The passing of Dana Andonovski on July 25th, 2026 at the age of 93 has brought great sadness to our family.

She will be deeply missed and remembered by her two daughters Violetta Fitzsimons and Vera Belchevski, grandchildren Elena (George), Kris (Anne) and Michael and her great grandchildren Petra and Cleo. She is predeceased by her beloved husband Kris.

Dana suffered from dementia, a difficult disease. However, dementia allowed Dana to share her stories about her survival in the village of Evla, Macedonia.

Dana was born in Evla, Macedonia in 1933. Her father passed away when she was just 6 weeks old. Dana and her brother, Kire were raised by her father’s mother and paternal aunts after her mother chose to re-marry and leave Dana and Kire with their father’s family. But, Dana and her brother were so loved by her grandmother and her aunts. Their love shaped Dana and made her who she was.

Her aunts and baba kept the family together and provided farming services to their surrounding communities with their flour mill. They took a portion of flour in exchange for their work and thus provided food for their family. They were beekeepers and made whisky using their fruit and grains and sold them at local markets. They were keepers of sheep and sold their milk and wool to the community. For a family group with unfortunate circumstances, they strived in keeping themselves well kept.

During World War 2 their village was occupied by the Italian and Bulgarian soldiers. Despite their difficult circumstances and at great risk to themselves, Dana’s family helped the Macedonian Partisans with food supplies, ammunition and helped hide the Partisans horses in the hills of Evla.

Dana and her beloved husband Kris, met and were married in Zlatari, Macedonia. In 1953 they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Violetta and in 1956 they welcomed their second daughter, Vera.

Dana and Kris and their daughters moved to Canada in 1959 through a program sponsoring individuals that would be miners in Ontario’s North. They eventually moved to Toronto to be closer to their Macedonian community. While in Toronto, they were among the first families to help sponsor the building of St. Clement of Ohrid Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral.

In Dana’s later years, her dementia became difficult but Dana always showed the confidence of a woman with her positive direction in life. Her hometown of Evla, Macedonia always had a special place in her heart as did her family who had raised her and provided her with such a positive outlook and hard work ethic and who taught her to always just do what had to be done.

Dana felt that together as a group, you are a team and you can survive. Her motto was “Help where help is needed and never wait to be asked” and “always deal with any situation with understanding and kindness.”

Thank you mom for being you! Evla welcomes you!