Jennie Varbanoff

Jennie Varbanoff (nee Dudukovich), 96, of Lorain, passed away Friday July 4, 2025 at Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake. She was born February 7, 1929 in Lorain to Nick & Mary Dudukovich and had been a lifelong Lorain resident. On June 30, 1947, she married Verban Varbanoff whom she met while working as a waitress at The Café across from US Steel. They had been married for 60 years until his passing in 2007. Jennie had also worked in the coffee shop at St Joseph Hospital in Lorain with one of her best friends, Sue Humphrey, in the mid 1970’s. It was an enjoyable day when she and her two other best friends, Theresa Sadowski and Kay Weber, took their bus trips to local and out-of-state casinos. She always looked forward to summer for the area church picnics with polka bands. She loved listening and dancing to the polkas and enjoyed the ethnic foods. She was baptized at St George Serbian Orthodox Church in Lorain, but she and her husband raised their children at the former St Vitus Croatian Catholic Church where they were members. She was also a member of the DAV Chapter #20 Ladies Auxiliary. Jennie was a devoted mother to her three children and treasured her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She spoiled them with her hugs, kisses, playing cards, baking cookies, camping and many sleepovers. Thumbprint cookies, nut and poppyseed rolls, chicken noodle soup, and chicken paprikas were her specialties. Holidays never went without them. She is survived by her daughter Susan Noe (Vaughn) of Sheffield Village, son Kenneth Varbanoff of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; grandchildren: Joclyn Fada (Chris) of Elyria, Jeffrey Noe of Sellersburg, Indiana, Adam Varbanoff (Courtney) of Meadowview, Virginia and Danielle Varbanoff of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; great grandchildren: Madelyn & Sophie Fada and Ellie & Ethan Varbanoff, brother Joseph Dudukovich Sr, sister-in-law Marie Dudukovich and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Verban Varbanoff in 2007, son David Varbanoff in 2016, parents Nick & Mary Dudukovich and 4 sisters and 6 brothers. The family wishes to offer their sincere thanks to the memory care staff at Independence Village in Avon Lake as well as the devoted nurses, aides, and doctors at Ames Family Hospice House in Westlake for their kindness, compassion and devoted care. The family will receive friends Wednesday July 9, 2025 from 10:00-11:00 am at the Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway, Lorain, OH 44055. Funeral services will be held immediately following visitation Wednesday July 9, 2025 at 11:00 am in the funeral chapel with Rev. John Slatcoff presiding. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain. Memorial contributions can be made to Ames Family Hospice, 30080 Hospice Way, Westlake, OH 44145 or St Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Pl, Memphis, TN 38105.

Jennie Varbanoff

February 7, 1929 - July 4, 2025