Marija Cerovecki

Rođena:08.12.1941. (Hrvatsko Zagorje, Hrvatska)

Preminula:11.02.2026. (Calgary, Alberta, Kanada)

Dob: 84

Marija was born to Ivan and Danica Klaric on December 8, 1941, in Hrvatsko Zagorje, Croatia, the 7th of 9 children. At age 16, Marija met Franjo and they married two years later in 1960. They relocated to Zagreb from the countryside and welcomed two children, with whom they embarked on their greatest journey- coming to Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Marija was deeply attached to her homeland and family. When Canada was presented as an opportunity by sister Barica and brother-in-law Jakob, Marija agreed to 5 years as a trial. With her youngest brother, Ivica, already in Calgary, the decision was easier to make. Life in Canada did not come without challenges, but both Marija and Franjo went to task, committed to hard work, learning English and new traditions. Marija developed a network of friends, who quickly became acquainted with her old country traditions, and her extraordinary abilities to cook, bake and host.

She was blessed with a beautiful energy that could easily connect with others, broken English or not. At home she never stopped moving; entertaining family and friends with feasts, embellishing her flowerbeds, gardening, making jam and pickling, knitting and petit point. She enjoyed Croatian music, dancing, and was stylish and chic. A little bling and a great pair of shoes, with her Florabelle dress, nothing wrong with that! She kept in constant touch with family and friends overseas, celebrating them and sometimes mourning them, as sometimes was sadly the case.

Soon after celebrating her 25th wedding anniversary (and far more years in Canada than 5) Marija donated a kidney to her son Zeljko. This was completely in accordance with the loving lady and mother she was. She would survive a heavy heartbreak when he passed at the age of 30. Her priority was family, natural and newfound, and while it was years before the acute sorrow would pass, she forged ahead, adopting new interests and joys. Visits to Croatia and Maui followed where she found peace, beauty, and connection.

In recent years, Marija faced several health challenges which precluded her from being active as she would have wished. She nurtured her dear friendships, discovered social media, and loved her time spent with granddaughter Gabriella. She never lost her beautiful spark and only grew her warm personality to show us just how deeply she could touch our hearts. She imparted lessons and wisdom, showed incredible strength and determination, and fiercely loved all of us who were blessed to be in her circle.

Her plight was incredibly hard but until the very end, she remained a mother to us all. She will be missed beyond words.

Marija is survived by her loving, dear husband of 65 years, Franjo, devoted daughter Bosiljka, granddaughter Gabriella, friends Jean and Bill, nephews Steve (Brenda), Stjepan (Ana), their respective families and sister Magdica of Munich; niece Biserka (Branko) and Klementina (Mario) of Krapina, Brankica of Milan, in-laws Stefica, Kristina, Fanika, Pavlica and Biserka Cerovecki, along with many more beloved relatives in Germany and Croatia.

She was predeceased by her parents Ivan and Danica Klaric, her son Zeljko, siblings Stanko, Antonia (Slavko), Barica (Jakob), Danica (Stjepan), Stjepan (Ivanka), Josip (Pepica), Ivica Klarich, Branko Kos, Boris Klaric and Mirko Krsnik. Predeceased by in-laws Dragutin and Dragica Cerovecki, Rudek (Danica), Branko, Ivica Cerovecki, Ivica and Nikola Vukovic, Milan Tanasic and Stevo Cupen.

We wish to acknowledge and extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Stojanovic, Marija’s many specialists, and the outstanding and compassionate medical team at the Rockyview General Hospital under whose care she was in the last two months.

FOTO: Private

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