{"id":8,"date":"2021-03-11T20:57:45","date_gmt":"2021-03-11T20:57:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/?page_id=8"},"modified":"2021-03-18T23:38:36","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T23:38:36","slug":"page-5","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/babamim.com\/index.php\/page-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Page 5"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Gus Bizic, Francza and more good stories\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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+++++Gus and Mim<\/span>\u00a0on Serbian Christmas Eve Day,\u00a0January 6, 1963<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Made for each other!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

That’s what people said who saw us!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

This was down at the Bizic’s property, at the end of Valley Road, in Ambridge, where they owned 41 acres.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Behind us is a lean-to, where Uncle Joe Bizic and Papa Pete Bizic (and my Gus!) were roasting a pig for Serbian Christmas.\u00a0 All I did was watch with my youngest sister, Alexandra, and my Dad, and eat the\u00a0“mochi bread”<\/em>\u00a0(Pogacha with the great pork drippings!)<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

My professional photographer father, Milan M. Karlo, took this photo.\u00a0 It was taken 6 months after we met, five months before we got married on June 9, 1963.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

January 28, 2020<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Posted in memory of +Gus Bizic, gone 20 years now.<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>

Gone at 65, he would be 85. Vjecnaja pamjat!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>

Gus lives on in our hearts and souls.<\/span><\/p>

His “Korean War Bride”<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Gus was 7 years older than his \u201cKorean child bride wife,\u201d but he always had a creative, fertile mind, the wisdom of a sage and we all looked up to him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Oh, the incredible stories he could weave, telling people he was in the Korean War and that he found me abandoned as an orphan, and that the only way he could bring me back to the States was to marry me!<\/span><\/p>

(If you study the photo above, his 100% American Serb wife DOES have some Oriental-looking eyes! Probably due to those Turks in the distant past.\u00a0 Ha!)<\/span><\/p>

I Loved My Legionairre!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

He was a tremendous joke teller and you\u2019d believe it when he told you the story of how he was a Commander with the French Foreign Legion stationed in a remote outpost in Africa\u00a0 when a new recruit came in\u2014- the punch line about RIDING the camel to town leaving us all in stitches.<\/span><\/p>

Gus and Francza, Our Kuma Anne<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

God has a plan…. for 7 years this lady, \u201cFrancza,\u201d told me she had the perfect boy for me. At 13 or 14 years of age, I would almost run in the opposite direction, away from the conversation she had with my Baba. In fact, I remember being in my Baba Andja’s kitchen when she started talking about this and running to the bathroom, locking myself in until she left. At 13 years old, boys were far from my mind!<\/span><\/p>

In the meantime, she was in Ambridge telling Gus\u2019s wonderful family living at 610 Pine Street the same about me.<\/p>

Everyone thought of Franza as being like a gypsy. She wore such colorful, \u201cdifferent\u201d clothes with lots of scarves of red, yellow and orange, some around her neck, others around her waist, all hanging down in colorful cascades. And she always had large gold earrings dangling.<\/span><\/p>

Francza Ostaman Munchen was the daughter of my grandfather Nikola Mamula\u2019s childhood Croatian friend, Petar (Peter) Ostaman, whom he saved from drowning back in the \u201cOld Country\u201d way before Nikola came to America in 1897.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In fact, research shows that Francza was born in Butler, PA on September 20, 1893.\u00a0 Butler, PA is where my maternal grandfather\u2019s MAMULA cousins wound up. Losing her mother early, Francza always respected my grandmother like a daughter would.<\/span><\/p>

Living in a very small one-room home she built herself in a valley near\u00a0Legionville Hollow in Ambridge<\/strong>, Francza would take two buses and a streetcar to visit my grandmother on Pittsburgh\u2019s South Side, filling her ears with news of \u201cthe perfect boy for Milana!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

My grandmother loved her dearly too, always inviting her for every special occasion\u2014Serbian Christmas, Slavas, etc.<\/span><\/p>

I guess my mother and Aunt Peep saw something special in +Gus too, recognizing an \u201coutsider\u201d from our weekly Sunday picnics up at Castle Shannon. It was SNF Vidovdan day (right before we combined it with 3-day!) and people came in buses from all over:Johnstown, Aliquippa, Steubenville, Steelton, Cleveland, Akron, etc.<\/span><\/p>

