Paul Luvera Journal

My father Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr. was born on March 25, 1898, and died in Anacortes, Washington, on November 4, 1990, at the age of 92. I delayed publishing this because of the timing of this year’s presidential election. You can see more details of his extraordinary life athttps://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/11/dad-1.html for a complete history of his life. Dad was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. His father and oldest brother left for Canada, where they…

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On August 8, 1953, my maternal grandmother, Marija Babarovich, died in Anacortes, Washington, at age 90. That was the year I graduated from high school in Anacortes.  She was born September 21, 1863, in Splitska, Brac, Croatia. She died on August 8, 1953. She was a woman of great courage, faith, and personal sacrifice.  Her husband, my grandfather,  Peter, had died the year I was born in Anacortes, and I never knew him. She never remarried. I remember her vividly….

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Two people I loved died in the past years during the month of July. My mother, Mary Babarovich Luvera, and my father’s father, Nicola Luvera. One on the 4th of July and the other on the 7th. Here is a brief summary of both unique people  MARY THELMA BABAROVICH LUVERA  On an early Friday morning, July 7th, 2000, my mother, Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all,…

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My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich died the year I was born – 1935. I was born on February 21st, 1935, and he died a month later on March 5th of that year. As a result, I never knew this unique man. Nonno Babarovich was born on April 12, 1861, in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in Croatia off the coast of Split, Yugoslavia in the Adriatic Sea. Peter was the second child of his father,…

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On August 8, 1953 my maternal grandmother, Marija Babarovich died in Anacortes, Washington at age 90. That was the year I graduated from high school at Anacortes.  She was born September 21, 1863 in Splitska, Brac, Croatia. She died on August 8, 1953. She was a woman of great courage, faith and personal sacrifice.  Her husband, my grandfather,  Peter, had died the year I was was born in Anacortes and I never knew him. She never remarried. I remember her…

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On an early Friday morning, July 7th 2000, my mother Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was born on December 28, 1905 and was ninety four years old when she died. She had been in failing health for some time. Her passing was, in fact, a personal blessing to her as she had been ready to meet her maker for some time. She and dad…

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In 2016 I published a post about our wedding anniversary that began: “On Sunday, February 21, I “endured” my birthday. At age 81 you don’t “enjoy” birthdays except perhaps from a feeling of gratitude at being alive. As I have said to others, it’s a little like waking up that morning and discovering you have been trapped in the body of an 81-year-old. You don’t fully get used to the idea that you are aging in your mind until physical…

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Lita’s mother and my paternal grandmother died on the same day, December 20th,  but thirty nine years apart. Lita’s mother, Elizabeth Catherine Barnett was an extraordinart woman. Very bright, wise and gifted in so many ways. I’ve written about this remarkable woman many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/my-mother-in-law-elizabeth-barnett-1910-1995.html  It was my privilege to have known her. She was very intelligent, wise and a great judge of people. I loved her like my own mother for her many qualities and her understanding. This…

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