Doris Lazio Nejedlik, 95, of Brecksville, Ohio, passed away on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 14, 2017. Preceded in death 47 years ago by husband John A. Nejedlik, Jr.; mother of Jane Van Valkenburgh (Greg), John (Marian), and Bob (Favorite). Loving grandmother of Kevin (Alexis), Alex, and Laura Van Valkenburgh, and Julie and Iris Nejedlik. Proud great-grandmother of Sophie and Anthony Van Valkenburgh. Daughter of the late Edward and Mary (Jirousek) Lazio and last surviving sibling of Cosma Racek, Gerald Lazio, and Edward Lazio. Dear sister-in-law and friend to Emmy Lazio. Aunt of Richard Racek, Jaclyn (Mark) Rychel, Edward Lazio, Geralyn (Phil) Peters, Linda (Bob) Short, and Patricia (Rob) Harris.

Doris grew up in Cleveland and graduated from the former John Adams High School. She met her husband, John, friend of her brother, Gerald, who both graduated from East Tech High School. Unable to afford college, Doris worked for Ohio Bell during the 1940s while waiting for her fiancé John, a navigator in combat over the skies of Europe, to return. Married for only 19 years when John died in 1970, Doris was left alone to raise and send to college their three children which she did successfully motivated by her promise to her husband. She never remarried, remaining devoted to her memory of John.

Doris loved dogs and enjoyed the companionship over her long life of Smokey, Morgans I and II, Sydney, and Sam. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting, working in her yard, Jazzercise, and spending time with her grandchildren. She traveled extensively over the years, going to Cuba with a girlfriend in the 1940s, to Italy, Sicily, Hawaii, Ellis Island, and the American West with her sister, Cosma, and several European vacations with her family. A big North Royalton High School Band fan, Doris traveled with Jane’s family to California to see the band perform in the Rose Bowl Parade on New Year’s Day 2003. An avid sports fan, Doris spent hours watching golf, tennis, and the Cavs on TV. She followed the Cleveland Indians from their glory days of the 1940s, enjoying their World Series championship of 1948, and continuing to root for them through their appearance in the World Series last fall.

Family will receive visitors at the NOSEK-MCCREERY FUNERAL HOME AT 8150 BRECKSVILLE ROAD, BRECKSVILLE ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 17 BETWEEN 3 AND 8 PM. A funeral service to pay tribute to and celebrate Doris’s life is Thursday, May 18, 2017, at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Burial following at Brecksville Cemetery.

Family suggests contributions to the Cleveland Animal Protective League, 1729 Willey Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113.