Marija (Maria) Vabič

January 9 1933, Maribor, Slovenia (former Yugoslavia) - September 25 2026, Burnaby, BC

Marija Vabič died peacefully on the morning of September 25th, 2026 at Burnaby Hospital after a brief illness, aged 93.

Born in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia), Marija loved to dance as a girl. An opportunity to study ballet was unfortunately stopped by WWII, but she continued her love of music throughout her life, being involved in singing groups for years which she attended weekly.

As a young woman, Marija translated for Allied forces during WWII as a speaker of Slovenian and German. Later, an initial attempt to escape Soviet Yugoslavia was unsuccessful and resulted in her arrest and detention by the State; she made a second attempt with her son successfully. They arrived in Austria on foot, her husband later joining them.

In 1963, Marija joined her husband in Canada after he immigrated there first, settling in the Vancouver home where she resided until her passing.

Marija held various vocations as a skilled technician, including as a machinist, cabinet maker, healthcare aid and most proudly as a technician working for Simmons. She and her husband enjoyed many trips abroad including Mexico and Slovenia. Their favourite destination was Hawaii, where they renewed their vows on the 25th Anniversary of their wedding.

Fiercely independent, Marija loved and cared for the home she lived in until her final days, and was a fixture in her neighborhood and community. She and her husband were heavily involved in the Slovenian Society Vancouver, contributing to the purchase of the club’s hall in 1972. Here they participated in bowling leagues, dances, wine festivals, choral groups and other activities in addition to entertaining in their home. Marija was a skilled and avid baker, cook, needlepointer and knitter. She loved to decorate and cared for her home meticulously, inside and out. Marija loved dogs and was an adoring owner to the ones she kept over the years.

Marija is survived by her niece, Suzana Grahornik (Mali) of Mirabor, Slovenia; grandchildren Erin Graham and Dustin Peters and their families; her nephew Drago Vabič; her great-niece Melissa Vabič and family; dear friends Vera Ursnik and Wenice Wong. Marija was predeceased by husband Stanko Vabič (1984); son Stanislaw (2015); daughter Olivia, who died in infancy.

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