Ilona M. Perencevich

Ilona Mae Perencevich (nee Sadar) passed peacefully on May 18, 2022 at the age of 82. Born April 13, 1940 in Cleveland, Ohio, she graduated from Collinwood High School, and then from the Mather College of Western Reserve University in 1962, where she was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and received the Sundial and History Honorary. A lifelong educator, she taught junior high and high school English, History and Public Speaking for many years, and ultimately retired as the English Chair at The Wellington School in Columbus, Ohio. She was a patron of the arts and a champion of charitable work, volunteering at Doctor's Hospital, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and the Columbus Opera. Ilona was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice and sang in the church choir and as a soloist since the age of 13. An avid reader, she could always suggest a great book, which suited her well as the resident librarian at the Deupree House in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she and her best friend and husband of 59 years, Dr. Eli N. Perencevich, resided for the last six years.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by her son, Dr. Eli (Jiyun Park) Perencevich, Jr. of Iowa City, Iowa, her daughter, Ilka (Bryce) Lenox of Cincinnati, Ohio, and her brother Dr. Edward (Melinda) Sadar of Columbus, Ohio. She adored, and unapologetically spoiled, her four grandchildren: Aiden and Audrey Lenox and Emmelene and Marko Perencevich, as well as her five nieces and nephew. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mary Sadar. A private service and internment will be held in Columbus, Ohio. The family wishes memorial contributions be made to The Good Samaritan Episcopal Retirement Services. Checks can be mailed to the ERS Foundation, 3870 Virginia Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45227 or online at www.ersfoundation.org.