Zora Jaksich
January 25, 1922 - December 18, 2006
Obituary
Zorka Zora Jaksich – January 25, 1922 – December 18, 2006, died after a long illness. She was born on a small farm, in Silverdale, Washington to her immigrant mother Milica Radovich and father Milosav Simovich, both from Montenegro. At age two her father was killed in a logging accident, her mother then married John Jurgich who adopted her and her brother George. During the Depression, she grew up on a farm in Kent with her five siblings – George, Dorothy, Mildred, Donald, and Joanne. There they raised beef and milk cows, chicken and eggs, made butter and vegetables and sold them at the co-op for income. This was the foundation that built a very strong independent Serbian-American woman. She married Theodore Jaksich in 1943, the day before Ted returned to the Navy, for his South Pacific service in World War II. They moved to Seattle’s Rainier Valley and raised four boys – Rod, Jeff, Steve and Dan.
She was a member of the Serbian National Federation since 1929 and a founding member of Serbian Hall, Seattle, 1949; Saint Sava Serbian Church, Issaquah 1991; a Princess with the Masonic Order, Order of Eastern Star, Hatasu Temple No 1, Daughters of the Nile; and, with her sisters and a few close friends, founded the Yugoslav Women’s Club American Slavic Women’s Club 1972. For hundreds of events she cooked ethnic dinners and cleaned up afterward. She was an avid gardener and was proud of her green thumb. She taught us all how to work hard, sing and laugh. She had a ready smile for all and was well loved by all her many family and friends. She fought for life, living two years longer than the six months the doctors gave her.
The day before she died, she attended the Christening of her two youngest great-grand children Matthew Stevan Jaksich and Carolina Marie Delgado, at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. She was so happy to be with her family, laughing and telling stories.
She was a faithful Orthodox Christian and that faith in God kept her strong to the end. Her daily prayer handwritten and taped to her bedroom wall: Dear Lord, through the prayers of our Holy Father, Our Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and save us “Amen”. Into your hands, O Lord Jesus Christ I command my spirit and body. Bless me, save me; grant me eternal life, Amen. I pray for the health and long lives for my four sons and their wives – Rodney and Linda, Jeffrey and Mary, Stevan and Debbie, Danilo and Helga; eight grandchildren Gage, Jessica, Mato, Natasha, Krista, Nick, Nicole and Marissa; seven great-grand children Elizabeth, Sydney, Corbin, Tyler, Diego, Carolina and Matthew.
She will be missed in so many ways, but her love, teachings and good memories will be with us forever. Vechnaya Pamyat – Memory Eternal. We love and miss you Baba Zo! Rest in Peace Mom.
Visitation: Bonney-Watson, Thursday, December 21, Noon to 8 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Pomen Memorial Service: Bonney-Watson, Friday, December 22, 6:30 p.m.
Funeral Service: 11:30 a.m., December 23, at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 2100 Boyer Ave, Seattle, Washington
Graveside Service: Immediately following funeral at Lakeview Cemetery
Reception: 3:30 at Saint Demetrios’ Church Hall
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Zorka Jaksich Memorial Fund, Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, P. O. Box 101, 14915 239th Pl. S.E., Issaquah, WA 98027
Zorka Jaksich was a wonderful, caring person. She was very kind to our St. Sava kolo group Drina. We won’t forget her.
When i was about 5 yrs old my family and i were having an easter egg hunt at Baba’s house in Seattle. I didn’t have any eggs in my basket and all the other kids had tons or what looked like tons to a 5 yr old. I had started to cry because i wasn’t finding any eggs Baba grabs my hand and brings me to one side of the yard where she bent down and wispered that the golden egg was right behind the squirrel figure she always had in her yard… i ran over to the squirrel and found the golden egg. I was so pround of my one egg. Baba had helped me then as she always had as i grew up. I loved my Baba very much and i’ll miss her dearly.
mom i will miss you, they need another happy angel up there so keep in touch or at least keep a eye and gentle whisper in are ear.
Even after almost a full year of you being gone, you are still in my thoughts, my memories, and prayers.
Memory Eternal.
Love,
Natasha
Rodney, your ex-friends from the 833rd Ordnance understand your lost and you feeling. Most of us have also lost our mothers.
833rd Ordnance Internet Friends
buddies833@yahoo.com