Maria Tomasi Smilovich passed away on Thursday January 4, 2018 at the Connecticut Baptist Home. She was born on December 8, 1920 in Umago, Province of Istria, Italy to Augusto Tomasi and Vittoria Bernich. At age four her mother died and her father, a seafarer, had to leave Maria and her two year old little sister Lidia with family members while away. In 1930 Augusto remarried a kind and gentle woman named Giovanina Manzutto who treated Maria and Lidia as her own. A third sister Silveria soon arrived.

Life was good in Umago on the Adriatic Riviera until WWII. The aftermath of the war brought tumultuous times and great change. Umago became Umag, Istria became Istrium, a Province of Yugoslavia and with that came Tito and communism. A bright spot during this time came in 1949 when Maria married Salvatore Smilovich; they had their son Flavio in 1951. In 1953 Salvatore and Maria abandoned their home and his woodworking business and fled in the middle of the night to Trieste, Italy.

In 1956 the family of three immigrated to the United States of America. They came to Springdale Ave. in Meriden and started their journey to become Americans. In 1960, they bought a car. In 1963, they bought a single family home. In 1964, along with their friends and soulmates, Bruno and Libby Tomasi and son Diego, they bought a boat, the "Windy", named after a dance instructor they met on a cruise ship. This purchase was a great event for Maria. She enjoyed spending time caring for flowers and her yard but she loved being by the water most of all. Maria swam like a fish and soaked up the warmth of the sun. She was at her best, picnicking and hosting friends on the Tiny Rock Islands of Stony Creek and Short Beach. These Tiny Islands reminded Maria of the coastline of Umago. She would make Lobster or Clam "Risotto" long before anyone knew what the word meant.

Maria was a hard worker and enjoyed work. At first she was a seamstress doing "piecework" at a small neighborhood dress factory, where she made many lifelong friends. She then worked for many years at Oscar Gross and Harry Israel clothing stores as a tailor. Proper fitting clothing was very important to her. Maria did not smoke or drink. She lived a good life. A wonderful mother and grandmother she will be greatly missed.

Maria leaves behind her son Flavio "Jay" Smilovich and his wife Karen of Meriden; her bright star granddaughter Lauren and her husband Sgt. Michael Smilovich of Parker, CO; a sister Silveria and her husband Ermanno; her nieces and nephews: Miriam, Annalisa, Mauro, Fulvio and many others in Italy and Maria in CA. She was predeceased by her beloved husband Salvatore; little sister Lidia and her special niece Donatella.

The family wishes to thank the staff of the Connecticut Baptist Home, especially the third floor staff for the wonderful care they gave to "Momma".

Her funeral will be private. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Smith-Ruzzo Funeral Home, 450 Broad St., Meriden. To send an online expression of sympathy please visit www.smithruzzofuneralhome.com .

Donations in memory of Maria Smilovich may be made to the Connecticut Baptist Home, 292 Thorpe Ave., Meriden, CT 06450.