Ilinka (Ika) Andjelich of Hebron, Indiana passed away at home on Wednesday , August 5th, 2026 surrounded by her loving family.
Ika was born on September 29, 1929 in Selo Uzdolje (within the historical Dalmatian Krajina region) to parents Božo and Pera Beric.
In early 1959, after years of persistence, Ika was finally able to escape the former war torn Yugoslavia and was sponsored to move to Corby, England, via her cousin , Pešo Beric who resided there.
After 7 years of courtship via letters between Dušan and Ika, they finally met in Corby, England and were civilly married.
Ika then moved to Gary , IN and on the Feast of St. Archangel Michael, November 21, 1959 the couple had their wedding ceremony at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church.
They were blessed with 5 children: Nikola, Jovanka, Mara, Sava and Luka.
Ika was a loving stay at home wife , caring mother and a joyous grandmother of 9 and very proud, great grandmother of 15.
Ika loved taking care of the family and always putting everyone else’s needs first .
One of Ika’s passions was tending to her farm animals which included her cows (all named by her.). During the deepest winter months, you could find her in the barn waiting for her piglets to be born so she could breathe life into their little noses.
Her sheep , all 20, specially named by her, would come running to the gate as they heard her voice anticipating the hay that she would feed them.
It would also not be unusual to see her holding her chickens lovingly caressing them as she walked the farm path.
Ika was famously known within our family for making her delicious “Pogacha” served at all holidays. Her love for teaching Serbian traditions were passed on to her children and grandchildren to be cherished for many years.
Ika also was a volunteer for her church and a cherished long time member of the Kolo sisters of St. Elijah Cathedral, Merrillville, IN. and the Chetnik Kolo Sisters of Merrillville.
The family of Ika would like to thank and are eternally grateful for all the caretakers , Nikolina, Olga and Perka.
Also , many thanks to our wonderful home nurse Kim and the staff at Dunes hospice for mom’s final care.
Ika is preceded in death by her parents, husband Dušan, son Sava, brothers Luka and Bozo Beric, and sisters Jeka Injac and Dusanka Stojakovic.
Ika is survived by her loving children son Nikola (Rhonda), daugher Jovanka (Jovo) Blesich, daugher Mara (Nicky) Ivanovich, and son Luka (Michael VanDekreke) , grandchildren Andrea (Pasquale), Zach (Daniela), Nina, Krista (Kyle), Vesna (Corben), Cara (Ronnie), Andreas, Jordan, and Annie (Domonic), and 15 great-grandchildren.
Special nieces Seka Vulinovic & Family, Milka Popovich & Family and Kum Milan Zmiko.
Also survived by many extended family members in the USA, Canada and abroad.
Memory eternal !
Funeral Service will be held on Saturday , August 8th, at St. Elijah Cathedral at 9:30 A.M.
Friends are invited to visit with Ika’s family on Saturday at Church for visitation from 8:30 A.M. until 9:30 A.M. (8700 Taft Street Merrillville, IN).
Final rest at Calumet Park Cemetery (2305 W 73rd AveMerrillville, IN 46410).
