But when she was 13, something magical happened: her farm got electricity. Maria became fascinated with electricity.
She did well in school, and went on to study electrical engineering at college in Zagreb.
Her college roommate, Naza, introduced Maria to Sead, Naza's cousin and Maria's future husband. Together, Maria and Sead went out to explore the world.
They got married in Austria, at the same time that Sound of Music was filming the story of another country girl named Maria in Austria.
After crossing the Atlantic on the ship Arkadia, they landed in Canada. Life in the new world with a new language was hard, and they started working at any jobs they could find, even cleaning bathrooms.
Eventually they came to Chicago, and chose to set down roots there. Maria was able to put her engineering education to use at Sargent & Lundy.
Maria had a long career at S&L, starting at the bottom in the drafting department. She worked her way up to engineering jobs on projects ranging from coal and nuclear plants to the nation's electrical grid.
Night school classes at IIT ended up earning her a Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering; Maria also passed her Professional Engineering exam which allowed her to sign off on drawings.
While doing all this, Maria had two children, and from pictures you can see the intense joy she got from them. Even as she worked during the day, Maria would sew clothes for her kids at night.
After they became adults, the children moved from the place of their birth and spread out across the country, just as Maria did.
Eventually tragedy struck, and Maria's husband died. Maria wrote on her calendar that this was the saddest day in her life.
Maria kept in close touch with all her family, both on her side and on her husband's side. She was everybody's confidant and supporter, and was dearly loved for her happy and positive personality. She was genuinely invested in the well being of everyone she knew.
Maria adored her grandkids, and visited them frequently, but living alone was difficult, and so Maria retired from S&L at 70. She moved to live with her children, first in Massachusetts, and then ending up in Florida as many retirees do.
Her health declined as she got older, and she eventually became bed-bound. A sudden cruel cancer took Maria from all those that she loved on July 28, 2026, at age 89.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 13, 2026, from 9am to 11am at Malec & Sons Funeral Home, Immediately following a Final View and Prayer will take place before mass at 11am.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Blessed Aloysius Stepinac Croatian Catholic Mission, 6346 N Ridge Ave, Chicago, IL 60660, on August 13, 2026, at 12:00 pm.
A Committal Service will follow immediately at Memorial Park Cemetery, 9900 Gross Point Rd, Skokie, IL 60076, on August 13, 2026.
Following the burial A reception will follow at 2:15 pm at Malec and Sons Funeral Home, 6000 N Milwaukee Ave in Chicago.
