Joze Celic

December 15,1933-Feb 10, 2026

Joze Celic aka Joe was born on December 15th, 1933, in a small town in Slovenia, in the former Yugoslavia. which made him 92 years old.

He is survived by his two sons, David and Brian, his two sisters Maria and Anica, and one brother Lewis.

Life was not easy for his family in Slovenia at this time, but Joze did his best to support his family and hope for better times. His better times were when he married his one and only wife Nezka. The were a very handsome couple that got married at St Peters Vasilika in Rome Italy. Nezka once said the main reason she married Joze, was because he was so quiet. In the later years, she would say, now he never shuts up. But that’s a story for another day:) Soon after this they made the journey to Canada together, and yes once again life was not the easiest for them. They moved to 100 mile house and had nothing more than the clothes on their backs and the bears outside their window.

They decided then to move to Mission BC. Life was not easy at the beginning also, but their son David was born and a couple years later Brian was born. They also had a young son named Don, that did not survive his birth. This was a very hard time for them.

Joze started to work at the sawmill, where he would stay until the day he retired. He was probably known for the only worker that did not lose any body parts on the job. Luckily for him. Later on they all moved to Abbotsford where he started his retirement. He loved to talk to family and friends and work around his house, He also loved to travel to Hawaii with the family , where life was simpler and more easy going.

2015 was a turning point in the Celic Family. When Joze’s wife Nezka and mother to David and Brian passed away. It was a very hard time, but in some ways it made him closer to David and Brian as they lost their rock.

After Nezka passed life was much slower and challenging with his health. His body was giving up but his mind was insanely intact. Remembering things that happened 50 years ago, like it was yesterday. In the end he knew it was time to go back to his wife and be together. Rest in Peace from your family Joze aka Joe.

His service will be held on Monday February 23rd, at 11:00 am, at Henderson’s Fraser Valley Funeral Home in Abbotsford B.C.