Mary Ellen Ratkovich, age 77, lifelong resident of Chicago, passed away March 29, 2024.
Beloved daughter of the late Michael and Helen, nee Alebich; loving sister of Ann Marie (Petar) Varvodic and Johanna Ratkovich; cherished niece of the late Rose, Madge, Michael (Marion), Anthony and John Alebich; dearest cousin of Michael (Geri) Alebich, Cheryl (Jerry) Pinotti, Michael M. (Lizzy) Alebich, Alex (John) Masterson and Maryl Pinotti.
Mary Ellen’s passions were her love of educating, love of music, and pride in her Croatian heritage. She taught at Queen of Peace High School and was the former principal of Robert Healey School. She also served as a summer instructor in the School of Foreign Languages at the University of Zagreb.
Mary Ellen’s Croatian pride was evidenced by her support and involvement in numerous organizations and activities including the Zrinski Frankopan Croatian Cultural Society and as the Choir Director at St. Jerome’s Croatian Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jerome Croatian Catholic Church in Mary Ellen’s memory.
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Dobroslav Paraga
02.04.2024. 20:36
Dear Mrs. Mary Ellen Ratkovich, On the occasion of our earthly parting, I am also obliged to mention your immense love for the Croatian people when I arrived in Chicago in 1989 and when, as a Croatian political prisoner and defender of human rights, you made available to me all your knowledge, day and night work, when you went with me to visits by rev. Jesse Jackson, the mayor of Chicago Richard Daley, the leading American media and a large number of American senators and congressmen to convince them that the former communist Yugoslavia no longer deserves the favor of the American people and the administration in Washington. With your enormous enthusiasm, we succeeded then, which was equal to a supernatural miracle of God, to obtain Resolution 169 of the American Congress on August 4, 1989, on the condemnation of Yugoslavia and the Belgrade regime for the systematic trampling of human rights and democratic standards. Dear Marry Ellen, you should have received a place of honor in today's Croatia because of your efforts for Croatia, the homeland of your grandparents. Croatia did not repay you in any way, but dear God and we who were lucky enough to know you and work together for a time with you will never forget the memory of you and your brave patriotic heart that will shine on us even after your move to the dear God who you honored and believed in Him all your life and celebrated Him with your singing, playing the church organ and raising entire generations of Chicago Croats in traditional music and folk costumes. Thank you and God bless you. We express our sincere condolences to your beloved sister Ana, brother-in-law Petar Varvodić and all the bereaved who knew and loved you. Dobroslav Paraga and family, Chicago, Zagreb, Croatia