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Mary Samardzija Obituary
On January 10, 2022, Mary Samardzija passed away unexpectedly at the age of 69 in Arlington, Virginia.
Mary was born on January 1, 1953 in DeKalb, Ill., to Milosh "Mike" Samardzija and Mildred (Gutesha) Samardzija. She received a doctorate in adult education from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, and had a successful career working as a public school teacher and corporate instructional designer. At the time of her passing, she had just completed 15 years of service at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation in Washington, DC.
To know Mary was to love her. She was brilliant, funny, creative, and a gentle soul. Learning was her passion, and her sense of adventure took her around the country and the world. Her caring nature touched the lives of many and she is profoundly missed.
An earnest Christian, she was an active member of First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Arlington, Va., and The First Church of Christ, Scientist (The Mother Church), in Boston, Mass. She had also been baptized in the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Nicholas Dan Samardzija. She is survived by her sisters Militsa Samardzija (Arlington, Va.) and Danica Stevanovich (Escondido, Calif.); and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
A Private Service will be held at Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to Opportunity House, Sycamore, Ill.
For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Mary Samardzija
Sponsored by Anderson Funeral Home - DeKalb.
4 Entries
Alan Berg
June 13, 2022
Mary´s brother Nick and I started at the DeKalb Fire Department in 1973. Nick loved his family and talked about them often. He was especially proud of Mary´s accomplishments in education. Mrs. Samardzija taught my wife Veralee how to make filo dough. Bless all of their lives. Wonderful family.
Patricia Ward
June 12, 2022
So often have thought of Mary Sam. I remember her kindness, sweetness and loveliness when she talked with everyone. Always the same. Such a kind soul. So glad she had a wonderful career and family. She will be missed. Rest in peace my friend.
Kathy Lawson Kane
June 11, 2022
Please accept my sympathy. I went to Haish school with Mary and was a frequent guest at her home. So very sorry for your families loss.
Joe Japuntich
May 17, 2022
Dear Sam and Donica and family , My most sincere condolences to you I knew Mary in high school and she was so smart and shy but always said hello to me . We were kind of like family as she was Serbian and I was Croatian our families came from the same village in Croatia. Our families go back to 1910 in Dekalb. It was so special when Sam and Mary moved to St Charles and we lived in Geneva so we saw them more often and our children got to know and love Sam and Mary as my late wife Nina and I did what great memories Love Joe
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