With deep sorrow, the family of Dragica (Carol) Vukovich announces her peaceful passing in the early hours of December 26, 2021, surrounded by family. Carol was predeceased by her husband, Panto (Peter) Vukovich, her parents Janko and Jelena Popovic, her elder siblings Janko, Nico, Milka (Emily) Malnerich, and Micika (Mary) Wintar. She will be immeasurably missed by her daughters Irena Vukovich-Blagg, Helene Vukovich and Natalie Vukovich (Norman Clarke) and her grandchildren Lucy Blagg, Julian Clarke, Rachel Vukovich and Brody Clarke. She leaves behind her beloved sister and nephews Zorica, Goran and Igor Vukovic of Ljubljana, Slovenia, nephew Jim (Beverly) Malnerich and family of Kirkland Lake, and nephew Walter Wintar of Kitchener. She was dearly loved by all.
Carol was born in Škemljevac, Slovenia, on October 21, 1929. After enduring significant WWII and post-war trauma, in the winter of 1957, she immigrated to Canada to join her husband. Peter had arrived in Kirkland Lake in 1956, to establish a base to receive her and their first child Irena. Carol and Peter worked very hard in Northern Ontario to make a good life for themselves and their three children. In 1964, they moved to Sault Ste. Marie, where they became entrepreneurs, owning and operating the Skyline Motel (1963-1978 and 1982-1995), and the Fashion Shop (1978-1982).
From 1984 to 1989, Peter and Carol built a welcoming family home on Pineshores Road in Goulais River. This Lake Superior outpost was their pride and joy, where many special times were shared with family and friends, but especially grandchildren. Carol was happy that she lived to mark the 50thanniversary of owning the Vukovich property, in July 2021.
Carol was a phenomenal cook and pastry chef. She endlessly prepared lamb, strudel, povitica, cookies and more cookies. Whenever Carol was tired, she baked. No one knew where she found the energy. Carol also had a green thumb and was particularly fond of hostas. She loved pink geraniums, which she relentlessly dead-headed to perfection. Carol was very house-proud and liked to surround herself with beautiful things and make everything gleam. One summer, she was awarded with a City Beautification Award, by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, recognizing the sumptuous gardens that Carol created and maintained at her home on Kent Avenue. For someone who was constantly shuttling from the motel or the store to Goulais River and the house on Kent Avenue, it was incredible that Carol somehow managed to keep everything going so brilliantly. To be fair, she did love her afternoon naps!
Following Peter's death in 2002, Carol moved to the High Park neighbourhood in Toronto, to be closer to her immediate family. She immersed herself in her most splendid career as a busy, buying, baking Baka for her “4 vunderful grandchildren”, whom she loved more than life. From Toronto, Carol could often travel to visit Irena and Lucy in California, and she taught Julian, Rachel and Brody to drive her car when they came of age. There was nothing Carol wouldn’t do for her children and grandchildren. Carol often remarked that her time in Toronto was an unexpected reward for which she was very grateful. It was in fact a perfect coda.
According to her wishes, Carol’s remains will be interred next to Peter’s, at the Goulais River cemetery. A Celebration of Carol's Life will be held in Goulais River in 2022. Carol expressed her wish that donations in her memory be made to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation, 50 Great Northern Road, Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 0A8 https://www.sahfoundation.com