John Lorkovich Undertakers Record Book

  • Description
  • John Lorkovich was an undertaker who operated a funeral business on Pittsburgh's North Side, which consisted primarily of clients from the Croatian immigrant community. Included here is a single volume of 598 funeral case records dating from 1910-1915. An name index to the volume is included.
  • Depositor
  • University of Pittsburgh
John Lorkovich Undertakers Record Book

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About John Lorkovich

John Lorkovich was a funeral director on Pittsburgh’s North Side for 30 years (c1907-1937). The business opened at 1324 East Ohio Street, Pittsburgh’s North Side, one lot west of the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church (Croatian). From the records of his business it is clear that the Croatian community, particularly those that settled in the North Side and in the Lawrenceville neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, were his primary clients. Likewise, most of the funeral services were conducted through St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church. The 1910 directory for Pittsburgh is the first time Lorkovich can be found listed as an “undertaker”. Following the listing through the years, Lorkovich’s business relocated several times following his establishment at 1324 East Ohio Street. From 1911 through 1915 he is listed at 1001 East Ohio, and in 1916 and 1917 at 1009 East Ohio, in 1918 at 816 Lockhart Street, and finally in 1919 and through the remainder of his life his business and residence is located at 860 Lockhart Street. An exact date when the business disbanded is not known, but presumably it was about the time of John Lorkovich's death in 1937. Lorkovich was born on January 17, 1878 in Croatia to Martin Lorkovich and Franca Simunovich. Both of his parents were from Prilisce in Croatia (later Yugoslavia). He was married twice. His first spouse was Annie Kobe, who died April 9, 1909, at the age of 25 years. His second spouse was Anna Mitkovic, who died on March 20, 1961 at the age of 78 years. He and his first spouse had a least two daughters, Barbara (b. 1905) and Catherine (b. 1906). According to the 1920 Census, Lorkovich immigrated to the United States in 1897 and became a naturalized citizen in 1905. Lorkovich died on December 5, 1937 at his residence at 860 Lockhart Street on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Members of the Lorkovich family are interred at St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Ross Township, Pennsylvania.

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