Obituaries & Memorials

Desanka “Daisy” Wuletich

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Desanka “Daisy” Wuletich. Memory eternal.

Desanka “Daisy” Wuletich (May 8, 1918 – December 31, 2015) of Merrillville, born on May 8, 1918 in Gary, IN to John and Cveta Gerun Wuletich and known to her extended family as “Aunt Daisy,” passed peacefully away on December 31, 2015.

Throughout her life, Aunt Daisy held dear her faith and devotion to St. Sava Orthodox Church where, following her work at the Cloverleaf Dairy Company, she served as Church Secretary and where, over the course of her life, she sang in the Choir, taught Sunday School, was a member of the Serbian Sisters Kolo and carried on the work of her father, John Wuletich, who was instrumental in founding St. Sava’s in 1913.

As with her faith, Aunt Daisy’s love of and devotion to family was absolute. Likewise, her appetite for knowledge, which blossomed at Indiana University where she was one of the first women to study astronomy, was an enduring passion in her life.

Aunt Daisy’s devotion to community was just as strong; she was a member of the Srbijka Club and the Serbian Republican Club, and she offered her services as a translator for Serbian refugees in the 1950s.

Daisy was preceded in death by her parents; by her siblings Bronko, Rudy, Violet “Fid” and Sam; and by her nephews, Tommy, Randy and Doug. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Michael C. Masters; her nieces and nephews: Jim Wuletich (Terry); Ann Krimmel; Teri LaJone (Jay); Sandy Funk (Jack); Ross “Gary” Wuletich (Brenda); John Masters (Jennifer); and Barbara Riley. In addition, are many grandnieces and grandnephews and great-grandnieces, all of whom will remember with love a woman of extraordinary curiosity, intellect, generosity, spirit and grace.

Friends are invited to meet with Daisy’s family between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016 at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point. The Pomen will take place at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services will take place at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, IN 46410; interment will follow at the Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Sava Church.

See more at: http://www.burnsfuneral.com/obituaries/Desanka-Wuletich/#!/Obituary

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

Margot Sanetznik (Simic) age 92 (September 25, 1923 – December 18, 2015), passed away on December 18, 2015 with Her loving family at her side.

Margot is survived by 2 Daughters: Eva Simic (Mike) Czarnecki and Danica (Dusan) Pejnovic. She lived a very full life, and was able to see Her 3 Grandchildren: Nikola (Jelena) Pejnovic, Vesna (Clint) Konopasek & Mirjana Pejnovic–reach adulthood, and attended 2 of Their Weddings. She also took much pleasure and enjoyed time with Her Great-Grandson Luka.

For many years, She was a member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and retired employee of Lake Ridge Schools. In Her retirement years, She enjoyed Crocheting, reading non-fiction works and spending quality time with Her Grandchildren & Great-Grandson. Her 7 Brothers & Sisters who resided in Germany–all preceded Margot in death.

Funeral Services will be held Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, Directly at 10:00 a.m. at St. Sava Church, (9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville) with V. Rev. Marko Matic, officiating. Interment, Calumet Park Cemetery.

Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN. A Pomen Service will be offered at 6:00 p.m., Sunday.

For further info: phone Savich & Semplinski Directors of Burns F.H. at 219-769-0044.

See more at: http://www.burnsfuneral.com/obituaries/Margot-Sanetznik/#!/Obituary

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

Sheila Zorich, age 79 (December 10, 1935 – November 16, 2015) of Hobart, passed away peacefully on Monday, November 16, 2015 with her loving family by her side.

Sheila was a lifelong member of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and it’s Serbian Sister’s Circle Kolo Sestara. She was preceded in death by her parents, Millie and Gerald Reese and her husband of 59 years, Dan Zorich.

Sheila is survived by her four beloved children: Diane Bair (Don Cervantes), David (Elaine) Zorich, Dane (Lisa) Zorich, Dawn (David) Maksimovich; Seven loving grandchildren, Stefanie (Warren) Fournier, Danielle (Nick) Szymanski, Adam, Stephen, & Ana Maksimovich, Nicholas & Alec Zorich; five great grandchildren and her brother Gerald Reese and Family.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m., with V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating.

Funeral Services will be held Thursday directly at 10:00 a.m., St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

Sheila will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by all who knew her.

For further information please call Savich & Semplinski Funeral Directors at Burns Funeral Home (219) 769-0044 www.burnsfuneral.com.

