of 80.

Devoted wife of the late Robert Z. Safranski. Loving mother of Carrieanne B. Safranski of Malden. Faithful daughter of the late Manuel R. Carreiro and the late Alice (Da Costa) Carreiro. Beloved sister of Madalena M. Reyes (Carreiro), Chelsea; the late Liberia Carreiro; and Deacon Manuel D. Carreiro, Brooksville, FL. Libby is also survived by a multitude of loving nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Libby was born at home in Fenais da Luz, Sao Miguel, Azores, on February 4, 1942, and emigrated with her family to Cambridge in March 1949. She was a member of St. Anthony's Church, where she sang in the choir. Libby was a good student and the first in her family to graduate from high school at Cambridge High and Latin.

A dedicated, loyal employee with a fierce work ethic, Libby held a variety of positions throughout her lifetime, to include within the hospitality and health care sectors. Among her employers were HP Hood, Schrafft's, Carroll's, Memory Lane, Malden Hospital, and Glen Ridge Nursing Care Center.

Libby's favorite color was purple, symbolizing nobility, dignity, wisdom, and peace, characteristics that she embodied.

To know Libby was to love her. She was a beautiful soul with green eyes, a warm smile, and a compassionate heart who drew people to her. A woman of faith who loved the Lord, Libby would always make time for those who needed a listening ear and an open heart.

Born with a love of animals, Libby was mother to many fur babies over the course of her lifetime, including Bridgette, Frisky, Fluffy, Muffin, Ziggy, Brutus, Gigi, and Puppy. She also took care of the feral cats in her neighborhood, nursing them back to health and finding them a suitable home.

Libby was happiest in the comfort of her home and loved hosting family dinners. She especially enjoyed cooking and gardening. Libby was known to make the best Thanksgiving turkey and fixings in the family, and her hospitality was beyond compare. Her family and friends always enjoyed her legendary gwumpki, the Polish stuffed cabbage, which she lovingly prepared on special occasions. Her amazing antipasto salad, known as "The Bomb" and overflowing with the best cold cuts, olives, and cheeses, was a scrumptious staple at family gatherings. Libby was also an accomplished gardener who grew tomatoes and cucumbers in her impeccably groomed backyard. She loved sitting on her back porch and feeding the many birds who would come daily to visit her.

Libby had a deep, abiding love of music. Whenever you visited her home, you'd find her in the kitchen with her radio playing classic rock 'n' roll. When she'd hear her favorite song, she would immediately jump up, start grooving to the music, and sing along. Libby adored Rod Stewart and Neil Diamond and enjoyed seeing them in concert, where she would don her favorite rocker attire - jeans, boots, and all -- in order to look the part. Her joyful spirit and sense of playfulness were infectious.

An avid shopper and viewer of JTV and QVC, Libby loved buying gifts for her loved ones. She knew exactly what they would enjoy, and her gift buying was infused with immense care and attention. At her family's Christmas Eve gatherings, Libby's thoughtful presents were always a hit. Each recipient has a treasured collection of the religious jewelry, Christmas angels, snow globes, and musical trees that she gifted them over the years, which will serve as a tangible reminder of Libby's love now that she has transitioned to her eternal home.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated for Libby at the Immaculate Conception Parish Church, 600 Pleasant Street, Malden, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2022. Interment will take place at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery, 185 Lake Street, Peabody, MA.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff at Massachusetts General Hospital, Winchester Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, and Beacon Hospice, who took exceptional care of Libby during her illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Animal Rescue League, 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA.