Mary (Marija) Dotlich Milanovich was born at St Mary’s Mercy Hospital.in Gary, Indiana on March 29, 1927 and passed away at 98 years of age In Lake Mary, Florida. She was a long time resident of Fern Park, Longwood and later Lake Mary, Florida with an eleven year hiatus in Oak Park, Illinois. She was the eldest child of her immigrant parents of the then-Austro-Hungarian empire: Bude (Robert) (Plitvicka Jezera area formerly Serbia) and Ana (Anka) Kriscović Dotlich (Novi Vinodol, Croatia).
Mary leaves her daughter, Donna Milanovich Srajer (George) of New Mexico, her son, Robert Milanovich of Florida, her Grandchildren: Garrett Milanovich, Hannah Srajer, Samuel Srajer, Benjamin Srajer, as well as other dear friends and relatives. A special thank you to our dear cousin Annette Peyovich and everyone at Spring Hills Assisted Living, Lake Mary, FL. She was predeceased by her brothers: Rade and Bob Dotlich, sister Olga Dotlich, husband Rev. Father Peter Milanovich, son Nicholas Milanovich, and grandson Charles Milanovich.
Like her parents before her, she was a member of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Gary, Indiana. She served as financial secretary of the Karageorge choir of St. Sava where she developed her lifelong love of singing. She was always singing, cheerful, optimistic and smiling. On November 8, 1952 she was married by Rev Svet. Radovanovich to the love of her life, Peter Nicholas MIlanovich, which was attended by Kumovi: Mike Sever, Milan Marianov, and Donna Tarailo. After Mary and her husband Father Peter moved to Florida in 1965, they supported the creation of several Orthodox churches in Florida, including St. Stephens OCA and St. Petka SOC.
She graduated from Emerson High School in 1945 and attended Gary College (Indiana University). Mary’s high school awarded her a certificate for business and secretarial practice which provided the foundation of her long career, which took her to Washington, DC and later to Martin Marietta. At Martin Marietta she worked as a secretary and technical writer supporting engineers on several projects including the Hellfire missile and Saturn rocket before retiring in 1989.
Mary was always stylish. She could look at a dress and tell if it would fit or look good, and had an eye for color. Her legendary stamina and capacity for hard work was unmatched. She was scrupulously honest, discreet, and selflessly gave of herself to her family and church.
She is an end of an era for our extended family and she will be missed.
Funeral services will be held June 30 at 10am at St Stephen the Protomartyr Orthodox Church with Father Daniel Hickman and Father Ljubisa Brnjoš of St. Petka officiating. Interment will be held at 11:30am at All Faiths Memorial Park 1390 Park Drive, Casselberry, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable contributions be sent to in Matushka/Popadija Mary’s memory to St Stephen,1 895 Lake Emma Rd.,Longwood, FL. 32750, or St Petka Serbian Orthodox Church,1990 Lake Emma Rd Longwood, Florida 32750.
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Previous Events
Funeral
30
Jun
1895 Lake Emma Road
Longwood, FL 32750
Cemetery Details
Location
1390 Park Drive
Casselberry, FL 32707
