Dr. Joy Louise (Faini) Saab

Dr. Joy Faini Saab passed away on February 21, 2026 at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, at the age of 69.

Joy was born in Morgantown on April 11, 1956, the daughter of Dean Philip James Faini and Doris Jeanne Netchi Faini. She was raised a Roman Catholic, attending St. Francis De Sales School for 12 years. She married her high school sweetheart, Timothy Peter Saab, deceased January 1, 2013. They had 4 children, a son, Philip Peter, who was stillborn, a daughter, Regina Scott [Matthew], a son, David Saab, and a son, Steven Saab [Madison]. She has one granddaughter, Luisa Scott.

Joy is survived by her mother, Doris Jeanne Faini, brother John Faini [Shaney], and her sister Dina Muttillo [Dominic].  She is also survived by her sister-in-law Paula Heben [Erik], brother-in-law Mike Saab [Tammy], and sister-in-law Brenda Colasante [Nick].  She leaves behind 14 cherished nieces and nephews, along with numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.  In addition to her husband and father, she was preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Joan Saab, father-in-law Peter Saab, and grandparents Josephine and Aldino Netchi.

Joy began working with young children at a child care center in 1971. She continued working with young children as she attained her Bachelor’s Degree from WVU in Elementary Education with specializations in Early Childhood Education and Social Studies Education. She taught Kindergarten at Wiles Hill Elementary and First Grade at First Ward Elementary. Joy pursued graduate studies at WVU while teaching in the Teacher Education program at WVU, attaining her Master’s in Elementary Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education and her Doctoral Degree in Early Childhood Education with specializations in Early Childhood Education and the Arts. She then became an Assistant Professor at Waynesburg University, before returning to WVU as an Assistant Professor in Elementary Education with emphases in Early Childhood Education and the Arts.

Joy studied the arts throughout her life, including piano, violin, modern dance, theatre, choir, and puppetry. She incorporated these skills into her teaching at the elementary level and as an Associate Professor at West Virginia University, preparing elementary teachers, principals, and administrators. During her time as a faculty member, she published multiple papers, presented many research findings to national and international research conferences, and taught undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. She began travel abroad experiences for the elementary education program and proceeded to lead over 20 groups of students and teachers to study the outstanding early childhood programs of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Before retirement in 2016, she served as Department Chair of Curriculum and Instruction and continued to help her doctoral students finish their research degrees after retirement.  Joy continued working with Early Childhood Programs in Harrison County and through Marshall University.

Having a family was the most important thing to her. She relished her generational family traditions, but most importantly, her children and granddaughter. Joy always wanted to have children and enjoyed every phase of development as she participated in their lives and made memorable experiences with them. The family deeply grieved the passing of their father, Tim, but always kept his memory alive in all their shared time together. Because Joy was interested in the arts and early childhood education, she greatly enjoyed creating learning experiences and sharing arts experiences, particularly music, with her children and granddaughter.

Joy volunteered throughout her life. She served on the St. John’s Parish Council for over 20 years,  taught Children’s Religious Education, served as a founding member of PEO, Chapter W, starting in 1987,  and as a WVU Alumni Association Board Member during the building of the new Alumni Center.

She tried to live the gospel by helping people who were cancer patients or who had lost a child, spouse, or parent. She welcomed the opportunities to talk with these people, pray with and for friends, and offer faith-filled support. She lived her faith daily in these compassionate encounters. During her three journeys with cancer, she lived through her faith, prayers and reminders; “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” and “Pray, Hope, Do Not Worry” [God is merciful and has heard your prayer], and “Live Your Life With Joy.”

Joy and family would like to thank the dedicated medical teams that cared for her at the WVU Cancer Institute and WVU Hospitals.

Visitation will be Friday, February 27, 2026, from 4-7 pm with a vigil at 7 pm.  A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 11 am by Reverend John McDonough and Homilist Reverend Walt Jagela, with visitation from 10-11 am prior to mass.  Visitations and mass will be held at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church in Star City, West Virginia.  Interment will be at St. Mary Peace Gardens Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the WVU Cancer Institute or the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at WVU Medicine Golisano Children’s.  Donations for both may be made online or by mail to the WVU Foundation, One Waterfront Place, 7th Floor, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26507-1650.  Please note “in memory of Joy F. Saab” in the check memo line or online form for all donations.  For NICU donation, please select “Friends of the NICU/Newborn Critical Care Fund-2W1038.”

Please also consider donating to the Joy Faini Saab and Tim Saab scholarship endowment to support high school students' efforts to study at the university level while giving back to the community through Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia Inc., P.O. Box 409, Morgantown, WV 26507. 

Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Dering-Henson Funeral Home, Morgantown, WV. 

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