OBITUARY FROM REES FUNERAL HOME WEBSITE:
Stella “Mary” Draves of Portage Indiana, passed away peacefully in the early morning of August 20, 2020 at the VNA Hospice Center in Valparaiso, Indiana with a family member by her side.
Mary is survived by her 2 loving boys, Laurance (Jennifer) Draves, Larry (Julie) Draves; 5 grandchildren; Marianne (Mark) Harrison, Harrison (Aubrey) Draves, Christian Draves, Aubrey Draves (Logan Lukowski), and Phoenix Draves. Brothers, John (Elfie) Cicak, Mike Cicak; sisters, Monique (Jan) Gojko, Lee Janik; Brothers-in-Law, James Prage, James (Michelle) Draves; Sister-in-Law, Darla Draves, and many nieces and nephews.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Ronald Draves; companion of 4 years, Paul Nawrocki; parents, Fedor and Astrid Cicak; Sisters-in-Law, Sharon Prage, Joyce Cicak and Brother-in-Law, John Janik.
Mary was a 1964 graduate of Hobart High school and earned a Masters Degree in education from Indiana University. Born March 6th, 1946 in Bardenberg, Germany, she immigrated to America with her family in 1950. Here, she joined a gardening club and this is where her love of gardening and food melded.
After 20 plus years of teaching with the School City of Hobart, she and Ron retired to Sarasota, Florida where she enjoyed her days fishing in the ocean, painting, tending to her beautiful backyard garden, trips to Disney, entertaining her family and friends, and opening her home for many visitors to what she liked to call her “Secret Garden Paradise”.
Later in life she returned to Northwest Indiana to be with family and found a home at Rittenhouse Village in Portage, where she used her many talents to teach other residents the love of painting and gardening. Much of her artwork she sold and the money donated to various charities.
Mary will be remembered for her picture perfect and delicious holiday meals, her tender heart to care for those in need, a contagious laugh, great sense of humor and her love for a good party with family and friends. Mary will be greatly missed by all.
There will be an intimate Celebration of Life held in her honor in September. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate
This information was obtained from: https://www.reesfuneralhomes.com/obituary/stella-draves.