Anna “Mili” Lekan

ANNA “MILI” LEKAN (nee Vidergar), age 84; beloved wife of the late Joseph “Joze”; loving mother of Sonia Glagola (Al, deceased); Helena “Lenka” Lekan-Brooks (Edward Brooks), sister of Nada Vidergar and Lad Vidergar (both of Michigan); grandmother of Ivan “Stephen” Glagola (Jackie); Rachel and Peter Brooks; great-grandmother of Oliver and Thatcher Glagola; also survived by the Markic and Vidergar families in Slovenia; and many dear friends and relatives.

Member of St. John of the Cross Parish (Bingo staff); KSKJ Lodge No. 172 and Slovenska Pristava. She was a homemaker and retired from Sears Roebuck after 30 years.

Born on November 12, 1934 near Ljubljana, Slovenia in the village of Vevce, as the oldest of three children, she emigrated with her family in 1942 to the Vicenza, Italy area to the village of Gambelara where they lived until 1952.  At the age of 18, she emigrated with her family to the USA, settling in the Cleveland, Ohio area.  In 1956 she married Joseph Lekan.  Following the birth of their daughters in 1957 and 1963, they eventually moved to Willoughby Hills where they remained.  As a homemaker, she kept Slovenian and family traditions alive.

Her studies in Italy included history and education.  An avid reader, she believed strongly in furthering one’s knowledge.  Upon coming to Cleveland, she enrolled in classes at Cuyahoga Community College, studying primarily English and bookkeeping.  In her later years she enrolled in Spanish classes, adding to her multi-lingual repertoire.  Though English was her third language, her grammar, spelling and writing skills were impeccable, and she expected the same of her children.  She kept up with current news events, and frequently watched the History, Discovery, and National Geographic channels.

Her hobbies included vegetable gardening, sewing, reading, bird watching.  She enjoyed camping, but also frequented the southern beaches for vacations.  She actively volunteered in her parish and the Slovenian community.  Active in her daughters’ schools, she often volunteered in the school library or office and with children’s plays, even making costumes.  In recent years, she developed her new crafting hobby of beading/jewelry making, participating in community craft shows.  Her unique specialty became ‘angel earrings’.

Working at Sears for 30 years, she began in service and general sales, then fine jewelry, and finally administrative functions, including bookkeeping.

She survived breast cancer in 2007, and bravely fought her recent multiple cancers for nearly 2 years, with a positive spirit.  A friend to many, she will be missed.

Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church at 11AM. Burial following at All Souls Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Mili at THE ZEVNIK-COSIC FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) TUESDAY 4-8 PM.