Obituary of ANKA MARINIC

Anka Marinic (Nee Devcic)
1926-2024

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, and Aunt.

Anka passed peacefully at Holy Family Home surrounded by her family, on February 9, 2024 after a short battle with cancer.  She spent the last 14 years of her life at Holy Family Home after suffering a stroke in 2010.

Anka was born on August 29th, 1926.  She was the second oldest of ten children to Nicola and Maria Devcic in Krasno, Lika, Croatia.  At the age of 5 her family settled in Krivaj, Slavonia, Croatia where she grew up and at the age of 21 married Lovro Marinic.

Given the socialist environment in what was Yugoslavia at the time, Lovro and Anka wanted to provide a better life for their family.  They along with their children and Lovro’s sister Nada escaped the country in 1957 and started the process of immigration into Canada.

They arrived in Winnipeg on December 17th, 1957 with their small children and nothing more than a suite case.

Working and raising a young family in a city where they didn’t know the language had its struggles.  Their work-ethic and determination and their faith helped them to overcome adversity. 

She was very skillful in sewing, needlepoint, crocheting and knitting. She had many jobs to help her family succeed.  She worked as a dishwasher and cook when first arriving in Canada and then at Western Glove as a seamstress.  Her last job was at St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in housekeeping where she retired.

Mom was an amazing cook, baker, gardener and caretaker of her children and grandchildren. Her family was her life.  She absolutely loved any opportunity when we could all be together to celebrate family.  

Mom was proud of her Croatian heritage.  Her devotion to her Catholic faith and family was never ending.  She was always prepared and willing to help the community at St. Nicholas Tavelich Parish.  Be it in the kitchen for church functions or Folklorama or wherever needed.  All you had to do is ask and she would be more than happy to help anyone. Her kindness, love and patience was felt by many.

Mom was predeceased by her parents Maria and Nicola Devcic, her husband Lovro Marinic, mother-in-law and father-in-law Lucia and Petar Marinic, daughter-in-law Madeleine Marinic, Brothers Ivan, Marko, Joso, Luka, Sisters Cilika, Dragica, Katica and Maria; sister-in-law Dragica Olujic and brother-in-law Martin Marincil.

She leaves to mourn her son John Marinic (Georgette), daughter Kathy (Walter) Kostycz, son Jack (Joanne) Marinic; her grandchildren Peter (Janice) Marinic; Jenifer (Joey) Bellino; Michelle (Tomislav) Magdic, Richard (Leslie) Kostycz; Nicholas Marinic and partner Kally and Andrew Marinic. Her great grandchildren Marko Marinic (Nadia) and Madison Marinic and partner Matthew; Jaiden and Sarah Magdic; Michael and Ryan Bellino;  Tyson and Brooklyn Kostycz; brother Petar (Branko) Devcic and partner Shirley, Zorica, Ksenja & Mathew Devcic; sister-in-law Nada Marincil; Zdenka,(Zeljko) Brnjas, Jeannie (Igor) Lulic; Ivica (Marica) Olujic; Vlado (Marijana) Olujic in Canada and Vilko (Andja) Olujic and all of the numerous neices and nephews in Canada and Croatia.

Thank you, Mom, for all your love, compassion, and all that you have survived to make our lives easier and successful. Always in our hearts and never forgotten.

We would like to thank all the nurses and caregivers on 2A Secret Heart at Holy Family Home for their kindness and care of our mom for the many years.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, February 17th, 2024. Viewing at 10:00 am, Rosery 10:30 and Mass at 11:00 am at St. Nicholas Tavelich Parish, 2688 Main Street. Following the Mass internment will take place at Glen Eden Funeral and Cemetery 4477 Main St.

Flowers for the funeral service are welcome to be delivered to Cropo Funeral Chapel, 1442 Main Street. In Lieu of Flowers donations may be made in Anka’s memory to the Holy Family nursing home or Cancer Care Manitoba.