Johanna Maria Hribar of Lethbridge, beloved wife of the late John Hribar, passed away peacefully at St. Michael’s Health Centre on October 14, 2024, at the age of 84. This happened to be Thanksgiving Day, which was one of her favorite days of the year for many reasons, and the day her and John were married.

Johanna was born in Deventer, Overiissel Netherlands in 1940. She and her family immigrated to Canada by ship and arrived in Halifax, NS on Canada Day in 1952 when she was 12 years old. Johanna was always grateful to be in Canada, for this reason she loved to celebrate Canada Day. While growing up, Johanna and her family spent many years working hard in the Sugar Beets in Southern AB.  Johanna met her soulmate John Hribar, who she married in 1960. They were blessed with twin boys and cherished raising their 2 beautiful sons – Bart and Peter.  Johanna exemplified how to live a life of joy every day. Johanna would always find happiness in everything she did and would find a reason to laugh and smile. Anyone she met always felt better after speaking with her, her time was your time, and she made all the time in the world for the people in her life. 

Between the Royal Bank and London Drugs she worked for a combined 64 years. For the past 34 years you could always find Johanna on the front checkouts at London Drugs; work was a place that she went to have fun and see her friends. She loved to work any chance she could, as she always said working would keep her young, and so it did.

Johanna was also an active member of the Catholic Church; volunteering and participating in the choir. She was an avid walker, and loved walking around Henderson Lake, where she met many more friends. Johanna loved to garden, and always had a beautiful garden, she was also an expert knitter and wonderful cook. She would spend days preparing meals for some of her favorite holidays like Christmas, Easter and once again Thanksgiving.

She lived with love, positivity and joy every day. It ain’t what you do, it’s the way that you do it.

Johanna is survived by her two sons, Bartholomeus John Hribar and Peter Paul Hribar; her dear family friends, Bobbie Beddoes and her son, Jordan Beddoes; She is also survived by her sister, Mia Buys (John) of Regina, SK, her brother Adrian Van Thiel (Sharon now deceased) of Airdrie, AB; sisters-in-law, Betty Hribar and Anne Dimnik;  brother-in-law Mirko Ambrozic, all of Lethbridge, AB, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and their families.

Besides her loving husband John Hribar, Johanna was predeceased by her parents Peter and Johanna Van Thiel; brother and sister-in-law Joseph and Theresa Van Thiel; sister-in-law Toni Ambrozic and brother-in-law Steve Dimnik and Bart Hribar.

A sincere thank you to all of the medical team and the many others that cared for Johanna over the past 4 months.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 am, on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH, 2405-12 AVENUE SOUTH, Lethbridge, Alberta, with Father Tim Boyle, celebrant. To watch the service via livestream, please go to https://www14.funeralwebhost.com/ymb/obituary/Johanna-Hribar to find the link.

Interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery.