La Grande, Oregon
Steve Matthew Svetich, 89, of Portland and formerly of La Grande, died Nov. 16. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Ignatius Catholic Church in Portland. Arrangements are under the direction of Riverview Abbey Funeral Home of Portland.
Mr. Svetich was born April 27, 1917, in Bingham Canyon, Utah.
He moved to La Grande at age 12 and graduated from La Grande High School. He attended Eastern Oregon State College then served in the Army during World War II.
He moved to Portland in 1946 and married Mary Ann Mehalovich in 1952. He retired in 1982 after working for Safeway Stores in the meat department for more than 35 years.
He was a member of Meat Cutters Local No. 555, the Croatian Fraternal Union and St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ann of Portland; children, Matthew Svetich, George Svetich, Donald Svetich and Marilyn Kuhnhausen, all of Portland; siblings, Matthew Svetich of Walla Walla and Mary Talbot of La Grande; and five grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the St. Ignatius School Foundation in care of Riverview Abbey Funeral Home, 319 SW Taylors Ferry Road, Portland 97219.
The Observer, Obituaries for the week ending Nov. 25, 2006, Published: November 25, 2006