Slavica M. Ljubicich, 87, of Riverside, died on Feb. 18, 2017 at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital after a lengthy illness.
The daughter of Matija and Leposova Ljubicich, she was born on Dec. 29, 1929 in Jabukovac, Croatia, and was raised in Belgrade, Serbia.
In her early 20s, Slavica packed up her determination and strong will and immigrated to the U.S. to establish a better life for herself. Chicago became her home for her entire adult life.
Ms. Ljubicich was an entrepreneur and restaurateur. For 15 years, she owned and managed Blue Danube in Berwyn. Her greatest joy in life was serving others. She was instrumental in helping family and friends immigrate to the U.S. and was extremely generous with her resources to enable her family and friends to be blessed with the same great opportunities and life she built for herself.
She is survived by her sister, Jovanka Abramovich of Pula, Croatia; her brother, Branko (Alexandra) Ljubicich of Riverside; her niece, Slavica “Sylvia” (John) Castaldo of Carol Stream; her nephews, Aleksandar Abramovich of Pula, Croatia, Mladen “Mike” (Brenda) Abramovich of Cincinnati and Slavko Ljubicich (Amanda Gray) of Riverside, IL; her great nephew, Alex Abramovich of Cincinnati; and her great nieces, Kristina and Nicole Abramovich of Cincinnati.
Ms. Ljubicich was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Slavko Ljubicich.
A funeral service will be held Feb. 22, 11 a.m. at Most Holy Mother of God Monastery, 35240 Grant Ave., Third Lake, Illinois. Interment will follow at New Gracanica Serbian Orthodox Cemetery in Third Lake.
Kuratko-Nosek Funeral Home, North Riverside, handled arrangements.
