Vera Helen Slechtova, 85
April 15, 1925 — Aug. 6, 2010

Vera Helen Slechtova passed from this life at 7:55 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2010 at the Milton Home in South Bend after suffering a stroke two weeks prior.
Vera was born April 15, 1925 in Prague, Czechoslovakia, lived and trained there to teach physical education before coming to the United States. George and Olga Krasl of St. Joseph, Mich. helped Vera to come to America and provide her with employment while she attended Michigan State University. She resided in St. Joseph with the Krasls until she received her teaching degree.
She began teaching German at Edwardsburg High School and after many years of service, she retired from Edwardsburg High School.
She planned many trips to Europe with her students and outside groups as well. Vera acted as tour guide and was able to provide an inside view of Europe because of her knowledge of the countries they visited.
Vera lived modestly and humbly by herself but attended Hope United Methodist Church regularly. She supported the Edwardsburg Museum and was awarded the Sweetland Award in 2009. She had a kindly smile and a very smart sense of humor. Her love of her students and children of all ages was evident in the way she lit up whenever she saw them. Usually she could provide a funny story that would describe her memory of a particular student.
Miss Slechtova loved her yard and had to decorate her red pots every year with red and white geraniums. She was an avid student of art and music programs that she subscribed to through the Great Courses program and would spend hours listening to her DVDs and taking notes on the accompanying books. She practiced reading out loud one hour a day so that she would not lose her grasp of the English language.
Vera penned many letters to her friends back home in Czechoslovakia and Germany as well as those here in the states.
Fraulein Vera Slechtova was a humble, yet elegant lady, who was kind and generous to all she met. She was always concerned more about others than she was about herself. Miss Vera Helen Slechtova will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
There will be a memorial service for Miss Slechtova at a later date to be announced. This will be in the Hope United Methodist Church, 69941 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg. There will be a newspaper announcement for the date and time.
According to Miss Slechtova’s wishes, she will be cremated and her remains will be placed in a Columbarium in Riverview Cemetery just south of St. Joseph, Mich. on Niles Ave.
To honor Miss. Slechtova’s memory, donations may be made to Hope United Methodist Church, 69914 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg, MI. 49112.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Paul. E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg, (269) 663-5345.