Ivan was born in Ricice, Croatia on 19th March 1930. Ivan was a loving husband to his late wife Manda and loving father to his sons Mato, Mark and Ante. Ivan was also a loving Son, a loving brother, a loving uncle, a loving father-in-law, and loving grandfather and great grandfather.
Ivan’s life will be remembered for his love of family and friends.
Ivan grew up making great sacrifices that today would be very difficult or impossible. At the age of 31, Ivan and the family sailed from West Germany on the ship MS Seven Seas destined for Canada with the hope and dreams of a better life. The family received 20 dollars (165 dollars today) from Canadian Immigration upon arrival and told to carry on is how our family’s humble beginning started. Ivan not knowing the English language managed to find work that sustained the family until his retirement at age 65.
The family reached out to the Croatian community church at the start of their new life in Toronto, Ontario. Ivan and the family assimilated to Canadian values and traditions FIRST, then with honour and commitment received Canadian citizenship in March 1967. Our family learned and spoke English and also kept some values and traditions from where they came from, Ricice, Croatia.
Ivan was a proud and very personable man who made many friends and was appreciated for his knowledge, skills and giving nature. Our home was often a gathering point for family and many friends to enjoy mums cooking and sing songs like back in the old country. Dad enjoyed talking politics and serving his home made wine when friends and family came over.
Ivan loved the outdoors, he would often take our family to High Park in Toronto to picnic on the hill amongst the big trees overlooking Grenadier pond. Ivan would also pack up our family to gather at the many Croatian Sunday picnics at various parks.
Ivan enjoyed watching celebrity roasts from the 1970’s as well as many programs of comedians and sitcoms. Before coming to Canada, Ivan grew up in Croatia in the 1930’s at a time of great great sorrow around the world. Our Dad would explain to us kids and in our adulthood that what gave him strength when things were very difficult was his faith and belief in Jesus Christ, his saviour.
Ivan VRKLJAN will be laid to rest beside his loving wife Manda at Assumption Catholic Cemetery. So let it be written, so let it be done. May Ivan reach the heavens to be with his loving wife Manda and the many family and friends who have gone before them. It was mum and dads faith that helped them throughout their lives.
Our final sacrifice as the adult children is to lay to rest our parents with respect, sacrifice and love. The beautiful home we grew up in with love, laughter and sacrifices, milestones and memories we carry with us always because home is a feeling dad would say and not necessarily the sticks and bricks. Where ever we are in our lives let our loving memories of our parents Ivan & Manda VRKLJAN give us peace in our hearts and minds always.
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