Concetta Marie Giacobello, known to all as Connie, was born on March 21st, 1947 to Catherine and Mario Giacobello of Astoria, Queens. She came well after her two older brothers: James, better known as Sonny, who was fifteen years older and Anthony who was nine years older. Known as the “baby” and one of the youngest of her many cousins, she was doted on by all and beloved as the littlest. She grew up in a close-knit community of family and friends in Astoria, always speaking fondly of shopping on Ditmars and loading up the car to spend summers with her cousins in Rocky Point.

She graduated from Bryant High School and went on to secretarial school, later working at the legal department of Household Finance and then the Equitable Life Insurance Company. She loved that time in the Manhattan, spending time with her girlfriends, going out dancing, and even meeting Bob Dylan, who she casually spoke of as “signing records somewhere outside the office.”

While attending an anniversary party at Ricardo’s, her family spent a lot of time at the table trying to set Connie up with the waiter with the blue eyes. He got her number from cousin Rosemary and they set up a date. When Richard Sarno picked her up, he was impressed by her 1967 blue mustang parked outside, but she certainly wasn’t going to drive him around. She insisted he pay for a cab to and from the movies.

Connie and Richard married on May 13, 1978 at St. Francis of Assisi church in Astoria surrounded by friends and family. Two years later, their daughter Melissa was born. Soon, they left their little apartment in Astoria and found a bright red ranch home in Hicksville, New York where they would spend the rest of their years together.

Connie raised her daughter with all her love and devotion. She introduced her to the public library and Babysitters Club books, drove her to countless activities from ice skating to gymnastics, and was at every school event, track meet or tennis match. She also subbed in the Hicksville school district’s administration and accepted a job as an administrative assistant at Variety Child Learning Center, where she would work for 18 years with many colleagues who became beloved friends. She had pride in all her friends and family, her husband’s career in hotel management, her daughter’s education and writing career, as well as her son-in-law Tyler who she loved like her own son.

Connie was known for her friendly, chatty personality and had so many friends, too many to list, but all were beloved. Most people who met her felt an instant ease of conversation and connection, saying it was like they’d already known one another at first encounter. As many knew, she loved a long chat on the phone. First sitting at the Formica table with the phone chord wrapped in zig zags all around the kitchen, later on the cordless phone, and then on her cell. If you were the recipient of a call, you might be caught on the phone forever, but you were always part of a long, spirited conversation with laughter and love.

Connie loved fiercely and always spoke her mind. Even if you had a spicy argument with her, she came back around, always passionate about her loyalty to the relationship. She always wanted to know how you were and what you were up to and her memory for everyone’s current circumstances was unparalleled. Melissa would have to keep a mental checklist of all her friend’s life updates, even those Connie had never met, because she would inevitably be asked for a status update of each and every one at least once a week.

She was an avid and talented knitter and most people who knew her, or even those that didn’t, were passed along a beautiful knitted gift from her at some point.

As much love as she had for her friends, family, husband and daughter, it might not match her next-level love for her two beloved grandchildren, Emily and Owen. They were her pride and joy and she was always there for babysitting, milestones, birthday parties, playtime and more. She got right on the floor or out on the playground to participate in the kids’ games, even if she never quite understood Minecraft. After endless hours of a pretend game called “family” with Emily, she once said, exhausted while rocking a baby doll, “I love you Emily, but I can’t take playing family anymore!” which made everyone laugh. All who knew her would know that could never be true. The “game” of family was absolutely everything to her.

With her sweet, fun, friendly nature, she was also feisty and spirited, and she battled all her medical conditions, breast cancer and, later, terminal pancreatic cancer, with grit, determination and an optimism that inspired everyone, while beating all the odds and statistics and surprising doctors and surgeons at every turn. Richard was with her through every appointment, infusion, barely leaving her side. Their devotion to one another after 47 years of marriage was beautiful for everyone to witness.

Connie passed peacefully at home with her family. She is survived by her husband, Richard Sarno, her daughter, Melissa Sarno, her son-in-law, Tyler Reed, and two grandchildren Emily Reed and Owen Reed, as well as countless family and friends.   

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