I could care less. I liked Sammy for a long time, and he finally liked me. We were kolo dancing away when ole Laurie (my Mum, the Salvation Army Queen!) says, \u201cCome over here, Mimi, there\u2019s someone I want you to meet!\u201d<\/span><\/p>

History! History!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Then I saw him at\u00a0Serbian Day at Kennywood,<\/strong>\u00a0right by the glorious Merry-go-round. Francza saw Gus and me talking together.\u00a0\u201cThis is who I wanted you to meet!\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>

Francza was in her glory, beaming more brightly than ever! I saw him again at Shadeland Camp, and met his family for the first time. The Ambridge ladies always had a booth with the Serbian donuts for sale! I took Gus on a tour of Shadeland, because I always felt like I owned it, being one of the original campers!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Francza later married a Serbian man,\u00a0Stanko Popovich and converted to Orthodoxy,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0with my Aunt Marty and Uncle Paul Belosh as her Kumovi. The Popovichs donated the large stained glass window on the right hand side of our\u00a0St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa,<\/strong>\u00a0the same one Gus and I were married in 6\/9\/63!<\/span><\/p>

Only the window inscription says donated by Stanko and\u00a0Anna<\/strong>\u00a0Popovich. \u201cAnna,\u201d as she had changed her name from Francza, because it sounded \u201cmore Serbian.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

I know they\u2019re all up in Heaven laughing at my writing this… and I am sure that someday we\u2019ll all meet again up yonder! So,\u00a0\u201cHappy birthday dear +Gus!\u201d<\/span>\u00a0You were always so special!!!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

Gus, Ellen Bednar & Wedding Ring #5<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Memory Eternal to my\u00a0fellow Quaker Valley teacher, Ellen Bednar,<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0who passed away, November, 2020.\u00a0 I always enjoyed a laugh with her.\u00a0 She was an excellent teacher and I\u2019m proud to say she was my son Nick Bizic\u2019s fourth grade teacher, and did a lot to teach American history and patriotism.<\/span><\/p>

My favorite memory of Ellen happened during\u00a0Teacher Appreciation Day, probably 1980.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0 I went out to my front yard at 350 Willow Road in Ambridge, and dug up a large begonia for Nick to take to her to show how much we cared.<\/span><\/p>

How surprised I was when she called and said how much she loved and appreciated the flower, but she didn\u2019t believe\u00a0I wanted to give her my ring too!<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p>

My gosh! \u00a0I had no idea it was missing until she called! \u00a0How shocked I was that it was safe! \u00a0We laughed at every teacher in-service meeting after that! \u00a0Memory Eternal dear friend!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

In total, I had lost five wedding rings.<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0This may have been number 3. \u00a0But Gus jokingly told me on #5, if I lost this one, we were getting a divorce!<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0I couldn\u2019t help it. \u00a0In cold weather, my fingers contracted and it just went right over my knuckle.<\/span><\/p>

What happened when I lost #5?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0I was feeling depressed for a week or two. \u00a0One day, my mother-in-law, Dorothy Bizic, was walking up our creosoted, railroad-tie steps up our hill and saw something shiny in the orange daylily flowers I planted on both sides of the steps. It was my ring!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>\u00a0\u00a0Thanks be to God! \u00a0She had marvelous vision! \u00a0She could walk in a field of clover and pick up a 4-leaf clover any time!<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>

She was sure special and I loved her very much!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span>\u00a0A perfect mother-in-law to have!<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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More Gus Bizic stories\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Posted: Veterans’ Day, 2020<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Happy Veterans Day in Heaven, Chief Petty Officer, USNR Gus Bizic!\u00a0 We had a great run from the first day we met!\u00a0 Memory Eternal.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

BTW, if anyone remembers the story of my five lost wedding rings, the hill behind us is the one my mother-in-law was walking and found that last one!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The photo left is on Christmas Eve Day 1963-January 6.\u00a0 The Bizics were roasting a pig for Christmas in a lean-to next to that shanty.\u00a0 They had 41 acres of an old ball park and a huge \u201cshop\u201d that would have been in front of us.\u00a0 Many great memories there and in the cornfield behind the shop where we all played baseball after husking and freezing the corn for winter.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Being a city girl, I didn\u2019t wear a heavy-enough coat.\u00a0 +Gus found this extra jacket in the shop for me to wear.\u00a0 People later remarked, \u201cYou\u2019re right in style now, Mim!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

