Lottie Sivulich

Lottie (Leokadia, in baptism and confirmation) Radziszewska was born May 8, 1919, in Niagara Falls, NY to Wladyslaw and Maryanna (Poplawska) Radziszeswki. She attended Gaskill Junior High through seventh grade, when she began caring for her siblings after the death of their mother.

Lottie met Peter Sivulich in Niagara Falls, and they were married in Alden Station, PA, on June 8, 1946. They soon moved to Alden until 1957, then returned to Niagara Falls where they made their home for over 30 years. The Sivuliches alternated home stays with long periods at their daughter’s home in South Carolina.

Living in Niagara Falls, Mrs. Sivulich was widowed in 1993 and remained there with her family until moving permanently to Georgia in 2001.

For a time during and after World War II, Mrs. Sivulich worked at Carborundum in Niagara Falls. She spent the rest of her life as a devoted homemaker and caregiver, and an ardent supporter of her family and church family, whom she loved completely.

Known as Grandma, Aunt Lottie, or simply “Baba,” Lottie was known for her buoyant and joyful spirit in any situation, and she gave generously of her time. She found joy in her family, in Polish folk music and dancing, and in helping friends to enjoy sightseeing at Niagara Falls, of which she was fiercely proud.

Mrs. Sivulich never learned to drive and lived a very simple life. Her skills in cooking and crochet gave great satisfaction to her and everyone who received her handiwork. Her constant activity helped her give richly to causes from her local senior center to the life of her church community.

Lottie Sivulich is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Theresa and Fr. Peter Smith of Norcross, GA; her grandchildren, Kevin Smith and Kerin (William) McCallister; seven great-grandchildren, Justin, Lachlan, Symeon (Ruby), and Miranda Smith, and Maura, Caroline, and Thomas Pridmore; and her great-great-grandson, Aldo Gonzalez Smith.

She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Marie (Joseph) Catherine, Christina Pietrobon, Patricia (Richard) Kowalski, Anne (James) Kolarich, Anna Maria (Carmen) Colao, Jerome (Sandra) Gadawski, and Joseph (Nancy) Gadawski; by sixteen great nieces and nephews, and twenty-one great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 47 years, Peter; her sisters, Helen (late Joseph) Gadawksi, Anne (late Adam) Rotundo, and Mary (late Zygmont) Kowalski, and her brother Joseph (late Stella) Radziszewski.

Services will be held at St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in America, 925 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross, GA.

Lottie Sivulich will be remembered in a memorial (“Panikhida”) on Thursday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be held on Friday, October 4 at 9:00 a.m. followed by a procession to her interment at Saints Mary and Martha Orthodox Monastery, in Wagener, SC. The interment will take place at approximately 4:00 p.m.

All are welcome to attend and remember Mrs. Sivulich in worship, and to keep vigil while she lies in repose at St. Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church between Thursday, October 2 at 3:00 p.m. and the funeral Friday morning.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Saints Mary and Martha Orthodox Monastery, 65 Spinner Ln, Wagener, SC 29164. If flowers are ardently desired, please contact The Petal Shoppe, 124 Earle St N, Wagener, SC.