In 1908 Teresa Madoti at the age of 21 and her husband John Zatkovich at the age of 23 went to live in Tacoma, WA. They had a daughter Mary and sons John, Donald and Milan. John, the father, was injured at work and unable to provide to his family. Teresa was creative and intelligent woman and rearranged her home and turned their living room into a grocery store.

In 1927 her daughter Mary at the age of 17 went to work for the Nalley Pickle Factory owned by Croatian immigrant. She made progress in work because she was bilingual and talented. She met Peter Sestan and they got married after knowing each other for only 30 days. In 1933 they had their first daughter Delma Marie and then Elvina Ardene. Peter and Mary were a very popular couple and had many friends who were coming to their house.

Delma married Robert Mattich in 1953 and Ardene married his brother Edward Mattich.

Delma and Ardene made a collection of family recipes dedicated to their mother Mary who created some of them. The cookbook was published by SABS – Slavonian American benevolent Society, Croatian club from Tacoma, WA.

 

A group of dancing Croatain ladies: from the left unknown, Ana Cosulich Martinolivch, Cristina Cosulich Lovrich, Marina Bussanich Cosulich and unknown boy (courtesy of the Lovrich Family).

 

Branka Bezić Filipović