\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Zorka Marie Tyanich DaSilva began her life journey on December 23, 1923 joining her parents Milicia and Gligor Tyanich and 6 siblings (two more came later) on a small farm near East Helena, MT.\u00a0 This journey ended when she died peacefully, in her sleep, on December 19, 2012 in Helena, MT.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Her early years were spent in schools in East Helena; moving to Helena as a young teenager and graduating from Helena High School in 1942.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zorka\u2019s innate curiosity and adventurous spirit drew her to join the Marine Corps in 1944.\u00a0 There she met and married Max DaSilva, the man who became her loving partner for 68 years.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zorka and Max soon welcomed their first child, Michael, and they became a family of three.\u00a0 The three grew to five with the addition of Patricia and Maria.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zorka thrived as a mother and homemaker, creating a welcoming and loving home where all who entered were greeted with sincere Serbian hospitality.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 When her children were all safely in school Zorka entered the work world.\u00a0 She spent years serving the state of Montana working at the State Highway Patrol office, the Secretary of State\u2019s office, and the State Legislature. \u00a0She made many close connections and friends during her employment years and sparked a lifelong interest in politics.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Zorka and Max were fortunate to retire and travel to a warmer and sunnier climate during the winters for more than 25 years before health concerns kept them in Helena year-round.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Survivors are her adoring husband Max, her son Michael DaSilva (Judith, deceased), daughters, Patricia DaSilva and Maria DaSilva (Hans VanTilburg), and her devoted brother, Peter (Pat) Tyanich.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Other survivors include her beloved grandchildren: Donna (Tracey) Singer, Mick DaSilva, Tony (Casey) DaSilva, Adam (Natalie Melaschenko) Collins, Andrea Collins, and Sabina Van Tilburg.\u00a0 In addition, her ten great-grandchildren brought untold joy to Zorka as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, and close family friends, all of whom Zorka kept in her heart.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Preceding her in death were her loved and loving parents, Milicia and Gligor Tyanich, and Zorka\u2019s siblings and their spouses, Vasilia (Howard) Walden, Rodney (Marjorie) Tyanich, Ange (Tom) Miskovich, Helen(Al) Milholland, Josephine (Milan) Kovich, Mary (Robert) Olson, and Daniel (Alice) Tyanich.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The family is thankful for the wonderful care Zorka received from the VA Montana Health Care system, A Plus Health Care, Hospice of St. Peter\u2019s, and Apple Rehab Cooney.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Dear, Dear, Dear, Dear, Darling Mother, Gramma, and Baba: we\u2019ll forever love you mieces to pieces.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A funeral mass and memorial service will be held to celebrate Zorka\u2019s life later, when the sun shines warmly and friends and family can easily gather to remember and share.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This, The Day<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Twas this, the day that Gramma died<\/i><\/p>\n
A life long held and lively spent<\/i><\/p>\n
Has moved onto the next sure stage,<\/i><\/p>\n
A thing she once said was feared, but seemed to be embraced near the moment.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
A sadness is easily felt, as her essence was love and vibrant, now gone<\/i><\/p>\n
A love I think given back to her by all who she knew<\/i><\/p>\n
But somehow I am happy.<\/i><\/p>\n
I am glad.\u00a0 She has journeyed and the transition didn’t seem to bring her the fear that she expected<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
Two days ago, hair in curlers, under the warmth of the dryer Gramma smiled.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cYou’ll look beautiful,\u201d I said.\u00a0 She shook her head in amazement.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cIsn’t it wonderful?\u201d she mused.\u00a0 Or maybe, \u201cIt’s just marvelous,\u201d an equally likely expression.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI love you very much, Gramma.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI know honey, I love you too.’\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
She reached out with her unmistakably crooked, baby-soft hand and ran it along the perimeter of my face, staring into my eyes.\u00a0 It seemed the spark was gone from her pupils.\u00a0 Maybe just dimmed.\u00a0 Or flickering.\u00a0 But her wrinkled smile lines around her eyes were in full force, glowing and loving as always.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n
I’m going to miss you, Gramma.\u00a0 I don’t know if I said that.\u00a0 Maybe I did.<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Adam Collins<\/p>\n","photo":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/12\/Dasilva-Zorka.png","youtube_video_url":"","family_email":"","family_first_name":"","family_last_name":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case\/3278","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/case"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/case"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3278"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}