Serafima Novofastovskaya (maiden name Tzarkova) was born on July 20, 1925 in Moscow, Russia. She passed peacefully on January 31, 2020 in Sunnyvale, California.

Serafima was born to Anastasia Tzarkova (maiden name Rodina / Solodova) and Gregoriy Tzarkov. As a child, she lived through many attacks of World War II. She later received a degree in engineering and worked in the fishing ministry for over 45 years. She married Yefim Novofastovskiy in November 1949 and were happily married until Yefim's passing in 2007. Serafima lived in Moscow until moving to the United States in 1995.

Serafima enjoyed listening to Russian romance and folk songs, traveling with her husband of over 55 years, and spending time with her family. She was a devout Orthodox Christian and a member of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church. Serafima will be remembered for her loving nature, her self-sacrifice, and her ability to brighten the day of anyone she met.

Serafima is survived by her loving daughters, Yelena and Alla; her sons-in-law, Gennadiy and Vanya; her grandchildren Slava, Eugene, and Anastasiya; and her great-grandchildren Vanya and Artem. She will forever live on through their memories and in the wonderful stories told about her.

Church services will be held at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church (14220 Elva Avenue, Saratoga, CA 95070) on Tuesday, February 4, at 7:00pm and on Wednesday, February 5, at 9:30am. A funeral service will be held at Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park (300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125) on Wednesday, February 5, at 11:00am.