Celebrating a wonderful life! Felicia Pliūra passed away peacefully on December 10, 2023 at the age of 97 years. She was born August 28, 1926 in Dvariukai, Lithuania, to Motiejus Vilipas and Teodora (Šomkaite) Vilipienė. She fled her beloved homeland with her family in June 1944 as the Russian Communists invaded Lithuania. Her family spent several years in Displaced Persons Camps throughout Germany including camps in Berlin, Wiesbaden and Kassel. She reunited with friends and found her life-long partner in the Camp at Wiesbaden. She married Lionginas J. Pliūra on July 17, 1948 in Kassel, Germany. She would reminisce that their honeymoon was a cruise on a transport carrier that brought them to the United States. They arrived in Racine, Wisconsin in November 1948 and began their new life with nothing but the clothes on their backs, a small suitcase in hand and the promise of freedom in America.

Felicia worked as a dishwasher/waitress for several months for $0.25/hr while she learned the English language. She was then hired at St. Mary's Hospital and continued at All Saints Hospital working in the OB/ NU and PEDS units as a nursing assistant. She retired in the late 1980s after 30 + years of dedicated service offering compassionate care to the hospitalized children.

She was a fabulous cook and baker. She loved watching cooking shows, and reading cook books, making up new recipes for her family to try. Felicia and Lionginas would frequently host sit-down dinners for 40-50 people in their home for birthdays, Name Day and New Years' Eve parties for all their Lithuanian friends. She is famous for her Lašinėčiai (bacon buns), Kugelis (savory potato cake), Grybai (gingerbread cookies shaped/ decorated like mushrooms) and Napoleonas (Napoleon torte). She finally admitted to her grandchildren her secret ingredient for mashed potatoes was adding Philadelphia ("Piladelfia") cream cheese! She was the president of the Lithuanian Women's Club for numerous years. The Club showcased Lithuanian delicacies at the Racine International Fair for many years.

She loved to garden, and had an incredible green thumb. All the plants she tended to flourished under her care. She grew vegetables, flowers in her home garden but also helped her husband maintain larger gardens on lots they owned nearby. They grew all kinds of vegetables for canning and pickling, fruit trees such as apple, plum, pear, and hazelnuts. The grandchildren have great memories of harvesting produce and picnicking with their grandparents.

Her family mourns her passing: Daughter-Bronė (Bernice) and Joseph Milas; Son-Ramutis (Ramas) and Rėda Pliūra. To her beloved Grandchildren, she was known as Antamama and Motulė – Kristina (Pedro III) Ledo, Michael (Neroliza) Milas, Paul (Erin) Milas, Skaidra Pliūra and Audra (Brian) Jensen. She was blessed to be great-grandmother (a.k.a. Antamama and Nana) to 11 beautiful children: Avery and Pedro IV Ledo, Gabia Pliūra, Gilia and Ginta Anderson, Jurgis Jensen, Kovas Baldukas, Joseph, Everett and Cora Milas, Anaiz Milas, A heartfelt note of thanks to the nursing staff at Aurora Hospice and Aurora Medical Center, Mount Pleasant, Garden Unit for their compassionate care and support during her last days.

She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Family and friends are invited to meet at St. Lucy Catholic Church (3101 Drexel Ave.) on Thursday, December 21, 2023, for a visitation from 10:00 am – 11:00 am.  The celebration of her life and Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 am.  Her interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: St Lucy's Church 3101 Drexel Ave. Racine, Wi 53403 Saulutē (Sunlight Children's Aid for Lithuania) 14488 Hawthorne Dr, Lemont, IL 60439 https://sunlightchildrensaid.org/

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