Ivanka Vidmar

IVANKA VIDMAR (nee Ovsenik) age 89, beloved wife for 66 years of Stanko; loving mother of Deacon Janez (wife Dawn), Marie Graf (husband Mark), and Veronica Isabella (husband Michael); devoted grandmother of Philip, Miha, Joze (wife Natalia), Maria (fiancé Matt), John, Adrian (husband CW), Tony, Monika (husband Jason), Christina, and Joey (wife Jackie) and great-grandmother of Ivana, Olivia, Matej, Brantley, Evelyn, Zachary, and Teja; cherished daughter of the late Janez and Ivana (nee Kokalj) Ovsenik; dearest sister of Nace (wife Slavko), Marinka, Joze (wife Mara), Marjan (wife Justi), Cvetka (Joze deceased), Tone (wife Bernie), and the late Janez (Ursa deceased) and Nezka (husband Frank); dear aunt and great-aunt of many.

Iva was born on June 24, 1928, in Predoslje, Slovenia and passed away May 2, 2018. In 1949, she moved from Austria to Cleveland, where she lived for over 60 years. A devoted member of St. Vitus Church, she was a member of the Altar Society. Iva was also a member of Slovenska Pristava, KSKJ, the Slovenian Pensioners Club, and the Bishop Baraga Association, to which she was a huge supporter of. She managed the local Slovenian library as well. Iva was an accomplished self-taught seamstress and worked at Cannon Tailoring making men’s suits for 19 years. Sewing was one of her utmost joys, and she often said, “Sewing is my soul.” Iva’s greatest accomplishment in life was her family. She loved taking care of her kids and, later, her grandchildren. She was always cooking and baking for them, especially around the holidays where they never strayed from their long-held traditions. When she was not sewing or cooking, you could find Iva dancing to her favorite polkas and singing traditional Slovenian folk songs. She was the hardworking, with a soft and gentle soul. She will be missed dearly by her loved ones.

Contributions may be made in memory of Ivanka to Hospice of the Western Reserve, 17876 St. Clair Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110, St. Vitus Church, 6019 Lausche Ave, Cleveland, OH 44103, or Friends of St. Mary’s (Lemont), PO. Box 608, Lemont, IL 60439. Mass of Christian Burial Monday, May 7, 2018 at St. Vitus Catholic Church  at 10 AM.

Burial following at All Souls Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Ivanka at THE ZEVNIK-COSIC FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) SUNDAY, 2-7 PM.