Obituary for Maria Dubaz
Maria Deluca Dubaz passed away peacefully on January 24. She was born on August 6, 1926 in Villanova di Verteneglio, Istria in what was then part of Italy. Her family owned a farm and she spent her childhood milking cows, feeding chickens, and raising sheep and pigs. Only a fifth-grade education was available to her, but she remained intellectually curious throughout her life. After the Axis defeat in World War II, most of Istria was transferred to the now-Communist nation of Yugoslavia controlled by the dictator Tito. What followed in the next decade and a half was the persecution of ethnic Italians leading to the Istrian-Dalmatian Exodus where over 250,000 people abandoned their homeland often leaving in the middle of the night with few belongings for fear of being captured and killed.
Maria settled in Trieste, Italy and soon began working at the famous opera house Teatro Verdi. She became well-versed in Italian opera and could recite their arias many years later. She began dating her friend's older brother Enrico who was also from Villanova and they married in 1952. It was wanderlust that brought them to the United States and despite having no relatives and speaking no English they decided to settle in The Bronx. Maria started working as a dressmaker for the fashion industry and Enrico as a baker for Stella d'Oro which was founded by a fellow Istrian. Maria learned not only English, but also Spanish, and loved conversing with people in those languages. After retiring, Maria moved to Greenwich in 1992 to be close to her son and grandchildren. She treasured her little nipotini and made sure they learned to speak Italian. She had formidable sewing and cooking skills and her polenta col sugo was nonpareil.
She was predeceased by her husband Enrico in 2004 and brothers Narciso Deluca of Vancouver, Canada in 1987 and Mario Deluca of Trieste, Italy in 1992. She is survived by her son Dr. John Dubaz and his wife Maria of Riverside, and her grandchildren Dr. Ornella Dubaz and her husband Dr. Jeff Lemons of Boston; Marcello Dubaz and his wife Marina Austin of Los Angeles; and Sofia Dubaz and her husband Jeff Silva of Greenwich. "Nonna Luca" was also great grandmother to Luca Lemons.
Castiglione Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and visitation will be Friday from 4-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena on Saturday at 10am. The mass will also be live streamed, please use this link to view.
https://events.locallive.tv/events/72732
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Maria's honor.
Maria settled in Trieste, Italy and soon began working at the famous opera house Teatro Verdi. She became well-versed in Italian opera and could recite their arias many years later. She began dating her friend's older brother Enrico who was also from Villanova and they married in 1952. It was wanderlust that brought them to the United States and despite having no relatives and speaking no English they decided to settle in The Bronx. Maria started working as a dressmaker for the fashion industry and Enrico as a baker for Stella d'Oro which was founded by a fellow Istrian. Maria learned not only English, but also Spanish, and loved conversing with people in those languages. After retiring, Maria moved to Greenwich in 1992 to be close to her son and grandchildren. She treasured her little nipotini and made sure they learned to speak Italian. She had formidable sewing and cooking skills and her polenta col sugo was nonpareil.
She was predeceased by her husband Enrico in 2004 and brothers Narciso Deluca of Vancouver, Canada in 1987 and Mario Deluca of Trieste, Italy in 1992. She is survived by her son Dr. John Dubaz and his wife Maria of Riverside, and her grandchildren Dr. Ornella Dubaz and her husband Dr. Jeff Lemons of Boston; Marcello Dubaz and his wife Marina Austin of Los Angeles; and Sofia Dubaz and her husband Jeff Silva of Greenwich. "Nonna Luca" was also great grandmother to Luca Lemons.
Castiglione Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and visitation will be Friday from 4-8pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena on Saturday at 10am. The mass will also be live streamed, please use this link to view.
https://events.locallive.tv/events/72732
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a charity of your choice in Maria's honor.