Argentina “Tina” (DiSanto) Severino

SCARBOROUGH – Argentina Fiorina Rosa DiSanto Severino passed away peacefully on June 29, 2025, in Scarborough. She was 94 years old.

Tina was born on Sept. 6, 1930, in Carunchio, Italy, the youngest of 10 children of Paolo and Elisabetta (Conti) DiSanto. In November 1954, she immigrated to Portland, joining her oldest sister after crossing the Atlantic aboard the Cristoforo Colombo, sister ship of the famous Andrea Doria. In Portland, she met and married the love of her life, John “Sonny” Severino.

In addition to being a devoted homemaker, Tina was a talented and dedicated seamstress. Over the years, she worked in various shops, including Macy’s and Filene’s, and even operated her own tailoring businesses.

Family was always at the heart of Tina’s life. Her exceptional cooking was a true expression of her love. Guests at her home were never allowed to leave hungry, and she was known for arriving at her family’s Sebago Lake camp, well into her 90s, with generous trays of homemade pasta, lasagna, pizza, eggplant parmesan, and traditional Italian cookies.

Tina was predeceased by her beloved husband, Sonny; as well as her nine siblings, sisters Fiorina DiSanto, Assunta Conti, Annina D’Aloisio, Luisa Caruso, Ada Franchetti, Irma DeMarco, Olga Fumarola; and brothers Nicolino and Filoteo DiSanto.

She is survived by her four children, Paul Severino and his wife Missy of Sebago, Elizabeth Merrill and her husband Jim of Portland; Dan Severino and his wife Lisa of Falmouth, and Gina Panagakos and her husband Pete of Scarborough. Tina was a cherished grandmother to 11 grandchildren, Rocco and Landyn Severino, Alexis Brochu, Maria Foster, Krista Edwards, Tina Morris, Gabriella and Elaina Panagakos, Dominic, Tony, and Ava Severino; and a proud great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces and nephews, including two who recently traveled from Torino, Italy, to visit her.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the exceptional staff at Scarborough Terrace for their compassionate care.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday July 8 at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, 72 Federal St., Portland. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in South Portland.

To share a memory of Argentina or to leave an online condolence, please visit http://www.athutchins.com.