Petar George Matesic

It is with broken hearts we announce the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and deda, peacefully in the comfort of his home on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 in his 93rd year.

He will be deeply missed by his beloved wife of 63 years, Mary Matesic. Proud father of Mike Matesic, Nick (Jeannie) Matesic and Peter (Christina). Loving and devoted Deda of Peter Jr. (Ryan), Zoe (Andrew), Amelia, Kaitlyn (Aaron), Sarah and Alex. Much loved sibling of the late Josa, the late Slavica, the late Slavko, Mary, Katica, and Nevenka and brother-in-law to Mile Boric (Anka) and the late Milka (late Tom). He will be missed by many nieces, nephews, cousins in Croatia and Canada. A special thanks to John and Lori Toljan for their care and love during the last few years.

Petar was born in Malik, Croatia and left home at the age of 13. From a very young age, he worked hard to build a life for himself, taking on local jobs and completing an apprenticeship as a blacksmith (kovač). Along the way, he served in the army for 2½ years and later worked as a qualified blacksmith with Kum Vutkovic. He spent several years in an Italian refugee camp before immigrating to Canada and settling in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he worked as a lumberjack in the logging industry.

On August 3, 1963, Petar married the love of his life, Mary, in Thunder Bay, Ontario. After getting married, they settled in Hamilton, Ontario, where Petar worked as a welder at Dofasco while they raised their three children together. They were devoted members of Holy Cross Church and were actively involved in the Croatian community. All three of their sons served as altar boys at Holy Cross, and Petar volunteered his time as an equipment manager for youth sports teams. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and family, often rebuilding and restoring old furniture to help others save money. He also loved working on his garden every year.

Petar later survived a devastating workplace accident at Dofasco that nearly took his life. He suffered seven broken discs in his back, collapsed lungs, and several other serious injuries. Despite this, he remained determined and resilient. Even while wearing a full body cast, he could often be found working in the garden and had to be reminded to slow down because he simply could not sit still.

One of Petar’s greatest passions was cooking lamb and/or pigs on a spit. He built a top-quality stainless steel barbecue at home, complete with a spit and special motor, and loved cooking for holidays and special family occasions. His talent and passion eventually led to him being invited to help cook at Croatian community picnics. He would wake up at 4:30 in the morning and work as part of a team preparing 30 to 60 lambs and pigs for large gatherings. It was something he truly loved, and it always turned into a great success.

After a long and successful career, Petar retired at the age of 59. In retirement, he and Mary spent much of their time caring for children, including their own grandchildren. He was deeply loved by the children he looked after and became a positive and lasting influence in their lives.

Petar also had many unique quirks that made everyone smile. He would bark at dogs, chirp back at birds, and somehow always manage to eat all the cookies. Those little moments became some of the memories his family and friends cherish the most.

Petar built an accomplished life through determination, hard work, and strong character. His example helped inspire all of his children to follow in his footsteps and build successful careers and families of their own. His life was a true example of perseverance, sacrifice, and unconditional love.

Petar was known as a kind and generous man who was always willing to help others. He always wore a smile, brought laughter wherever he went, and was deeply respected and well liked by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.


FOTO: Private