Slavica Maslic age 65 of Orlando, Florida passed away on Thursday August 10, 2023. Slavica Maslic was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina on June 30, 1958.
Slavica Maslic died quietly and peacefully Thursday evening August 10, 2023 after a long and weary struggle which progressively diminished her ability to live the joyful life she loved with her sons and granddaughters.
Slavica was a woman of faith and courage who faced life with strength and hope which allowed her to meet and overcome some of the most difficult and threatening of circumstances. Slavica Jelcic was born June 30, 1958 in the village of Cikote on the outskirts of Prijedor, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
She was a lovely and talented young woman who loved to knit and crochet in her spare time. In 1978 she met the love of her life Mile Maslic in Zagreb Croatia and the two were married in 1978. The following year in 1979 their first
son, Miroslav was born followed not long after by their second son Goran. During the early years of her growing family, she helped support the family working in a factory producing school supplies in Croatia.
In the 90’s the family was severely threatened by the life- threatening persecution of the genocidal Bosnian War. Fear of imprisonment and death forced Mile and Slavica to flee with their teenage sons from their homeland in Croatia and become refugees of the war. They ultimately were brought to the United States where they eventually settled in Orlando FL and began a new life for their family, Mile driving over the road trucks and Slavica working in various roles finally settling in the service trades which she enjoyed.
Her final employment was with the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel where she worked in banquet catering preparing foods and serving guests. In 2018 Slavica’s beloved husband Mile died of cancer which took a tremendous toll on her physically and emotionally. It wasn’t long before Slavica began experiencing weakness and health issues which would force her to quit work and became progressively more debilitating. Her medical issues were sometimes difficult to treat and eluded doctors. Finally her condition deteriorated to the point her sons Miroslav and Goran could no longer care for her at home and she was
forced into a care facility. It was determined she suffered from ALS for
which there was no cure. She died peacefully with her loving and
dedicated sons at her bedside.
Everyone is said to have a purpose in life and that being the case,
Slavica’s purpose was demonstrated in her fierce love for her family.
Her Husband was her true love, and her son’s the evidence of that love.
Their unfaltering commitment to her only reflected the love they had received from Slavica’s hands and heart. Slavica’s life was obviously not without pain and trial yet her love and determination remained undiminished in the face of the most severe of life’s challenges. In reward she saw the birth and growth of her most precious “flowers”.
Her granddaughters Jelena Grace Maslic born to Miroslav, and Mia Maslic born to Goran. These two beautiful granddaughters embodied Slavica’s love and hope for the future and brought immense joy to her life in the closing years. Jelena and Mia (cousins born only weeks apart) filled her home with love and little girl giggles and filled her heart with joy. Likewise, “Baba” (Serbian for “grandma”) filled their lives with lessons of love and hope to see them far into life beyond her years.
Slavica was preceded in death by her loving an dedicated husband Mile in 2018.
She is survived by her two sons Miroslav Maslic and Goran Maslic as well as her two granddaughters Jelena Maslic and Mia Maslic. In the last visit that Jelena had with her Baba just before she died, after having prayer, Jelena approached her bedside and whispered, “Laku noc Baba” meaning “Good night Grandma”. In those tender loving words she summed up the heart of all who loved her.
“Good night, Mama – Grandma – beloved sister and friend.” May God
grant you peaceful rest until we meet again.