14 July 2022 was a sad day for Slovenians in Banja Luka, a sad day for Banja Luka. We saw off our dear Maria on her last trip.
On that day, at 11 a.m., a commemoration was held on the premises of the Triglav Association, which was attended by, among others, the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to Bosnia and Herzegovina, H.E. Damijan Sedar, his deputy Mr. Zvone Žigon, representative of the Association for the Development of Voluntary Work, Ms. Branka Bukovec, representative of the JSKD, Ms. Klavdija Kotar, friends and members of the Association. Those present had the opportunity to sign the book of mourning, which will be placed on the premises of the Association in the period from July 18 to July 22, 2022.
At 1:00 p.m., the funeral was held, where a large number of friends and admirers of her work were present with the family. Mladen Lunić gave a speech on behalf of the Triglav Association. It was followed by Ambassador Sedar who gave an emotional and friendly speech. The Mixed Choir Davorin Jenko sang the Slovenian song "Lipa zelenela je" and at the end the member of the Slovenian Association of Citizens "Jožef Špringer" Kakanj performed the song "Tišina" on the trumpet.
Marija's mission in life was to work in the Association of Slovenians of Republika Srpska Triglav Banja Luka, with which she was connected by fate, because the official registration date of the Association coincided with the date of her birth - February 6. Marija led the Association of Triglav Slovenians for 20 years and made an incredible feat, in the 21st century, in the age of materialism and egocentrism, to create not only the most successful minority society, but also the most successful volunteer non-governmental organization in Banja Luka, and much wider, the non-governmental organization in the true sense and meaning of a voluntary association of citizens.
Not everyone can do that, only great and special people can, who put the interest of the community above and before their own. That's how Maria was, selfless, hardworking, responsible, just, modest. It is difficult to find words that would describe her versatile personality, which was fully realized through the work of the Triglav Association and the cultivation of slovenian identity as a specific characteristic in the area where we live.
She marked an era of Banjaluka, a city on Vrbas, where she brought and hosted thousands of people who went home happy and satisfied, becoming our friends, but also friends of this city and region. We hope it will not go unnoticed.
She loved traveling. She took and sent thousands of people into the world, mostly children and young people, whom she especially loved. She sent them to get to know some new and "old" places and people, to gain experience and thus be enriched to return and build their family and community.
We were lucky and very privileged to know her and be friends with her. She was more than our leader and leader, she was our friend, sister, mother, grandmother, advisor, help in every opportunity and adversity. She was like family to us. Support for young people, protector of the elderly. Always ready for new ideas and pushing boundaries.
She left an apparently invisible, but still deep trace of her existence in this world, which will bear fruit for a long time and be a guide for us who remain behind her.
Association Triglav
