Ann Marie Zelenka's Obituary
Ann Marie Zelenka, age 79, passed away on October 5, 2023. Ann Marie was born on November 21, 1943, to the late Joseph and Mary Zelenka. She graduated from St. John Cantius High School and earned her teaching degree from St. John’s College. She taught second grade for over 40 years, mostly at St. John Nepomucene in Cleveland where she prepared over a thousand children for their First Holy Communion and directed the annual Christmas Eve Pageant. Ann Marie loved all things Hawaii (having taught there a few years!), was a Volunteer Usher for several years at Playhouse Square with her special cousin Marie Quick (deceased), and collected zebras (as she spelled her last name by stating it begins with “Z as in zebra”).
Ann Marie is survived by her sisters Beverly Pacanovsky and Pat (Rich) Dybzinski; sisters-in-law Linda, Sharel, and Cheryl Zelenka; several nieces and nephews; and godchildren Bob Pacanovsky (who cared for her while she lived at the Village of St. Edward), Maria Dybzinski, Mary Dudenhoffer, Tim Bober, and Sarah Al-Haza’. She was preceded in death by her brothers Joe, Bob, and David Zelenka; sister Joan (Joe) Juhas; and brother-in-law Robert T. Pacanovsky.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, October 15 at Yurch Funeral Home, 5618 Broadview Road, Parma, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, October 16 at St. John Nepomucene, 3785 Independence Rd., Cleveland at 11:00 a.m. Graveside service at Holy Cross Cemetery to immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Greater East Ohio Alzheimer’s Association,
408 – 9th Street SW #3400, Canton, Ohio 44707.
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