The Life of Karita M Hummer
“A child of an immigrant from Sicily, my parents instilled in me the love of our Country for its freedom and values and principles and for compassion and generosity for all.” Karita Miraglia Hummer.
Karita Miraglia Hummer (Kathryn Rita Miraglia), 80, died January 20th, 2021 in San Jose, California from COVID-19.
Karita was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Josephine Miraglia and grew up in Carnegie. She graduated from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh and received her MSW from University of Pittsburgh in 1964. Karita was a clinical social worker for more than 50 years. She worked in various clinical settings as well as private practice with an emphasis on children and families. Of note, in 2006, Karita co-founded Family Alliance for Counseling Tools & Resolution (FACTR) benefiting refugees and immigrants in Santa Clara County, California and became FACTR’s president and clinical director.
In 1966, Karita married Paul Hummer and they had a devoted, loving and lasting marriage of nearly 55 years. (Sadly, Paul passed away several weeks prior to Karita’s death.) In the mid-1970s, Karita and Paul moved from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Chicago, Illinois and in the late 1980s, moved to San Jose, California.
From an early age, Karita showed much compassion and love for human interests. Later, she became quite politically active and was an advocate for human rights, social justice and causes which were great assets contributing to her career in social work.
Karita was a kind, loving person, whose tenacious and tireless efforts in making others' lives better was the main goal in her life's work. Her other interests included her love of nature and gardening; additionally, she was on committees for historical preservation sites.
Karita had a younger brother, Peter Joseph Miraglia (deceased), and is survived by her older sister, Francesca Miraglia Viglione, and nieces Carolyn Viglione, Marybeth Viglione and Cynthia Viglione Anning.
Karita was a true visionary whose unwavering optimism inspired us all. She will be dearly missed but remains in the hearts of those of us who will cherish her memory for a lifetime.
Karita (and Paul) will be buried on Saturday, April 24th at 1 PM at Penn Forest Natural Burial Park, 121 Colorado St., Verona, PA 15147.