Obituary of Ann Sparozic

Ann Sparozic was the youngest of five children born in the beautiful village of Omisalj on the isle of Kirck, Croatia.   In 1935 she married her sweetheart John, who was a Merchant Marine. They had one child Joseph (deceased in 1988) and she was pregnant with her second child Margita when John immigrated in the US.  The family would follow when he established himself in America.

Unfortunately WWII broke out and she was unable to leave Croatia and life became arduous for Ann and her small children.  She lived with her family who cared for the children while Ann worked in the fields. She also spent long house harvesting salt from seawater and then travelilng from village to village selling her products. 

Adding to her hardship the Germans invaded her town in 1941 and she experienced too much fear and death during this invasion.  The German invasion along with her extremely difficult work and the responsibility of raising two children engraved in Anns character a formidable strength that has always manifested itself during her 106 years.

Anns story did have a happy ending. On July 5, 1947 she and her two small children were allowed to leave Croatia bound for America and a reunion with her husband.  The trip by boat was onerous but when she disembarked with her two children , there waiting for her was John. He had never seen his daughter and had not seen his wife in nine years.

Ann and John made a wonderful life in America. Their third child John was born in 1949.   Over the years the famly lived in Manhattan, Corona and Flushing. After her husbands death in 1990 Ann enjoyed many long weekends in Manhasset at the home of her daughter and son-in-law. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

Ann Loved America and always thanked the Lord for saving her by giving her a safe passage to this beautiful land of freedom and opportunity.