FERKUL, Mia - (August 11, 1927 – September 24, 2021) - After a life well lived, our mom, Mia, aka Mama Mia, passed away at the age of 94.
Joining her beloved husband Tone and daughter Irene, she is survived by her children Maggie (Peter), Dorothy (Peter), Martha (Joseph), Tony (Miriam), Marianne, Stan (Andrea), Helen (Will), Bob (Jackie) and Joe (Marie).
She was the loving Stara mama of 35 grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren.
Sharing in our sorrow are her family and many friends in Slovenia, Australia, Argentina, the U.S., and across Canada.
Mia was born in Ljubljana, Slovenia on August 11, 1927, the second of four children of Ivan and Antonia Kern. She was predeceased by siblings Ivica and Tone and is mourned by surviving sister Neli in Ljubljana. Fleeing her war-torn Slovenia alone after the war, she met her future husband in a displaced persons camp in Austria. It was love at first sight, at least on Dad’s part.
Arriving in Canada six months apart, they reunited and became a part of a growing Slovenian community in Toronto. Married in 1950, they raised ten children and built a successful construction business, with Dad at the site and Mom working the home office before working from home became trendy. Guided by her faith, she served her community through numerous organizations, including the Catholic Women’s League, several youth and community groups and the local widows club, all while working part time and serving on the board at the Slovenian Credit Union, where she appointed herself chief teller and marriage counsellor, and dispensed free financial advice to all her children’s friends.
Her love for family, especially her grandchildren whom she loved even more than her own children, typically manifested itself through her joy in keeping everyone well fed. Her home would always be full of wonderful smells, whether it was homemade strudel, cookies, potica or that never-ending pot of knedelj soup. No one ever left her house hungry, thanks in part to multiple fridges and cupboards that were always full.
Storyteller, chocolate dealer, cookie supplier, “beer club” host (really just a bunch of ladies sharing stories and drinking tea), head chef, hostel manager (there was always room for an out of town guest), pastry chef, chauffeur; Mia was many things to many people and left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
We would especially like to thank Kavita, her caregiver for many years, who treated our Mama like her own family and gained a place in all our hearts.
Arrangements are entrusted with Ridley funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to Dom Lipa, Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Church or your local food bank. Mia always did what she could to ensure that people in her community did not go hungry.
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