Anna Sovish

Racine – Anna Sovish, 84, passed away at home on Thursday, July 9, 2009. She was born on July 3, 1925 in Cudahy to John and Susan (nee: Tomek) Sovish, who moved to Racine when Anna was six-months old. Anna attended Stephen Bull Elementary School, Franklin Junior High School, and graduated from Washington Park High School (January 1943), from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1950) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, majoring in French and minoring in English and choral music, and with a M.A. degree in French literature (1956). She did post-graduate work in foreign language education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and at several other universities. She taught choral music and English in the Chetek, Wisconsin Public Schools. She also taught in the high schools of the following Illinois communities: Litchfield (English and choral music); Libertyville (English and French); Hinsdale (French and English); and French at Highland Park High School, from which she retired in 1981. Prior to attending the University she worked as the chief cost clerk at Racine Tool & Machine Company; as a translator of Spanish at Oster Manufacturing Company; and as a part-time clerk in the Sovish Grocery. After retiring from active teaching, she returned to Racine to take care of family obligations. She taught French at Gateway Technical Institute and at the University of Wisconsin – Parkside. She was also a substitute teacher in the Racine Unified School District. Anna was a life-long member of Pentecost Lutheran Church. She was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers’ Association, the Lake County Retired Teachers’ Association, the Racine Literacy Council, the Carthage Community Chorus, the UW-Parkside Master Singers, the Racine Symphonic Chorus, a charter member of the Slovak Historical Society, and the United Lutheran Society. She served on the boards of the American Association of University Women, Parkside’s Adventures of Lifelong Learning, the Racine Choral, the Racine Arts Council, and the Racine Symphony Guild. She also served as choir director and organist in several churches in the area and in the cities in which she taught. She had a great passion for learning, for the fine arts, for traveling, and for tutoring. Anna was preceded in death by her parents, John and Susan Sovish (1977 and 1972), a brother John M. Sovish (1983), and a sister Susan M. Sovish (1967). She is survived by many cousins and dear friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at Pentecost Lutheran Church with Rev. Milan J. Babel officiating. Interment will follow at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will begin in the church at 9:00 a.m. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.