Milojka “Millie” Gasich, 85, of St. John passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, August 26, 2024.
Milojka is survived by her sons: Ross (Milena) Gasich, George (+Barbara) Gasich; daughter Zelka Gasich; grandchildren: Anika, Leksi, Lara, Stevie, Nina, and Lizzie; great granddaughters Audrijana and Alina; cousin Mile (Gordana) Kubat, cousin Mileva (Ilija) Gasich, cousin Borka (Milan) Sorgic; sister-in-law Anica (+Nikola) Karagic; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, kumovi, and relatives in the United States, Bosna, and Serbia.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 63 years, Svetko; parents, Djuro and Sava Kubat; and siblings, Mile, Jovanka, and Danka.
Milojka was born on November 12, 1938, in Selo Marinkovci, near Bosansko Grahovo, in the former Yugoslavia. In January 1967, she immigrated to the United States with her children to reunite with her husband, Svetko, who had arrived 18 months earlier, and other family members.
She was a dedicated and hardworking woman who took on various jobs throughout her life, always putting her family’s best interests first. Whether it was working long hours or managing multiple roles, she did whatever was necessary to support her husband and ensure her family was well taken care of. She eventually retired from the East Chicago Public School system. Her hard work and selflessness were the glue that held the family together, leaving behind a legacy of love and sacrifice.
Milojka was deeply passionate and devoted to her family, kumovi, and friends. Her love for cooking and gardening was matched only by her boundless energy and enthusiasm for life, which was evident from sunrise to sunset each day. She thoroughly enjoyed hosting gatherings at her home, particularly in the spring and summer. On Sunday afternoons, her veranda, adorned with hanging flower baskets, would come alive with family and friends coming together to share stories, laugh, and make cherished memories.
She took great pride in preparing meals and treats for those she cared about. Whether it was rolling out the delicate dough for her vast assortment of pitas, carefully layering chocolate in her madjariće pastries, or frying up her famous “kolacici”, Milojka’s kitchen was always filled with the warmth of her culinary creations. Every visitor to her home may not have arrived hungry, but they always left with a full heart and stomach.
Milojka possessed a remarkable ability to impart wisdom through her everyday experiences and insights. She had a natural talent for offering guidance and encouragement, drawing from a lifetime of practical knowledge and a deep understanding of life’s challenges. Her advice, often delivered in simple yet profound phrases, was grounded in her strong values and unshakeable faith.
She was the steadfast rock of her family, beloved not only as a devoted wife and mother to her three children but also as a cherished “Baba” to her six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, who viewed her as their hero. She was a true superwoman, always ready to go above and beyond for her loved ones, selflessly prioritizing their needs above her own.
Milojka was a dedicated member of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in East Chicago as well as the church’s Circle of Serbian Sisters.
Milojka was truly an amazing woman who touched everyone she encountered and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Vjecnaja Pamjat, Memory Eternal.
Visitation will be on Friday, August 30, 2024, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Pomen 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Ridge Funeral Home, 7607 W. Lincoln Highway, Schererville, Indiana.
Funeral service will be on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery, 32377 N Milwaukee Ave, Libertyville, IL with V Rev. Serge Veselinovich officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St George Serbian Orthodox Church.