*Gus died 20 years ago on January 28, 2000.\u00a0 We were married for 37 years\u201433 like a Fairy Tale, 4 hard years since he suffered a massive stroke while we were in Chicago for my father\u2019s funeral.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Everyone loved Gus, and I can\u2019t say enough about our wonderful community and doctors who did everything they possibly could to help me.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

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Remembering\u00a0St. Zenobia<\/span>\u00a0and also\u00a0Zenobia Jurkowski<\/span>, Justice of the Peace in Ambridge, PA.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

A\u00a0few weeks before our wedding, +Gus and I stopped at Zenobia’s office to get our application for our Marriage License.\u00a0 We had spent the morning buying small gifts for our wedding party.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Before, licenses were only $2.00, but unbeknownst to us, they had gone up in price to $5.00!\u00a0 My +Gus only had $3!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

So,\u00a0 I had to put in the remaining $2.00!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

I never let him forget it, but I always said it was the best investment I ever made!\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

God bless both my +Gus and Zenobia Jurkowski AND to marytr St. Zenobia for sending me this beautiful memory!<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++
Gus, Sister Sandy, and the Little Sewikley Creek Raccoons who lived near Valley Road in Ambridge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

My youngest sister, Alexandra, is 12 years younger than I. She was about 10-12 years old and would come stay with us for a few days all the time.\u00a0 Gus would enthrall her with tales about the raccoons that lived on the Bizic property.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

He would weave wonderful tales for us, sitting near twilight on our back porch, telling about how the Rachel Raccoon family was enjoying a hot dog\/ marshmellow roast at the creek down below our hill.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The older raccoons were roasting hot dogs on the stick by the campfire, or some were toasting marshmellows to a brownish tinge.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

The teen-age raccoons were splashing about in the creek, some of them emerging and wiping themselves off with white towels that had a “South High School” logo on them, or some walking nonchalantly to the campfire, fixing the S.H.S. towels around their necks, ready to sit and enjoy the warmth and friendship.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

All of a sudden, a Raccoon sentry on watch would shout out, “Food on the Hill!\u00a0 Food on the Hill!””Bizics have FOOD ON THE HILL!”\u00a0 and all of the raccoons on the creek bed down below would leave what they were doing and rush to get to the Bizic homestead at 350 Willow Road.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Gus timed these stories perfectly.\u00a0 He knew what time the mother “Rachel” raccoon and her five or six young ones would come head first as lookouts peeking over the mound, and then come scrambling to find some of the food we left out for them for Sandy’s sake.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Sandy (Alex, she prefers now!) thought Gus was magic in the way he knew exactly when those raccoons were coming.\u00a0 But he just kept the stories going until they did!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

My sister,\u00a0Rose Karlo Gantner<\/span>\u00a0always loved Gus too, enjoying many a Nature Photography excursions together.\u00a0 One time they were down at Waukala Springs on a trail and Rose was determined to find an eagle’s nest to photograph.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Gus had seen signs warning of wart hogs on the trail, but Rose was oblivious and focused solely on finding those eagles to capture on film.<\/p>

“Mayble we should turn back,” Gus tried to persuade, but Rose forged ahead and +Gus followed. Gus swore he heard grunting noises, but Rose went on.\u00a0<\/p>

“Look out!\u00a0 Hogs!\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/em>Run, Rose, Run!”<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>

Before finding the birds, the giant hogs found them, hell-bent on guarding their territory, running towards the two amateur photographers furiously!\u00a0 The two humans ran for their lives, back to the area of the hotel and safety, the only thing they had captured was a tale to tell for the rest of their lives!<\/p>

++++++++++++++++++<\/p>

Obituary from the Sewickley HERALD<\/strong><\/h3>

Gus Bizic, 65, teacher, craftsman, after long illness.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h3>

Gustav “Gus” Bizic, 65, passed away peracefully after suffering from multiple illnesses, in Sewickley Valley Hospital.
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/h3>

Born in Ambridge, PA, he was the son of Dorothy (Klaich) Bizic and the late Peter Bizic, Sr.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0He was a retired OVT (occupational\/vocational\/technical) teacher for the Pittsburgh Public School District, teaching at Conroy Junior High School and Greenway Middle School.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Previously, he taught metal and wood shop for Center Area High School and welding in the evenings to adult classes.\u00a0 He was a superb craftsman, learning the art of woodworking from his father and his Uncle Joseph Bizic, of Bizic Brothers Cabinet Shop in Ambridge.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Mr. Bizic served in the military, retiring after 23 years of service in the Air National Guard, and as Chief Petty Officer (CPO) of the U.S. Navy Reserve.

