Stefanija 'Stella' Kandaras Antovich
November 12, 1911 - March 1, 2005
Obituary
Stefanija Stella Kankaras ANTOVICH
Born November 12, 1911 in Golija, Crna Gora Montenegro, Yugoslavia, passed away peacefully in her home in the company of her family, on Tuesday, March 1, 2005. As the eldest of three daughters and one son, born to Obran and Simena Bjeletich Kankaras, Stefanija learned the fine art of nurturing and caregiving at the early age of seven when losing her own mother and infant brother to the influenza pandemic of 1918. As a young girl and throughout her life, she brought those loving skills not only to her father and siblings, but to all whom she would come to know. From her father Obran, a devout Serbian Orthodox Christian and sought after village elder, she acquired her strong faith, which she practiced throughout her life. A devoted daughter and sister, she continued to care for her family after her father remarried a widow, also due to the pandemic.
At the age of 21, on January 24, 1931, Stefanija married Djoko George Antovich of Banjane, Crna Gora. After leaving her village of Golubni Do, for Obljaj, the village of her husband’s family, Stefanija began what would become in 1932, a journey which would take her from her beloved homeland to Ellis Island, on the USS Manhattan. From port 38 NYC, she traveled solo by train to Minnesota where she was reunited with her husband. From Minnesota, Stefanija and Djoko came to Seattle where they were befriended by and resided with the Milija and Milica Dubljevich family. After the birth of their first child, the couple moved their young family into their first home on Webster Street. Later, they relocated to the Skyway area where they established a new home and a 7-acre farm. Here, they would lovingly raise their two sons and seven daughters.
Stefanija enjoyed and excelled at cooking and baking traditional Serbian cuisine and pastries, flower and vegetable gardening, canning, sewing, and needlework. By far her greatest passion was her family, for whom she always had an open door, a lavish feast, and loving heart. The health and education of her grandchildren and great grandchildren were a top priority for her. Her hospitality, a delightful sense of humor, genuine concern and respect for others, and a humble nature were her trademarks. A member of the American-Serbian Heritage Association Serbian Hall, Kolo Circle of Serbian Sisters KSS, and a pioneer steward of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church of Issaquah, Stefanija never lost sight of her faith, heritage, or culture. She carried herself with dignity from a small, faraway village to a land filled with modern challenges and nuances, and did so with great grace. An amazing woman, phenomenal mother, grandmother Baba, and Great-grandmother Pran Baba, and, a loyal friend, she is greatly loved, and will be missed beyond measure by both the family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband Djoko, her son Danilo, son-in-law Carl Lundin, grandson Eric Djoko Brown, her parents, and two sisters, Borika Radovic and Jovana Milovic.
Stefanija is survived by her proudest legacy, her family, daughters, Darinka Dale Brown, Danica Victor Kaloper, Borika LeRoy Skjonsberg, Vidna Lundin, Zorka Joe Tubbs, Ljubica Stan Hanauer, son Peter Diane Antovich, Daughter, Jovanka Antovich, and daughter-in-law, Dorothy Danilo Antovich; grandchildren Cynthia John Heffernan, Emily Shawn McGill, Jason Katie Brown, Bradley Kaloper, Rocky Deanna Antovich, Todd Carol Antovich, Zachary Antovich, Shawna Petros Fotopoulos, Ryan Skjonsberg, Kim Steve Day, Kelly Burke Hales, Brockford Sheila Tubbs, Danita Mark Wilson, Alan Roesberry, and Autumn, Dylan, and Erin Antovich; great-grandchildren Emily and Marcus Heffernan, Makena McGill, Nikolas, Aubrey, and Ashley Antovich, Jakob, Alexandra, Ian, and Austin Antovich, Nikolas Fotopoulos, Hayden and Nina Day, Henry and Joshua Hales, Rainor and Stefanija Tubs, and, Madeline and Mitchell Wilson. She is also survived by numerous relatives living in Serbia and Montenegro and Canada.
“Vecnaja pamjat”…Memory eternal