Paul Luvera Journal

A short note about people who died this month and who had a connection to me or my wife. Toni Hrvatin died October 7, 2005. I've published about her before for her role in my wife's family. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/12/elizabeth-catherine-barnett-1910-1985.html Antonia Theresa Hrvatin (Toni) at the age of three arrived in America from Yugoslavia in the early 1920's with her non-English speaking mother. When they arrived in Tacoma her father met them at the station and took them to their home in Alder. Later…

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Our companion and friend for fifteen years, Napoleon, died October 4, 2008. Everyone thinks their dog was special, but this one was special. He really understood what we would say him, was very bright and intuitive as well as a great companion to my wife Lita and Julie who takes care of the house for us. We all were very attached to him and him to us. I was on a trip when he got sick. Lita and Julie had…

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 Marija Babarovich died on August 5th, 1953. She was my mother's mother – my grandmother. She died the year  I graduated from high school in Anacortes, Washington. Her life story is one of great courage and sacrifice involving immigration to America while not being able to speak English. I've previously talked about that in writing about my mother.https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/07/mary-thelma-luvera-.html.html  I remember her vividly. A tall erect woman with hair piled high on her head, she looked regal and carried herself in a way that projected dignity…

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On an early Friday morning, July 7th2000, 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.  My sisters, Phyllis Ennes…

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My grandfather, Nicola Luvera died in Anacortes on Independence Day, July 4, 1956 after living more then ninety years. My chief regret is that he spoke no English and I spoke no Italian so we never had a real conversation – only through my father's interpretation. Dad believed our family should speak English because we lived in America so my sisters and I never learned either parent's native language. My grandfather's story is one of courage and determination. After working in…

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A brief report as to my status. Lita and I had a flight booked home tomorrow only to have a slight reversal regarding infection monitoring. I had to have lab tests and it takes a couple of days for report so the trip had to be cancelled. If all is OK we will go home Wednesday instead. Otherwise progress in knee rehab is good. The bad news is that we have a 118 degree day tomorrow here in Scottsdale with…

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This is our third, and hopefully final week in Scottsdale. With outside temperatures 113 t o 118 degrees one does not spend time outside.. I have another week of rehab before the doctor lets us go home. I am looking forward to our home and especially our dogs and cats which we have missed. Julie Harrison, our house manager has had the brunt of it taking care of her animals plus taking in our dogs as well. On this end, Lita…

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 My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich was born April 12, 1861 in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in the Adriatic Sea. He died in Anacortes, Washington March 5, 1935. Peter was the second child Ernest Babarovich and his wife Louise Setelich. The family exported wine and olive oil which they grew in their vineyards and olive orchards. He married Marija Mattia Vulic) in 1888, who was also born in Splitska. Peter's wife, my grandmother, was born September…

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