\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0He was a member of the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, Masonic Lodge 701 of Ambridge, the Valley of Pittsburgh Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, the American Serbian Eastern Rite Brothers (ASERBS), the Sewickley Senior Men’s Club, American Federation of Teachers, Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and Retired Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, and the Sewickley Sunshine Stroke Club.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Gus Bizic was also a former member of the Leet Township Planning Commission, was Vice President of the Little Sewickley Creek Watershed Association, served on the Quaker Valley Council of Governments, and was a member of the Sewickley Valley Historical Society, as well as a member of the SewickleyNET Board of Directors.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Surviving in addition to his mother, are his beloved wife, Milana “Mim” (Karlo) Bizic; a devoted son, Nicholas Bizic of Ben Avon; a sister, Anne B. McClure; a brother, Peter Bizic Jr.; sisters-in-law Danica Bizc, Dr. Rose K. Gantner and Alexandra K. Nolan; three nephews, Peter Bizic III, Mark Gustav Bizic and David McClure; and three nieces, Mary McClure, Elaine McClure Arazawa and Angela B. Nolan.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0A service was conducted at the St. Elijah Serbian Church in Aliquippa with the V.Rev. Fr. Stevan Stepanov officiating.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Serbian Relief Fund, c\/o 1617 Davidson St., Aliquippa, PA 15001.<\/h3>


\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Arrangements were handled by the Wayne N. Tatalovich Funeral Home of Aliquippa.
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It should be noted that in addition to flowers, many donations to St. Elijah Seribian Orthodox Church and St. Elijah Choir were VERY generously given; however, more than $4,500 was sent to the orphans in Banja Luka in +Gus Bizic’s name.\u00a0 We thank our dear friends, neighbors, everyone who gave so willingly to help the less fortunate.\u00a0 It was sincerely appreciated by our family.<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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+Gus & Mim Bizic's Wedding Photos\n<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The new Mr. and Mrs. Gustav Bizic June 9, 1963<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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View of the church ceremony from the Choir Loft. Be sure to note the two witnesses with the couple with theirSerbian flag tri-colored (red\/blue\/white) sashes. One is the “KUM” or “Best Man,” and the other is “STARI SVJAT” or “Older Celebrant Witness.”\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Also notice the small altar table that is in the middle of the church.\u00a0 It was made by +Gus’ father, +Pete Bizic and his +Uncle Joe Bizic in memory of +Fr. Tomich’s son lost in the war, and in honor of now SAINT Bishop Nikolai, and to mark the date inside where the crowns are kept with\u00a06\/9\/63 in PENCIL<\/span>, just in case the wedding didn’t work out! \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>

They brought the altar table to the church just one hour before the ceremony because they wanted to make sure that Gus and I were the first to use it. Previously, that same busy day there had also been a funeral and a baptism.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here you can see how our hands are tied with a kerchief cloth, representing the two are now ONE.<\/span><\/p>

Note, we both are wearing crowns, professing that now as a couple we are King and Queen of our own Household, crowned in the glory of God. Behind the couple, the Kum and Stari Svjat are holding Lighted Candles to proclaim the Light of Christ, whose life we are to emulate.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here as the Royal Couple united in Christ, we are walking around the altar table THREE (Holy Trinity!) times, representing ETERNITY, following the priest, taking\u00a0our first steps together as husband and wife, following in the footsteps of Christ.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The PERFECT GROOM<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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There was nothing that Gus could have done more. He was always looking out for me, not only here, but for the rest of our lives together. In front of us are Gus’s sister Anne Bizic McClure’s two children, Elaine McClure Arazawa and David McClure.\u00a0 Elaine is ready to retire from Hershey and Dr. David McClure just recently retired from all his responsiblities as a Medical Doctor Administrator of several hospitals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Line Up<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gus’s mother, Dorothy Bizic, welcoming me into the family while Gus looks on, and our Kumovi are talking to Papa Pete and the kids.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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While Gus shares a special moment with his wonderful mother, Doorthy and our Kumovi and her little grandchildren in front, I had just finished talking to one of my students from the Philip Murray School in Pittsburgh, where I had taught 2nd grade.<\/span><\/p>

