COPI, Maria

Maria Copi 15/12/1929 to 23/06/2015

Maria arrived in Australia in 1956 along with her husband Frank and their two daughters Breda and Ada, from war-torn Europe.  Maria was born in a small village in Italy now Slovenia (Trnovo Ob Soci) and during the war, Maria, her family, and most of the people in her village were taken to Concentration Camps.

After the war, she attended boarding school as most of her family perished during the war.  Following school, she worked in various jobs and on her way to work one day she met her husband-to-be Frank on the bus.  They fell in love, married, and migrated to Australia to start a new life.

It was a difficult time settling in Ballarat as they spoke no English and had to find work, which they both did.  Maria at St John of God Hospital and Frank at Selkirk Bricks.  They eventually saved enough to build a house and add to the family, another daughter, Maryanne - the family was complete.

Maria loved her family, the house was a happy one and her pride was her thriving garden, with beautiful roses and an abundance of vegetables in her large garden, that she grew for family and friends.  Maria was a great cook.

But the hardships continued, Maria's husband Frank died in 1988 at the age of 62.  Maria devoted herself to her family looking after the, her grandchildren, and her door was always open to help everyone.

The tragedy in her early life gave her the courage and strength to be able to cope with life's challenges.  Maria lost her eldest daughter Breda, suddenly in 2012, something she never truly recovered from.

Maria died in 2015 but left a great legacy of love, devotion to family, strength, and resilience.

She lives on in the hearts of all who loved her.

Maria was cremated at the Ballarat New Cemetery and she is now at peace with her beloved Frank and Breda in Rose Garden F Row 1 Rose 30B.

Thank you to her daughter Maryanne for submitting this beautiful story.