Ivanka Cuca
September 28, 1950 ~ November 3, 2018
Resided in:
Suwanee, GA
Mrs. Ivanka Cuca, of Suwanee, GA, passed away on Saturday, November 03, 2018, at the age of 68.
Ivanka was born to Filip & Luca Barbaric on September 28, 1950. In 1973, she married Ratko Cuca and they had two children. Mrs. Cuca was a native of Bosnia & Herzegovina and moved to the United States in 1997. She was employed at Gwinnett County Public Schools for 20 years.
Ivanka will be remembered by her family and all that were fortunate enough to know her for her generosity, kind heart, and fun spirit. She loved her family, friends, students, and her furry babies. Ivanka also loved garage sales and bargains. She was also an avid gardener and loved to entertain, laugh, and have a good time.
Ivanka is survived by her children, Zanka Cuca, Suwanee and Sasa Cuca, Lubeck, Germany; her brothers; Branko Barbaric and Kreso Barbaric and their families; brother-in-law: Omer Cisic and his family and the families of her late brothers and sisters.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ratko; her parents, Filip & Luca Barbaric; her brothers Milan and Ivan; and her sisters, Mira, Dragica, Kata and Jaka.
She is also survived by “adopted children”, Petra and Larry Durbin and Tiffany Hinton.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. on Wednesday, November 07, 2018, at Wages & Son Funeral Home: 1031 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 (770) 277-4550. Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, November 07, 2018, at 3:30 P.M. at Gwinnett Memorial Park, 925 Highway 29 S, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The family is grateful for condolences and appreciates the support of all the people that were by her side during her battle with cancer. Cancer might have broken her body, but it could not break her fighting spirit which she leaves as her legacy.
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To Ivanka’s Family, My deepest sympathies to the family. She was a great person and will miss her dearly.
Ivanka was a great lady and friend. Will miss her at the October fests and the great meat things she was famous for making. Heartfelt condolences to the family.
Love you and was blessed to have you as my family . God bless
My deepest sympathies to your family. I was privileged to work with Ivanka at Walnut Grove. I will always remember her laugh and how she always told me that she loved me!!! ❤️????
Ivanka had the biggest heart and love for people. She blessed my life and the lives of my students at Walnut Grove for many years. She loved people with her whole heart, and everyone blessed to be a part of her life loved her back. Ivanka will always hold a very special place in my heart. ❤️
Ivanka was a wonderful lady who loved the children at Walnut Grove. I am saddened to hear of her passing.
Ivanka was one of the first people I met at Walnut Grove. She welcomed me warmly and continued to show me nothing but kindness during our short time working together. We will all miss her smile and hearty laugh.
We will Ivanka’s fun spirit and spunk. She was a sweet lady with a giving heart. I pray God’s peace for the family.
Ivanka was full of love and life. I was privileged to work with her at Walnut Grove for many years. I could always count on her for a big smile, warm hug, and long talks. She cared so deeply for all of us, and I feel blessed to have our paths cross. God bless!
I am deeply saddened to hear of Ivanka’s passing. I had the privilege to work with her at Walnut Grove, and I will never forget her smile, her kind spirit, and her genuine love for all those who were privileged to know her. She will be missed!
My deepest sympathies to Ivanka’s family. Having worked with her at Walnut Grove for many years, I know that she was loved by so many people for her kind heart, her generosity, and her wonderful laugh! Ivanka could cheer you up when you needed it and she always seemed to know when you needed cheering up. She was a very special lady and I’m grateful that I was able to work with her and get to know her. Many, many
people will miss her!
Dragi nasi,iskreno saucesce…
Liebe Zana, ein großes Herz hat aufgehört zu schlagen, meine Gedanken sind bei Dir.
Dragi Zana i Sasa,primite nase iskreno saucesce,tuzni smo s vama.
For one and only…Ivanka,Sasa,Snjeza,Dea i Mario
I knew Ivanka from Walnut Grove Elementary School. She was such a wonderful happy and friendly lady!! I always loved to talk to her before school.
I am so very sorry for you loss. Many prayers sent to you all.
I knew Ivanka from Walnut Grove and always enjoyed seeing her. She would stop, share her smile and a sweet hug making all feel special. I pray peace for her family as they celebrate her life.
My dear Ivanka … a true friend, co-worker, generous, kind, caring, supportive, loving, helpful, and my biggest cheerleader. Her fun-loving spirit and personality were contagious and touched so many lives at Walnut Grove Elementary. As I write these words I can hear Ivanka saying to me, “Hello My Baby” with a big smile on her face. What an amazing lady, and I feel privileged and blessed to have known her. Her memory will live on forever in my heart.
Ivanka was always supportive, cheerful and caring! Many times she would come in my office to check on me! She loved her job, the kids and the staff at Walnut Grove. She had a loving spirit and was always helpful. I echo Gloria’s words with ” Hello My Baby!” She blessed all of us that knew her.
Condolences to Zanka and family for your loss. I pray that God will lift you all up during this difficult time.
