Annie Marasovich (F)
b. 23 March 1914, d. 25 January 1997, #26
Pedigree
Family_Line=M
Res_Rqrd=Y

     Annie Marasovich was born on 23 March 1914 at Chicago, Illinois, daughter of Andrew Marasovich and Ivanica Marasovich.¹ She lived with Andrija Marasović and Ivanica Marasovich and Draga Marasović, Marija Ivanica Marasović and Edward Joseph Marasovic circa 1920 at 9120 Mackinaw Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. From the census, it appears to be a multiple unit home with at least four families; all with origins in Croatia.²

Annie Marasovich was enumerated with Andrija Marasović on the census of 5 January 1920 at Chicago as Annie Marasovich. Listed as 'Annie', 5 years old, attending school, able to read and write, born in Illinois, father and mother born in Croatia, speaks English, occupation 'none'.³
Andrija Marasović, Ivanica Marasovich, Edward Joseph Marasovic, Annie Marasovich, Joseph August Granich, Florence Barbara Granich, Marie Evelyn Granich, Genevieve A. Granich, Lorraine Rose Kovack, Unknown Padzich, Nikola Malenica, Marija Ivanica Kovack, Mate Kovačević, Zora Granich, Joseph Melvan, Joseph Komar, Joseph Hrstich, Mate Hrstich, Petar Koljanin, Mary Hrstich, Anna Hartman, Dorothy Josephine Granich, James Kovack and Mary Furlan attended the wedding of Jakov Radja and Draga Marasović on 4 May 1929 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Croatian Catholic Church, 2864 E. 96th Street, Chicago, Illinois; Mr. Padzich was present at the wedding because he had a car. Miss Agnes was a girlfriend of Edward Marasovich. Uncle Nick Malenica presented a big radio as a wedding present. Anna Hartman was the bride's friend from St. Louis. The groom wore a rented tuxedo. The bride wore a $25 dress from Marshall Fields. After purchase of her wedding dress, Draga had to buy cleaning fluid to clean it since it had sat in store for a long time. After cleaning, the dress was hung in the attic to dry. It did not smell afterwards. A week before the wedding Jakov bought home furnishings from The Davis Company in the Chicago Loop: a dining room table and chairs for $205 and 3 rugs and pads for $139. The wedding was financed completely by them; including groceries worth $200. Draga didn't want a 'collection' of money gifts at the wedding reception. Reception was held for about 25 people at her parents' house. On 26 April 1929, Caroline ordered wedding reception rental plates(60), cups(30), utensils(50 sets), 36 chairs, etc. for a total of $22.24 (discounted to $20) for delivery on Friday 3 May to the Marasovich house. They needed about three gallons of wine belonging to her dad Andrija. Ivanica (Draga's mother) came over the next day seeking return of the three gallons. Andrija complained afterwards that the wine returned was not as good as the wine used. The wedding trip was to Benton Harbor, Michigan staying with the Miletich family. They had a room and meals for a week or two for about $20. Benton Harbor was then known as a health baths spa.

Radja cousins in Croatia say that Jakov wanted to move back to Croatia with his savings and buy a piece of land in Ogorje that Josip picked out for him. Plans changed when he met Dragica (Caroline).^4,5,6,7
Annie tried to join a convent at sixteen years of age but her father forced her to return home.

Annie Marasovich was enumerated with Andrija Marasović, Jennie Marasovich and Edward Joseph Marasovic on the census of 17 April 1930 at 10732 Avenue "O", Chicago, Illinois, as Anna Marasovich. Listed as 17 years old, does not live on a farm, single, has not attended school or college in last six months, born in Illinois whereas her father and mother were born in Yugoslavia, she can read, write and speak English, employed as a assembler in a kitchenware factory, not a veteran.⁸
She became a nun with the Sisters of St. Francis in 1932 at Joliet, Illinois. She entered the Carmelite Sisters for the Aged and Infirm on 30 January 1939 at Queen of Carmel Convent, St. Leo Benedictine Abbey, St. Leo, Florida.  She was received as a novice on 8 September 1939, made her First Profession of temporary vows on 9 December 1940 and made her perpetual vows on 30 May 1946. Served as a cook.

