Carmella Caterina Anna Picinich TARABOCHIA 

Born July 16, 1920 on the small Croatian island of Susak (named Sansego which was 
under Italian rule at the time). While living in Sansego, she attended Italian Schools, but 
spoke only Croatian. The people of Susak either groomed wine vineyards or were 
fishermen. Carmen's father lived and worked in the United States for the first nine years 
of her life, earning money so the rest of her family could join him there. When Carmen 
was 9 years old, her journey to the United States began. Carmen was once asked if 
she was glad she came to the US. She responded immediately by saying it was the 
best thing that ever happened to her and then added, "God bless America!" A 
particularly hard part of immigration was leaving her family behind. She knew the rest of 
her relatives wanted to come as well, but only her mother, uncle, uncle's son and 
brother Matt traveled with her. Her sister who was 18 at the time stayed behind. Due to 
poor health, her sister died at the age of 37. When Carmen left for America, it was the 
last time she ever saw many of her relatives. Her boat docked at Ellis Island, New York 
on July 8, 1929. "America seemed like a touchable dream," Carmen once said. She 
remembered her father coming to meet them and she was very excited, but also 
scared, because she did not speak any English. She started in the first grade at nine 
years old, to learn English which she learned quickly. Like so many immigrants, her 
family hoped to find better opportunities and believed that life would be luxurious and 
an improvement from Croatia. In actuality, Carmen arrived during the Great Depression. 
Unfortunately, many people lost thousands of dollars. However, she didn't care about 
the disappointing reality - she knew even in America's worst times, she was thankful to 
be in the US. As the Depression ravaged America, Carmen was forced to leave the 
schooling she loved in favor of the money her family needed to survive. Carmen started 
her first job when she was 16, taking care of a bakery in New Jersey, where she lived 
until the age of 18. She earned $9 dollars a week to support her family and was unable 
to attend high school, a decision she always regretted. In 1938, she migrated with her 
family to the Interbay area of Seattle to live with her mother's cousin and family. Carmen 
was so grateful to John and Mary Tarabochia for introducing her to her future husband. 
When Carmen first met her husband-to-be, Martin, it was love. They went out on one 
date. On their second date, he proposed to her! They were engaged for a year, and 
she was married at 20 years of age. Her husband was a commercial fisherman, born in 
Brookfield, WA, a tiny fishing town. They had four children, two sons and two 
daughters. From these four children came ten grandchildren, and from them seven 
great grandchildren. "I have a large and loving family," she said. In 1948, Martin and 
Carmen with their two oldest children temporarily moved to San Pedro, California so that 
Martin could tuna fish. After two years, they moved back to Seattle, where she spent 
the remainder of her life. She went back to Croatia twice in her lifetime and was 
pleased that her children and grandchildren return to her homeland frequently. Carmen 
was neither starving nor a refugee, just an ambitious girl searching for a better future 
and became a woman of determination refusing to let any barriers stand in her way. 
Although she dreamt of fulfilling her education, her own family became her focal point. 
Along with her four children, her sister's son Martin Picinich became the newest 
member of her household when he arrived from Italy at the age of 18. Several years 
later, his sister Rina and family, sponsored by Martin and Carmen arrived in the United 
States and settled in West Seattle. Martin and Carmen were known for their warmth 
and generosity in welcoming so many families and friends into their home. Large 
dinners, frequent parties, and singing were normal parts of growing up for their children. 
In the 1960s, Carmen went to work as a real-estate agent. She worked for Star Realty 
for 25 years and 10 years for Del Bianco Realty. She earned certification as an 
Associate Broker and with 35 years of dedicated work, retired at the age of 71 years. 
When her husband passed away in 1988, Carmen worked as a volunteer at 
Providence Mount St Vincent, but her lifelong goal kept beckoning her. In the 
mid-1990s, Carmen decided it was time to finish her education. She attended classes at 
South Seattle Community College. It was difficult, but with instructors' help & her 
positive attitude, she received her GED at age 81. Carmen passed away on August 26, 
2008 at the age of 88. She is survived by her four children: Martin Jr. (Karen), Nancy 
Freeman (Ron), Richard (Kathy - deceased, Donna), and Karen Mikacenic (Mike), her 
nephew, Martin Picinich (Bernita), niece Rina Tarabochia (Matt) and ten grandchildren: 
Melissa Tarabochia, Greg Tarabochia, Jeff Freeman (Dana), Eric Freeman (Jennifer), 
Karie Dillen, Kristin Tarabochia, Ryan Tarabochia, Nick Tarabochia, Carmen 
Mikacenic and Nancy Mikacenic. Visitation is September 3 at Forest Lawn Chapel, 
6701 30th Ave SW, Seattle from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. A rosary will be at 7:00 pm in 
the Chapel. Carmen's funeral mass service is September 4 at Holy Rosary church at 
11:00 am. Contributions may be made in her memory to Holy Rosary Church, 4139 
42nd Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116. 

Published in print on 8/30/2008 
Seattle Times