Theresa Vranicar

Theresa Vranicar passed away peacefully at home in Santa Clara in the presence of all her children and other family members, at the age of 99.5 years. Theresa was born in Čurile, Slovenia, which at the time was not a separate country, but only a province of the Austrian Empire. To get an idea of how long ago that was, one should recall that Czar Nicholas II was Emperor of Russia at that time. Theresa was one of nine children, and grew up on a small family farm. Her parents instilled in her a deep Christian faith, an abiding trust in God, and compassion for the poor and those in need. Theresa attended nursing school in Slovenia, and developed a love of caring for newborn babies and their mothers. Theresa married Martin Vranicar in 1942. Amid the chaos of war and revolution in Slovenia, they took refuge in neighboring Austria with their baby son, Martin, and spent four years there, sponsored by a very kind family living on a farm high in the Austrian Alps. Two more sons, Anthony and John, were born there. Theresa and her family immigrated to the United States in 1949, eventually settling in Stockton, CA. Daughter Christine and son Mark were born in the United States. Theresa went to work as a nurse’s aide at Dameron Hospital in Stockton. With additional schooling, she became a Registered Nurse and during her thirty-year career achieved the position of head nurse of the neo-natal unit at Dameron. After her retirement, she was caregiver for her husband Martin until his death in 1985. In the past thirty-something years, she experienced the joy of becoming a grandmother nine times over, and a great-grandmother four times. To her grandchildren she is lovingly referred to as “Oma”. Theresa loved to tend her garden and to keep a tidy house, but her greatest love was for people: her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her extended family, her friends, and all those whose paths she crossed during her long and faith-filled life. Theresa is survived by her four sons and one daughter: Martin Vranicar and spouse Gail, Anthony Vranicar, John Vranicar, Mark Vranicar and spouse Drew, and Christine Paul and spouse Ernie; nine grandchildren: Gregory Paul, Daniel Paul, Michelle Lahmon, Christine Elise Vranicar, Andrew Vranicar, Holly Vranicar, John Vranicar, Erin Vranicar, and Neil Vranicar; and four great-grandchildren: Alena Paul, Liana Paul, Logan Paul, and Huxley Lahmon. She also leaves behind nephews Thomas Starc, Mario Starc, Miriam Starc-Volkovitsch, and their families. In addition, Theresa is survived by her youngest sister, Martina Uljar, of Croatia, as well as many nieces and nephews in Slovenia, Croatia, Sweden, and Australia. The family would also like to thank Theresa’s in-home caregiver, Cherry Hastings, for her devotion over the last several years. Theresa’s generous, loving, and motherly spirit will be missed by all who knew her. We will celebrate Theresa’s life, and all that she meant to us, with Visitation on Thursday, December 18, 2014 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 North Winchester Blvd. in Santa Clara, California. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, December 19, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Saint Justin Parish, 2655 Homestead Rd., Santa Clara, California. Interment will be held privately.