Dragica Kulezić Calvitti

Alfieri Funeral Home

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | October 27, 2025

Dragica Kulezić Calvitti, 86, passed away on October 22 in her home after a short illness of cancer with her son Dino by her side and all our hearts with her.

Dragica was born to Nikola and Milica Kulezic on Jan 19, 1939, in Macvanski Prnjavor, Serbia, then Yugoslavia, a pastoral landscape near the Drina river. In her youth, she worked in a nascent office culture and enjoyed living in Belgrade. She met her future late husband Sergio while on a beach vacation and moved to Italy shortly thereafter. They may be spotted cruising the Adriatic coast in a spider convertible, Dolce Vita style. Living near Como was her favorite and a happy time. They moved to Rome where she further developed her taste and talents for making fine Italian cuisine, mainly through her in-laws. She and her family emigrated to Pittsburgh in 1981.

Dragica spent most of her career at Tillie’s restaurant and is regionally renowned as an excellent cook. She mastered two cuisines. Growing up with a farm provided the sense of quality of ingredients and complex layered flavors. She cooked for family and friends, sports teams and on request of a mayor. Her tomato sauce is not copyable, and her ravioli (Tillies) are legendary and written up in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

Though she could speak three languages, Dragica expressed herself best through her cooking, and the gift of homemade food to people was a wordless way of showing appreciation and affection. Dragica’s charm, generosity and positive approach to life left a lasting impact on those she met. And the many friends and admirers she garnered is a testament to her goodness. She was also an avid gardener, and in the warm months spent countless hours throughout the day manicuring various flowers and plants on her property.

Beyond gardening, she liked traveling and Serbian magazine crossword puzzles. Most of all, she enjoyed anyone and hosted streams of guests in conversation. Her personality, an improbable combination of kindness and stubbornness, would not let her tolerate anything less than a spotless house.

She is survived by sons Alan 56, and Dino, 52. She will be greatly missed by her nieces Zorica Klipa (Nikola) and Maja (late Milos) Papich, nephew Darko Kuleziċ and many other family members and friends in Europe as well here in USA. She was loving nana to Anastasia and Aleksandar.  

Family and friends are welcome on Wednesday from 5pm to 8pm at the Alfieri Funeral Home, Inc., 201 Marguerite Ave, Wilmerding, Pa 15148, 412-824-4332. A Blessing Service will be held on Thursday at 10am in the funeral home with Father Stefan Djoric officiating. Dragica will be laid to rest at Grandview Cemetery, North Versailles.

Vjecnaja Pamjat - Memory Eternal, Dragica

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dragica "Carla" (Kulezić) Calvitti, please visit our floral store.

Originally published October 27, 2025.

Other deaths:
"Robert C. Aitken" ||