Frank Molek

Frank Molek was born January 28, 1932 in the northern heart of former Yugoslavia called Slovenia. He passed away Friday, March 6, 2020 at 5:55am with hospice at Woodside Village. He was 88 years old. His native village of Kal in Slovenia, along with hundreds of other villages were abused violently at the hands of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and Tito’s armies. Men disappeared daily. Frank fled war for freedom in America. Most Slovenians immigrated to Cleveland, Ohio where he met another Slovenian immigrant, born in a village not too far from his own, Christine Zupancic. She taught him english, helped him get a liquor license, and during the process fell in love, started a family, and we're married. They ran Molek’s Tavern where parish friends and neighbors gathered as a community to swap stories, play polka music, laugh and cry about life’s ironies. Frank was a carpenter, gardener, who made his way as an immigrant n a tough world. Times weren’t always easy. Christine and Frank had two daughters; Debbie Gatto, 54 (Cleveland, Ohio) and Kristina Cardall, 51 (Nashville, TN). The couple later divorced, but neither remarried. Frank enjoyed traveling back to his native land after the wars were over. He took his Cadillac on a ship to Italy with his 5 year old daughter Tina in 1974. They’d drive from Italy up around the Adriatic Coast into the heart of his village, where his friends greeted him as an old Slovenian friend who’d become a success in America. Frank loved Mother Mary and Jesus.

Frank is survived by his daughters Debbie Gatto (Victor Gatto) and their three children; Elizabeth, Vincent, and Victor. Kristina Cardall (Paul Cardall) and his step-grandchildren; Eden Joy and Eliza Angel. In death, Frank is reunited with his parents Ana Mirtic, Francisek Molek, and siblings. Special thanks to Woodside Village, Elara Caring Hospice, and his close friend Sara Bates for their service, friendship, and help with Ati.