Mary Kalyna Picca

Mary Kalyna Picca (Levytzky) of Tampa passed away on December 20, 2024 at the age of 86. Mary’s parents, Alexander Levytzky and Pearl Bilous Levytzky emigrated from the Ukraine to Montreal, Canada where Mary was born on August 27, 1938. 

She met her spouse, David, in Montreal, where they were married in 1961. Needing a warmer climate, they relocated to Santa Barbara, California where they had one child (David). After a few relocations in the United States, they finally settled down in Miami, Florida in 1974. Mary was a very gracious lady with a gentle demeanor who enjoyed speaking French, going to the theater and loved nature. She nurtured many birds and fish over the years. She had a talent for art and enjoyed drawing and was also an accomplished seamstress and cook. She is famous within her family for her treasured homemade pizza which to this day has yet to be duplicated. Mary was a loving grandmother to her two grandchildren, Luka and Lorenzo Picca. They brought her great joy and she treasured spending time with them. To them, she was affectionately known as G-bird (Grandma Bird which was a loving tribute to her fondness for birds). Although dementia took Mary’s memory, she left us with many treasured moments that will live in our hearts forever. 

She is survived by her son, David; her daughter-in-law, Barbara; twin grandsons, Luka and Lorenzo; sister, Alexandra; nephews, Timothy and Johnny. Mary was predeceased by her parents Alexander and Pearl and her husband David. A special thanks to the staff of Aventura at the Bay and Suncoast Hospice who provided care for Mary. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary's memory may be made to the Humane Society of Tampa Bay or University of South Florida Botanical Gardens