BOH, Marija

MARIJA BOH 1942 – 2023 It is with great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved Mother and Grandmother, Marija Boh on June 12, 2023, at the age of 80 at St. Michael’s Health Centre.
Marija is survived by her devoted son Michael (Caralyn); grandson Luka and granddaughter Mateja Boh; brothers John (Shirley) Boh and Mark (Jennifer) Boh; sisters Magda (Clyde) Kitteringham and Lizzie (Mario) Zorzetti; special nieces and nephews and their families Sandy, Rick, Sheri, Tara, Michelle, Craig, Kimmy, Aaron, Ashley, Matt & Brianne, who loved their Auntie Minnie dearly. She will also be missed by her beloved “Happy Hour” girls Marjorie Gal, Gerri Shankland, Sister Theresa Perro, and Vera Linders; special life-long friends Bonnie Lalonde and Marilyn Withage; as well as her extended family in Slovenija. Marija loved her family greatly.
Marija was predeceased by her parents Ivan and Antonija Boh and nephew Jonathan Boh.
Marija was born on August 28, 1942, in Ljubljana, Slovenija. She was the eldest daughter of five children born to Ivan and Antonija Boh. At the conclusion of the Second World War, the Boh family along with thousands of people fleeing persecution, escaped to Austria. After a clandestine journey from Slovenija and several months staying at a camp in Spittal, Austria, the Boh family together with the Mravlje family and many other Slovenijans boarded trucks to Klagenfurt, Austria in the first leg of their trip to Canada. From there, they traveled by train through Austria to Bremen, Germany before boarding a Cunard White Star ship named “Scythia” across the Atlantic. Eight days later, on April 12, 1949, the family arrived in Halifax. The next four days were spent traveling by train, arriving in Lethbridge on Easter weekend. The family then settled on a farm in Barnwell contributing to the Southern Alberta farming community in the Sugar Beet fields. Eventually, the family moved to Lethbridge in 1958. Marija completed her schooling at St. Joseph’s High School, St. Michael’s School of Nursing and the University of Lethbridge.
Besides her family & friends, Marija’s love was her career. Marija’s professional career as a Registered Nurse spanned nearly sixty years and not only did she serve nearly six decades in this capacity, she did so with an unwavering commitment to her patients and colleagues. She was a healer, teacher and a mentor, which was evident with many health care providers visiting her in her final days to thank her and express their admiration. Marija made lifelong friends working in Eastern Canada, Alberta, Louisiana, and Texas. It was a mere four years ago that her health issues prohibited her from continuing to work full-time at St. Mike’s and where some of her dear colleagues then became her caregivers where she lived up until her passing. In true Marija fashion, she provided medical advice and input about her health right up until the end.
Marija loved her dogs and could always be counted on to save a stray in need. She spent countless hours quilting and scouring catalogues for the perfect pattern and color match as well as serious contemplation on who would be the recipient of such a gift. She loved shopping and always drove a hard bargain. She was an avid participant in the online Tarok community where she competitively teamed up with other aficionados of this ruthless Slovenijan card game. Interruptions to her games were not taken lightly. Marija was an avid traveler and over the years was able to return to Slovenija to visit and connect with family and more recently able to take her grandchildren to her birthplace and share meaningful stories and memories with them while there.
Marija’s family would like to extend their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the health care providers at St. Michael’s Health Centre who went above and beyond to provide Marija exceptional attention and care and allowing her to provide input.
Vigil Rites (Prayers) will be held at 6:00 pm, on Friday, June 23, 2023 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610 – 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta. All are welcome.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 pm, on Saturday, June 24, 2023 at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH, 2405 – 12 AVENUE SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Father Kevin Tumback, celebrant.  To watch the service via livestream, please go to www.tikilive.com/channel/allsaintsparish and select Marija’s service.
Inurnment alongside her parents will occur at a later date at the Mountain View Cemetery in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Flowers are gratefully declined. Those who wish, memorial donations may be made to Chalice Canada, 101 -26 Union Street, Bedford, NS, B4A 2B5 or online at https://chalice.ca/donate
Save one life, you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives, you’re a nurse.
Visit www.mbfunerals.com to send a condolence.