Josephine O. Mirkovich

Longtime island resident Josephine “Pina” Mirkovich, 91, died April 18.

She was born June 10, 1913, in Singapore of Croatian and Dutch descent, to Sam and Katie Satlow.

In 1914, her family boarded a steamer and sailed across the Pacific to San Francisco, then sailed on a lumber schooner to Hoquiam, Wash., where there was a sizable Croatian-American community.

They joined her father’s brothers, who had immigrated from the Island of Rava on the Dalmatian Coast some years prior.

In 1935, she married commercial fisherman Sam S. Mirkovich, skipper and partner of F.V. Bainbridge and F.V. Sonny Boy.

She lived in Eagledale in a house that her husband’s parents, Nikola and Kata Mirkovich, homesteaded in 1910. She was a part of the large Mirkovich clan and the community of Bainbridge Island fishing families of Croatian descent from whom Eagledale got the nickname “Ich-ville.”

She lived there for 65 years until moving to Seattle four years ago to be near her daughter.

She was known for her culinary skills. For 23 years, she baked bread daily and prepared hot lunches for students and staff, first at Commodore Middle School, then at Blakely Elementary School. The fare included her famous “homemade” spaghetti, lasagna or turkey dinners, freshly baked cakes and cookies.

She was an active member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband in 1972.

She is survived by children Richard (Susan) Mirkovich of Olympia, Cathryn (John) Morovich of Seattle and Sam (Leslie) Mirkovich of Bainbridge Island; grandchildren John Morovich Jr., Joanne (Patrick) Abdo, Nicholas, Michael, Peter, Walter and Sam (Katie) Mirkovich; Anthony and Catie Mirkovich; sister Florence Franko of Hoquiam; and numerous nieces and nephews in Washington, California, South Africa and Croatia.

Funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. April 23 at St. Cecelia Catholic Church, with interment at Seattle’s Calvary Mausoleum, Saturday at 3 p.m.

Memorials can be made to the St. Cecelia School Building Fund, the Bainbridge Education Support Team, P.O. Box 10051, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

Arrangements are by Kass Funeral Home.