Maria Perencevich

Mary (Shimrak) Perencevich, age 97, with a life of grace, unconditional love, and belief in the goodness around her, died peacefully on Friday, May 13, 2011, surrounded by family at Mt. Carmel/St.Ann’s Hospital in Westerville, Ohio. Born in Croatia on January 2, 1914, to the late Eli and Ella Shimrak, she came to Cleveland at age 17. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Nick Perencevich. She is survived by her brother Peter (Patricia) Shimrak and their children Pamela (Tim) Lynch, Peter Jr. (Robyn) Shimrak, and John August (Lisa) Shimrak; her sons Eli (Ilona) Perencevich and Nick (Ruth) Perencevich; her grandchildren Eli (Jiyun) Perencevich, Ilka (Bryce) Lenox, Molly (Jeremy) Smith, Jamie Perencevich, and Alison Perencevich; great-grandchildren Aiden, Audrey, Emmelene, and Marko; great nephew, James and great nieces, Rose and Camiron. The funeral mass will be held Tuesday, May 17 at 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas Byzantine Rite Catholic Church, 3600 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, followed by her Christian burial alongside her husband Nick at All Souls Catholic Cemetery in Chardon, Ohio. No funeral home viewing will be held. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Nicholas Church or Worthington Christian Village, where she resided since 1999, 165 Highbluffs Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43235. Arrangements made by Gattozzi and Son Funeral Home in Chesterland, Ohio. A post funeral celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Dubrovnik Garden Restaurant, Croatian Lodge Party Center, 34900 Lakeshore Boulevard, Eastlake, Ohio 44095 (440-497-4255).