OUTSIDE!<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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There’s so much magic going on at this time.\u00a0 The bride and groom have just exited the church after reeiving and thanking all guests for attending, the orchestra is playing away and hearts are filled with love and the desire to break into a kolo afterwards.<\/span><\/p>

See the St. Elijah icon above?\u00a0 It was made by Jelena Kolarovich, the daughter of the man who “wrote” the icons we have in our church, the wonderful iconographer, Aleksandar Dzigurski.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Happy bedlam!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

Posed Photos for Posterity<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Wedding Party and Our familes<\/span><\/p>

First row:\u00a0 Pat Aurelia, Rose Gantner, Alexandra Karlo Nolan, Elaine McClure Arazawa, Dr. David McClure, Fr. Vlastimir Tomich.<\/span><\/p>

2nd Row:\u00a0 Cousin Dennis Astorino, Dad Milan Karlo, Mom Laura Karlo, Gus Bizic, Milana Karlo Bizic, Papa Pete Bizic, Sr., Baba (MIL) Dorothy Bizic, Kuma Bessie Roknick, Stara Svjatica-Aunt Irene Klaich.<\/span><\/p>

Back Row:\u00a0 Kum Al Roknick, Stari Svjat Milosh Klaich, and good friend, John Shatlan.<\/span><\/p>

+++<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Ujak (Uncle) Mike Klaich and his wife, Irene Klaich, Gus Bizic, Proto Tomich, Mim Bizic, Kuma Bessie and Kum Al Roknick.<\/span><\/p>

2nd Row: Sister Rose Gantner, Cousin Lou Astorino, Good friends, Pat Aurelia and John Shatlan.<\/span><\/p>

In front:\u00a0 Davey and Elaine McClure<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

\u00a0+++++++ And then, At the Hall……<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0Always so attentive! Whispering nothings…<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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+Gus was always so special, and he always seemed to give me goosebumps whenever we danced together!\u00a0 I think you can readily see how happy we were.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here we are with our Mother and Father’s dear friend, Vlajko Lugonja, from Chicago.\u00a0 “Lugonja” was the one who started the Serbian Singing Federation and its Festivals. My mother, Laura Mamula Karlo, in the background, wrote in her teen-age diary about when Lugonja came to Pittsburgh to help form the Philip Visnich Choir from St. Sava’s Church on 21st and Sidney Streets on Pittsburgh’s South Side. My father, Milan Karlo, as Editor of the American SRBOBRAN, published all of Lugonja’s articles about the choirs in the paper, helping to support the fledging organization. So, they knew him even before I was born. But we ALL loved him, all generations!\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Gus surprised me by swooping me up at the Hall when we were ready to leave.\u00a0 I was shocked, because I’ve never been a “Skinny Minnie!” Once again, Gus was the perfect Groom, making everyone so happy!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here we are, leaving for our Honeymoon after our wonderful wedding.\u00a0 Look how the orchestra serenaded us all the way to the car.\u00a0 Two young adults with no idea what Life held in store, just knowing that it would be good to go through the next phase as true Partners, Friends for Life.<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++++<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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So many people commented on our wedding photos on Facebook when I posted them for the Virtual Zabava wedding project, I thought I would create a permanent page so more people could see the beauty of our Serbian weddings.\u00a0 5\/31\/2020<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/em>United States of America<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>

\u00a0+++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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How did we meet?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

Every Sunday our family would drive up after church to the St. Sava Cemetery and Picnic Grounds on Hamilton Road near Castle Shannon, PA and enjoy the company of our church parishioners and lots of barbequed lamb, green onions and pogacha (bread). There would always be an orchestra playing, usually Danny Kukich’s orchestra.<\/p>

But every year, once a year, the Serb National Federation held a special SAVEZ Day, near Vidovdan (June 28- and this has since morphed into Pittsburgh SNF 3-Day).\u00a0 That’s when buses would come from all of the Eastern colonies, like Johnstown, Steelton, Lackawanna, Steubenville, Aliquippa, Monroeville, Farrell, McKeesport, Cleveland, Akron, you name it.<\/p>

