Obituary of MANDA ANDJELIC

MANDA ANDJELIC (nee Lovosevic) 1924 - 2012 On Tuesday, August 7, 2012, our beloved mother, grand-mother and great grand-mother, Manda passed into the loving arms of God at the age of 88 years. Manda was born in 1924 at Vukojevci, Croatia, the third youngest of seven children. It was a difficult life with her father passing away when Manda was only 8 years-old, leaving her, her mother and siblings to run the land and sustain the family as best as they could. It was there that she met her lifelong partner, Mato in grade school. They married in 1943 and together began building a comfortable life for themselves and their three children, Robert, Lee and Jon. The political situation in Croatia at the time forced Mato and Manda to make a difficult, yet necessary decision. To give their family the best possible life, it was vital that they leave Croatia and begin a new life in Canada. Mato left one year ahead of Manda and their children and awaited them in Austria. In 1957, Manda crossed the Croatian border into Slovenia with her three young children in tow spending the night by the Austrian border in pouring rain and bush while she watched for guards and waited for daylight. When daylight came and Manda sensed that they could cross safely, they were reunited with Mato in Austria where they eventually began their long journey to Canada arriving in 1958. Arriving with nothing but a suitcase, they spent endless days working and tirelessly restoring houses in the north end of Winnipeg. Manda could lift and nail sheets of drywall as if they weighed nothing at all and continued repairing houses for 10 years while raising her three children. Eventually, as a result of their hard work and Mato’s entrepreneurial skill, their financial situation improved and Manda was able to enjoy a comfortable life with a cottage on Winnipeg River and traveling to Hawaii annually where she and Mato met and entertained many close friends. Manda also volunteered her time cleaning the Croatian Catholic Church and working in the kitchen preparing meals, and cleaning for social functions in the church hall and during Folklorama for many years. Manda was an incredibly hard working woman who never rested long and enjoyed keeping busy; cooking her fabulous Croatian food such as her soups, sarma, strudel and her many other wonderful dishes that her family eagerly anticipated at gatherings; creating incredible pieces of needlepoint and embroidery and especially working in her garden. Manda even sewed and embroidered an entire traditional Croatian folklore costume in her later years that will be a treasured keepsake of her talent and strength. Manda was well known for her gardens and kept a pristine yard full of beautiful and unique flowers that she loved and took great pride in. Her vegetable and flower gardens were the envy of her neighbors who often stopped to seek her advice and expertise. Manda will always be loved and remembered by her family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Mato (2009) and daughters, Jelka (1944) and Mary (1959). She is survived by her children; Robert (Emily) Andjelic of Winnipeg, Lee Andjelic of Winnipeg, Jon Andjelic of British Columbia, adopted daughter/granddaughter, Gabriella Andjelic (Scott Simpson) of Winnipeg, grandchildren; Shane Bordas of London, England, Steven Andjelic (Karen) of Nova Scotia, Naomi Bartlett (Patrick) of Ontario, Robert Andjelic (Jennifer) of Winnipeg, Sherri Andjelic of Ontario, Cullen Andjelic, Evan Andjelic, and Grayson Andjelic, all of British Columbia. She also leaves behind 12 great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews and cousins in Canada and Croatia. Special thanks to the Seven Oaks General Hospitals’ kind and caring staff on the 5th floor and to all Manda’s friends for their love and support. Rosary will be said on Friday, August 10 at 7:00 p.m. followed by prayers at 7:30 p.m. at the Croatian Catholic Ch Ostajete unasim srcima i molitvama. Pocivaj u miru Bozjem. urch, St. Nicholas Tavelich, 2688 Main St. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 11 at 10:00 a.m. also at the church with Fr. Robert Polz Celebrating. Interment will follow in Glen Eden Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Antun Radacic, Andy Kraljevic, Ivica Piskar, Branko Gospic, Tihomir Bebek and Peter Milinkovic.