Obituary of Maria Karcich

Maria lived a full and adventurous life. From her childhood to her senior years, she was committed to her faith. Maria’s musical and spiritual journey started in her hometown on the little island of Unije on the Adriatic Sea. She ran to Sunday mass and up the stairs to the choir loft to watch the organist play and to listen to the choir sing. Despite many challenges, her lifelong commitment to faith and music never wavered. Maria eventually became the church organist. She married very young, had two children, and in the political upheaval of the time, was faced with the difficult challenge of leaving everything behind.

Maria was one of four brave women who placed their trust in the Lord, their husbands, and who placed their children in two fishing boats and sailed across the Adriatic Sea to freedom in the West. The Good Lord was with them. They arrived safely in Italy, were placed in refugee camps, and applied for immigration to Canada. Maria felt truly blessed. The family settled in Oshawa and Maria found her place, once again, in the church community, first at Holy Cross and then at Saint Mary of the People Church in Oshawa. She ran the children’s choir, the youth choir, the folk choir, and the traditional church choir. Maria embraced a variety of unconventional instruments into church music — guitars, tambourines, and xylophones. Maria’s commitment to family, the church, and her Saviour were central to her faith.

May she rest in peace

Visitation will be held at the De Stefano Funeral Home 1289 Keith Ross Drive in Oshawa (905) 440 3595 on Tuesday, November 11th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm  A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary of the People in Oshawa on Wednesday, November 12th at 11:00 am followed by an entombment at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.