Arjana Kervina

Arjana Kervina, born in Novi Sad, Serbia, on January 19, 1933, passed away in Columbus, Ohio, on September 16, 2025, at the age of 92.

Generous to a fault, Arjana lived a life of bold independence and fierce love. A true trailblazer, she traveled the world, smoked like a chimney, ate butter and sugar with abandon, and somehow lived to tell the tale. She would tell her niece sweet things in Serbian like, “give me your little hand,” while also sharing a colorful vocabulary of choice curses.

In her professional life, Arjana held multiple executive positions and served as an interpreter, her work taking her as far as India and Africa. True to her bon vivant spirit, she took an early retirement, choosing life on her own terms.

Though she never stopped regretting her move to the United States, that move gave her family the gift of her presence. In her later years, as memory faded, her joy endured. She always greeted visitors with a smile, even when she wasn’t quite sure who they were.

Arjana was preceded in death by her parents, Jelena Lederer and Anton Kervina, and by her beloved cat, Jack. She is survived by her sister, Marija Kervina-Thompson; her niece, Toni Kervina; and her great-nephew, Nolan Ambro.

A public viewing will be held on Sunday, September 28, from 2pm-4pm. at Tidd Funeral Home.

Arjana’s life was long, fierce, imperfect, and unforgettable—just as she would have wanted it.