BO?ENA KOSTECKI, of Lethbridge, AB, passed away at her home on Thursday, August 27, 2020 at the age of 64 years.

Bo?ena is the loving mother of Jonathan (Melissa) R??ek of Lethbridge, AB and Jessica R??ek of Montreal, QC and grandmother to Felix R??ek. She is also survived by her sister Mariana (Zvonko) Turuk of Taber, AB.

She was predeceased by her parents, Marija and Stjepan Kostecki, both of Lethbridge.

Bo?ena was born on November 9, 1955 in Kutina, Croatia, to Marija and Stjepan Kostecki. As a young girl, her favourite person was her grandfather, Deda Slavko, who loved her with equal affection in return. Bo?ena was well-loved by friends and family in the village of Repu?nica, many of whom she continued to keep in touch with decades later. "Back home," as she used to say, Bo?ena became talented in Croatian folk traditions, particularly traditional embroidery and sewing, cooking, gardening, and dancing, all of which remained some of her greatest passions. In the orchards, vineyards, and forests of Moslavina, Bo?ena developed a deep affection for plants and animals. To Bo?ena, all creatures were deserving of love and security, a sentiment that grew from some of her own personal tragedies and losses. In 1974 at the age of 19, Bo?ena immigrated with her parents and younger sister Mariana to Canada, leaving behind aspirations of attending the University of Zagreb to study archaeology, but keeping her love of books and history close at hand. In the unfamiliar territory of Lethbridge, Bo?ena helped her family settle into their new lives, studying English-as-a-second-language at Lethbridge Community College, teaching Croatian dance to young Croatian-Canadians, and working as a waitress, eventually saving up enough money after three months to buy her parents their first car in Canada. In 1979, Bo?ena married Zden?k R??ek of Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic, and in 1981, she gave birth to Jonathan. Five years later, Bo?ena, Zden?k, and Jonathan moved to Kitchener, Ontario, where Jessica was born. Bo?ena often said that her greatest joy was in becoming and being a mother, which showed in the infinite love and support she had and provided for Jonathan and Jessica. In 1989, Bo?ena returned to Lethbridge with her children, and earned a diploma in office administration. In 1990, she began work as a secretary for Link's Physical Therapy until 1995 when it changed ownership to Peter Joosten and became Euro Physical Therapy. There, she dedicated 25 years as a devoted office manager and physio aid, forming a close friendship with Peter and his family over the decades. Bo?ena deeply enjoyed her job, but loved, in particular, all the patients with whom she would always crack a joke and show genuine care for their well-being. She often came home from work with a garden bouquet, a box of cinnamon buns, or a kind, handwritten note from patients, all expressing their gratitude for her kindness and warmth. In April of 2020, Bo?ena became a baka (grandmother) and celebrated the birth of her grandson, Felix Douglas Ash R??ek, with Jonathan and daughter-in-law Melissa. Sadly, Bo?ena spent the last few years of her life suffering from health complications, and only experienced the joy of being a baka for a few short months. Even so, the happiness and mirth Felix brought to Bo?ena during this time was immense, and he remained her shining light until the very end. On August 27, 2020, Bo?ena passed away suddenly at her home in Lethbridge at the age of 64 years, much too soon and too much yet ahead. Bo?ena devoted her life to the care and support of her children and family, tending beautiful gardens, cooking magnificent feasts, and showing love to everyone who needed it, including her cats Montecore and Iorek, her lovebirds Pistachio and Macadamia, and their ten children. Bo?ena will be forever missed and loved by her children, grandson, sister, aunt, and many friends both near and far. The world is profoundly poorer without her presence and her cheerful yelps of laughter. She will be remembered for her many beautiful qualities: her laughter, smile and round cheeks; her wit and sense of humour; her stories from back home; her strength and resilience; her warmth and affection; her feistiness and her enduring, fierce love. Sa zemlje natrag na zemlju, va? ljubav zauvijek.

Relatives and friends are invited to meet with the family for a Memorial Service at the ELKS COMMUNITY RECREATION AREA (Indian Battle Park), 55-79 Botteril Bottom Road South, Lethbridge, AB, on Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 11:00 A.M.

In memory of Bo?ena Kostecki, donations may be made to Farm Animal Rescue and Rehoming Movement (FARRM): https://www.farrmrescue.org/do...