The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the friends and family of Loretta Nickovich. Memory eternal.
Loretta Nickovich
Loretta A. Nickovich (nee Kwilasz) age 95, of Hobart, IN passed away peacefully on Monday, June 23, 2025, in her sleep.
Loretta “Skeeter” or “Miz Nick” was born on December 13, 1929, to Jacob and Ann Kwilasz in Gary, Indiana. She is survived by her daughter Lori (Keith) Hall, brother; John (Patricia) Kwilasz, two sisters; Pat Milich and Geraldine Prather, numerous nieces, nephews, kumovi and many other loving family members and friends. Loretta is preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob”; her parents; three sisters: Celia, Edwina and Kay; and five brothers; Henry, Michael, Stanley, Joseph and Florian.
After being a stay-at-home Mom for several years, Loretta went to work as a Medical Office Manager. First for Dr. Edward M. Zucker, and then later for Dr. Raffy A. Hovanessian. Upon her retirement, Loretta then served St. Sava Serbian Orthodox as their Church Treasurer for 11 years. She was also a founding parent member of the St. Sava Youth Tamburitza Orchestra and Children’s Dance Group, a longtime member of St. Sava Serbian Sisters Circle and supporting member of Karageorge Choir.
Loretta loved to “putz” around in her garden often engaging the neighborhood kids, nephews, nieces and kumovi to find interesting rocks for her Rock Garden. She, along with husband Bob, enjoyed traveling on various jaunts and journeys whether it was a Serbian Choir Concert, Tamburitza Concert, Basketball Tournament, Golf Tournament, and the Serbian Bowling tournaments or interesting locations throughout the United States.
To her dying day, Loretta was an active, life-time learner and could always be seen working on word search, word jumble, sudoku or crossword puzzle books, or playing bingo, bunco, or various card and trivia games.
Loretta was a generous contributor to many community organizations and charities. It was her wish that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Loretta Nickovich’s Memory to: St. Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral/Ross Township Food Pantry (8000 Madison Street, Merrillville, IN 46410 web site Home | Saints Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral ); Gary Area Veteran Center (501 West Ridge Road, Gary, Indiana 46408 Gary Area Vet Center | Veterans Affairs); Sojourner Truth House (410 W. 13th Avenue, Rear Building, Gary, Indiana 46407 Home – Sojourner Truth House ); St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN 46410 Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church – Merrillville, Indiana – Diocese of New Gracanica – Midwestern America) or to the charity of your choice.
Visitation will be held Wednesday July 9, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN with Funeral Services beginning at 11:00 a.m. V. Rev Marko Matic officiating. Interment Calumet Park Cemetery. For further information please call Mileva at Calumet Park Funeral Chapel, 219-736-5840.
Loretta will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
May her memory be eternal.
