Zdravko Arezina

Zdravko Arežina was born in Bosansko Grahovo, Bosnia, in the former Yugoslavia, on February 28, 1929. He moved to Belgrade where he met his soulmate and the love of his life, Emilija, whom he affectionately called “Mila”. His sense of adventure and entrepreneurship led him to South Africa where he lived for 18 years. In 1978 he planted roots in Houston, Texas after a few years in Toronto, Canada. Almost immediately, Texans named him “Zed”, and over the last 43 years he became a true Texan.

A fearless, industrious, and ambitious man, Zdravko started several successful businesses on three continents and worked into his mid eighties, but he will be best remembered for his generosity, hospitality, and charm. He met and befriended people everywhere he went. He loved everyone and they were drawn to him because of his warm personality and love of life.

Zed was many things in his long life, but mostly he was a loving family man. He is survived by his wife of 65 years Emilija, daughter Dragana and husband Teague Harris, daughter Vesna Arežina and husband Mark Galagaza, son Božidar Arežina and wife Natalie; “Deda” to Alexander Harris and wife Nicole, Emilia Harris, Stefan Galagaza, Jovan Galagaza and wife Steffani, Jelena Galagaza, Nikola Arežina and wife Samantha, Sasha and husband Judah Stephens. Great-grandchildren Luka, Liam, Ana, Ezra, Titus, Benaya, Yosef and Yeshu; niece Milka Leighan in London and grand-nephews Nikola, Marko, Lazar, Miles, and George Majstorović, and many relatives in Serbia and South Africa.

Funeral services will begin at 12:30 pm on Friday, December 17 at St Basil the Great Greek Orthodox Church, 1100 Eldridge Pkwy, Houston, with gravesite burial immediately afterward at Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home and Cemetery, 12800 Westheimer Rd, Houston.