Maria Hyacinta Mižaninova Lazzarino, 75, passed away the evening of Thursday January 9th, 2025 in Tanner Hospital, Carrollton, Georgia.

She was born on April 11th, 1948, in Vyšná Šebastová, Czechoslovakia, now the Slovak Republic.

Maria is preceded in death by her parents, Agnesa Hajtasova Mižaninova and Michal Mižanin, her siblings and their spouses; Jozef Sedlák, Cyril Pribula, František Šoltys, Ladislav Mižanin, Irena Mižaninova, and Pavol Mižanin.

Ms. Mižaninova Lazzarino is survived by her daughter, Luciana Maria Lazzarino, and her siblings and their spouses; Helena Sedláková, Agnesa Pribulová, Anna Gumanová, Dusan Guman, Cecilia Beregszásziová, Kristina Šoltysová, Magdaléna Referovičová, Vladimir Referovič, Jozef Mižanin, and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Maria emigrated from the communist country of Czechoslovakia at the age of 17 with nothing but the shirt on her back to Los Angeles, California. She did not speak English and put herself through high school living in an apartment with no furniture. From there, she graduated, taught herself English, and went on to UCLA and graduated with honors as a Physical Therapist. She was always a devout member of the Catholic church and always put family above anything else. She enjoyed skiing and always had a large garden wherever she lived. Maria was always a hard worker, sometimes keeping multiple jobs mostly as a housekeeper/nanny to put herself through school and send money back home to support her family.

She was married 1985 to Luciano Lazzarino, also in California. Her Daughter was born a year later on July 25th, 1986, in Long Beach, California. Maria made several attempts to have more children but with no success. She dedicated herself to her work in order to provide for her family, specifically to provide her daughter with a better life up until unforeseen injuries began to occur.

In 2013, Maria underwent massive brain surgery that would change her life forever. She lost her eyesight, her husband, and had to retire early. She retired as a Physical Therapist at Garden Terrace in Douglasville, Georgia. Her daughter whom she loved more than anything in the world, stood by her side holding her hand until the very end.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to meet Maria always expressed how touched they were by her love, her smile, her kindness, and her beauty. She was an intense woman of faith and one of great strength and resilience. She has touched many lives with great impact around the world. She will forever be loved and missed.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 19, 2025 from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM at Almon Funeral Home. Rosary will follow at 6:30 PM.

Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, January 20, 2025 at 12 Noon at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.

Interment will follow in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church Cemetery.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com

Almon Funeral Home of Carrollton has charge of arrangements.