February 2023

Please join us for a special Zadusnice Memorial Service taking place Saturday, February  18, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Sava Church, Merrillville, IN.

We encourage anyone to attend. There is no need to bring anything special to this service other than your memories and prayers for your loved ones. However, we do encourage you to write down a list of departed family members and friends, if you wish, to bring with you to the service so that we may read the names and remember all of them.

The purpose of the memorial service is to bring comfort to both the living and the dead. As is sung in the concluding song – Memory Eternal – it also helps us keep the memory of loved ones alive.

Zadusnice, also known as Saturday of Souls or All Souls’ Day, is a day commemorating the faithful departed, particularly but not exclusively one’s relatives. This special observance takes place on a Saturday, a traditional day for prayer for the dead, because Christ lay dead in the Tomb on Saturday.

For the Zadusnice observance, there is normally a Panikhida (memorial service) served on the Saturday morning for which Koliva (a dish made of boiled wheatberries and honey) is prepared and placed in front of the cross or icon with a lit candle, before which the Panikhida is served.

After the service, the priest blesses the koliva and it is then eaten as a memorial by all present.

Zadusnice Memorial Service takes place four times per year. If you are not available this Saturday, we encourage you to join us for the next Zadusnice Memorial Service

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

Nada Jankowski

Nada Jankowski, age 83 of Merrillville passed away peacefully, Friday, February 10, 2023. She was a lifelong member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and its Ladies Auxiliary.  Nada was preceded in death by her parents Marko and Kathryn; siblings Mitizi Labash and Marcus “Sonny” Rapo.

She is survived by her two loving children; Veronica (Bill) Mathews, and Mark (Heidi) Jankowski; 5 beloved grand-children, Kristen (Bryan) Vonasek, Lauren Mathews, Kyle Kabacinski, Mark & Jacob Jankowski; two cherished great- grandchildren, Emily and Lucy Vonasek; brother Lewis (Pat) Rapo; dearest cousins Jeannette Poulston, Jeannette & Pat Pamechena, Mabel Gemeinhart; sister-in-law Pat Rapo, brother-in-law Larry Labash; longtime friends Amy, Jackie, Rozanne, Pam and Jamie; and several other nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Nada loved her family immensely. Her grand-children and great-grandchildren were her pride and joy. She will be dearly missed. May her Memory be Eternal.

Visitation will take place Wednesday, February 15, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft Street, Merrillville, with a Pomen Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating.

Funeral Services will take place Thursday directly at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 919 Mississippi Street, Merrillville. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery. For further information please call Mileva or David at 219-736-5840

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

Nancy Buha

Nancy Buha (nee Ness), age 66, of Crown Point, IN, passed away peacefully with her loved ones by her side on Friday, February 3, 2023.  She was born in Gary Indiana to parents Steve and Helen Ness. Nancy was a 1974 graduate of Lew Wallace High School and retired from Munster Surgery Center after many years of service. She was a member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville.

Nancy was preceded in death by her parents Steve and Helen Ness and her brother Steve Ness.

Nancy is survived by her loving daughter Hilary Ann (Toby) Baldwin; beloved sister Dorothy “Sissy” Ness; cherished soul mate, Tom Decanter; and many other relatives, Kumovi and close friends.

Friends may visit with the family Tuesday, February 7, 2023, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft Street, Merrillville, IN.  A Pomen Service will be held, Tuesday Evening at 5:00 PM, V. Rev Marko Matic officiating.

Funeral Servies will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Nancy’s memory may be made to either the Susan G Komen, 877-GO KOMEN or by mail: 213 W Institute Place Ste 302, Chicago, IL 60610 or St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 800-608-3203 or by mail: 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

For further information please call Mileva at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel (219) 736-5840.