Zora Tepic

Zora (Ruza) Tepic peacefully passed away at her San Pedro home on January 26 surrounded by her family. Ruza was born on September 12, 1949, in Kukljica, Croatia to Zlata and Zdenko Bilan. Ruza was the eldest of four children. She graduated Bagat Tvornica Šivacih Strojeva in Zadar in 1966 at the top of her class, which was the start of her passion for sewing, crocheting, and knitting. At age 18, Ruza married the love of her life, Pero Tepic, with whom she spent the next 53 years. Ruza and Pero settled in San Pedro in 1968 where they built a beautiful life together. After working at Starkist Cannery for two years, Ruza became a fulltime homemaker to take care of her husband and four children. Ruza was happiest spending time with family, telling childhood stories, teaching everyone how to cook, baking, and showing off her green thumb. She had so many best friends. If you were one of them, you know who you are. She will be forever loved and greatly missed by all.

Ruza was proceeded in death by her loving husband, Pero, parents, Zdenko and Zlata, and brother, Zlatko. She is survived by her brother, Svetko (Vesna) Bilan, sister, Leda (Vlado) Nincevic, children, Suzi (Stan) Finka, Jasna (John) Brunac, Dusan (Christina) Tepic, and Diana (Raul) Herrera, dear grandchildren Liliana (Brendan), Danielle, Johnny, Mariana, Michael, Christina, Sara, Angalina, Timothy, Marlena, Peter, and Nikola, and great-grandchild, Sage and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 9 a.m. at Green Hills Memorial Chapel located at 27501 S. Western Ave., RPV. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Church of Car Konstantin i Carica Jelena, a church in beloved Pero’s hometown of Bosna.