100 Years old 9/14/1921-1/17/2022
Born Ljudmila Burger on a farm in Polica, Slovenia (former Yugoslavia). The youngest of 11. Predeceased by her parents Jozef Burger and Ana (Gercman)Burger and all her siblings. Widowed on May 26, 2017 by her beloved husband Albin Bizilj. World War II came along and changed her wedding plans. Albin was a soldier in the Yugoslavian army and in 1945 the soldiers were told they were going home.
There was a rumor that wasn't true so he went AWOL with many other soldiers and jumped off the trucks and fled to Austria. The other ones never made it home including Ljudmila's brother. From there they made it to a refugee camp in Spittal, Austria. He was able to write letters to Ljudmila and after about 3 years she went underground with a guide from Ljubljana through the woods, swam the Drava river and crossed the border into Austria.
They were finally married on December 17, 1949. Eventually, they got a sponsor to come to America and landed at Ellis Island on July 7th 1950. At first they lived in Waukegan, Il., where their children were born. Soon after the family moved to Rochester. The whole family was able to celebrate her 100th birthday in September and her last Christmas. She never had dementia and remembered everything and everybody. She was able to call all her relatives in Slovenia and friends across America at Christmas time and before her death. It was her way of saying goodbye.
On Monday morning the 17th of January a red cardinal came to the tree outside the kitchen window. I believe that was Albin coming to take her home.
She is survived by her daughters Elizabeth (Alan) Ladd, Helen Lenhard (Kevin Hohensee), grandchildren Jakki Ladd (George) Gressell, Michelle Ladd (Dave) Mercer, Sarah Lenhard, Laura Lenhard, Isaac (Kerrin) Lenhard, Crystal Ladd. Great grandchildren Alexis (Josh) Meade, Patience Lenhard, and Jordan VanDervort. Great great grandchildren, JT, Cameron, Jonathan, Natalie, Joseph and Bradley Meade. Five generations!. Nieces and nephews in Canada and Slovenia and many friends across America.
Visitation will be held on Friday February 4th, 2022 from 6PM - 8PM on at Newcomer Cremations & Funerals, 2636 Ridgeway Ave Rochester, NY 14626. Memorial Service will be on Saturday February 5th at 10:30AM back at the Funeral Home. To share a memory please visit:WWW.Newcomerochester.com
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