See more at: http://www.burnsfuneral.com/obituaries/Sheila-Zorich/#!/Obituary

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Very Reverend Vasilije Budimir Sokolovic. Memory eternal.

Very Reverend Vasilije Budimir Sokolovic, age 77 (May 13, 1938 – October 10, 2015), Orthodox priest of 45 years, retired parish priest of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Cleveland fell asleep in our Lord Jesus Christ Saturday, October 10, 2015. May his Memory be Eternal – Vecnaja Pamjat!

Son of Holy Priestmartyr Saint Budimir of Dobrun and the late Protinica Desanka Sokolovic. He was the 42nd ordained priest in the Sokolovic lineage.

Beloved husband of Protinica Zagorka “Zorine” (nee Vitkovich). Dear father of Mirjana (Milan) Damljanovic and Deacon Teodor (Tanja). Loving grandfather of Maksim, Makarije, Izabella, and Metodije. Dear brother of Mirjana (deceased) and Vladimir (Erika). Friend and Kumovi to many.

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy will take place Friday, October 16 at 8:00 AM at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, 6306 Broadview Road, Parma, OH followed by funeral liturgy at 11:00 a.m.

His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan officiating. The V. Rev. Vasilije Sokolovic will lie in state at church on Thursday, October 15 from 3-8:00 p.m. POMEN service 7:00 p.m.

Interment Monastery Marcha Serbian Orthodox Cemetery. Arrangements by the Donald A. Faulhaber Funeral Home – www.faulhaberfuneralhome.com.

The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the family of Sofia (Soka) Dragic. Memory eternal.

Sofia (Soka) Dragic, age 89 (March 2, 1926 – September 28, 2015), of Hobart, passed away September 28, 2015 peacefully with her family by her side.

Soka was born March 2, 1926 in Donji Lapac, Lika in the former Yugoslavia. She was a WWII refugee who escaped communism and facism in her homeland. Soka traveled with the Chetniks of Ravna Gora under General Draza Mihailovic, living in refugee and displaced person camps in Italy and then making the journey to Germany, and then Gary, Indiana via Ellis Island in New York.

Soka was a lifelong member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church and the Serbian Sisters Circle of St. Sava. She retired from St. Mary Medical Center with several years of service.

She was preceded in death by husband Blagoje (Blazo) Dragic, son George Dragic, parents Bozo and Jelena Drca and brothers-Milan, Sinisa, Nikola, Jovan and sister Borka.

Soka was a Loving mother to daughters, Lillian (Stanley), Galich, Smilka (Sasha) Parker, Dorothy (Larry) Mokry, and Borka/Barbara (Arnfinn) Grimsgard and son Danny (Mary-Maca) Dragic).

She also leaves behind 9 grandchildren and several great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews both in the U.S. and in Serbia.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 1, 2015 at Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m. with V. Rev. Marko Matic officiating.

Funeral Services will be Friday at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St, Merrillville, directly at 10:00 a.m. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

For further information please contact Savich & Semplinski directors at Burns Funeral Home (219) 769-0044 or burnsfuneral.com.

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

Mary Chapman, age 98 (April 10, 1917 – September 11, 2015), passed away peacefully September 11th at the Crown Point Christian Village.

She was preceeded in death by her husband, Ernest, mother, Diana Demich, father, Theodore Knezevich, 4 sisters, 2 brothers and step-father, Daniel Demich.

Mary is survived by her loving children: Karen (Robert) McFarland, Crown Point, IN, Randy Chapman, Lowell, IN, Joyce (Michael) Skolak, Hobart, IN and George (Laura) Chapman, Leigh Acres, FLA; 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren.

Mary was a former employee of the School City of Gary, retiring after 24 years of service.

She was a long-time member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, the Circle of Serbian Sisters – Kolo Sestara.

Visitation will be Monday, September 14th, 4:00-8:00 p.m. with Pomen Service at 7:00 p.m. Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, IN, with V. Rev Marko Matic and V. Rev Bogdan Zjalic, officiating.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 15th, directly at 10:00 a.m. St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi Street, Merrillville, IN. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery.

For further information please contact Savich & Semplinski Funeral Directors of Burns Funeral Home (219) 769-0044 or www.burnsfuneral.com.

See more at: http://www.burnsfuneral.com/obituaries/Mary-Chapman-12/#!/Obituary