Protinica Donna Marie (Oglesby) Merick, 72, of Wintersville, Ohio fell asleep in the Lord June 6, 2022 in Cleveland after a brief illness. She was born and raised in the Cleveland area to late parents Samuel and Anne (Kostura) Oglesby. She graduated from Parma High School and St Alexis School of Nursing, becoming a registered nurse and serving in a number of hospitals in Cleveland, Bronxville, New York, Youngstown and Steubenville and in home health care. She was a born care giver to many throughout her life. Married to Rade (Ralph) Merick in 1975, she accompanied her husband to St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York and for nearly a year in the Diocese of Shumadia, in Kragujevac, Serbia where he served as a deacon. She was an active and devoted mother to two sons and to the parishioners of the parishes she and her husband served in Farrell, PA and Steubenville, Ohio, until their retirement in 2019.

Protinica Donna was a devout Orthodox Christian from birth who faithfully attended services, taught and supervised Church School, sang responses in the choir and at services when needed and faithfully read her study Bible at home. A fine cook and hostess, she prepared gibanica and other Serbian specialties for the church picnic and was a fixture at the cevapcici tent. She delighted in being able to give gifts to the children of friends. The wives of young clergy looked to her as a mentor.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Carol Seiple, special Aunt and Uncle Mary and Joseph Lucak, and cousins Rev. Deacon Dennis and Helen Lucak. She leaves behind her husband Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick, her two sons Nicholas and Dr Michael (Megan) Merick, cousins Maribeth Lucak and Lynda Kostura, and numerous other relatives, kumovi and friends.

Visitation from 4:00 to 8:00 PM on Monday, June 13, 2022 at Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church, 528 North Fourth Street, Steubenville Ohio. Pomen service there at 6:00 PM. Funeral service will be at the church on Tuesday, June 14 at 12:30 PM, following the Divine Liturgy at 10:00 AM. An hour of visitation and a short service will take place beginning at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, June 15 at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, Ohio with interment immediately following at St Theodosius Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be directed to Holy Resurrection Church in Steubenville, Monastery New Marcha in Richfield, Ohio, or FOCUS Cleveland-St Herman House.

May her memory be eternal!