Protinica Donna M. Merick

Protinica Donna M. Merick, 72, of Wintersville, Ohio fell asleep in the Lord on June 6, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio after a brief illness. She was born and raised in the Cleveland area to late parents Samuel and Anne Kostura Oglesby. Protinica graduated from Parma High School and St. Alexis School of Nursing becoming a registered nurse and serving in a number of hospitals in Cleveland, Bronxville, NY, Youngstown and Steubenville; and in home health care. She was a born caregiver to many throughout her life. Married to Rade (Ralph) Merick in 1975, she accompanied her husband to St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York and for nearly a year in Kragujevac, Serbia, where he served as a deacon. Protinica was an active and devoted mother to two sons and to the parishioners of the parishes she and her husband served in Farrell, PA and Steubenville, Ohio, until their retirement in 2019.

She was a devout Orthodox Christian from birth who faithfully attended services, taught and supervised Church School, sang responses in the choir and at services when needed and faithfully read her study Bible at home. A fine cook and hostess, she prepared gibanica and other Serbian specialties for the church picnic and was a fixture at the cevapcici tent. Protinica delighted in being able to give gifts to the children of friends.

Protinica Donna was preceded in death by parents, sister Carol Seiple, special Aunt & Uncle Mary and Joseph Lucak; cousins Rev. Deacon Dennis and Helen Lucak.

Surviving are her husband Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick; two sons Nicholas Merick and Dr. Michael (Megan) Merick; cousins Maribeth Lucak and Lynda Kostura; numerous other relatives, kumovi and friends.

Visitation 4-8 p.m. on Monday, June 13, at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church, 528 North Fourth Street, Steubenville, Ohio. Pomen service there at 6 p.m. Funeral service will be at the church on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. following the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. (visitation one half hour prior). 

On Wednesday, visitation at St. Sava Orthodox Cathedral, 6306 Broadview Road, Parma, OH  44134, from 11 a.m. until noon services. Interment immediately following at St. Theodosius Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Resurrection Church; Monastery New Marcha in Richfield, Ohio or FOCUS Cleveland-St. Herman House.

May her memory be eternal!

Arrangements are under the direction of Dunlope-Shorac Funeral Home, 215 Fernwood Road, Wintersville, OH 43953

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