Anujka Brenic

On Sunday, November 19th, 2023, Anujka Brenic, loving mother, wife, daughter, grandmother, aunt, great aunt, and sister peacefully passed into the hands of our Lord at age 81 at her home in Park Ridge, Illinois amongst a room full of family and friends.

Anujka was born on June 21st, 1942 in Uzdin, Yugoslavia to Todor and Anca Neda. Anujka married her hometown sweetheart Moise Brenic at the age of 18 in May of 1960. A year later, the two welcomed their first-born daughter Tatiana into the world. In 1966, Anujka, Moise, and Tatiana left their former home in Yugoslavia and immigrated through Italy to the United States as religious refugees.

Her second daughter, Susan, was born six months later in Michigan. After her birth, Anujka and Moise relocated their family to Chicago, Illinois to begin their lives anew and pursue their own American Dream.

Amidst her life in America, Anujka and Moise managed and owned several apartment buildings throughout Chicago. Anujka’s relentless, hard-working, and ever-kind spirit was evident throughout her whole life. She helped house first-generation Romanian Americans upon their arrival to the US, forwarding the hospitality she received from other successful migrants when she first immigrated. Anujka remained pious and devoted to her faith in God and humbly thanked Him for the blessings imparted upon herself and her family.

In retirement, Anujka relished life at home in Park Ridge, Illinois, living in close proximity to both her daughters and grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, growing an assortment of beautiful roses and wonderful vegetables in her backyard over the summertime. In the winter, her grandchildren, Moise, Pavel, and Sabrina would visit, where Anujka would recount her days in Uzdin, and her stories of coming to America with their grandfather. Despite only attending school until 8th grade herself, Anujka believed education was paramount to success, and was exceptionally proud to put both her daughters through college and pharmacy school and support her grandchildren through college as well. She was fast to make loyal friends, a woman of exceptional emotion, and never scared to express what she felt was right.

Anujka’s incredible loving and fearless spirit will never be forgotten. Her memory will continue to live in the hearts of all those she loved. Anujka is preceded by her husband, Moise Brenic, her parents, Todor and Anca Neda, her brother Tudor Neda, two close friends Robert Bulik and Nicolae Bulik, and Nasu Chris Jaksa. Anujka will be sorely missed and survived by her daughters Tatiana Tamas and Susan Brenic, along with her grandchildren: Pavel, Moise, and Sabrina, and her son-in-law, Florin Tamas.

Friends and family will gather for a visitation for Anujka that will be held Sunday, November 26th, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church, 4225 North Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60634. A mass will occur Sunday, November 26th, 2023 at 4:00 PM, 4225 North Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60634. A funeral mass will occur Monday, November 27th, 2023 at 10:00 AM, 4225 North Central Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60634. An interment will occur Monday, November 27th, 2023 at Rosehill Cemetery, 5800 North Ravenswood Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60660.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MalecandSonsFH.com for the Brenic family.