Elizabeth Nekic

November 26, 1932 to March 7, 2026

Our beloved mother and grandmother, Elizabeth, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Louis Brier care home in the early morning of March 7, 2026 at the age of 93. She is predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Dane Nekic and leaves behind her son Michael (Susan) and her daughter Marianna (Daniel); grandchildren Matthew (Nicolena), Jonathan (Brooklyn), Sean, Taylor and Nicholas; and great grandchildren Marek, Luka, Riah, Archie and Lorelai. She was predeceased by her lone sibling, her sister Maria Belickova. She had many cousins and relatives from places in Ontario and Vojvodina as well as Germany.

Elizabeth was born in Silbas, Vojvodina, Yugoslavia on November 26, 1932. She was a very good student and worked with her parents and sister on their farm in her early years. At age 25 she travelled to Canada alone by boat to Halifax at Pier 21 in December of 1957, looking to start a new life that did not include farming. She met Dane at her Aunt Zuska’s boarding home. After they married and settled down in Toronto they had their 2 children, Michael and Marianna. With the many family members and relatives in the area, they made many fond memories of this season in their lives. After a few years, Dane and Elizabeth decided to move to Australia where they spent time with Dane’s cousins and brother. In 1967 they moved to Vancouver. Elizabeth found work as a housecleaner then later a dietary aide at UBC hospital where she worked until she retired. She was known as a very hard worker who always did a great job. She was a talented seamstress who trained at age 15 in a nearby village but had to quit her apprenticeship to help on the farm. She sewed many pj’s and fleece jackets and knitted the nicest sweaters for her 5 grandchildren. She was also very well known for her cooking and baking skills. No one could make an apple strudel like hers. Her family and her church were the happy beneficiaries of her culinary talents.

She was a devoted aunt to many of our cousins and always looked for ways to help everyone she could. Family was very important to Elizabeth and she and Dane spent many summers at their second home in Maslenica, Croatia enjoying their time with the many family members. She did her best to stay connected when they were apart and every year while she was still able, she would spend hours writing letters and cards at Christmas to their large family. She was the loyal and devoted heart of our family and a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. There was no one like her and she will be sorely missed.

On March 15, a service for Elizabeth will be held at Oceanview (4000 Imperial St., Burnaby). Starts at 10:00 am, with a brief service in the mausoleum, and a reception to follow on site. Friends and family are welcome. The family asks that donations to the Alzheimer Society of British Columbia be made instead of flowers or other gifts.

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