Matilda B. Tudor

Matilda (Tili) Tudor was born in Kostelsko, Pregrada, Croatia on February 12, 1936 and passed away peacefully in her own home in Temple City, California on October 20, 2020 with her beloved life-long husband Ivan and son John, by her side.

Tili was the youngest daughter of 7 siblings born to parents Dragutin and Vilma Bele. Life was hard in a one-room farm cottage, so, yearning for the city life, she left home at the age of 14 to find work and live in Zagreb. That is when she met her husband Ivica Tudor and were married in January of 1960.

After working in Stuttgart since 1960, Ivica brought Tili to Germany where they had better job opportunities. In 1966, they learned they had family in America and used all of their money to purchase two plane tickets to join them in Los Angeles. Later that year, they settled into their permanent small home in Temple City. In 1986 they started their family piano business where Tili was a fundamental part of day to day operations until retirement.

Tili enjoyed working in her garden. She loved all kinds of flowers and fruits. She loved singing Croatian songs and all kinds of soft music, in her own harmony. She was a dedicated mother and wife and loved all of her family and treated all her nieces and nephews like her own children. She was a selfless generous kind soul who loved her family and all animals, especially birds. She was very proud and boastful of her families’ achievements.

Preceded in death by her mother and father, Vilma Bele and Dragutin Bele, siblings Pepica, Drago, Slavika, and Milka.

She is survived by Ivica, her husband of over 60 years, and her son Johnny. Additionally, she is survived by her helpful and supportive brother and sister Mirko (Marija) Bele and Barica Malkoc and her in-laws, Borinka (Jim) Hanrahan and Marinko (Marija) Tudor.

Tili was also blessed to have so many wonderful nephews and nieces whom she loved and felt as her own. She is survived by her loving nephews and nieces nearby, including their own children (in parenthesis): Zorkita Tudor (Stephen & Meaghan), Marena and Jim Padden (Charlie, Trudy and Leah), Zora Hanrahan Chase (Henry & Caroline), Colleen and Chris Beck (Cory and Jacqueline), Biserka Malkoc Richter (Phillip, Brandon, Tadiana and Tiffany), Mario Bele, Jimmy Hanrahan (Kaetlyn & Lilah) and Tommy Bele.

In Toronto, Canada she is survived by Neda Romek (SIL) and Nada (Seka) Romek and her two sons Nenad and Sasha. In Croatia, she is survived by her nephew and nieces Frani and (Ljubica) Bele, Cedo and (Nada) Bele, Mirjana and (Joza) Surbek, and their children Marjan, Gordana, Dubravko, Darijo, Marina, Mario, Dejan and Sinisa.

Ivan and John also wish to thank Vivian Zhang, Anka Schilz, Katica Marcus and Fr. Zvonimir Coric for his help and support during this time of Covid.

To all other special friends and people we haven’t mentioned here we are very thankful for your kindness and friendship to Tilika. We will always be grateful for all you did for Tili.

All who loved her will never forget her generosity and selfless nature.