Marilyn M Nedelkoff

On Thursday, May 7, Marilyn Maria Nedelkoff, age 94, passed away at Fairhaven County Home. Marilyn was born on February 20, 1926 in Youngstown, Ohio to Dimitar and Anka Theodoroff, of Macedonian descent. When she was 23 years of age, she met young Orthodox Priest Father George Nedelkoff, who had recently immigrated from Varna, Bulgaria. They married on December 18, 1949 and were blessed with their only child, a son, Dan Dimitar born on December 1, 1950.

The family moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where they helped grow St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. Marilyn, being married to an Orthodox priest, became known as Popadia. She devoted much of her time to the church alongside her husband. She also worked for many years as secretary to the editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

You could find Marilyn humming a tune in her kitchen while making the most delicious Bulgarian/Macedonian food. She enjoyed singing and dancing to the Macedonian music she grew up with, and spreading this passion to their son Dan, and the families in the church. In all her years she only missed one or two of the annual MPO (Macedonian Patriotic Organization) conventions held annually on Labor Day. After retirement, the couple enjoyed cruising to Alaska, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Europe. They even had a private audience with Pope John Paul II in Rome.

They later moved to Sidney, Ohio because they were very close with Dr. Miguel Topalov. Popadia will be remembered for sharing her smile with all she met, especially those at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Fort Wayne, and in later years at St. Paul Orthodox Church in Dayton.

She is preceded in death by her son, who passed away in a tragic auto accident just 3 years after being married. Also deceased are her parents, her husband, and her sisters, Christina Theodoroff and Hope Creed. She is survived by her daughter-in-law Rebecca (Becky) Richards, her two nieces Shari (Michael) McConnell and Donna Creed, and one nephew, Don (Charn) Creed.

May Her Memory be Eternal!

Family and friends may call Tuesday, May 12, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. At Adams Funeral Home, 1401 Fair Road, Sidney. Due to Covid 19, private funeral services will be held at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 3535 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne, IN. Arrangements for the Nedelkoff family are in the care of Adams Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at theadamsfuneralhome.com.

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