Veljko Guzina, 83, of Burlington, Ontario, passed away in his sleep in the early morning on August 10, 2024, after a battle with Parkinson's disease.

Veljko was born April 15, 1941, in the small mountain hamlet of Fojnica, Hercegovina.

His Father Akim died in the second world war and as a result Veljko was raised by his mother Sava together with the extended Guzina and Koprivica families in Fojnica and the Gacko area. After the age of 12, Veljko went to live with family in Sarajevo as well as in Surčin, finishing school and working as a lab technician until 1965 when he took the opportunity to flee from communist Yugoslavia. His uncle, Mihailo Koprivica, sponsored him to make his way to Canada. His love for his family in Hercegovina drew him back for many memorable visits over the years.

After arriving in Canada in November 1967, he met and eventually married Ana Grujic in 1970. They were blessed with two children, his daughter Sava and his son Petar, both born in 1973. Veljko was a loving father and husband and a steadfast provider. He was always willing to lend a hand to any project for friends and family alike, no matter how tough or arduous.

Veljko was an active member of the Serbian diaspora in Canada and often volunteered his services to several organizations, most notably the Serbian Orthodox Church, and Jovan Dučić Canadian-Serbian Charitable Society. He loved to spend time with friends and could often be found playing dominoes with his closest friends until age and illness restricted his independence. He was a generous man, be it with time, labour, love, or finances.

For several years after his retirement, Veljko and Ana enjoyed living full time at their cottage on Tea Lake. Many happy family memories were created there. Veljko especially loved seeing his grandchildren at the cottage, watching them enjoy all the activities of cottage life.

Veljko is missed very much by the Guzina, Koprivica, and Grujic families as well as by other extended family and his many close friends.

Veljko was predeceased by his wife, Ana; his father Akim; his mother, Sava; his brother, Zdravko; and his sisters, Mika and Sloba. In Canada, Veljko is survived by his children, Sava (Marko) and Petar; his stepson, Danilo (Colleen); his six grandchildren, Tatiana (Carson), Iliya, Aleksandar, Nikolas, Maksim, and Vesna; his two great grandchildren, Filip and Dominik; and his nephews, Akim and Boro.

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