The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Rose Mary Vrtikapa. Memory eternal.

Rose Mary (Polizzotto) Vrtikapa (November 15, 1925 – May 27, 2016), age 90, of Merrillville, IN passed away Friday, May 27th 2016.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Emanuele and Rose Polizzotto, her daughters Karen and Susan Vrtikapa and sisters Frances (late Dale) Erickson of Valparaiso, IN and Sara (Ed) Beladela of Hobart, IN. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Richard Vrtikapa, daughters Kathy (Jay) Friedlander of Carmel, IN , Nancy (Tom) Allesee of Palm Coast, FL and her 5 grandchildren Susan, Michael and Karen Friedlander and Taylor and Tyler Allesee, sisters Ann (late Kalman) Geleta, Sandra Jo (late Russell) Maranto, and Barbara (Jim) Shinovich, and many nieces and nephews.

Rose Mary, was a graduate of Froebel High School in Gary, IN where she was given the nickname, Polly. She was known for her famous spaghetti sauce, homemade Italian sausage and ziljanica. She was a founding member of the Indiana Chapter of Children’s Research Foundation, and a member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava Serbian Sisters, and supporting member of Karageorge Choir and St. Sava Historical Society. She retired from JCPenney drapery workroom, and Associates Loan Company in Gary, and volunteered at St. Sava Bingo.

She was loved by her grandchildren, close family and many life-long friends and will be greatly missed.

Visitation will take place at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St., Merrillville, IN on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Pomen by Fr. Marko Matic at 6:30pm.

Funeral services will take place at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 2, 2016 DIRECTLY at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Merrillville, IN.

Interment Calumet Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Rose Mary’s name may be made to St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church or Children’s Research Foundation, P.O. Box 205, Clarendon Hills, IL 60514.

Arrangements entrusted with Savich and Semplinski Funeral Directors at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel. For info please call 219-736-5840.

See more at: http://www.mycalumetpark.com/obituaries/Rose-Vrtikapa

With Memorial Day approaching, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

Beginning Monday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m. Father Marko Matic will be at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, Indiana in the front section of the cemetery offering blessings. At 10:00 a.m. Father Marko will offer blessings in the Calumet Cemetery in the Serbian Section.

Beginning Monday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. Father Marko Matic will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Gary, Indiana (45th and Harrison) offering blessings at the cemetery in the front section.

In these days when so much is said about the high cost of living, it is fitting to pause on Memorial Day and acknowledge the great price that thousands of others have paid that we might live in this land of freedom, the United States of America.

Memorial Day came as a result of Civil War. This was America’s greatest war – in the lives that were lost, in the issues and principles at stake, in the fact that it was fought on American soil, and in the results that have come from it. American Land flowed red with blood in this terrible conflict. It was fitting that a solemn day of memory be set aside for such a conflict as that.

Just as the Jewish people have their feast of Passover to remind them of their freedom from Egyptian bondage, so America has its Memorial Day to remind us of the Salvation and rebirth of the United States as a free nation.

Since that time, Memorial Day has become a national holiday to honor the dead of all wars. Even more, it has become a day in which fitting remembrance is made of all of our relatives, kumovi and friends who rest in peace.

On this Memorial Day, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

With Memorial Day approaching, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

Beginning Monday, May 30 at 9:00 a.m. Father Marko Matic will be at Calumet Park Cemetery in Merrillville, Indiana in the front section of the cemetery offering blessings. At 10:00 a.m. Father Marko will offer blessings in the Calumet Cemetery in the Serbian Section.

Beginning Monday, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. Father Marko Matic will be at Oak Hill Cemetery in Gary, Indiana (45th and Harrison) offering blessings at the cemetery in the front section.

In these days when so much is said about the high cost of living, it is fitting to pause on Memorial Day and acknowledge the great price that thousands of others have paid that we might live in this land of freedom, the United States of America.

Memorial Day came as a result of Civil War. This was America’s greatest war – in the lives that were lost, in the issues and principles at stake, in the fact that it was fought on American soil, and in the results that have come from it. American Land flowed red with blood in this terrible conflict. It was fitting that a solemn day of memory be set aside for such a conflict as that.

Just as the Jewish people have their feast of Passover to remind them of their freedom from Egyptian bondage, so America has its Memorial Day to remind us of the Salvation and rebirth of the United States as a free nation.

Since that time, Memorial Day has become a national holiday to honor the dead of all wars. Even more, it has become a day in which fitting remembrance is made of all of our relatives, kumovi and friends who rest in peace.

On this Memorial Day, let us remember all of the departed from this life, their names and their deeds, and let us rededicate ourselves to work for peace and good will and love among all people.

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Jerry Dusich. Memory eternal.

Jerry Dusich (January 30, 1919 – May 7, 2016), age 97 of Crown Point passed away on May 7, 2016.

Jerry was a life long member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and member of it’s building committee. He was a Sargent in the US Army Air force and also served in the Civilian Conservation Corps Colorado and Utah. Jerry retired from US Steel-Gary Works after 38 years of service. He was an inventor and holds a couple of patents. He was also a craftsman, artist and loved to tell stories.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents Miter and Mary Dusich; and siblings: Miter, Paul, John, Mark, Marie, Ann and Martha. He is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years Sophie Dusich; loving children: Robert (Irene) Dusich, Jeralyn (Frank) Yards; cherished granddaughters: Heather (Zane) Stellakis and Kimberly (Scott) Wilkinson; adored great grandchildren: Harper and Violet Wilkinson.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 11, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St, Merrillville, with a Pomen service at 7:00 p.m., V. Rev Marko Matic officiating.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday, directly at 11:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

For further information please call Calumet Park Funeral Chapel 219-736-5840.

See more at: http://www.mycalumetpark.com/obituaries/Jerry-Dusich/