Maria Giancursio

Maria Giancursio of Rochester, New York, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 8, 2024, at the age of 77. She is predeceased by her parents, Jaroslaw and Maria Szepetyk, her sisters, Lisa Creed and Christyna Dutcher, and her brother, Orest Szepetyk. She is survived by her sister, Olga Kacmarski (Charles), her daughter, Michelle, her grandson, Ian Giancursio (Jordan), and her grandson, Kieran Madigan.

Known affectionately as “Oma” to her grandchildren, Maria’s birth story is absolutely incredible and serves as a testament to the utmost admiration her life truly deserves. She was born on September 5, 1947, in Egenhausen, Germany, the daughter of two refugees who met in an internment camp: her father, Jaroslaw, of Ukrainian descent and a survivor of Dachau, Nazi concentration camp, and her mother, Maria, of Czechoslavakian descent. She was born premature, and it was assumed she would not survive; However, her grandmother Emelia and mother Maria refused to accept this, and began feeding her castor oil. Because of their undying belief, Maria miraculously survived, and would go on to lead a life of lasting impact and influence.

At just 5 years old, Maria immigrated to the United States and was the first member of her family to learn English. She served as her family’s teacher and interpreter when they first settled in Amsterdam, NY in 1952. Maria’s family moved to Rochester, NY, settling amidst a mixed community of Slavic, German, Polish, Italian, and Irish immigrants. Every Sunday, her family would attend St. Josaphat’s Church followed by a beautiful family lunch, complete with Polish kielbasa and pierogies, and pastries from the Wojtczak’s bakery. She attended Franklin High School, where she was an incredibly intelligent and high-achieving student. 

Maria began her professional career at Eastman Kodak, where she worked as the Office Manager of several executives. While at Kodak, she taught herself computer programming from self-drawn blueprints of mainframes and hard drives, complete with detailed notes on each piece and its function. Her attention to detail and undeniable intelligence was shown throughout her tenure at Kodak, and she successfully retired in 2012.

Maria gave birth to her daughter, Michelle, in 1969, and this was the start of a lasting legacy carried on by the eventual birth of her grandchildren, Ian and Kieran, in 1992 and 1996, respectively. 

In memory of her precious and sacrificial life, Maria’s daughter and grandchildren desired to leave her a personal message from their hearts:

“Oma/Mama, there is no possible way to fully express our love and admiration for you. We love and miss you more than words. Your impact on each of our lives is something that no one will ever truly grasp, no matter what we say. We remember you as the woman who sacrificed her life for us, and gave everything she had, even when there wasn’t much to give. 

Mama, I remember you as the Mother who did her absolute best to provide for me, Michelle, and the encouraging force behind my pursuits of dancing, music and modeling. I also remember you as the Mother who was there for your daughter when I had my own children, and sacrificed yourself to support and protect us from the deep-layered obstacles happening in our lives. Mama, you were my confidant, my listening ear, and my hand to hold and partner through all the years. My friend, and ‘God’s unique flower.’

Oma, we remember you as the grandmother who, quite literally, gave us both everything. We will never forget how, as little kids, we would run to the phone to call you and ask, ‘Oma, can you come over?’ And you were there, every single time, without question or delay, even if you had just left our house an hour ago. You were there at every single sporting event, concert, and performance to support us in our pursuits, missing nothing. You comforted us, protected us, and wanted simply to make us happy. And not a single moment went by that you weren’t right by our side.

Oma, I remember how you drove me, Kieran, to 5 different McDonald’s across Rochester to find the last Transformers toy I was searching for, and bought Happy Meals at each one until I finally found it. And how you always bought me exactly what I needed for a new job or school year, without being asked. You defended me and protected me from anyone who spoke against me or tried to tear me down. You were my greatest advocate and my biggest defender during the most difficult years of my life, and I will never forget you.

Oma, I remember how you took me, Ian, on morning trips together to Wegmans, and how you would always order the same thing: a coffee with Hazelnut creamer and Boston Cream donut for you, and a chocolate glazed donut for me. Or how we often went to McDonald’s for breakfast, to get the pancakes and butter packets. I will never forget listening and dancing to “You Sang to Me” by Marc Anthony with you, every single day, and to Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. I will never forget how many times we watched The Gladiator together, and how your eyes lit up every time Russell Crowe came on screen. I will absolutely always cherish our trips to Greece Ridge Mall to play arcade games and ride the carousel, and how you’d sit peacefully and smile and wave while watching me ride the black horse. You made sure to buy me the newest Madden video game every single year, and watch me excitedly unwrap it on Christmas even though I knew it was coming. You sat with me to watch Buffalo Bills games every Sunday, just to share in my excitement and passion. You didn’t even care about the game, you simply wanted to see me smiling and happy. You were the stronghold that provided Mom the opportunity to complete years of education while you cared for us. For that, and for everything, I can never thank you enough. 

Oma, we will always remember you as a woman of grace, lover of music and dancing, sharp wit and humor, appreciation for shopping and quality, and a lover of nature’s beauty. You were the calm in the storm, the presence that we held onto when faced with life’s most challenging moments. The comfort shining through the darkness. Without you, we would not have had that home to live in. Without you, we would not have attended such prestigious schools. Without your love and continuous presence and encouragement, our lives would not have been shaped and so solidly supported with the fullness you provided. Thank you for everything, Oma. You live on in each of us, in our spirit and in our hearts. We love you forever, Oma, and we long for the day when we are finally reunited with you again. Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Love You infinitely,

Michelle, Ian, and Kieran