ANGELA RAVNIK GOLOBIČ

Angela Ravnik was the youngest of five children from a second marriage. Her father was a well-to-do farmer, and that enabled her and Anna, her sister, to attend the Womens Academy.  Grandma became a schoolteacher.

Anna and Angela Ravnik, 1923 schoolpicture

In 1925, Angela met Peter Golobič. Peter was also a teacher, actually the superintendent of schools. They fell in love and were married in Kostel, Dolenjsko, in 1927. Angela and Peter lived and raised their family in Jesenice Gorenjsko. Jesenice was an industrial town, and still is today.


My grandmother was an artist who painted with oils and watercolors. She most enjoyed painting still lifes.  Angela was also a skilled writer. Her stories were sometimes published in the Ljubljana (capitol of Slovenia) daily paper. Grandma was an accomplished sewer, hand making intricate open embroidery. Open embroidery, or cut work embroidery, is the kind of sewing where the material left on the inside of the patterns is painstakingly cut out. Delicate work like this is all done by machine now.  Grandma also cross-stitched and embroidered, using her own designs. It's amazing how much she could create.

Hand-sewn cut work embroidery

It was a time of preserving food, even before the war, and Grandma did all the cooking, baking and canning. There was no such thing as running out to the store for somethings, all foods were fresh and cooked from scratch.  Cherries, apricots, peaches and Japanese plums came from her own trees. Angela was an extremely good cook, using her own international recipes. She knew how to make liqueurs in a variety of flavors. No one but guests were allowed these luxurious drinks. Meat was not in frequent supply, and was saved for special occasions. Grandma was skilled in making a wide variety of delicious meals from vegetables. There was no food put to waste, and nothing disposable. Some of the most delicious meals I remember from childhood had no meat in them, or were remade from leftovers.


My grandparents were world wise, in the way that they embraced many cultures. Grandma could make fine Turkish coffee and a variety of pastries. Homemade bread was a staple. All baked goods were made from scratch. Grandma would make the multi grain dough in the morning and shape the loaves. The loaves were taken to the local bakery in a special basket, where, for a nominal fee, the bread was baked. When the children came home from school, they would pick up the bread and bring it home.


I believe I inherited my grandmother's creative talents. Artwork is one of my passions, along with writing. I love to sew by hand, although I have nowhere near the skill she did. I am so proud and thankful for the true pioneer spirit that was passed down, first to my mother, and then to me.

Moja Stara Mama, z Materine Strani,  (My Maternal Grandmother)

Hvala stara mama, da sem podedovala Tvoje talente in da me spomin nate spodbuja, da ti sledim v duhu in delu.
 Ljubim Te.

Thank you grandma, that I inherited your talents, and that memory of you encourages me to follow you in spirit and deed. I love you.

Proverbs 17:6 - New International Version 2011® (NIV)
6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.

Written by Ivica Dular-Golobič

Editor-In-Chief and Translator: Marie Dular

MY SLOVENIAN HERITAGE - GRANDPARENTS

Josephine and Ivan Dular

Angela and Peter Golobič Sr.

PATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:

Josephine Beg  (1895 - 1958)

Ivan Dular  (1892 - 1945)

MATERNAL GRANDPARENTS:

Angela Ravnik  (1892 - 1967)

Peter Golobič, Sr.  (1900 - 1957)

My grandparents were born and lived in Slovenia, Jugoslavia. 

Josephine and Ivan Dular owned and cared for their farm in Potok, along with their eight children.  My father, Emil Marjan (Milan), is the third oldest.  The other children are Stanka, Ivan, Robert and Milena (twins), Jožica (Josephine), Dragica (Carolina) and Marica.

Angela and Peter Golobič were both schoolteachers. The family lived in Jesenice, an industrial town.  My mother Marija (Marie) is the youngest of their three children.  Angela (Lela) is the eldest and Peter Jr. is in the middle.

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Jugoslavia was named in 1929 by King Alexander I.  There were three "states": Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia. In 1941, World War II brought much turmoil to the land.   Jugoslavia was occupied by both German and Italian troops.  There was genocide of thousands of soldiers serving in the Domobranci (Home Guard).  It was in that atmosphere that my parents lived in the 1940's, and they had to leave their homeland.

It is hard for those of us born in the United States to comprehend what life must have been like.  I never knew personally of growing up in a war-torn country, but my parents told us stories all the time. They told us how dangerous it was to leave the country, and how the fear of capture was ever present.  Both my parents emigrated to the United States in 1949 because of the war.  How difficult it must have been to be separated from family and travel overseas to a brand new place.  I can't even fathom the courage it took to come over to this country and start a new life.

We are very, very fortunate here in America.  We have freedoms we take completely for granted.   It is with great pride that I look back at my parents' lives and the determination with which they lived.  If not for that, I wouldn't even be here today.

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Thank you, Mom and Dad, for withstanding all the trials of immigration and making a life for us here in the States.  I can state with certainty that, "Sem ponosna Slovenka",  (I am a proud Slovenian).

Milan and Marie Dular, December 27, 2011

Mama in Oče,  ljubim Vaju!

"Honor your father and mother, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth"

Ephesians 6:2,3 

Written by Ivica Dular-Golobič

Editor-In-Chief and Translator: Marie Dular