Mary Anne Smukavich (nee Vukmanich), age 92, passed away peacefully on December 29, 2019. Mary is survived by her loving daughter Judy (Doug Houghton) and only grand-child Rachel Hamilton.
Mary is now joined with her beloved husband, John Smukavich, who passed away 45 years before her.
Mary is also predeceased by her parents, John and Ana Vukmanich, and her brothers and sister-in-laws Charles Vukmanich (Rose), Steve Vukmanich, Nick Vukmanich (Mary), and John Vukmanich (Bertha) and nephew Bobby Vukmanich and niece Linda Stewart (Vukmanich).
Mary was born in Yugoslavia (Croatia) in 1927 and came to Canada on July 2, 1934 aboard the Cunard Ascania with her mother and four brothers, to join their father who came to Canada seven years earlier to make a new life for them. Her father was a farmer and she shared many happy years with her family at the farm on Barton Street in Stoney Creek, ON, where they grew plums, pears, apples, grapes and more. Although Mary was a country girl, she eventually made her way to Toronto where she worked at Bell Telephone for 13 years. In February 1964, she was invited to a lavish ball by a man who she had known for years and that was the start of the happiest days of her life. She married John Smukavich in May 1964, and joined him in Sudbury, ON, where she worked with him at his hotel, the Belvedere Hotel on Lorne Street. Their only child, Judy, was born in 1965, and sadly, in 1969 John was diagnosed with cancer, passing in 1974.
Mary found strength during those difficult years through the love and support of her family, friends and in her faith. She went on to raise Judy on her own and in 1978 moved back to her family in Hamilton, where she lived until 2009, when she moved to Barrie, ON, to be with her daughter, son-in-law and precious grand-daughter.
Mary had a love of traveling, which she passed on to her daughter and grand-daughter. Mary had a sense of humour and loved a good laugh that would bring tears to her eyes. She was the most generous parent and grand-parent that anyone could wish for. She gave of herself to everyone around her and was always on the go, doing things for others, rarely sitting down. She had a talent for cooking the best sarma (cabbage rolls), as well as her povitica (nut roll) and apple strudel. Her ability to stretch strudel dough thinly over the entire kitchen table on Heather Court will never be forgotten. Another thing Mary loved was shopping, especially “over the River” in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, NY, with her sister-in-law Rose Vukmanich. She also passed this love of shopping to Judy and Rachel. Time spent with Rachel was Mary’s most cherished moments, especially when Rachel visited her grandma and they went to Zellers together for lunch.
In July 2019, Mary entered long-term care at Grove Park Home (Barrie) on the Spruce wing, where she was cared for with love and dignity by the staff who became like family to her. Mary’s family will be forever grateful to the staff at Grove Park Home, as well as at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre on the Specialized Seniors Care Unit, who provided exemplary care and support, for both Mary and for her family.
Visitation will take place at the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie on Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 from 9 a.m. until the time we celebrate Mary’s life in the Chapel at 10 a.m. Interment to follow on Friday, January 3rd at 11:30 a.m. at Mountain View Gardens cemetery in Stoney Creek. If desired, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated by the family. Online memories and condolences may be forwarded via www.steckleygooderham.com