Verica "Vera" Draksic

Verica "Vera" Draksic, age 74, of Kirtland, OH, passed away peacefully February 26, 2026. Daughter of the late Mijat and Anna Kalac, Vera was born and raised in former Yugoslavia with her siblings Maria (deceased), Lucija (deceased), Nevenka, and Petar.

As a young woman, Vera felt a calling to help others that drew her to the field of nursing. This developed into a life-long devotion to cooking and caring for family and friends that she took with her everywhere, from aiding residents at the Slovene Home for the Aged to her work with the Congregation of Blessed Sacrament.

In the winter of 1971, Vera emigrated to the United States, settling in Cleveland where she started a family with Martin (deceased), her husband of 40 years. She was a loving mother to their two daughters, Anita (late husband Edgar), and Irena (husband Chris), and a devoted grandmother to her cherished grandson, Evan.

Vera spent nearly every waking moment preparing food for people she admired, including the delicious dishes of her homeland, like strudels, poticas and sarma. Around the holidays, she baked until every container she owned was filled with cookies; gifts for the dozens of people she considered family.

If you needed Vera, you could always find her in a kitchen peeling a potato, chopping an onion, or kneading dough; all while stirring a simmering pot.

Fueled by a love of people, hard work, strong coffee, and bread and butter, she somehow had time to get the job done with a story and a smile. They don't make them like Vera anymore.

Contributions may be made in memory of Vera to either Sisters of Mercy by clicking HERE, Sisters of Notre Dame of the United States by clicking HERE, St. Jude by clicking HERE, or Doctors Without Borders by clicking HERE.

Mass of Christian Burial Friday, March 6, 2026, at Divine Word Catholic Church, 8100 Eagle Road, Kirtland, Ohio 44094, at 10 AM.

Burial following at All Souls Cemetery.

Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Vera at THE ZEVNIK-COSIC FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 4-8 PM.