Marija passed away on August 21, 2026 and was farewelled at a moving service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Yarrawonga.
Born on January 19, 1942, in Boberstein, then Germany and now Poland, Marija entered the world in extraordinary circumstances.
While pregnant with Marija, her mother endured a month-long winter journey from Slovenia in an open cattle car, accompanied by Marija’s three-year-old sister Rosie. Two months later, Marija was born.
The family returned to Slovenia in 1945 after living through the uncertainty of wartime Europe.
Perhaps those beginnings explain Marija’s remarkable strength; whatever was put in front of her, she faced it and got on with it.
At 15, she met the love of her life, Franc. Their first kiss was on May 1, 1957.
Four months later Franc left Yugoslavia and eventually made his way to Australia.
For almost four years their relationship survived through letters across the world and when Franc asked Marija to join him, she said yes.
At just 19, she left her family and everything familiar and boarded a ship, alone, for the six-week journey to Australia.
Her introduction to Australia included a T-bone steak in Kilmore (Franc’s attempt to impress her) and a four-hour drive to Yarrawonga.
She fell in love with the town almost immediately and on September 30, 1961, Marija and Franc married in a simple ceremony with just 10 guests.
Together they built a family and successful businesses through sacrifice, determination and sheer hard work.
Franc may have been the butcher, but Marija worked alongside him in the butcher shops and later ran the Foodland supermarket, where IGA stands today.
She had a sharp mind for numbers, a natural instinct for business and a wonderful way with people.
Annie Lonergan helped her learn the English language, while the mechanics across the road at Cameron’s Garage taught her Aussie slang and plenty of swear words.
Marija would innocently repeat them without always knowing what they meant, sometimes to Franc’s horror.
She was hardworking, but she was also great fun.
Marija loved music, singing, dancing, horse racing, red lipstick, a little bling and having her hair beautifully done every Friday.
She knew people everywhere she went, and if she spotted someone in Belmore Street, there was little chance of slipping past unnoticed.
She gave generously to the community that had welcomed her, supporting the church here and in Slovenia, Yarrawonga Hospital, Friends in Common, football and netball clubs and school fundraising.
For 36 years, Wednesday night meant bingo.
But above everything else came family. Her children Sonja and Rodney arrived in 1967 and 1968, and Damien in 1974.
She was an amazing mother; caring, interested, fiercely devoted and always there - home, and particularly the kitchen, was the centre of family life.
Some of the happiest memories were Marija piling as many as eight children into the back of the ute and heading to Chinamen’s Bend for a barbecue and summer swim.
Even when Parkinson’s dealt her a cruel hand, Marija remained strong and determined.
Marija Vodusek’s greatest legacy is the family she held together, the friendships she made, the community she supported and the countless memories she leaves behind.
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