Tereza Bajan

June 11, 1967 – July 13, 2023
In loving memory ~
It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden and unexpected passing of our daughter and sister Tereza.
Tereza was preceded in death by her father Marko in 2013. She is survived by her mother Marija, brothers Joe (Valli), John (Antonella), Toni, nephew Adam (Jessica), lifelong people so close Diana (Dan), Zed (Anna), Lucrezia, numerous cousins: Johnny, Rob, Mladen, Carolina, Josip, Tera, Jimmy, Rick, Katarina, many close relatives and boyfriend Brian Rice.
Tereza was born and raised in the South-End of Nanaimo. She was a loyal friend with many lifelong childhood chums. Her mother was relieved and excited to welcome a daughter after 3 sons. Tereza was her father’s princess who could do no wrong, ever. She was perfect and the best gift he ever received. To say that he spoiled her would be a great understatement.
After high school, she moved to Vancouver where she lived and worked for the next 25 years before returning to Nanaimo in 2010.
Those initial 10 years in Vancouver were especially exciting for her, she often said she lived a fast and furious life, and especially enjoyed her good times with her arch-rivals and her forever friend Julie.
Despite the hectic pace of her life, she still continued learning and found time to take formal courses in fashion design and sewing clothes that she designed which culminated in her winning first prize from a live runway fashion show that she produced at the Commodore Ballroom in 1992.
It was around this time that the seeds were planted for the next chapter in her life, becoming a great interior designer. From these seeds, the BAJAN DESIGN GROUP was formed, and this continued until her passing. Normally a GROUP is more than one person, but in Tereza’s case that was not necessary, she was larger than life and thus capable of being a GROUP all by herself. Her many clients loved her, and they loved her designs, this was evident by many long-time repeat clients.
Away from work, Tereza was also special, when she entered a room, you immediately felt her warm presence. Her enthusiasm, kindness and laughter would make anyone feel like you had known her forever. She was larger than life and people were immediately attracted to her natural beauty and charming personality. She was also a fabulous cook and loved to entertain with large dinner parties. Last but not least, she was also a terrific wedding planner.
Tereza also loved her Croatian heritage and made several trips to Croatia. She was planning to revisit Croatia in September 2023 with Brian. She led an adventurous life, living in both Vancouver and Nanaimo, travelling the world and meeting people from all walks of life and loving deeply. She was an incredible daughter and support to her 91-year-old mother since her father’s passing in 2013 and the glue to the Bajan family. It still seems surreal that she could leave us in the prime of her life as she was such a bright light in a world that is often dark. But even though her candle has burned out, she will live on in our hearts and memories every day.
In lieu of flowers, in memory of Tereza, together with her feline friends (Coco, Chanel, Romeo and Ginger) they suggest a donation to the SPCA, Animal Rescue or simply try to make a lonely stray animal’s life better.
A funeral Mass will be held at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Nanaimo on August 1, 2023 – 12:00 noon, burial to follow at Cedar Cemetery, reception at 2:30 pm Cottonwood Golf Course. St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church – 301 Machleary Street – Nanaimo, B.C. – V9R 2G8