Djuro Jelic, 3816 Panin Rd., Hermitage, PA passed away at 11:20 a.m. Wednesday (3-4-09) in his residence following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 83.
Mr. Jelic was born November 10, 1925 in what was then Dalmatia Yugoslavia a son of the late Acim and Joka Jelic.
He was educated in Europe and served with the Royal Chetnic Army of Yugoslavia during WW II.
Following the war, Mr. Jelic worked for ten years in the coal mines in France and immigrated to the United States in the late 1950's.
He retired as a boiler operator from Sharon Steel's former Farrell plant where he was employed for 34 years.
Mr. Jelic was an active member of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Hermitage.
He loved the outdoors and was an avid gardener. A man of many talents, Djuro was a gifted craftsman and wine maker.
He is survived by; his wife at home, the former Zorica Kandic, whom he married on February 4, 1962 in the former St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Farrell; a son, George Jelic and his wife Zorica, Brookfield, Ohio; three daughters, Vesna Perinuzzi and her husband Claudio, Bayside, NY; Gordana Jelic-Lettieri and her husband Stephen, Brookfield, Ohio; and Mirjana 'Midi' Jelic, at home; five grandchildren, Mihailo and Snezana Jelic; Luca and Vincent Perinuzzi; and Djuro M. Jelic; and a sister, Desanka, who lives in what is now Croatia.
Besides his parents, Djuro was preceded in death by a son, Zoran Jelic who passed away in 1965; and two brothers, Mirko and Ceda Jelic.
Calling hours will be from 4-7 p.m. Friday (3-6-09) in J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon.
Pomen service at 6:30 p.m.
Funeral service at 10 a.m. Saturday (3-7-09) in St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, 65 S. Keel Ridge Rd., Hermitage, with the Rev. Milovan Katanic, pastor, officiating.
Prayer service at 9:20 a.m. Saturday in the funeral home before leaving for the church.
Interment: St. John's Cemetery, Hermitage.