Ivanka was such a beautiful, special lady. I knew her when I worked at Walnut Grove Elementary School in Suwanee. I was the ESOL teacher and she loved coming to talk to me in my classroom. I looked forward to our conversations as she was such an inspiration. I’ll never forget how excited she was to become an American citizen. She loved her family very much as she talked about you often. May you each experience the peace that surpasses all understanding as you mourn her passing. May she rest in peace.
“The beloved do not die while those who remember them live.”
RIP Ivanka
I knew Ivanka from Walnut Grove Elementary School. She was so kind, helpful, encouraging and spunky. Anytime I asked her help with something, she would race to do it. I feel fortunate to have been a recipient of her hugs, her smile and her advise. Like so many have said, she loved her family and spoke of them often with much love. Her beautiful presence will be missed on this earth. Prayers for those left behind, but, what a wonderful crown she now wears!
I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Ivanka was such a sweet friend. I worked with Ivanka for many years at Walnut Grove. She loved and cared for people so deeply. I learned so much from Ivanka during our long chats. She endured much during her lifetime, but she remained faithful and strong. She will be missed dearly.
She was lovely lady always full of humor and love.She will be missed but never forgotten.Prayers for her family.
Ivanka was greatest person we know she would brighten our day.We will miss you.Prayers for her family.
My deepest sympathies to Ivanka’s family at this time. Ivanka was always a light at work. She would come through the media center and wave or stop for a quick chat. She is greatly missed.
My family has known Ms. Ivanka and Zana for a long time and quickly became quite fond of them. She soon learned that I enjoyed cooking and began to partake in a few of my special dishes; especially my Chicken Noodle Soup! It was an honor to fulfill her request each time she asked for soup. It was truly good for her soul! May God continue to give your family the strength that they will need during this most difficult time. Love, Gwen, Rick, Olivia
Our deepest condolences and prayers are with you and your family. I, too, worked with Ivanka at Walnut Grove and my daughters go to Walnut Grove. We all have memories of Ivanka that make us tell stories and laugh. She will be missed.
Dear Ivanka may your soul rest in peace. Dear Zana I pray that you find strength in your heart to move forward, and always cherish beautiful years, and memories you had with your mother. A good heart has stopped beating, but her good soul will always be with you.
We are very sad on Ivankas passing. She will be in our heart forever. Truly will miss all the Holidays, Birthdays and Vacations we spend together for the past 18 years. We still remember the first time we met her. Just bought a house next door and pulled up with the moving truck. Then there was a knock on the door and Ivanka asked if we needed a helping hand. That was her. Always there for you in good and challenging times. Now our thoughts are with her daughter Zanka and son Sasha. To get thru this challenging time and find joy in there lives again. I know that is her biggest wish. Love you.
You’ll always be in our hearts, we will always cherish those moments we spent with you. You weren’t a neighbor to us you were more of family. We will miss those smiles and laughters we shared.
My sympathy to your family on the loss of such a sweet and loving lady. While working with her at Walnut Grove I found a friend with the kindest heart. She was always checking on everyone to see if they needed anything, or if she could help them in any way. Her “Hello, Baby” and a smile was a warm greeting each
day. We were all so proud of her when she became a citizen! I remember celebrating her with a huge cake and all the faculty and staff! She was loved by many and will be missed by all who knew her.
I am very sorry for your loss! I knew Ivanka from Walnut Grove every time I saw her she had something to talk with me about. She took care of our gym always making sure everyone that used it took care of it. Recently every time I spoke with her we always talked about Nina(Cisic). I was fortunate to coach Nina at Collins Hill. She thought the world of Nina and wanted to know how she was doing on our soccer team. She was a great lady and a good friend. She will be missed greatly.
I was so sad to hear of Ivanka’s passing. She was a dear friend who clearly loved God, her family, her country, and the children & staff at Walnut Grove. I greatly admired Ivanka’s strength both physically and emotionally. She shared her sense of humor with all who needed it. I’m so sorry for your loss and hope you have peace knowing how loved she was. She will be greatly missed.
My deepest sympathy to Ivanka’s family on her passing. Ivanka was a special person who was loved by the staff and students at Walnut Grove. She was always sweet and friendly to me and others. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
My sincerest condolences to your family for the loss of our dearest Ivanka. Ms. Ivanka always found a way to share a kind word and a smile. She knew and loved all of the kids at Walnut Grove, and they all loved her. Our halls will never be the same. Thanks for sharing her with us all these years. Ms. Ivanka will be forever in our thoughts and prayers.
Ivanka’s Walnut Grove family was blessed by her sweet soul and fun loving spirit! May you know she was loved and appreciated and our prayers for your comfort are with you!
Nor ever shall you be
As long as life and memory last,
We will remember thee.
No one knows the silent heartaches,
Only those who have lost can tell
Of the grief that’s borne in silence
For the one we loved so well.
Mom we miss and love you. Heaven does not have visiting hours, so we can only carry your in our hearts and thoughts until we can run into your arms again. Another year came and so much changed, but our love for you never will.