Matushka Alexandra Garklavs, 77, wife of the Very Rev. Sergei Garklavs, dean emeritus of Holy Trinity Cathedral here, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, July 9, 2005.
Born Alexandra Iowina in Belarus in 1927, she came to the US in 1949 and was employed as a nurse. The following year she married Sergei Garklavs, who was subsequently ordained to the diaconate and priesthood. For years she served devotedly alongside her husband at Holy Virgin Protection Church, Gary, IN; Saint Panteleimon Church, Argo, IL; and Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago. She also accompanied her husband and members of the Garklavs family to Russia in 2004 for the return of the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, for which Father Garklavs had served as guardian after the repose of Archbishop John of Chicago.
In addition to her husband, Matushka Garklavs is survived by three sons, the Very Rev. Alexander Garklavs, rector of Holy Trinity Church, East Meadow, NY, and George and Paul Garklavs; two daughters, Mary Smith and Olga Prevas; and eleven grandchildren.
Visitation will be at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 1121 North Leavitt St., Chicago, on Monday and Tuesday, July 11 and 12, from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m. Memorials will be celebrated each evening at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be celebrated at the cathedral at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, 2005. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, River Grove, IL. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Tikhvin Monastery Fund, 369 Green Ave., East Meadow, NY 11554.
May Matushka Garklavs’ memory be eternal!