Najva Totonchi, aged 67, passed away on July 15th after a brief illness. She was the daughter of the late Emanuel and Juliet and the beloved sister of Nadia, Jenan (Martin) Hawthorne, the late Paul, and Daniel (Amy). Najva was a cherished aunt and great-aunt to many.

Born in Iran, she attended the Hadley School in England after high school. Equipped with her ability to speak three different languages, she later returned to Iran as a translator and assistant to Western executives. The Iranian Revolution compelled her family to relocate to England and eventually immigrate to the United States.

In the U.S., Najva worked in the insurance industry until her retirement. She was well-known as a responsible and diligent case worker. Despite being an excellent English speaker, she had endearing quirks in pronunciation that her family couldn't resist teasing her about. She laughed and lived graciously with her family and friends, always putting others first. She was beloved by so many.

A memorial visitation will take place on Monday, July 22nd at 9:30 am, followed by a 10 am Memorial Mass at St. Anastasia Catholic Church in Troy. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to her most cherished charities: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Solanus Casey Center.