So it was on that Savez Day, 1962, is when I met Gus.\u00a0 But I wasn’t too happy about it then!\u00a0 How things change!<\/p>

I liked this fellow named Sammy, and he finally liked me.\u00a0 I had just graduated from Pitt and had a promised job for the City of Pittsburgh teaching that fall\u00a0at the Philip Murray Elementary School.\u00a0<\/p>

In the meantime, I also worked that summer for Brashear Camp. (My mom thought I should get a paying job, whereas I was a Shadeland counselor for free for 3 years.)<\/p>

I was suntaned and looked nice in a white eyelet dress I had also worn for my Pitt Graduation and Lantern Night.\u00a0 I was dancing lots of kolos and also slow dancing with Sammy.<\/p>

My mother and Aunt Peep were sitting on one of the benches lining the dance hall, watching everything.\u00a0<\/p>

In comes Gus who had traveled from Ambridge, PA to the picnic with his Uncle Steve Yorgin and friend, Bernie Janicki.<\/p>

Recognizing that Gus was “new,” the two Salvation Army Queens started a warm conversation with Gus, peppering him with questions. Next thing I knew, they were calling me from my fun times to meet this new “friend” of theirs.<\/p>

Oh, I grrrrreed under my breath and gritted my teeth, but I went over and said “Hello.”\u00a0 Gus asked me if I would like to dance.\u00a0 By now the orchestra was playing “Suze Liju.”<\/p>

I accepted. It was so hot, Gus kept lifting his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose because they kept falling down from sweat.\u00a0 He said, “Terribly middle class of me.”\u00a0 And I, taking his hand back again, said as I batted my eyelashes so sheepishly, “That’s OK. I wear contacts!”<\/p>

Next thing you know, 2 days later, Gus showed up at the camp.\u00a0 Sammy had been there the day before.<\/p>

Our first date?\u00a0 A movie in downtown Pittsburgh. He bought me almond candies.\u00a0 What movie did we see? “The Brothers Grimm!” I should have known then he was perfect, especially after he purchased a Patsy Kline 33″ record… with\u00a0“I Fall to Pieces….”<\/span><\/p>

Gus sang in his Ambridge High School Chorus and his St. Elijah Choir, so he often sang in the car he borrowed from his sister and brother-in-law when he would come to pick me up. One happy memory was his singing.\u00a0“I’ll be loving you, ALWAYS, with a love that’s true, ALWAYS.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>

He sang that one right in front of the Giant Eagle Center in Leetsdale as we were on our way to meet his parents.<\/p>

And the rest is History! Eleven months later, we took this trip down the St. Elijah Aisle!<\/p>

++++++++++++++++\u00a0<\/p>

To enlarge ANY photo, just click on the lower right hand corner of the photo.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Here are +Gus and his Kum, Al Roknick.\u00a0 Al’s father, Marko Roknick, was Kum to Gus’s father and mother, Pete and Dorothy Bizic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kum Al Roknick and Stari Svjat Mike Klaich (Maternal Uncle to Gus), also served at the wedding of Gus’ brother, Lt. Col. Peter Bizic and his wife Danica, from Windsor, Canada.\u00a0 They also got married in the St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, PA.<\/span><\/p>

++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

Here is a series of\u00a0TWO Kiss photos<\/span>\u00a0after the ceremony.<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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You can see that V. Rev. Stav. Fr. Vlastimir Tomich was already telling Gus, “That’s enough, Gus!” Ha!<\/span><\/p>

Everyone was smiling away!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Then an even bigger and stronger embrace!\u00a0 By this time, my father, Milan Karlo, is laughing and pointing his finger towards us, and the whole church was laughing!\u00a0 \u00a0A good beginning! \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

EXTRA WEDDING PHOTOS<\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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My father took this one!<\/span><\/p>

The Table:<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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V.\u00a0 Rev. Stav. Fr. Vlastimir Tomich, with Gus and me after the ceremony acknowledging the gift of the small altar table to the church from Gus’ family. How proud we always were to proclaim we were the FIRST to walk around the table three times as Bride and Groom. There have been numerous other lucky couples after\u00a057<\/strong>\u00a0years!\u00a0(2020)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

+++++++++++++++++<\/span><\/p>

Coming for the Bride!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>

My in-laws had a caravan from Ambridge to Pittsburgh, and they escorted me to the church in Aliquippa.<\/span><\/p>

Great people!<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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