Obituaries & Memorials

Mirko Dobrijevic

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

Mirko Dobrijevic, age 58 (April 21, 1958 – July 28, 2016) 0f Crown Point, IN passed away unexpectedly Thursday July 28, 2016.

Mirko was born in Sibenik, Yugoslavia to Petar and Danica (Kalik) Dobrijevic, who preceded him in death. He immigrated to the United States in 1998 during very difficult and tragic times in the homeland.

Since his arrival, he became a very active member of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral and was a regular participant on its barbeque crew. In addition Mirko was also an active member at St. Sava Church and served as complex custodian.

Surviving is his wife Nada Dobrijevic; his two daughters: Kristina and Biljana Dobrijevic; one Son Dejan (Meri) Dobrijevic; two brothers: Jovan and Spiro Dobrijevic; one sister, Anka Domitrovic; and many relatives in Europe.

Friends may visit with the family Sunday, July 31, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel 7535 Taft St. Merrillville, IN 46410. A Pomen Service will be at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Service will be directly at St. Sava Church 9191 Mississippi St. Merrillville, IN. 46410 Monday August 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. with V. Rev. Marko Matic and V. Rev. Aleksandar Novakovic officiating.

For further information, please call Savich and Semplinski Directors of 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 Radojka “Rada” Gasic. Memory eternal.

Radojka “Rada” Gasic (nee Jankovic), age 77 of Chesterton, passed away Friday, July 22, 2016 at home with her loving family by her side.

Radojka was born in Arandjelovac Srbija (Serbia) and came to the US with her husband Nikola and daughter, Mladenka in 1969. Rada was a lifelong member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and it’s Ladies Auxillary “Kolo Sestara”. She was retired from Federal Mogul after many years of service. Radojka was an avid baker, well known for her nutrolls and palacinke. She loved gardening and tending to her garden.

Radojka is preceded in death by her husband, Nikola Gasic; parents, Aleksandar and Ljubica Jankovic; siblings: Jovan (Milena) Jankovic, Zorka Nedic, Milivoje (Bosiljka) Jankovic and Tomislav (Djurdja) Jankovic.

Radojka is survived by her loving daughter Mladenka “Margo” (Bryan) Cooley, cherished grandchildren: Austin and Sydney Cooley; siblings: Miloslav (Gordana) Jankovic brother-in-law, Branko Nedic; niece, Ljiljana Radosavcevic; nephew, Aleksandar Jankovic; and many other nieces, nephews and Kumovi and friends.

Funeral Services will take place Wednesday, July 27, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. directly at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, with V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating. Interment Angelcrest Cemetery, 192 E 600 N, Valparaiso, IN 46383.

Visitation will take place Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St, Merrillville, IN with a Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m. Rada will be fondly remembered by all.

For any further information please call Savich & Semplinski Funeral Directors 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 Marta Petrovich. Memory eternal.

Marta Petrovich (June 15, 1919 – July 18, 2016), age 97 of Munster passed away July 18, 2016. Marta was a lifelong member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and its Kolo Srpski Sestara. She enjoyed her several years of volunteering at the former St. Sava Bingo and making Serbian Donuts “Krofne” for the Bingo Players. She was retired from St. Mary Medical Center, Gary, IN with over 25 years of service. Marta enjoyed very much knitting, gardening, and baking.

She is preceded in death by her husband Dragoljub Petrovich in 1985.

Marta is survived by four loving children, Millie (Metodija) Georgiefski, Sally Proimos, Mike Petrovich, and Mary Giurovic; 5 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild; many other family members and Kumovi both here and in Lika.

Funeral Services will take place Friday, July 22, 2016 directly at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, IN, with V. Rev Marko Matic officiating. Interment will take place at Calumet Park Cemetery.

Visitation will take place Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St, Merrillville, IN with a Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m. For further information please contact Savich & Semplinksi Funeral Directors of Calumet Park Funeral Chapel (219) 736-5840 or www.mycalumetpark.com.

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

Violet Potts, age 86 of Munster passed away Monday, July 11, 2016.

Violet was born and raised in Gary, IN. She was a lifelong member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and loving Sunday school teacher for over 24 years.

Violet was a retired teacher from the Flossmoor Montessori School, Flossmoor, IL with several years of service. She had such a great passion and respect for ballroom dancing, and she was very fond of her visits to Michigan.

Violet was preceded in death by her beloved husband William Potts in 1985.

She is survived by her five loving children: Karen Potts, Michele Potts, William (Mark Roscoe) Potts, Pauline (Sharon) Vought, Matthew (Carmela) Potts; three cherished grandsons: Matthew Potts, Jacob Potts and Christopher Sapone.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, at 10:00 a.m. DIRECTLY at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN, with Father Ilija Balach, officiating. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 7535 Taft St., Merrillville, IN with a Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America 322 Eighth Ave., 7th Fl., New York, NY 10001.

For further information please call Savich & Semplinski Funeral Directors of Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, (219) 736-5840 or: www.mycalumetpark.com.

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

Mary Ann “Baba” Cox, 86, resident of Naples, FL, for over twenty years, previously from Crown Point, IN, passed away on Friday, July 8, 2016.

Mary Ann was born in Centenary, IN. Preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Mildred Latinovich; and her husband of 44 years, Vernon W. Cox.

She is survived by her daughters, Kimberley (William) Slepcevich of Naples, FL, and Tammie (Mark) Muhinski, of Chesterfield, MO; grandchildren: William and Evan Slepcevich, and Zachary, Paige, and Lauren Mushinski.

Funeral Services will take place on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m., at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church, 2425 Rivers Rd, Naples, FL, 34120, with V. Rev. Jovan Todorovich and V. Rev. Joseph Shaheen officiating.

Interment at Naples Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, IN, 46410.

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

Robert M. Devyak, age 63 of Hobart, passed away June 21, 2016.

He was a graduate of Lew Wallace High School Class of ’70 and retired from U.S Steel after 30 years of service. Rob was an avid golfer, bowler, fisherman and hunter. He was a member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church.

Rob was preceded in death by his parents, George and Freida.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Lorraine; step-children: Mark (Conni) Morgan, David (Steph) Morgan, and Ruth Morgan; step-grandchildren- Alex, Cassi, Ty, and Cade; siblings: Georgia (late Gary) Becker, Carol (Paul) Abbate, Mary (Jim) Luebcke, Barbara Nicholson, Diane (Tom) Lukasik, George Jr. (Sue) Devyak; uncle, George Batalis; aunt, Dorothy (Don) Johnson; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; loving dog, Jenny III.

Friends may visit with Rob’s family from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 23, 2016, at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN, with aPomen service at 7:00 p.m.

A funeral service will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 24, 2016, at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN. Interment at Calumet Park Cemetery.

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/