Obituary of Barbara Prodanovich

Barbara Betty Prodanovich, born April 10, 1921 in Oakland, CA, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2011, in Jackson, CA, at the age of 90. Born to Edward Valentine & Anna Svendsen Jones, Barbara grew up, married and raised a family in the San Francisco Bay Area, later settling in the Gold Country of Amador County. While attending Oakland's Castlemont High School, Barbara met the love of her life, Danilo "Dan" Prodanovich. They married in April 1942 and lived in Georgia while Dan served his country in WWII as a Captain in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Upon returning to California, Barbara provided a loving home for their four children while Dan built a successful civil engineering and heavy construction company. Barbara's greatest joys were her home, family and friends, her pets and her community service work. Barbara will be remembered for being a devoted mother, grandmother and aunt, a consummate homemaker, an amazing cook, talented gardener, creative decorator and having deep compassion for all God's creatures. To honor Dan's Serbian heritage, Barbara embraced the religious customs and cultural traditions of the Eastern Orthodox Church, teaching herself to prepare delicious native Yugoslavian dishes and celebrate Orthodox holidays. Barbara earned a 10-year Volunteer Pin from Hospice of Amador County Thrift Shop and donated countless service hours to Children's Hospital of Oakland. Barbara enjoyed many early morning rounds on the golf course with the "Dawn Patrol", including a proud moment scoring a rare Hole-In-One at La Contenta Golf Club. Barbara taught her family many lessons by example, the most enduring of which is to face life's challenges and tragedies with courage, faith and grace. Barbara is survived by three children: daughters Joanne & Tom Hazen of Sutter Creek, and Nanci & Stan Knight of Napa; son Tom Prodanovich of Jackson; grandsons Benjamin & Tanya Hazen, Marshall Knight and Kevin Prodanovich; granddaughters Rebecca Hazen, Kelly Knight and Heather Prodanovich; niece Kristina & Mike Magee; nephew Sam Brown; and sister-in-law Mileva & Chris Brown. Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 67 years, Danilo, in 2009, their son Robert in 1968, and their grandson Travis in 1991. Friends are invited to a visitation Thursday, June 16, 2011, 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. at Daneri Mortuary Chapel, 415 Broadway, Jackson, CA. Funeral service will be held Friday, June 17, 2011, 1:00 P.M. at the Colma Serbian Cemetery Chapel in Colma. Interment will be at the Colma Serbian Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties, P.O. Box 595, Jackson, CA 95642.