Contributed by Mr John Bakas of Riverview, Florida:

Thank you for the page about Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel. I am not a relative, but am a Benedictine oblate at St. Leo Abbey and was doing some research on the history of the Queen of Carmel Convent that was located at St. Leo Abbey from the early 1940s to 1963. It was so nice to see a picture of one of the nuns who lived there.

Sister Mary was part of the first group of Carmelite nuns "from NY" is how the St. Leo records show, but then in the early 1950s, those nuns left St. Leo Abbey and were replaced by a second group of Carmelites from Mexico who stayed at the Queen of Carmel Convent until 1963. The second group continued in the same duties with the monks and the adjacent college. St. Leo College did not close and I think the entry on your page may refer to when the first group of Carmelite nuns left -- ie, when they closed their mission at St. Leo in the early 1950s.

The Queen of Carmel Convent building is still there at St. Leo and is now called Carmel Hall. It is used as part of the abbey's retreat programs. I have current pictures of the Carmel Hall if you would like them.

You may know that Carmelite Order is one of the most spiritual of the contemplative orders in the Catholic Church. St. Teresa of Avila and St. Thérčse of Lisieux have guided many into the journey to dwell with God.

My wife and I often talk with new visitors to St. Leo Abbey after their first visit --- when they have returned for another time of prayer with the monks --- we ask them, "How do you like St. Leo Abbey?" The single most common response is, "we felt a spirit as soon as we walked on these grounds." My wife and I think that the dear Carmelites are part of that. Finding your web page was a great blessing to us. And regardless of your faith, I know that preservation of information of past generations is important to you and you have added a great deal to our knowledge of the Carmelite years at St. Leo -- the picture of Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich is a rare find for us. Thank you very much.

John Bakas
Riverview, Florida.^9,10,11,12

Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel lived at St. Patrick's Home and Mount Carmel Home on West 54th Street from 1939 to 1941 at New York, New York. She was Professed into Order of Carmelite for the Aged and Infirm on 9 December 1940.¹¹ She was employed from July 1941 to December 1952 at St. Leo's College, St. Leo, Florida. She gathers with her nieces and nephews circa 1942 at Chicago.¹³ Sister Mary Andrew appeared in the backyard of the Radja's around 1943. As of 30 May 1946, Annie Marasovich was also known as Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel.¹⁴ She made her Final Profession into the Order of Carmelite for the Aged and Infirm on 30 May 1946.¹¹ St. Leo's College closed in in December 1952. She was employed in 1953 at St. Rita's Home, 880 Greenlawn Avenue, Columbus, Ohio. She was employed from 1953 to 1962 at Sacred Heart Home, North Miami, Florida, The Probate of her mother Ivanica's estate lists her at St Rita's Home 1415 e. Broad St, Columbus, Ohio.¹⁵

She and Carolyn Radja, Edward Joseph Marasovic, Zora Granich and Marija Ivanica Kovack were the heirs of the estate of Ivanica Marasovich probated on 27 October 1961 at Probate Court of Cook County, Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, Illinois. Caroline Radja and Edward Marasovich acted as Executors. They were 'bonded' for $11,500 for faithful discharge of their duties. The estate was valued approximately as $5,000 Personal and $5,000 Real Estate. The heirs were identified as Edward Marasovich, Caroline Radja, Mary Kovack, Zorka Granich and Anna Marasovich (aka Sister Mary Andrew) On 27 October 1961, Caroline Radja was called to testify as to the legitimacy of the five children heirs of Ivanica. On 20 November 1961, Dr. Leo H. Holm, M.D. filed a claim for $25 against the estate. His service was for anesthesia for a fractured hip on 28 June 1961. For a fee of $13 the probate was published in the 'Chicago Daily Law Bulletin' on 31 October 1961 and November 7-14 1961. Mr. D.M. Knight and Counsel Vincent Knaus were called to testify, on 27 October, that they witnessed the signing, on 11 September 1958, by Ivanica of the will being probated. Official Reporting Service of the Probate Court billed the estate $17 documenting the will proof. This was a revised will from the one signed on 22 August 1957. This new will included in the probate file is illegible.

