Žarko Bojčić

April 14 1933 - June 12 2024

Žarko Bojčić, a loving father and husband, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2024, at his beautiful little farm in Brampton, Ontario, surrounded by his family and their love. Žarko was born in Blatnica, Hercegovina in 1933. He escaped from Yugoslavia in 1957 and made his way to Canada, where he landed in Port Arthur, Ontario as a logger. He used the money he earned to discover far-off lands like Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Poland, Spain, Germany, and the United States. In 1965, he married his beloved wife Mira and worked tirelessly for his family and his community. He sacrificed everything to ensure that his children got university educations which would secure their futures, and always celebrated their accomplishments. He was a very proud Croatian and Catholic, and made sure to raise his children Franjo and Lucija to be proud of their Croatian heritage. He spent many years fighting for Croatia’s independence and brought his family along to weekly demonstrations in front of the American Consulate on University Avenue in Toronto and anywhere else his voice and presence were needed. His political activism and escape from communist Yugoslavia left him exiled from his homeland until 1995 when Croatia achieved independence. He was then finally able to realize his dream of reuniting with his sister, brothers and their extended family in Croatia and Hercegovina.

Žarko was knighted in the Orders of Alhambra, Columbus, and Malta. He was a staunch advocate for the poor and always ready to help anyone in need. He loved to be of service and was happiest in nature and the company of children and animals. He could often be found on his deck, armed with his fly swatter, discussing history and politics, or in his garden, whose bounty he was always happy to share. Žarko had a sharp sense of humour, an incredible memory, and a fiercely strong will—a superpower that helped him overcome unimaginable adversity throughout his life.

Žarko Bojcic will be deeply missed by his wife Mira, daughter Lucija, son Franjo (Maria), his grandchildren Nicholas and Emily, as well as his extensive family and friends in Canada, Croatia, and beyond. He is predeceased by his parents Jakov and Lucija, along with his siblings in Hercegovina and Croatia: Ruza (Franjo Vucic), Martin (Veronka), Pero (Ljuba), Mirko (Sofija).

Family and friends will be received at the Jones Funeral Home, 11582 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown (905) 877-3631 on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 from 2 - 4 p.m. and 6 - 9 p.m. Krunica (prayers) will be held in the chapel at 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Queen of Peace Croatian Franciscan Centre, 9118 Winston Churchill Blvd., Norval on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Assumption Catholic Cemetery in Mississauga. Reception to follow at the Queen of Peace Reception Hall.

Žarko Bojčić, voljeni otac i suprug, preminuo je 12. juna 2024., u svom domu na prelijepoj maloj farmi u Bramptonu (Ontario), okružen svojom obitelji i njihovom ljubavi. Žarko je rođen 1933. u Blatnici, Hercegovina. Godine 1957. emigrirao je iz Jugoslavije i krenuo put Kanade. Po dolasku u Port Arthur radio je kao drvosječa. Novac koji je zarađivao trošio je na otkrivanje novih dalekih zemalja poput Venecuele, Argentine, Čilea, Poljske, Španije, Njemačke i SAD-a.

1965. oženio je svoju voljenu suprugu Miru. Neumorno je radio za svoju obitelj i zajednicu. Žrtvovao je sve da bi svojoj djeci omogućio univerzitetsko obrazovanje koje ce im osigurati buducnost. Uvijek je slavio njihove uspjehe. Bio je ponosan Hrvat i Katolik. U tom je duhu podizao i svoju djecu Franju i Luciju i učio ih da budu ponosni na svoje hrvatsko podrijetlo. Proveo je mnogo godina u borbi za hrvatsku neovisnost. Zajedno sa svojom obitelji prisustvovao je tjednim protestima ispred Američkog konzulata smještenog u University Avenue u Torontu, kao i drugdje gdje su njegov glas i prisustvo bili neophodni. Njegov politički aktivizam i bijeg iz komunističke Jugoslavije odvojili su ga od domovine sve do 1995. godine kada je Hrvatska stekla neovisnost. Tada je konačno uspio ostvariti svoj san i ponovno se vidjeti sa svojom sestrom, braćom i njihovim obiteljima u Hrvatskoj i Hercegovini.

Žarko je odlikovan viteškim redom Orders of Alhambra, Columbus i Malta. Čvrsto se zalago za pomoć siromašnima i pomagao drugima u potrebi. Volio je da bude na usluzi drugima, a najsretniji je bio u društvu djece i životinja. Puno je vremena provodio ispred kuće, naoružan svojom muholovkom, raspravljajući o povijesti i politici, ili u svom vrtu čije je plodove uvijek rado dijelio. Imao je izražen smisao za humor, nevjerojatno dobro pamćenje i iznimno jaku volju-supermoć koja mu je pomogla da prevaziđe nezamislive nevolje koje su ga pratile kroz život.

Žarko Bojčić će duboko nedostajati supruzi Miri, kćeri Luciji, sinu Franji (Maria), njegovoj unučadi Nicholasu i Emily, kao i široj obitelji i prijateljima u Kanadi, Hrvatskoj i Hercegovini. Žarko se pridružio svojim najmilijima, roditeljima Jakovu i Luciji, braći i sestri u Hercegovini i Hrvatskoj: Ruža (Franjo Vučić), Martin (Veronka), Pero (Ljuba), Mirko (Sofija).