BEHIDZA ZNIDAREC

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BEHIDZA ZNIDAREC Behidza Znidarec was born in Tuzla, Bosnia (former Yugoslavia) on February 1, 1938. She grew up there with her brother Muharem, and sister Nesa, raised by their parents, Hajria, and Muharem Azabagic. Her parents instilled in her a love of people, learning, and a strong sense of community and charity. She spent the rest of her life acting on these values. As a young adult, Behidza moved to Zagreb, Croatia where she earned her degree in economics. While in university, Behidza met the love of her life, a young Croatian (or as Behidza would say, Zagorac ) electrical engineer named Boris Znidarec. Boris sealed his future with Behidza when to her tearful question Who will look after me now? asked upon her father's sudden passing, he replied, I will. Boris and Behidza were married on October 8, 1966. Tragedy would visit Boris and Behidza again with the still birth of their first son, Damir on April 28, 1968. Despite their loss Behidza was the wind in Boris' sails and followed him and his dream of a better life to Canada in 1968. They landed in Montreal on August 29, 1968, and with the promise of subsidized English language classes at the end of the track, took the train to Winnipeg, where they would ultimately build their lives and raise their family together. While Boris worked as an engineer for Manitoba Hydro, Behidza dedicated all of her time and efforts to raising her three children, Robert, Richard, and Suzy. Once her children were in school, Behidza went back to work, first as an accountant for The Hudson's Bay Company, and later as an income tax specialist and manager for H R Block. At times we would hear our mother's frustrations with her career options as a Canadian woman in the 1970s, but these complaints were quickly replaced by warm hugs and attention to our own childhood anxieties. Behidza loved people and took advantage of every occasion to establish new friendships, or to maintain old ones with people in the neighbourhood, across the country, or overseas. She endeared herself to others by taking the time to listen to them, and never shied away from offering an opinion. In return for listening, she would also expect an opportunity to be heard. In Canada, people new to Behidza were often surprised when in response to a casual How are you? she, taking the question at face value, would provide a detailed description of her day, recent events in her life, and her opinion of the latest political controversy making the news. She took a keen interest in her children's friendships as well. Recently when going through her personal phone book to notify her friends of her passing, we were moved to find all of our (her children's) friends' phone numbers from all the different stages of our childhood. Behidza was a fearless and dedicated daughter. When war broke out in Bosnia in the 1990s, and diplomatic efforts to bring our grandmother to Canada failed, mom travelled to Bosnia and spent six months living in Tuzla, lobbying Canadian government representatives there to allow our grandmother to be admitted to Canada. After bringing her to Canada and with the help of David Matas, to whom our family is grateful, Behidza succeeded in winning landed immigrant status, care, and dignity for her mother in her final years. Back in Canada, Behidza went on to embrace the many refugees of the war in Bosnia settling in Winnipeg. Together, Boris and Behidza provided this displaced people with any assistance they could, as if they were family. Later in life, Behidza took great pleasure in time spent with her grandchildren, Owen, William, Taryn, and Tate. Boris was her chauffeur, and was seldom successful in resisting her efforts to visit them, no matter which household project would have to be delayed as a result. Behidza was known as Nana to our children, and they always had much to tell and show her. In her characteristic way, Nana would always listen patiently, shower them with love and support, and offer her own stories in return. We were blessed with these almost daily visits from Boris and Behidza and will hold them as our fondest memories. To her children and daughters-in-law (Jane and Janet), Behidza was an embodiment of love. She always stood by us, listened, offered advice when asked, and hugged fiercely. She was a best friend to her daughter Suzy, and although separated by distance between Winnipeg and Montreal, spoke to and laughed with her daily over the phone. Although we are broken hearted with the loss of our wife, mother, Nana, and friend, we are grateful that her passing on July 17, 2011 was quick and without suffering. We will cherish her memory and love one another and our friends as she would have. We would like to thank the Seven Oaks Hospital staff, Dr. Cleghorn, and Dr. Szajkowski for all of the care they have provided Behidza over the years. Finally, we would like to thank all of our and Behidza's friends for their love, companionship, joy and support.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 30, 2011