Obituary

Maria Tarasewicz Martini
November 11, 1926 – June 10, 2024

Maria Tarasewicz Martini peacefully passed away on June 10, 2024, at the age of 97 in her home in Laguna Beach, California. Born in Poland, she outlived her 8 siblings. Catholicism gave Maria the foundation for her faith in God which she embraced throughout her life. This gave her the strength to survive being taken away from her family to Germany at the start of World War II and placed into forced labor with her sister, Stephanie.

It was there that Maria met her husband (Roger Emil Martini, January 11, 1921-January 3, 2013), who arrived from France, mandated to work at the same location. After the war ended, Maria and Roger moved to Paris where they married and later gave birth to their first child (Yvette Gabrielle Martini).

Three years later, Maria moved to Quebec, Canada where she gave birth to her second daughter (Molly Regine) who lived with her mother for the last five years of her life. After another three years passed, Maria moved with her family to New York where she gave birth to her son (Philip Martini) who passed away in 2019, survived by his wife, Melissa and children, Caitlin and Courtney.

Maria loved her life, her family and flowers that stemmed from a passion for gardening.  Blessed with multiple talents, Maria designed and created quilts, joined the Suzy Q knitting group, sewed clothes for her children and later, dabbled in painting. She loved to share of her talents with her family and friends and even became the sewing teacher at San Gabriel Mission High School.

Love for her children, her grandchildren, (Nicholos, Halina, Caitlin, Courtney and Kariann) and her six great-grandchildren, (Austin, Milo, Nico, Carson, Cooper and Sawyer) forever filled her heart. She especially enjoyed celebrating Christmas, holidays and birthdays with her family and friends.

Maria will be missed by all who loved her, remembered for her sweet smile, her kind generosity and her steadfast belief in the God who welcomed her home.