Silva Ramsak

Silva Ramsak, 84, of Richmond Heights, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on February 20, 2025 after a ten-month battle with cancer.

Silva was born on June 1, 1940 in Pregarje, a village of about 100 in the Brkini Hills of southwestern Slovenia, the oldest child of Anton and Milka Zadnik. She lived for a time in Piran, on Slovenia’s Adriatic coast, where she met her husband of 61 years, Joseph. They married on February 8, 1964. The following year they moved to Paris before deciding to emigrate to the United States in January 1967, with, as she enjoyed telling it, "Two suitcases, two crying kids and two hundred dollars".

Like many central European immigrants, they began their new life in Cleveland's St. Clair Avenue neighborhood. They later moved to the E. 185th street area of Cleveland's east side before settling in Richmond Heights in October 1975 where they would make their home for the next 50 years.

Throughout those five decades, Silva's connection to Slovenia remained resolute, illustrated through regular visits to her homeland, in her active role in Cleveland’s Slovenian community, as a parishioner at St. Mary’s Church in Collinwood, and in the way she instilled and firmly rooted that connection in her children and grandchildren.

She was a vital member of the Slovenian-American Primorski Club since its founding in 1984, serving as a board member for more than 30 years. Her passion for the club was so strong that only her cancer diagnosis would force her, ever so reluctantly, to finally step aside from the duties she held so dear. She was also a member of the Štajerski-Prekmurski Club and KSKJ, the American Slovenian Catholic Union.

Some of her grandchildren Ashley and Andrew’s fondest memories stem from weekend sleep-overs where they were introduced to the famous Slovenian Alpine character Kekec, listened to Slovenian folk and pop music and enjoyed ‘grisek’ and homemade potica before ending the day with a Slovenian prayer. Ashley is particularly glad that her son Finn, who is currently battling leukemia, was able to experience that sleep-over with Silva, too. When she became ill, Silva often said she found energy and inspiration from Finn’s positive attitude and spirit.

Silva was also a well-known fixture at the Richmond Mall where she worked at Lerner's/New York & Co. for more than 35 years. She befriended all the Mall-walkers before Mall-walking was even a thing.

She also enjoyed long walks, reading, making and sipping Turkish coffee, and singing. One of the last times she sang --in Slovenian, of course-- was in September, to help celebrate her grandson Ethan's 21st birthday. His sister Emily also enjoys sharing a musical moment, when she and her mother, Metka, joined Silva in dance when they crossed paths with a bachelor’s party that spilled over onto a street in central Ljubljana. Even after six decades in the United States, Slovenia was always ‘home’, where she felt most at ease, in body and spirit.

Beloved wife of Joseph. Devoted mother of Smiljan of Chesterland, Ohio, Robert (Barbara) of Nice, France, and Metka Hingson (Michael) of East Grand Rapids, Michigan. Cherished grandmother of Ashley, Andrew (Deanna), Ethan and Emily. Great-grandmother of Hayley, Finn and Barrett. Dearest sister of Vida Krajnc (Edo), and Vlado Zadnik (Dragica). Sister-in-law of Marija Kokot (Martin), Anica Recko (Benjamin), and Silvo Ramsak (Marija). A loving aunt of many nieces & nephews, cousin, and friend to many. 

Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Silva on Wednesday February 26, 2025 at DEJOHN-FLYNN MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME, 28890 CHARDON ROAD, WILLOUGHBY HILLS, OHIO 44092 from 4:00P.M.-7:00P.M.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00A.M. Thursday February 27, 2025 at St. Mary’s Church, 15519 Holmes Ave, Cleveland, OH 44110. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Entombment All Souls Cemetery.

ARRANGEMENTS BY:LOPRESTI FUNERAL HOME (440) 473-6299.