The long and beautiful life on earth of Mary Ann Sepich, 97, ended on October 12, 2014 at The Good Life Care Center in Carlsbad. She passed into the heavenly care of the Lord surrounded by her loving family.
Mary Ann was born on August 18, 1917 to Matilda and Marko Jelaca in Koehler, New Mexico, near Raton. She contracted the flu in 1918 that took thousands of lives in the U.S. but survived, due to the old country home remedies of her father and the extraordinary strength she embodied throughout her life. Her mother was very ill when she was a young girl, so Mary Ann had to take over many duties in a bustling Croatian immigrant household of seven children, all boys except for her. She spent her life caring for her parents and brothers in the family home and making a beautiful home for her husband and children.
Surviving Mary Ann are her son, Michael and daughter-in-law, Karen of Rio Rancho, NM; daughter, Kathleen Phillips of Midland, Texas; son David Sepich and daughter-in-law Jayann of Carlsbad; daughter, Phyllis McEndree and son-in-law Chuck of Phoenix, Arizona; nine adoring grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; many friends, and her lifelong best friend, Pauline Bonuchi of Rock Springs, Wyoming. Her husband of 59 years, Frank, preceded her in death in 1998. Also, preceding Mary Ann in death were her beloved grandaughter, Katie, her daughter-in-law, Laura Sepich, and son-in-law, Eddie Phillips, her parents and all 6 of her brothers.
It was in the strong, hardworking, loving home of her parents, who immigrated to the U.S. from Gospic, Croatia in the early 1900’s that Mary Ann learned about caring for others and how to live a life of honor and integrity with a devout Catholic faith. Mary Ann grew up in a household filled with love of family, great food, great music, and friends of all nationalities.
Mary Ann was a high achieving student and graduated near the top of her class at Raton High School. She excelled in history, art, home economics, English, typing, and shorthand. She had a lifelong passion for reading, poetry, and studying the Bible. She was a master of crochet and embroidery, producing countless doilies, tablecloths, and bedspreads, and was a fine seamstress. But it was for her cooking, baking, gardening, and canning that she was legendary. She fed everyone who came through her door.
In 1936 Mary Ann met Frank Sepich, also a son of Croatian immigrants, in Raton. They married in 1939 and raised their four children together, moving to Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1944, back to Raton in 1952, and then in 1960 they moved to Carlsbad, where Frank was employed in the potash mines.
Raised in a family of artists, teachers, and musicians, Mary Ann always stressed the value of education to her children and taught all of them to read at an early age. She was very proud that all of her children and grandchildren attended college.
A member of St. Edward’s Parish since 1960, Mary Ann also maintained a lifelong membership in the Croatian Fraternal Union of America.
For the children and grandchildren who loved her so much for so long, it is hard to imagine a world without their loving mother and grandmother. As a tribute to her, they will carry on her tradition of hospitality, as well her love of literature, art and music.
The Sepich family would especially like to thank all of the beautiful angels at The Good Life and Lakeview Christian Home Care who became her cherished friends and took such wonderful care of her for the past several years.
A Funeral Mass will be held for Mary Ann at St. Edward’s Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday (Oct. 18) with a praying of the Rosary prior to the service. Father Pasala Hruday Kumar will be the celebrant. There will be no viewing. Interment will be at Carlsbad Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Dave McEndree, Jim Phillips, Mike Phillips, Peter Sepich, AJ Sepich and Elizabeth Morphew.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Katie Sepich Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Carlsbad Foundation, 114 S. Canyon St., Carlsbad, NM 88220.
