Barbara (Barica) Paragina passed away on August 22, 2025. Barica was born in a small village of Rečica, near Karlovac in former Yugoslavia on June 29, 1936 to Josip and Jela Vusak. She was the eldest of four (Mara, Ivan, †Janko). She was preceded in death by her husband, Boźo. She came to America in 1961 to stay with her Strina in Whiting, Indiana. She was introduced to Boźo at Whiting Park at the fourth of July festivities by Drago and Dragica Samardzija, who became their dear Kumovi when they married on October 28, 1961.
She is survived by her daughters, Nada England, Sonja Biddle and son-in-law, Frank, and grandchildren Jordan England with fiancee Natalia Rojas, Lauren Fender with husband Jeremy, Katherine England, and Nicholas Biddle with wife, Anna. She is also survived by her brother Ivan Vusak with wife Marica and her sister Mara in Varaźdin, and nieces, nephews, cousins, and Kumovi.
She was employed for many years at the Simmons Company, but her most cherished task was being a hands-on grandmother, as they were always her first priority. She was a grandmother that wore many hats including attending lacrosse games, swim meets, birthdays, and dance recitals. She showed her love to everyone through her cooking. Whether she was making palačinkas for her granddaughter’s sleepovers or providing pasta for her entire grandson’s football team and friends, no stomach was left unfilled in her presence. (Even when she provided warm bowls of chicken soup to the vegetarians). She loved her church and attended St. George regularly while living in Munster, Indiana. She was a member of the Kolo sisters and the SNF lodge. Moving to Zionsville in 2005, she attended St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church.
Funeral service will be held on August 29th at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Schererville, IN. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. with Funeral Services starting at 10 a.m. Barbara will be laid to rest at Calumet Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s memory can be made to St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Schererville, or to St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Indianapolis.
