Ivka SCHWARZ

Ivka Schwarz, 72, passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2010 in Lake Havasu City, AZ. She was born on October 31, 1937 in Veliki, Krdjovac, Yugoslavia to Peppi and Katarina (Schmidt) Weiss.Ivka and her husband Adalbert migrated to the United States in 1952 from Austria after being forcibly removed from Yugoslavia after World War II. They were married November 3, 1957 and made their home in La Crescenta, California where they raised their three children. Ivka was a stay-at-home mom until she started working at a local delicatessen. In 1975 they both decided to quit their jobs to buy a small family restaurant called The Valley Hofbrau, in Van Nuys. They owned & operated the restaurant until August 1985. After several years of retirement, they decided to move to Lake Havasu City to be near their daughter & her family.Ivka is survived by her husband of 52 years, Adalbert, two sons; Werner (Allana) of Canyon Country, CA and Erwin (Toni) of La Canada, CA, and one daughter Marlene (Ross) Hobday of Lake Havasu City. She also has 9 grandchildren that she cherished dearly; Nikolai, Brett, Katy Sue, Erin and Sara Schwarz in California and Craig, Richard, Geoffrey & Dayna Hobday of Lake Havasu City.Ivka is a 25+ year cancer survivor!! In 1984 she was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma & given a 1 in 4 chance of living the next 2 to 6 years. Boy did she prove them wrong!!! Although she was unable to combat Alzheimer's disease, physically she was cured and living proof of alternative treatments/medicines. Her family is very proud of her strong will, her courage, her fight for survival, her unwillingness to accept traditional treatments and are extremely grateful for the extra 25 years they got to have with her.The family would also like express their gratitude to her second home, Lake Hills Inn, here in Lake Havasu. Ivka lived there for almost 5 years. Though it was very difficult for us in the beginning to accept her need to be there and making the decision to admit her, we couldn't have asked for a better place for our "Ommi" to live her last years. Not only did they welcome her, they truly cared and took excellent care of her. They treated her and us like family. We are forever grateful.Donations made to your favorite charity in her name will be appreciated.Condolences and thoughts can be made to her family at www.lietz-frazefuneralhome.comArrangements were placed under the care of Lietz-Fraze Funeral Home and Crematory.