Jozica (Josephine) Sajnovic

SAJNOVIC, Jozica “Josie”

With grieving hearts, we announce the passing of Josie at Spencer House on Saturday November 15, 2025 at the age of 97. Predeceased by her husband Stan of 66 years. Daughter of the late Matija and Terezija Ksela. Sister to Stanko, Mirko, Francek, Cela, and Martha (all predeceased). Cherished Mother of Stanley (Teresa) and Erika (Ken). Josie will be greatly missed by her grandchildren Stanley, Emily and Vanessa. The Sajnovic Family wishes to acknowledge the exceptional care, attention to detail, and compassion offered to our Matriarch during her stay at Willow Lane.

Born March 11, 1928, in Salinci, Slovenia, Jozica grew up on a larger farm, helping her family and studying. Jozica’s scholarly achievements and personal ambitions led her to the University of Ljubljana to pursue a medical degree, for which she completed 3 years of study. During her studies, the Tito regime confiscated the majority of her parent’s farmland, resulting in no money left to help Jozica pay for school or food. Surviving on one bowl of soup per day, Jozica realized there was no way forward and tried escaping across the border to Austria. Unfortunately, she was apprehended and spent the summer in jail before appearing before trial and convincing the judge she wished to return to school and complete her degree. Jozica was granted pardon and returned to school before successfully crossing the border to Austria a few weeks later in the fall of 1952.

Jozica remained in Austria awaiting the paperwork to immigrate to Australia and join Stan, who she met in her youth at the local theatre in Ljutomer. Stan and Jozica married in Melbourne on February 11th, 1956, and remained there until immigrating to Canada during 1959.

In 1964, Jozica kept very busy as a mother to a newborn son, maintaining acres of lawn and garden, household chores, cooking, baking, washing diapers, all while exercising her entrepreneurial spirit by laying the foundation for what would later become Stanrika Farms Limited with her fist flock of 3,000 turkey poults on July 4.

The first ten years of the turkey operation saw many financial hardships that tested Jozica’s resilience to the limit. She several times said that she had worked too hard to fail or quit and her No Fear Leadership style and her stubbornness yielded a world-renowned operation that led the industry in many statistics and stellar production standards. In 1974, supply management was implemented allowing the farm to securely flourish. That same year, the purchase of new turkey feeding systems and farm equipment significantly reduced the amount of manual labour required. This change allowed Jozica (AKA “THE TAXICAB”) to be present at the children’s extracurricular activities such as music, skating, ballet, dance and skiing lessons until the children pursued post secondary educations. November 1993 The Advanced Agricultural Program partnered with Lead NewYork in Ottawa and in an afterhours hospitality suite we were discussing the costs, effects and benefits and impacts of pharmaceuticals in agriculture. I came home and asked Mama what our costs were knowing that some issues could be resolved with vaccines and better management practices. We found that the cost savings were significant but the resistance to change barn management would be high from our suppliers and purchasers “It can’t be Done, we would be done in 3 months, Impossible” were the replies. We set up several trials to get a sense of what will work well and what issues may arise. By the end of 1994 our process was implemented and working very well. To this day we have not used any pharmaceuticals in the poultry barns and it has been over 30 years.

Due to Mama’s constant hard work ethic and business drive, my parents were able to further their causes including the Slovenian Memorial Cross at Martyr’s Shrine, Slovenski Dom in Toronto, American Home Slovenian Newspaper, Dom Lipa Retirement Home, Planica Hunting and Fishing Club and politically as a strong moral and financial supporter of the Christian Democratic Party in a democratic Slovenia. Their strong faith and thankfulness for their good fortune lead them to pursue philanthropic work with St. Columbkille’s Parish in Uptergrove, St. Janeza Nepomuka Parish in Razkrizje Slovenia, and Holy Cross Parish in Krizevci, Slovenia and Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Josie’s family will receive friends at Mundell Funeral Home 79 West Street North, Orillia, Ontario. 2 – 4 pm and 7 - 9 pm on Friday November 21, 2025. Mass of Christian burial will be at St. Columbkille’s Roman Catholic Church 4993 Ontario Highway 12 Orillia at 11:15am on Saturday November 22, 2025 followed by interment at St. Columbkille’s Cemetery.

Jozica’s family asks friends to consider a donation to the Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital Foundation in her memory. Jozica’s family will also match any donations made in her memory.