FIKANY, "Susie" Pauline Lillian

“Susie” Pauline Lillian Fikany passed away on May 27.[2012] She was 88. She had been a resident in the Extended Care Unit at St. Vincent Hospital since August of 2011. Fikany was born March 20, 1924, in Leadville. Her parents were Pauline (Gornick) and Steve Frankovich. She had a brother, Steven, who succumbed to pneumonia at three days old. Her mother then passed three days after that, leaving Steve Frankovich a widower with a six-year-old daughter. Fikany graduated from Leadville High School in 1942. She worked for her dad at the Vienna Grocery from the time she could drive until it closed in 1971. She also worked at Vienna Appliance Store. At the time of her husband’s death in 1973, she became a licensed insurance agent and passed the exams to sell life insurance at the business her husband had left behind. She worked there with her daughter, Terry, who helped her run that business until 1979. Fikany’s last job was doing medical-insurance billing at the Leadville Medical Center. She married Richard Fikany on Aug. 4, 1948. They had four children together, Teresa Cornella (deceased in March 2010), Debora Schilling, Laura Anderson and Scott Fikany. Fikany’s life is said to have revolved around her faith and devotion to Jesus Christ and St. Joseph’s Church. She started singing in the choir when she was 15. She later directed the choir until she was about 75. Her grandparents and parents contributed much to the construction of St. Joseph’s Church as well as continued financial support, and instilled in Susie Fikany a true love and devotion to her faith and the church building itself. Fikany was involved in many organizations but none were as dear to her as Catholic Daughters of America. She held many offices during her years of service. In later years she transformed her kitchen into an assembly line preparing lunches for Meals on Wheels. She made rosaries by the dozens every week that were sent to countries that were being evangelized or had no means to obtain them due to government restrictions. Fikany was an avid reader and though she only had a high-school education, she was said to be a true scholar. She was versed in everything from politics to world history, poetry to music, and she loved football. Her favorite saying was, “I’m a jack of all trades and master of none.” But it is said she could do anything she set her mind to and accomplished a great many things in her life. She was involved in her children’s school and Scout projects. Fikany loved helping and was always there for others. Being so involved in the church gave her ample opportunity to tend to those in their times of need whether it involved bringing food or just coming to sit with those who needed comfort. She is survived, as mentioned, by her children, Debora Schilling, Laura Anderson and Scott Fikany, grandchildren Melissa Housley, Craig Cornella, John Wilmot and Crislyn Anderson and great-grandchildren Devin and Zachary Housley, Abrielle Cornella and Logan Jones. She was preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Pauline Frankovich, and Elma Frankovich, stepmother; brother, Stephen Frankovich; husband, Richard Fikany; and daughter, Teresa Cornella. A visitation was to be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, [2012] at St. Joseph Catholic Church with rosary/vigil services to follow at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, with Father Jesse Perez as celebrant. Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with a reception to follow at Leadville Elks Lodge #236. Bailey-Kent Funeral Home of Leadville assisted the family with arrangements.