Maria Sofia Kogoj

Mrs. Maria Sofia Kogoj, age 84, passed away peacefully on February 16th, 2021 due to complications from COPD.

Maria was born on September 3rd, 1936 in Sveto, Slovenia. In the summer of 1958 she left Sveto leaving her parents, brother, and friends to come to Canada for a better life. It was a hard decision for her to make, but was the right decision in the long run. She then boarded the Oceanliner M/S Vulcania Ship in Italy to come to Canada. She finally arrived in Halifax where she then boarded a train to her final destination of Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario where her future husband was anxiously waiting. That summer Maria and Slavko were finally united and married. Not knowing the English language she studied long and hard. Nothing made her more proud than becoming a Canadian citizen.

Maria and Slavko then built their house on Cuyler Street where she lived her entire life. In the spring of 1960, she was blessed with her first child Rudy who was born with heart problems. Maria and Slavko spent many days and nights with him at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Kids. After his open heart surgery was a success, they returned home. In the spring of 1963, they were blessed again and overwhelmed with a set of twins Frank and Ida. She continued to raise her family while working part-time. Not only did Maria raise her own children, she dedicated her life to raising and helping out her grandchildren and great-grandchildren too.

She was a hard worker who put in many years at the Parkmount Hotel and the Croatian Hall. Maria was also a member of the Catholic Women’s League of Canada for 54 years. In 1972, Maria got her driver’s license and was very proud to pass her road test the first time in a 1956 Buick Special with standard steering and brakes. During the years, she made many friends in Current River who grew up loving her food. Everyone came to her for cabbage rolls and perogies for what some called “little pillows from heaven”. If you didn’t eat what she gave you, she would respond with “What? You no likea my food!?” No matter who you were, you never left the house empty handed. When it was time to harvest the garden, she would share her vegetables with everyone in the neighbourhood.

When all the grandchildren were young, she would laugh hysterically while cracking their fingers and toes, singing her Slovenian nursery rhymes. She was down to earth and had a BIG heart. She was a hard worker and kept her family fed and supported them all right until the very end.

Maria will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her children Rudy, Frank and Ida; her grandchildren Chelsea Kogoj (Eric Eloranta) and Ashley Lipczynski (Jason Bechard) and her great-grandchildren Adam, Ace, Veda and Maverick whho called her their NANA. She will also be missed by numerous friends and relatives around the world.
Maria was predeceased by her loving husband Slavko; parents Ato and Ludmila Fabjan; and brother Jozef and sister Ivanka Madon.

One of Mom’s favourite verses from a song she heard in the 1960s was:
When I was just a little girl
I asked my mother, “What will I be?
Will I be pretty? Will I be rich?”
Here’s what she said to me
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be

Funeral Services will take place on Monday, March 1, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady of Loretto Church with Funeral Mass to be celebrated by Rev. Francis Pudicherry. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will take place at a later date. As expressions of sympathy donations may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation.