Ariana "Ari" Staff

Ariana “Ari” Staff, a resident of Ithaca, NY and native of South Yarmouth, MA, passed away on May 18, 2025, at the age of 45 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. While she lived in New York state for many years, beautiful Cape Cod always called her east. The expansive beaches, wild dunes and salty waves were among her favorite places. However, no matter where she was, her son Quintin was the center of her universe. Her love and devotion to him shaped her life, and being his mother was her greatest accomplishment.

Ari expressed her artistic talents in a variety of ways. With her trendsetting style, she assembled amazing outfits for herself and others and highlighted splendor through her photos and writing. She radiated beauty inside and out. If you landed at her house, she would want you to relax and then would feed you a delectable meal crafted with whatever she had on hand.

She had a wicked sense of humor and could make us all laugh with her jokes, amusing quotes and of course her unique twist on words. Ari was a trivia expert and you definitely wanted her on your team. The Beachcomber and Grassroots Festival were her happy places as music and dancing lit her up. Above all else, generosity, kindness and love were her guiding forces.

Her deep compassion for others was a natural fit for her roles as a teacher, child care provider and support professional for vulnerable individuals. Equality and justice were tenets she lived by, and she was an advocate for family, friends and community. Ari was the best auntie to her 17 nieces and nephews or “niblings” as she liked to call them. She loved them all deeply and they adored her in return.

In addition to her beloved son, Quintin Gabriel of Ithaca, NY; Ariana is survived by her mother, Gail Jepsen Staff of South Yarmouth, MA; and her siblings, Guy (Carrie) Staff, Kristina (David) Daglio, Laura (Vince) Lasnicki, Sabrina Staff (Rob Johnson), Sonja Staff, Lea (Kevin) Faehndrich, Vanessa (Alex) Grancharov, along with their children; half sisters Danielle Ekizian and Jennifer Broderick and extended family. She was predeceased by her father, Richard O. Staff.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the upper pavilion of Buttermilk Falls State Park in Ithaca. The family will also hold private services on Cape Cod at the end of June. In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Ariana's memory by contributing to a fund to benefit Quintin Gabriel, the Cayuga First Nation, or the Wampanoag Tribal Council.

With incredible strength and determination, Ari faced the unimaginable. At 43, before the recommended screening age, she was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer. Recently, many young adults have found themselves in this same devastating situation. Ariana was a private person, but she would want to share awareness of the disease if it would help others. She would urge you to monitor for symptoms, screen as soon as possible and take good care of yourself.