Helen Sarcevic

 MIR-Peace founder, Helen Sarcevic. 

May she be in  HEAVEN.

Gratitude to all who have given their condolences via various media, calls, cards, etc!  Loving mother, grandmother, mother to many through graces of answering Gospa, Our Lady Queen of Peace's call in sharing God's love through MIR-Peace pilgrimage groups to Medjugorje since 1986. In recent years her daughter, Darlene Milas, follows in her footsteps, guiding MirPeace groups.

Below:

1st) OBITUARY, with link to St Ann's church FB page for live funeral, Fri, Feb 11th at 10am EST.

2nd) TESTIMONY by a son-in-law about going full circle 

as refugees to USA, and back to help Croatians, 

3rd) TESTIMONY by 1 of Helen's grandchildren.

Memorial DONATIONS may be offered  toward the St. James Parish Humanitarian Fund “Mary’s Hands” in Medjugorje, which answered Gospa's call to help all they can who are in need. 

Donations c/o and payable to: Darlene Milas, 

P.O. Box 105, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 

(memo: humanitarian donation).

OBITUARY --  

There will be a link for any friends, family and pilgrims who would like to follow the live-stream of Helen Sarcevic's funeral Mass from St Ann's Basilica, Scranton, PA, USA, through the church's Facebook page: Friday, February 11, 2022, at 10 am eastern standard time.

St Ann's Bascilica FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/st.annmonasterybasilicaparish

obituary link: Helen Sarcevic obituary

Helen T. Sarcevic, 85, of Newton Township, died peacefully at her home on Sunday morning. Her husband, Joseph Sarcevic, preceded her in death in 2012.

Born in Brodjanci, Croatia, she was the daughter of the late Franjo and Reza Arambasic Gesler. She was the founder and guide of MIR-Peace pilgrimages and was a member of the Church of Saint Gregory.

Helen and her husband left their beloved homeland in 1957 to escape communist oppression. They were grateful to build a new life of freedom in the USA. Helen was a caring soul known for her artistry and unwavering faith. Her radiant smile and encompassing heart formed a far-reaching family of love.

Helen is survived by daughters Christina Verdgeline and husband Paul, Miriam Vukmanic and husband Richard, Darlene Milas and husband Frederik; grandchildren Adriana and Nikola Vukmanic and Antonia and Kristian Milas.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Zvonko; and sisters Petrica, Zlata, and Marta.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10 a.m. at St. Ann’s Basilica, 1233 St. Ann Street, Scranton, PA  18504, by Father Lee Havey, C.P.. Interment will be at PIETA Cemetery, Tunkhannock.

Memorial donations may be offered toward the St. James Parish Humanitarian Fund “Mary’s Hands” in Medjugorje, c/o and payable to: Darlene Milas, P.O. Box 105, Clarks Summit, PA 18411 (memo: humanitarian donation).

Arrangements have been entrusted to Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., 418 S. State Street, Clarks Summit.

TESTIMONY: Rick Vukmanić:

On Sunday, February 6, 2022, our family lost one of its matriarchs, my mother-in-law, Jelka “Helen” Sarcevic. I use the term, matriarch, in the truest sense. Baka Jelka was a fierce, fearless, faithful daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and servant. Knowing hardship from an early age, the family moved from her ancestral village, in part due to the prejudice of the Yugoslav regime against her father’s German ancestors. Later, refusing to sign a prepared statement declaring herself an unbeliever, Jelka was denied her teaching certificate and instead worked on a road repair crew in Bosnia. After meeting and marrying my father-in-law, his undercover activities regarding human rights violations and atrocities committed by the Yugoslav government, led to threats of imprisonment. With no other choice, they traveled to Istria and walked across the border into Italy, at night, seeking political and religious asylum. During their five years in displaced person camps throughout Italy, Jelka was able to use her training as a teacher to organize classes for the children in the camps creating some sense of normalcy in their lives. She stood by my father-in-law’s side as his career took them far from the tight knit Croatian community of Cleveland to other parts of Ohio and northeastern Pennsylvania. Following a catastrophic car accident, which almost took my wife’s life, Jelka made a pact with the Virgin promising to dedicate her life to Mary’s service, if Miriam survived. Following Miriam’s recovery, Jelka spent several decades leading pilgrimages to Medjugorje, helping to spread the message of peace and conversion, and eventually using her skills to assist in the humanitarian effort in war torn Croatia.

It is fitting that her funeral will be held at the shrine of St. Ann, the patroness of her parish church in Brodjanci, on Friday, February 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

May God be merciful to her soul, grant her eternal rest, and welcome His faithful servant into the joy of His presence. https://www.lawrenceeyoungfuneralhome.com/.../helen...

TESTIMONY Adriana Vukmanić

Early this morning, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s, my dear Baka Jelka Šarčević peacefully passed away. I have been trying to think of the words to describe her all day, but none of them can do her justice. 

If you knew my Baka, you know that she was a woman of great faith, an absolutely extraordinary person, and a true gift to this earth. From having to escape the communist regime in her homeland of Croatia on foot and starting a new life in the United States with one bag of personal belongings to her name, to leading hundreds, if not thousands, of pilgrims to Medjugorje, to organizing international relief efforts during the Homeland War in the Former Yugoslavia and personally delivering supplies during the peak of the violence and continuing the efforts long after the war ended, my Baka did it all and touched countless lives along the way.

But, most importantly, my Baka was the prime example of the light that is found at the inner core of every person when you take away all the needless earthly distractions that keep us from focusing on what is truly important in our lives. She found the good in every situation and reminded you that all will be well if you have faith and keep your trust in God’s plan.

Baka Jelka, you showed me what it means to have courage, to be kind, and to trust and follow God. I only hope that I can honor you by having even an ounce of the impact that you’ve had during your 85 years on this earth.

We will miss you dearly, but I know, without a doubt, you are in a better place with God, reunited with your loved ones, and filled with more happiness than anyone on earth could ever know. It is finally time for you to rest.

Baka Jelka, već nam nedostaješ ali znamo da si sada s Dedom i Bogom i da ćeš uvijek gledati na nas. Znaj da ću uvijek misliti na tebe i da nikada neću zaboraviti što si me naučila i koliko si nas volila. Počivaj u miru Božijem. Ti si to sto puta zaslužila.

Volim te puno Baka Jelka,

Tvoja Draga Jana

BOG i HRVATI "God and the Croatians"