Sabina Genov

Our dear mother, grandmother, and friend, Sabina Tzoneva Genov, passed away on October 17th, 2024 in Roseville, California surrounded by her family. She lost her battle with cancer after being diagnosed in 2017. She remained incredibly positive, energetic, and full of life throughout her fight. Even in her final months, if you spoke to her, you would not know she was ill. 

Sabina was born on October 13th, 1951 in Sofia, Bulgaria to her parents, Maria Dimitrova Pavlova and Tzonu Mihailov Abadjiev. She graduated from Elin Pelin High School in 1969 (check year) and then received a civil engineering degree in 1976 from the Higher Institute of Civil Engineering in Sofia, Bulgaria. She met Eduard Genov Genov (1946 - 2009) in 1978. He had just been released from a 10-year prison sentence due to his civil rights activism in communist Bulgaria. They quickly fell in love and were married on March 4th, 1979 at the Church of Sveta Nedelya. They had their first son, Geno Eduardov Genov in August of 1979 and their second son Tzonu Eduardov Genov in October of 1981. Due to her husband’s continued civil rights activism in Bulgaria, Sabina faced many hardships. The family phones were monitored and conversations listened to, her home was searched periodically and her husband was exiled out of the capital city of Sofia to a small village named Mihalkovo.

In October of 1988 the Genov family were given passports and an ultimatum by the Bulgarian government. They were given 4 days to leave the country. The family arrived in Vienna as political refugees and with good fortune they were granted political asylum in the United States. In November 1988 the family arrived in San Francisco, California.

Initially, life was very difficult for Sabina and her family. The family arrived in the US without speaking English. As it happens with many immigrants Sabina’s engineering credentials were not recognized in the US. She had no choice but to work menial jobs such as a seamstress and a pizza delivery driver for minimum wage. Sabina was not

one to give up and had an unbreakable spirit. She would find a way to provide for her family. She took English classes at night and once she was proficient enough in English, she took night classes to get her drafting credentials. Eventually, she was able to get hired into an engineering firm. This was a big step towards helping her family get on their feet financially. 

Sabina’s love and devotion was the glue that held the Genov family together through the early years of being immigrants in a new land. Over time she built a life in Sacramento, California. 10 years after arriving in the United States the family was able to purchase their first home. Through the years, Sabina was able to buy investment properties and became a successful landlord running her own business. She also got certified as a tax accountant and had a second business. She was a devoted grandmother who helped raise her 4 grandchildren. She never splurged on herself and never took vacations. Everything she did was for her family and her grandchildren to make sure they lived a better life than she did. 

She is survived by her son Geno Genov and his wife Dolly Genov, her son Tzonu Genov and his wife Windy Genov, and their children Joshua Genov, Tabitha Genov, Tyler Genov, and Miles Genov.  Price Funeral Chapel (916-725-2109), directors.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Sabina Genov, please visit our floral store.