Maria M. Zimmerman's Obituary
Maria Zimmerman, 78, of Avon, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2025. Born in 1947 in Croatia, Maria led a remarkable life defined by courage, creativity, and an insatiable pursuit of knowledge.
After graduating as valedictorian of her high school, Maria bravely immigrated to the United States at the age of 20, alone and without knowing English. Through determination and hard work, she built a successful life and career, co-founding Deca Realty, Inc. in Amherst, Ohio, which she operated proudly from 1977 until her retirement in 2020. Maria helped hundreds of families find homes and made history as the first immigrant and second woman to serve as president of the Lorain County Board of Realtors.
In midlife, Maria was active in organizations such as the Kiwanis Club and Toastmasters, where she honed her gift for public speaking. Later, she embraced painting, poetry and card making as creative outlets. Maria was known for her love of cooking and baking cookies. During the holidays, she baked thousands of cookies for friends and family. Her love of learning never faded;
she was an avid reader, spoke several languages, and found joy in teaching others.
Maria was the cherished and loving mother of Michelle Sabolich, Stephen J. Sabolich (Lee), and a devoted grandmother to Max, who brought her immense joy and pride.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 7, 2025 from 5-7 PM at Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, OH 44001. A private burial will be held later at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to Habitat for Humanity at https://www.clevelandhabitat.org/ an organization whose mission of building homes and hope resonated deeply with Maria’s values.
Her legacy of strength, intellect, and artistic expression will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her.
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