Obituary of Nadezda Stojanov

Nadezda “Nada” Stojanov, a special friend to many, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday night, June 16, 2013. Nada was born in Mataruska Banja, Yugoslavia, the daughter of the late Nikola and Zagorka Nikolic. She grew up and was educated in Yugoslavia. While on holiday in Munich Germany, Nada met her beloved husband, Slavko, who was working for NATO, and had immigrated from Yugoslavia to the United States. They had a whirlwind courtship and were married 3 months later in Paris, France. They returned to the United States in 1962, and lived in New Hampshire and Woburn before settling in Burlington to raise a family. She had worked as a teller at Fleet and Shawmut Banks. Nada and her husband were extremely active members of their church. She was a former member of the Circle of Serbian Sisters, and participated in many of the church’s activities, functions, and fundraisers. She enjoyed annual trips home to Serbia with her husband. Nada loved people and had an abundance of friends. Upon meeting Nada, you were warmly embraced as a good friend and considered family. Her door was always open to friends, where “Turkish” coffee was always perking, and sound advice was always given. Holidays were no exception, where she was the perfect hostess and loved to entertain. She always made her guests and many friends feel welcome and at home. She was always smiling and laughed easily. She was an extraordinary cook and loved to wait on her family and friends. St. Michael was her special feast day and she proudly celebrated the day with those she loved. She exuded warmth, love, compassion, and joy. She made everyone feel special from her granddaughter, Mila, whom she loved to play with, to her children, husband, and countless friends. She was known for the “Serbian good-bye,” insisting on walking her guests to their car after a visit, engaging them in another twenty minutes of conversation, then waving good-bye until the car was out of sight. Nada was blessed enough to pass in the presence of family and friends. To her, they were more precious than gold and she left with us all the love a heart could hold. The nicest honor one could do to remember Nada, would be to love, laugh, and enjoy life. Nada was the loving wife of Slavko Stojanov. She was the loving mother of Helen Acford of Burlington and her husband Paul, whom she considered a second son; Michael Stojanov of Melrose, and Michele Stojanov of Burlington. She was the fun and loving grandmother of Mila. She was also survived by many relatives and friends both locally and in Serbia. Funeral services will be held at the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Cambridge on Friday June 21 at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn Side) on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. Memorials in Nada’s name may be made to the St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, 41 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge, MA 02140.