Margaret Mary Sorich

January 26, 1923 – June 19, 2015

Margaret Mary Sorich, mother-grandmother-aunt-friend, passed away Friday, June 19, 2015 at the age of 92 in Kirkland, WA surrounded by family. Margaret was known for her tremendous curiosity and joy of life and always brought a little sunshine into every room she entered. She earned the love of countless friends, and will be greatly missed by her extended family and all those who knew her.

 
The third of five children born to Ernest and Anna Blatner, Margaret spent the majority of her life in Portland, OR, where she graduated from Jefferson High School in 1941. After high school she attended Hastings Business College and worked as a secretary for the U.S. Air Force in the mid 1940’s. She married Nicholas C. Sorich in 1948 and had five children.

 
Margaret was a volunteer at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Portland for several years. As a lover of the arts and music, Margaret also enjoyed dancing and belonged to several dance clubs in the 1960’s and 1970’s with her husband, Nick. She also became an avid painter, working in acrylic, pastels and watercolor, and showed her work at several local galleries. In her early 40’s, Margaret took up playing golf and joined many 18 and nine-hole ladies golf groups over the years, continuing to play until she was 91.

 
After moving to Kirkland, WA to be near family at 86, she settled into life at Merrill Gardens Retirement Community. During that time she participated in many of the musical theatre performances, painting classes and exercise programs like Zumba, yoga and tai chi for seniors. She was a very joyful social butterfly who loved her many friends and was interested in participating in just about everything. All of her children visited her often and she loved spending time with them as they were her pride and joy.

 
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents, husband Nick, first daughter Michele, brother Joe Blatner and sister Ann Collins. She is survived by her loving children, Marianne Francis, Katherine Martini, John Sorich and Nanette Sorich; her four grandchildren, Michelle, Joseph and August Martini, and Max Francis; sons-in-law Peter Martini and C. Douglas Francis; siblings George Blatner and Ernest Blatner; plus many loving nieces and nephews.

A mass and celebration of her life will be held on Monday, July 13, 2015 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Portland, OR beginning at 11 AM. As a special acknowledgement, the family expresses its sincere gratitude to all of the caregivers, hospice nurses and physicians for all of their loving and attentive care over the past year. And a special thanks to all relatives and friends who sent their love and visited Margaret in her final months. She is sending kisses to all from heaven.