Obituary of Mary Anne TOMINAC (nee Vukovich)

December 1, 1946 - Timmins, Ontario
February 10, 2021 - Calgary, Alberta

Alone and in hospital at the Rockyview General Hospital, Mary Anne Tominac passed from this life at 8:45 am on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.  

Her life, while blessed with many warm and loving relations of family and friends, was also witness to several serious moments of illness over the last twenty years, which had a debilitating effect on her long-term health. Her passing made us, as family and friends realize that an enormous fault in the structure of our roots has been disturbed. We have been shaken by this quiet moment of her passing.

Mary Anne was born at St. Mary’s hospital in Timmins, Ontario. Her birth was unexpected and a surprise to a mother who was at the time forty years of age. And with sadness and God’s grace, thirteen years later, Mary Anne would assume the home responsibilities when her mother Roza passed away from illness, leaving her brother Thomas and her father Anton in Mary Ann’s hands. Never a word of self-pity, nor anger, nor frustration would ever come to her, in her efforts to keep the family unified.

All was not sadness in her life. This is especially evident when she met and married Petar Tominac (1940 – 2019) whose family embraced her and her ways. Petar and Mary Anne after marriage lived in Schumacher, Ontario, Prince George, British Columbia before finally settling in Calgary, Alberta for the last 30 years.

Being fastidious about her work and responsibilities has always been a trait of Mary Anne’s approach to everything she would do. Housework and office tasks or playing an instrument in an orchestra, have all carried with it a degree of clarity and focus on detailed perfection. She was a proponent of being honestly critical when presented with a controversial matter. She enjoyed the rehearsals and performances with the Calgary Croatian Tambura Orchestra. Notable among those was her memorable music performances, touring with the orchestra in Croatia.

Mary Anne and Petar had special friendships with related members of families, Patrick and Denise Hare of Calgary, Walter and Mary Vukovic of Prince George, Josip and Branka Skrtic of Calgary, and Tomislav and Mira Sertic of Thunder Bay. Her sister-in-law Slavka Tominac and her family (Ivan, Matt and Diana) have always been with Mary Anne and Petar, at times when love and support were most needed.   

In remembering our aunt, Tante Marija, a nephew commented: “Dear Tante Marija, you are now on your way to join Uncle Pera. May your journey be blessed. You have shown us how limitless is our human capacity for faithfulness and steadfastness, for love. Despite all that you have carried through this life, you have never given up hope, you never despaired, and you never doubted. You told me about our family history and opened my eyes and my heart to my own family roots”.

The Families of Vukovich and Tominac would like to thank our many friends and relatives for their thoughts and prayers during the time of my sister’s passing. We have been blessed to have had her love and the example of her character.

Zahvaljujemo se svim dragim rodjacima, mnogobrojnim prijateljima i poznanicima na izrazima sućuti povodom smrti naše voljene sestre Marije.

Hvala za svu ljubav, dobrotu i pažnju koju si nam nesebično pružala. Sjećat ćemo se uvijek tvog osmijeha i vedrog duha. 

Dragi Bog nam te podario da tvoj primjer i tvoja ljubav vječno živi u nama.

Počivaj u miru Božjem!

Obitelji, Vukovich i Tominac

Those wishing to pay their respects may do so at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Relatives and friends are invited to Prayers and Tributes at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY (Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North Calgary, AB) on Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at 8:00 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church (51 Silvergrove Drive NW, Calgary, AB), on Thursday, February 18, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. Graveside Service to follow at Queen’s Park Mausoleum. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed on Mary Anne’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Mary Anne Tominac, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.