Velinka Djuric

September 13, 1930 - April 23, 2022

VELINKA DJURIC, formerly of Northville MI, died in Palm Coast FL on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at the age of 91. Daughter of Dragoljub and Mileva Czoczin, she was born in Detroit on September 13,1930, and at 3 months was taken by her parents to their native Rumania, where she grew up on a family farm. After years of hardship under Nazis and Communists, in 1951 her US passport won her life saving passage back to Detroit. Velinka worked first at a firm assembling film cameras. Her girlfriends there taught her the first principles of American life, including independence of mind. For 10 years she worked on the line, installing moldings, at GM's Fisher Body Fleetwood plant. In 1953 she married Fleetwood co-worker Miroljub Djuric after they met at a church dance, and together they created a life of mutual support. She had the security her early years denied her, and she couldn`t have had a better partner. He predeceased her in 2017. She was mother to Dora and Milton; they absorbed her energies and hopes. Both survive her. Her sister Milena and two nieces, Zora and Olga, predecease her. She was a volunteer at Beaumont Hospital and at her Serbian Orthodox church, Holy Ascension, in Ecorse. She was a member of Northville's Meadowbrook Country Club and of Hammock Dunes in Palm Coast, and played four rounds a week into her 90th year. Her life was graced by many wonderful friendships. All of us will -remember her spiritedness, courage and good will. Funeral services will be private on Monday, May 2, 20-22 at New Gracanica Cemetery in Third Lake, IL. For info: 847-366-7155 or share a memory at www.burnettdane.com.