On 30 November 1961, Mr. Jerome J. Smerz, appraiser, testified that no 'goods or chattels' of the estate have come to his knowledge. The Claude E. Griesel Mortuary, represented by Grace Griesel, submitted a voucher of $1,701.05 for 'Directorial Services' in the funeral of Ivanica. This included $795 for the casket. On 1 November, the Executors submitted to the Court an inventory of estate assets:
1. Unecumbered and unimproved Lot 13, adjacent to 10732 Ave O, Chicago.
2. Unecumbered Lot 14 improved with a one and a half story frame residence containing two apartments, 6 rooms up and 3 rooms down.
3. Unecumbered and unimproved Lot 15, adjacent to 10732 Ave O, Chicago.
4. Savings account at Steel City National Bank account #17959 for $5,513.20
5. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company policy #56855751, dated 22 April 1918, on life of Ivanica, proceeds of $50.10.

Total cash proceeds of $7,112.11 minus costs for various administrative fees and services (including $375 for each of the two executors) of $2,262.00 and debts of $1,742.05 leaving cash on hand for distribution of $3,108.06. The distribution to each of the five heirs was then $421.61 plus $1,000 to Caroline Radja according to the will dated 11 September 1958. Sale proceeds of the three lots and building is NOT mentioned.¹⁵ On 5 November 1962 the title to the real estate (three lots and one building) Of Ivanica Marasovich was transferred to her five heirs Edward Marasovich, Caroline Radja, Mary Kovack, Zorka Granich and Anna Marasovich; On 5 November 1962 the title to the real estate (three lots and one building) Of Ivanica Marasovich was transferred to her five heirs Edward Marasovich, Caroline Radja, Mary Kovack, Zorka Granich and Anna Marasovich.¹⁶ On 23 December 1963 the title to the real estate (three lots (13, 14 & 15) and one building) of heirs Edward Marasovich, Caroline Radja, Mary Kovack, Zorka Granich and Anna Marasovich from Ivanica Marasovich was transferred to Angelo and Hanna DiCianni of Chicago. No sale price was mentioned; On 23 December 1963 the title to the real estate (three lots (13, 14 & 15) and one building) of heirs Edward Marasovich, Caroline Radja, Mary Kovack, Zorka Granich and Anna Marasovich from Ivanica Marasovich was transferred to Angelo and Hanna DiCianni of Chicago. No sale price was mentioned.^17,18 Angelo & Hanna DiCianni, purchasers of Ivanica Marasovich's inherited three lots immediately secured a mortgage from The Steel City National Bank of Chicago for $12,500 for lots 14 & 15. It can be assumed that this is close to what they paid the heirs on transfer of the title. So the heirs received about $2,500 each; Angelo & Hanna DiCianni, purchasers of Ivanica Marasovich's inherited three lots immediately secured a mortgage from The Steel City National Bank of Chicago for $12,500 for lots 14 & 15. It can be assumed that this is close to what they paid the heirs on transfer of the title. So the heirs received about $2,500 each.¹⁹




Sister Mary Andrew Marasovich Order of Carmel served in various capacities such as Sacristan, Eucharist Minister and as resident advocate on several of the nursing floors from 1964 to 1976 at Lourdes Residence, 315 South Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, Florida.⁹ She was employed across the way from 1976 to 1993 at Pennsylvania Residence, 208 Evernia Street, West Palm Beach, Florida.⁹ She witnessed the 25 year Golden Jubilarian award of Sister Mary Grace Therese Guthmiller Order of Carmel on 15 August 1977 at West Palm Beach.¹⁰ She was was honored at the Noreen McKeen Residence, with Bishop Thomas V. Daily as celebrant, as Jubilarian after fifty years of service with the Carmeite Order on 24 June 1989 at Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, 315 South Flager Drive, West Palm Beach, Florida.^20,21 She was ill with two heart attacks and multiple forms of cancer from 1990 to 1997. She was assisted with light duties and retired for health reasons on 23 January 1993 at St. Patrick's Residence, 1400 Brookdale Road, Naperville, Illinois.⁹ She died on 25 January 1997 at St. Patrick's Residence at age 82.^1,11 She was buried on 30 January 1997 at in the Resurrection Cemetery located in Romeoville, Illinois.¹

Last Edited=5 Jan 2010