Emiliya Blagoeva Dodova

Emiliya Blagoeva Dodova was born on April 1 ^st , 1961 in Petrich, Bulgaria. She passed away on May 14 ^th , 2018 in her daughter’s home in Lake Zurich surrounded by her family and friends.

Emiliya is survived by her father Blagoi Georgiev Velev, mother Zlata Petrova Veleva, husband Max Dease, brother Krasimir Blagoev Velev, daughter Lozana Georgieva Dodova, son Hristo Georgiev Dodov, son-in-law Vladimir Kovacevic, daughter-in-law Vesela Mitova, and granddaughters Theodora Helena, Adriana Emma and Emily Angel.

She was preceded in death by her first husband Georgi Dodov in 2007.

Emiliya was a devoted daughter, mother, and wife. She adored her parents Blagoi and Zlata who meant the world to her.  She sacrificed a lot for the sake of her children Lozana and Hristo and taught them by example how to be a good person first and foremost. She had unbreakable bond with her younger brother Krasimir and was a proud wife to Georgi and Max.  She enjoyed spending time with and spoiling her granddaughters.

Her strong will and persistence allowed her to make her dream of becoming a teacher come true. She married young at 19 years of age but that didn’t stop her from chasing her dream. After giving birth to her children, she gained the courage and with the help and support of her husband Georgi Dodov graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Bulgarian Language and Literature. Emiliya taught for 18 years in Bulgaria and after she moved to Chicago area, she continued to be a part time teacher in Bulgarian language.

Emiliya will be remembered as energetic, cheerful and full of life. Everyone knows how much she loved life and how she enjoyed her family and friends. As we come together to say our final farewell, we ask that we do not mourn but celebrate her life the way she would want us to. Let’s take some time to remember moments we shared with her; times we laughed and cried together; times when she made us feel better.

Pink, red and purple were her favorite colors – bright and cheerful as she was. She would love for all of us to celebrate her life with bright colors rather than traditional black.

Emiliya will be cremated in Lake Zurich, IL. After the service her remains will be transported to her parents in Bulgaria to be buried next to her first husband and father of her children.

A celebration of Emiliya Dodova’s life will be held at Davenport Family Funeral Home and Crematory, 941 S. Old Rand Road, Lake Zurich, IL . The service will be held on Saturday, May 19th at 12 pm and you may come for visitation as early as 10 am. You are welcome to join us for lunch at 1 pm at her daughter’s home. Anyone who cannot make it for the service and wants to pay respects is invited to her daughter’s home where Emiliya’s remains will be kept.

Plants are preferred to bouquets of flowers as they will be planted in the backyard of her daughter’s home. Any monetary donations will be donated at the family’s discretion.