Katherine Simunich

Meridian, Idaho - Katherine, "Katy" Simunich passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday July 25, 2024, in Meridian, ID. at the age of 89. She was born Katherine Seric on September 27,1934, in the region of Lika, Croatia.

Her parents were Mile Seric and Maria Krnpotic. She married Joseph "Joe" Simunich on December 10, 1961, in Bilaj, Croatia. Soon thereafter, Katy moved with Joe to the United States. She gave birth to her son, Michael, in September 1962, and later gave birth to her daughter, Maria, in August 1964. Katy spent the rest of her life living in Meridian, Idaho from the early 1970's until her death.

Katy did not talk much about her early years. She endured physical and emotional hardships throughout her childhood and early adult life. We believe she had eight siblings, and to our knowledge none are surviving now. The last few years she opened-up a little and often recounted that she was "born in a potato patch." She spoke of a life of physical hardship and emotional strain that few people can imagine.

She lost a brother in a concentration camp. During WW2, Katy became separated from her family for several years and lived in another household. After the war she reunited with her family. Katy graduated high school and after that attended a trade school where she learned shorthand and typing. Katy later worked for both the state and federal courts in Gospic, Yugoslavia where she was a well-respected court recorder.

Katy met Joe sometime when Joe was visiting the area around Gospic. They had a long-distance correspondence resulting in their marriage in Bilaj. Joe took Katy back to the United States where he returned to his road construction work. Katy lived for a time with Joe's extended family in Boise while Joe worked and lived onsite at construction jobs out of the area. Later, Katy lived with Joe in a trailer while they moved from one construction site to the next, ranging from places in Idaho to Yellowstone Park to White Salmon, Washington.

Katy and Joe bought a 60-acre farm on Ustick Rd in Meridian in 1971. She devoted the rest of her life to farmwork. Katy had a strong accent when speaking English, despite living in the U.S. for over 60 years. She often commented that when she was in Croatia, she worked and spoke with judges and lawyers, but when she came to the United States she only worked with cows. The cows did not talk much, so her English never really became fluent.

It cannot be overstated how much the success of the farm on Ustick depended on Katy's work. She got up in the middle of the night to go out and set irrigation tubes. She ran the farm every day while Joe went to work at his construction jobs. Katy took pride in her work. As her health declined, she still managed to "do her job", as she put it, cleaning house, feeding the farm cats, and doing whatever she felt needed to be done.

Katy shrank her personal world during the last few years of her life and rarely left the farm. She developed relationships with her caregivers that brought smiles and happiness into her life. The family appreciates the women who spent time with Katy and helped her remain in her home.

Katy became especially close to Tami and Amanda. Both women cared for Katy enough to stay with her through changes in care provider companies and both gave her moments of love and joy. The family appreciates and thanks Alex for her time and commitment to Katy's care and well-being and for just being there for Katy. Katy appreciated Michelle's weekly calls. The family thanks Keystone Hospice for their aid and guidance helping Katy through the last few weeks of her life.

Katy was preceded in death by her husband, Joe. She is survived by her son, Michael "Mike", and his daughters, Anna Michelle Simunich, her husband, Patrick Riordon and their children, Joseph, Maximilian, Katherine Cecilia, and Lucy Riordon and Theresa Simunich and her fiancé, Jerry Crum; daughter, Maria and her husband, Randy Barnack and their daughters, Alexandria Barnack and Danica Laurence and her husband, Mike and their daughter, Hazel.


FOTO: Private