Dr. Higinia Grossling's Obituary
Born May 18, 1927 in Valparaiso Chile
Was called to Heaven by The Lord Our God: March 23, 2025
Higinia was the daughter of Rosario Basulto, a Chilean Naval Nurse and Victor Contreras, a Vice Admiral in the Chilean Navy. As an only child she was affectionately known as “Quinita” by her doting family in her beloved Valparaiso. Years later as a loving Mother Grandmother, Great Grandmother & Great-great grandmother she was affectionately known as “Mama Tina” by both friends, family and everyone she would meet.
At a very early age she demonstrated great talent and intelligence that would later make her a physician, pianist, and an Honorably Discharged Major in the United States Air Force. While in medical school in Chile she married the only love of her life, Dr. Sergio Grossling. They married and had five children who survive her to this day:
· Lilie-Jean Awsumb
· Hans Christian Grossling
· Paula Erika Salazar
· Sylvia-Shari Grossling
· George Anthony Grossling
In the year 1962 the family migrated from Chile to the USA where they settled in the state of Minnesota. Mama Tina would become the matriarch of a family of more than 50 members including children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren the latest of which arrived just a few days prior to her passing.
Mama Tina was gifted by God beyond measure. Among these many gifts was an extraordinary talent for music. She was not only a near concert level pianist but also played the accordion and the harp. She was fond of telling all that would listen that she could not read music but could only play “by ear”. She played beautiful piano melodies right up until the end, regularly astonishing her audiences with her talent. Some of her favorite pieces, reflecting her eclectic taste, included The Warsaw Concerto, Aquarela do Brasil, Sabor a Ti, Adiós Muchachos, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, and Rhapsody in Blue, to name a few.
Over the years, she blossomed into a true cooking aficionado, known for her deliciously perfect crepes and savory empanadas. But it all started with her pineapple birthday cakes, lovingly baked for her kids when they were young, adding that sweet touch to every celebration. In her later years she was famously known in the neighborhood as a goodwill ambassador who baked and delivered her homemade “pan amasado” to all her neighbors. She was a prolific seamstress who created countless beautiful articles of children’s clothing for family and friends.
Mama Tina had an unwavering and deep faith in God, was/is greatly loved by all, and will be deeply missed.
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