The Clergy, Executive Board, and Members of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church express condolences to the friends and family of Luanne Ana Vuyakovich. Memory eternal.
Luanne Ana Vuyakovich
Luanne Ana Vuyakovich, age 64, recently of Valparaiso, Indiana, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, January 22, 2026. She was born January 31, 1961, in Gary, Indiana, to the late Gilbert and Nancy Vuyakovich
Before moving to Las Vegas, Luanne was a longtime member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana. She was a proud graduate of Merrillville High School and later of the Nevada School of Massage Therapy in Las Vegas.Gifted with a beautiful singing voice like her mother, Luanne had a deep love for music, movies, and family gatherings. She nurtured strong, lasting connections with her family and treasured her church, her Serbian heritage, and her traditions. She dearly loved her friends, always making time for the people she cherished. Her decades-long friendships were a source of joy and strength.
God was at the center of all things for Luanne; she drew strength from His love and the guidance He provides. Her faith remained steadfast even through life’s hardest struggles. She loved all of her family members, especially her beloved pal, Little One. She had a wonderful sense of humor and expressed her love freely and openly. She possessed a rare gift for lifting others up with grace and eloquence.
Luanne’s warm personality and genuine concern for others were known to everyone who knew her. She had a tender heart for the less fortunate, and in recent years, even out of her meager means, she provided food and shelter to a homeless individual by denying herself. Her quiet acts of compassion reflected the depth of her faith and the sincerity of her love. It is no surprise that the good Lord was the center of her being. She cared for and prayed for others, often thanking God for His blessings upon them.
Luanne is preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert and Nancy Vuyakovich, and her cherished brother, Dale. She is also preceded in death by her aunts Helen Kirby (+Eli Kirby) and Elaine Zeremsky (+Dushan Zeremsky); uncles Tim Vitkovich and V. Rev. Stavrophor Vasilije Sokolovic; and cousin Mark Zeremsky.
She is survived by her aunt Zorine Sokolovic; cousins Donniella Zeremsky, Betsy Kirby, Dr. Cindy Kirby, Tammy Kirby, Esq., Zorine Kirby, Mirjana Damjanovic, and Dcn. Toso Sokolovic, along with their families. She leaves behind many Kumovi and lifelong family friends who will remember her with love. Luanne is also survived by her steadfast friends Pam Hebert and Sherry Barnes who enriched her life through their love and companionship.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 9191 Mississippi St., Merrillville, IN. Rev. Marko Matic officiating. Interment at Calumet Park Cemetery, Merrillville, IN. Burns Funeral Home & Crematory, Crown Point, IN, entrusted with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the family or St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church. www.burnsfuneral.com
