General Information/News

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Dragica Trikich-Spletzer. Memory eternal.

Dragica Trikich-Spletzer

Dragica Trikich-Spletzer, age 89, of Crown Point, formerly of Drvar, Bosna, passed away March 17, 2023.

She was a member of the St. Sava Circle of Serbian Sisters where she took pride in preparing foods for celebrations, and the yearly Serb Fest. She remained active with the Sisters.

Her story is that in 1968 she emigrated to the Region with her husband Nebojsa and their two children, where she found a very young Rade Petrovich and kept him close throughout her life. After the first year, Nebojsa passed at age 36. She continued to nurture her children in the Serbian community.

When both her children were settled, she married Richard. They traveled, throughout the world and often visited Vegas. They were members of the Sportsmen Club, along with her brother Milan and Carolyn Tomich. Like her father Branko, she sponsored and arranged for family members and friends to emigrate and to visit the U.S.

Dragica was known for her philanthropy. Thru her efforts, she helped to raise funds for war effort and relief for Serbian soldiers. She was able to reopen a shoe factory to make boots for them. Dragica was instrumental in rebuilding the church in her birthplace and then the re-interment of her brother Dragan on those consecrated grounds. Even in her final weeks she continued to send money to Bosna, this time to a friend in need.

Dragica was preceded in death by Nebojsa Trikich; parents- Branko and Stefanija Tomich; sister- Dusanka and Danica; also Richard Spletzer.

She is survived by her son- Bogoljub, and daughter- Bozana; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The visitation will take place Tuesday, March 21, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN. She will be buried at Calumet Park Cemetery next to her husband and parents. Father Marko Matic officiating. Burns Funeral Home, Crown Point entrusted with arrangements.

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.

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

Stana Jelic Djinovich

Stana Jelic Djinovich passed away Monday January 16 at the age 76 peacefully in her home and in her own way.

Stana was born in Montenegro to parents Milica and Veljko Jelic. Her life journey took her across the world to the United States in 1977 with three young children hand in hand with one suitcase joining her now late husband Slobodan Djinovich.

She immediately took a job at St Mary Medical Center where she worked for over 20 years. Over time she took on various additional jobs to help support her family in the new world. She was a loyal parishioner of St Sava Church and member of the Kolo Sestara actively supporting Lifeline Charitable Organization dedicated to helping poor people in the homeland.

She was preceded in death by her son Dragic “Danny” and husband Slobo Djinovich. She leaves behind her cherished and beautiful grandkids (Luka, Niko and Ana) Schaefer as well as her daughters Dragica and Dragana and son-in-law Charlie. Left to mourn her are numerous family in Montenegro, neighbors, kumovi and friends, especially her loyal friend Kathy Kljajich. Stana was an avid gardener.

Her gardens produced many beautiful flowers and vegetables that were the envy of her neighborhood and symbol of her strength, perseverance and optimism. Her faith in God never wavered in spite of numerous setbacks that included the loss of her beloved son and declining health. She was smart, creative and generous. She loved everyone and she was a proud Crnogorka until the very end. She was one of a kind and will be forever missed.

Funeral Services are the following: Saturday January 21. 2023 at 9:00 a.m. VISITATION 10:00 a.m. Pomen Service/Funeral Service officiated by Father Marko Matic St Sava Church 9191 Mississippi Street Merrillville Indiana 46410.

Internment/Burial will take place around 1 at St Sava Monastery in Libertyville where she be laid to rest next to her beloved son and husband. St Sava Monastery address 32377 N Milwaukee avenue Libertyville IL 60048.

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