Persida Sidu a Blagaila

Our beloved mother, Persida “Sidu a” Blagaila lived in Portland, Oregon and passed on (a plecat în ve nicii), on Thursday, August 22nd 2024, at 11:11AM in her home, surrounded by her family. 

Sidu a was born in the small town of Iermata, Jud. Arad, Romania to Maria Suciu (née Popovici) and Teodor Suciu. She had 9 siblings, and worked alongside them to maintain their home, cooperative lands, fruits, vegetables, as well as animals, and devoted her free time to handwork, singing and worship of God. Sidu a and her siblings, Zorinca, Elisaveta, Florica, Mariu a, Lidia, Lena, Ana, Teodor & George loved to harmonize and on Sundays would walk for hours to neighboring towns to sing and worship with other youth. 

On June 19th, 1967, at the age of 18, Sidu a married Milovan Avramu Blagaila from the nearby town of Agrijul Mare where she moved, and together they had five children. They started from scratch, and with a lot of hard work they managed to save enough to move to the city “Arad”. They purchased a home next door to our church and across from the grade school we attended. Life was hard in Romania during that time. Under the communist regime there were food shortages and scarcity, making it challenging to feed and provide for her five kids. With determination, Sidu a diligently took to growing her own vegetables, fruits and nuts trees, and livestock, mostly chickens. The harvest provided fresh produce for summer and fall, followed by canning vegetables and fruits, and preparing meats to last the harsh winters. 

At the age of 39, together with her husband and their children, she immigrated to the United States, in hopes of a better future. Her incredible work ethic, determination, and strength, as well as her belief in God, guided her to raise her children in a new country and inspire them to live with the same integrity, kindness, work ethic and sound moral code. 

Persida’s passion was living a life dedicated to God and to her family, in harmony with nature. She expressed her love through gardening, singing, cooking, creating art via sewing, knitting, crocheting, lacemaking, and countless diy projects. She wore many hats and was famous for her bread baking. To her grandkids, she was known for her “placinta cu miere” aka “buna (grandma) cake” and "supa de teitei" (Romania's chicken soup). Her radiant smile conveyed her strong beliefs, iron will, fierce spirit, and an unwavering sense of self. She knew her purpose and attended her calling daily. 

Persida Sidu a is survived by her children Silvia Sidu a Blagaila, Otniel Blagaila, Simona Debora Blagaila, Natanael Blagaila, Mia Maria Darshan, her grandchildren, Sara, Patricia, Matthew, Sebastian, Arya, Abhijan, Nadia, and her great grandchildren, Elijah and Timothy who all love her to the moon and back and will miss her immensely. They all currently reside in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. 

- Poem by grandson Sebastian “Sebi” -

For Buna

In the quiet moments, 

when the world seems still, 

I remember the grandma I once knew. 

Your heart was so big, 

your smile so bright, 

you brought us happiness, 

it was joy on sight. 

Even with you gone,

your memory will live, 

guiding us on our own journey, 

throughout our own years to live. 

Rest in peace Buna, 

you’re so loved, so missed, 

we will remember, every last kiss.

 

You’re Grandson

Sebi