Olga Jelaca

Olga Caroline Jelaca Rock Springs - Olga Caroline Jelaca, 98, of 1325 Sage Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming, died at 12:11 AM, Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Sage View Care Center in Rock Springs where she had been a resident for the past 1 1/2 years. A lifelong resident of Rock Springs, Mrs. Jelaca had been in ill health the past year. She was born on June 22, 1918 in Rock Springs, Wyoming the daughter of the late Enrico and Luiga Pedergnana Bergamo, immigrants from Austria Tyrol. She attended schools in Rock Springs, Wyoming and was a graduate of the Rock Springs High School with the class of 1936. Very style conscious, Mrs. Jelaca's high school annual described her as never having a hair out of place and as a young woman she designed and had much of her own clothing made. Olga worked as the manager of the Mail Order Department of the Montgomery Ward Company in Rock Springs during the Great Depression and World War II. She married Joseph "Baker" Jelaca Jr. on May 19, 1946, at the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Rock Springs and he preceded her in death on September 29, 1997. She was a member of the Holy Spirit Catholic Community, AARP, the Society the Miraculous Medal, the Josephites and the Society of Saint Teresa of the Little Flower. During the Big Band Era, Olga enjoyed dancing. She savored the joys of life, including cooking, crocheting, playing bingo, playing cards, and sharing the history of her family. Survivors include one son, David Lawrence Jelaca of Vail, Arizona; one daughter and son in law, Mary Louise and Blaine Slagowski of Rock Springs; 1 daughter in law, Pamela Jelaca of Rock Springs; 1 sister in law, Lila Bergamo of Seattle, Washington; 5 grandchildren, Jason Jelaca, Lisa Hautala and husband Pat, Kara A. Jelaca and Ryan Slagowski and wife, Jeana all of Rock Springs and David C. "DJ" Jelaca of Safford, Arizona; 6 great grandchildren, Trevor, Abby and Hailey Huatala, Rylynn and Karson Slagowski and Joey Jelaca all of Rock Springs and several nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents and husband, Mrs. Jelaca was preceded in death by one son, Joseph Richard Jelaca who died on December 6, 2003; 1 sister Mary Reay who died on October 19, 1951 and two brothers, Alfred Bergamo who died on December 20, 2004 and John Bergamo who died in infancy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 :00 AM Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 116 Broadway Street in Rock Springs. A Rosary will be recited at the 6:00 PM Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Fox Funeral Home, 2800 Commercial Way in Rock Springs. Father Glen Szczechowski will officiate. Friends may call at Fox Funeral Home, Monday 5-7 pm and Tuesday morning until the time of the service. Entombment will be in the Jelaca Family Mausoleum in the Saint Joseph's Section of the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Please Notice: Out of respect to Olga Caroline Jelaca, the family respectfully request that memorials in her memory be made to the Rock Springs Catholic School Building Fund, P.O. Box 6038, Rock Springs, Wyoming or Hospice of Sweetwater County, 333 Broadway, Suite 220, Rock Springs, Wyoming.