Anita A. Zavodny, 94

Anita A. Zavodny, 94, passed away on May 1, 2015, in Kalispell. 

Anita was born on Feb. 21, 1921, in Dover, New Jersey, to Frank and Anna Roslan.

After graduating from Dover High School in 1938, Anita and her girlfriends could be found most weekends in New York City enjoying the big bands and live shows at the Paramount, Loews, Madison Square Garden, and once even found themselves at the exclusive Cotton Club. They saw many of the greats perform live, including the Andrew Sisters, the Ink Spots, Gene Krupa, the Dorsey Brothers, Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway and the great Lena Horne.

Anita was a “Rosie the Riveter,” working to support the troops with desperately needed munitions to bring World War II to an end. She married her soldier sweetheart, Fred Zavodny, on Jan. 28, 1945, following his release from Oliver General Hospital in Augusta, Georgia, as he was severely wounded while serving with the U.S. Army in North Africa. She remained faithful to him throughout her life, despite his passing in 1975 due to the lasting effects of his battlefield wounds. 

Shortly after her husband’s death, she moved to Montana to be with her son and his family. She enjoyed life in the Big Sky Country, traveling and sightseeing with friends, volunteering service with the Red Cross, as well as being an active member of the Kalispell Music Club. Most of all, she loved spending time with her granddaughter Lynette.

Anita was preceded in death by her brothers, Paul, Eugene, Florian and Stephen.

She is survived by her son, Fred, his wife Barbara, granddaughter Lynette and her husband Gabe, great-grandson Isaac Stephen Dillon, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from noon to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 6, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. A service will be held at 1:10 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, followed by burial at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Anita’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Anita’s tribute wall.