Marija Bojovic

Marija "Maria" Bojovic (nee) Metelko was born September 2, 1938 in the small town of Jesenice, Slovenia located on the southern border of Austria. During World War II at the age of 6 years old Marija and her family were forced on a train and sent to Austria and placed in a refugee camp where she lived for two years until the end of the war. In 1955, Marija married Cedomir Bojovic in Nuremberg, Germany where she gave birth to their first son Momcilo (Mike) married to Vojka. In 1956, the Bojovic newlyweds with young child in hand immigrated to the United States. Suffering through the great depression and surviving a world war, Marija and her husband were thirsting for opportunity that awaited them in America. Shortly after arriving to her new country, Marija quickly learned how to speak, read and write in English and subsequently became an American citizen. She then began working for Illinois Bell Telephone Company and later worked at Lydell in Chicago as a production worker until the plant's closure. During this time span, Marija gave birth to 7 more sons and one daughter. Milan (wife Dolores), Peter (wife Sandy), Alex (fiancée Ines), Thomas (wife Gina), Milovan "Milo" (wife Milica) and the youngest son Branko "Bronco" (wife Sheila) of Morris, IL. Marija suffered the tragic loss of the Bojovic's only daughter Dobrilla "Debbie" in 1978 she passed at the young age of 3. Six years later in 1984 tragedy struck the family again as her son Bogoluib "Bobby" was killed in a tragic accident at the age of 18. Through adversity Marija continued through life remaining close to her faith- always full of wit, smiles, love, laughs and sage advice for her 7 remaining sons, 20 grand children and 11 great grand children. She enjoyed gardening tending to her pear tree at her home of 44 years on Maple Ave in Berwyn, IL. She would passionately tell stories of when she was a little girl living in Europe and how she loved traveling by boat to attend Sunday morning mass with her family to a little island on the lake in Bled, Slovenia. Marija was well known for her generosity, kindness and humbleness. She would always put the needs of others above her own. Surrounded by family members she passed peacefully in her home on Saturday March 1st, 2014. She is preceded in death by her father Martin and mother Gerico (nee Slebc) Metelko. Visitation Tuesday March 4, 3-9pm at Hallowell & James Funeral Home, 1025 West 55th Street, Countryside, IL 60525. (Pomen Service 7pm that evening). Funeral service Wednesday March 5, 10am procession to St. Nikola Serbian Orthodox Church, 4301 S Prairie Ave., Brookfield, 60513. Interment ST SAVA CEMETERY, 32377 N Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048. For info: (708) 352-6500