Gira Manferdini

Gira (Argira) Manferdini, 64, passed away at home on January 20, 2022 surrounded by her adoring family.
Gira was born on April 15, 1957 in Topeka, Kansas, Forbes Airforce Base, to Louis Murawski and Tony (Antoinette) Frentzos Murawski
She graduated from East Longmeadow High School in 1975 and was employed by A&P grocery stores prior to attending college. In 1978, she along with her friend and sister-in-law Kathy Reid entered the Elms College nursing program with a projected graduation year of 83’. Gira graduated, magna cum laude with the class of 82’ completing the 4-year program in 3 years thereby becoming a member of the first nursing class to ever graduate from the Elms. The word brilliant applies here.
Gira was a pediatric intensive care nurse for Baystate Children’s Hospital for the majority of her career which is where she met Dr. Stephen Lieberman, a pediatrician. Together over the next 25 years they developed and implemented state of the art medical care for critically ill kids. They were the heart and soul of the unit continually striving to make the care better. Dr. Lieberman wrote, “Gira was quite simply the best nurse I ever had the pleasure of working with during my career”. In her nursing career she also worked for a few years as the New England Donor Service nurse but returned to Baystate to work in the Pedi ICU once again – her true home. Most recently she worked in the outpatient pediatric neurology clinic where she was diligently learning how to help kids make their lives better.

From the first day of Gira’s cancer diagnosis Jimmy stood by her side and never wavered. He attended chemotherapy treatments, medical appointments and drove her everywhere. When she wanted to go to Vegas in October, he made sure it happened. To save her strength for the slots he pushed her around the casino in a wheelchair with her favorite nephew Matt Reid holding her hand. Jimmy comforted her with his love and support throughout the illness, never interfering in the medical choices she made. In the last few days of Gira’s life, when she could no longer care for herself and his spirit finally broken, he, for the first time asked for help.

Gira leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband of forty years Jim Manferdini of East Longmeadow. Her beloved brother Matthew Murawski and his wife Kit Reid Murawski, a sister-in-law Kathy and her husband Bernie Reid. Gira leaves her nephews and their spouses; BJ and Stephanie Reid, Brian and Andrea Reid, Dan and Erin Reid, Kevin and Alyssa Murawski as well as her nieces and their spouses; Jillian and Steve Haynes, Lauren and Jeremy Shepard, Heather and David Carabine. Many loved cousins, grandnieces, grandnephews, lifelong friends and the Baystate Medical Center Family who loved and respected her.
Family and friends are invited for visitation on Monday January 24, 2021 from 3PM to 7PM at Forastiere Smith Funeral & Cremation, 220 N. Main St., East Longmeadow. Gira will lie in state from 9AM until 10AM on Tuesday January 25, 2021 in St. George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 22 St. George St., Springfield, followed by a church service at 10AM. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery, Springfield.
Memorial contributions may be made in Argira’s name to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or Baystate Children’s Hospital 759 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01119. To leave an online condolence, visit www.forastiere.com.