Grace M. Simaga, 93 of Whiting, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 26, 2017 at Hartsfield Village, Munster.  She was the beloved wife for 69 years of the late Frank J. Simaga who passed away March 24, 2016; loving mother of Charlene (Joseph, Jr.) Curosh of Whiting and Janeace (Robert) Slifka of West Hartford, CT; cherished grandmother of Scott (Noelle) Slifka, Jonathan (Andrea) Slifka, Joseph (Dawn) Curosh, III, David Curosh and Lauren Curosh; adoring great grandma of Betsy Slifka, Joey Curosh, IV and Chloe Curosh; dearest sister-in-law of Patricia Mazanek, Mary (late Bill) Kerekes and Ronald Mosca; proud aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Joseph Mazanek and sister , Marianne Henke.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 9:30am at the Baran Funeral Home, 1235-119th St., Whiting; a Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:00am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting, with the Rev. Stanley J. Dominik, officiating; interment, Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville; visitation at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4:00 to 8:00pm.

Grace Simaga was born on July 22, 1924 in Slovakia to Oldrich and Mary (Skurka) Mazanek and at the age of two her parents immigrated to the United States. Grace was a resident of Whiting for the past 91 years and was a graduate of Whiting High School, Class of 1942 and the Brian Stranton Business College. She retired as the secretary to Rev. Ronald Schiml, C.PP.S. at the Calumet College of St. Joseph.  Grace and her late husband, Frank were very devoted members of the former SS. Peter & Paul Church, Whiting where they both participated with the annual Lamb Roast and had sung with the choir for many years. Upon its closing they followed the congregation to Sacred Heart Church, Whiting. She was currently a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Whiting.  Grace was a member of the First Catholic Slovak Ladies Assoc., BR. 452, the Womens’ Guild of the Calumet College of St. Joseph and the former Wives Club of the Knights of  Columbus, Pope John XXIII Council 1696. She loved doing arts and crafts and was an accomplished ceramist. She was known for making beautiful crèches, Christmas trees and decorations for every holiday. Through the years, Grace served on many decoration committees for the organizations she participated with. Grace was blessed with an incredibly sweet, gentle and generous nature and a lovely soprano voice. She touched many lives and was such a wonderful example of kindness and generosity to her daughters and grandchildren. Always had a gift or treat whenever she saw them. She loved her trips to Disney World with her husband, Frank, and daughters and their families. She loved her caregivers at Hartsfield Village Memory Support and always called them her “zlata dusas (golden souls). Everything she did, she did well and was always known as a beautiful dresser. She was a fabulous mother and will be missed terribly by her daughters, Charlene and Janeace. Her family would like to thank their mother’s wonderful caregivers at Hartsfield Village Memory Support and Hospice for their incredible care and concern. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Hospital for Special Care (HSC Research Unrestricted Fund Mentorship Program), 2150 Corbin Ave., New Britain, CT 06053, would be appreciated. 

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