A visitation and viewing will be held at the Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 4th St Gilroy, CA at 11:00 A.M. A Funeral Mass will be held in the chapel at St. Mary’s Church, 11 1st St Gilroy, CA at 12:30 P.M. on Thursday, May 2, 2013. Burial at St. Mary’s Cemetery will follow the Mass. Following the service a reception will be held.
Donations in Biserka’s memory may be sent to the Little Sisters of the Poor, 601 Maiden Choice Lane, Baltimore, MD 21228-3698, on-line at www.littlesistersofthepoorbaltimore.org
Online condolences at www.habingfamilyfuneralhome.com
Biserka Katalinic Kirigin Chargin was born November 13, 1920 in Kastel Novi, Croatia. She passed away at home April 26, 2013. Biserka’s parents were Vilma and Damjan Katalinic, Damjan was a businessman and vintner in Kastel Novi. She is the last survivor of the six Katalinic siblings.
Biserka attended the University of Zagreb in Zagreb, Croatia, where she met Nikola Kirigin Chargin whom she married in 1942.
Biserka had three sons: Anthony, Mladen, and Nick. In 1960, Biserka immigrated to the United States with her sons to join her husband who came here a year earlier. In 1976, Nikola and Biserka settled in Gilroy, CA. where Nikola established Kirigin Cellars Winery. They traveled all over the world including Europe, South America, Australia and Southeast Asia.
After Biserka arrived in the United States she took classes in piano and English at San Jose City College. She was a perfectionist in grammar whether it was in Croatian or English.
Since childhood and throughout her life, Biserka loved to play the piano for friends and family. She was the life of the party, able to play classical and dance music, traditional romantic ballads and Croatian folk songs. She also volunteered to play in assisted living facilities in the area. In her later years she would play from memory while not quite able to read the notes. She enjoyed the company of friends and family and loved to serve Turkish coffee and homemade desserts. In addition, Biserka enjoyed swimming at the pool at Gavilan College.
Biserka was predeceased by Nikola in 2011, and by her grandchildren Mary Lara Chargin and Steven Chargin. She is survived by her sons Anthony (Carol), Mladen (Doris), and Nick. In addition Biserka is survived by five grandchildren: Susan Chargin Rock (Peter), Mark Chargin (Susan), David Chargin (Poonsaeng), Emily Chargin Soto (Erwin), Alan Chargin and three great-grandchildren, Alex and Max Rock, and Abigail Chargin. Biserka is survived by several nieces and nephews who reside in Europe.
