Maria (Hozjan) Petek

Maria “Mica” Petek nee: Hozjan, age 93 of Countryside, IL left this world for the arms of her beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on June 29th, 2025.

Maria was the loving daughter of the late Marija and Ivan Hozjan, born in a small farm town known as Mala Polana, Slovenija. She grew up farming with her kind hard working parents. As a young girl, she decided to go to trade school in Ljubljana to be a seamstress. Shortly after, she met a handsome young man in her mid-twenties by the name of August “Gusti” Petek. She said she was already an old maid at 24 compared to most and we quote: “he was good looking and went to church” and so it was a done deal!

Gusti and Mica bravely decided to go to a refugee camp in Trieste, Italy to try to get passage to America. She remembers her precious father crumbling to the ground in tears of anguish for his youngest daughter when she left their beloved Slovenija, but sending her off with prayers and well wishes. Maria’s first daughter, Paula was born in that refugee camp and then they came to Chicago, IL where Angela, Rose & Michael were born. While raising the family, Maria learned English and worked in a factory and then at home as an excellent seamstress to several businesswomen clients, also making most of her own clothes and clothing for her children. If we needed something to wear and it was too expensive, she would duplicate that item and sew it herself!

What did Maria love?

Making strudel! Oh how she loved to make strudel! Tables and tables of strudel to freeze and give away to friends and family. And it was the best crispiest apple and cheese and sometimes cabbage strudel! She was even featured in the Chicago Tribune for her Slovenian cooking skills.

Singing & Dancing!!  Oh how she loved to sing and dance at all the gatherings at the Slovenian Cultural Center with her friends and at picnics and at their homes and on their cruises and in church! Growing up was a feast of Maria dancing and singing around the house to polkas, waltzes, Al Martino, Engelbert Humperdink, Dean Martin, Don Ho, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, etc, etc, etc…If she could sing it she would! If she could dance to it she would…always singing and dancing throughout the house.

Entertaining! Oh how she loved to entertain and cook and serve and make people laugh with her funny Slovenian stories and rhymes that brought so much laughter, especially with the funny to understand English translations.

Slovenija! Oh how she loved her home country..and I quote: “This small Alpine country is in the Olympics”,  “This small Alpine country has a first Lady” and on and on about her beautiful homeland, said in her best Slovenian accent! She missed it so much and often visited, but never let us forget where she was from and the beauty there.

Gardening! Oh how she loved her flowers and her yard and her vegetable garden. In her last days she loved to look out the window at her yard and remember when she was able to seed and plant. She had a green thumb and was willing to share her flowers and vegetables with anyone that would come b!

Standing on her head! Oh yes…she loved to do this all the way up into the early years of her 80s….anyone who met her enough times got to witness the Maria head stand!!! Lol….

Jesus!! Oh how she loved Jesus! She loved singing praises in and out of church. As a young child, her parents were devout and prayed together daily with the family. And she passed that down to us, in the end only wanting to be closer to her Lord.

Maria is survived by her children Paula (Kenneth) Schroeder, Angela Petek (Joseph), Rose Petrini  and Michael Petek. Her grandchildren Isabella Petrini, Flora (John) Gunther, Jack Petrini, Clayton Petek and Monica Petek. She is also survived by many nephews, nieces, and relatives here and in Slovenia whom she loved dearly!

In Mamca’s own words : “I am going to live…until I die!” And that she did indeed! Her vivacious spirit lives on in our precious memories!

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,[a] that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore, encourage one another with these words.

We will see ‘Mamca” again!  Rejoice!

Please join the family Saturday September 13th, 2025

at St Mary's Catholic Mission 14246 Main Street. Lemont, IL. 60439

Visitation: 9AM until Mass at 10AM

Mass of Resurrection: 10AM 

Immediately following mass, the family wishes to extend an invitation to join them down the hill at the Slovenian Catholic Center where a

Memorial Luncheon: will be served.

Interment: will be private on a later date.

In lieu of Flowers: Memorials may be made in Maria's name to:

The Friends of St. Mary or St Mary's Slovenian Catholic Mission or Slovenian Catholic Center, www.Slovenian- Center.org  

Arrangements entrusted to Debbie Zefran Jerry funeral director and friend.  New Tradition Funeral Services ph: 630-230-8599 or cell: 708-212-0413         

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