Obituary of Guoda Marija Bobelis

Guoda Marija (Mačiūnas) Bobelis, 90, of Somers, NY, formerly of Plainview, NY, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2024, at The Paramount at Somers Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Guoda was born on June 19, 1934, in Kaunas, Lithuania, to the late Visvaldas and Ona Baniūtė (Grigaitytė-Grigaliūnaitė) Mačiūnas. She is survived by her husband, Charles Sigitas Bobelis of Somers, NY; her daughters, Daiva Bobelis of Downingtown, PA, and Rūta Puškorius and her husband Rimas of Cotuit, MA; and her grandchildren, Sigita and Aidas.

Guoda emigrated to the United States from Lithuania during World War II at the age of 14. She, along with her parents and late brother, Jonas Mačiūnas, fled Lithuania following the second Soviet occupation in 1944. For five years, they moved through various displaced persons camps across war-ravaged Europe before settling in New York.

Guoda attended high school in Brooklyn and earned her bachelor’s degree in accounting from City College of New York. She retired in 2000 as an accountant for North Shore Schools in Sea Cliff, NY. She and Sigitas were married in 1959.

Guoda had a passion for travel, tennis, skiing, attending concerts, reading, sewing, and participating in cultural events within the Lithuanian émigré community. Most of all, she cherished time spent with her friends, family, and especially her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed.

A memorial Mass will be held on September 28, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Mt Carmel-Annunciation Church, 65-67 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to support the restoration of the Lithuanian crosses at The Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, where Guoda and Sigitas celebrated their marriage 65 years ago. Contributions should be made payable to Annunciation Church with ‘Lithuanian Cross Restoration’ noted in the memo line. Please send donations to Ruta Puškorius, P.O. Box 54, Cotuit, MA 02635.