Nevenka "Nena" Dzajkic

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Nevenka "Nena" Dzajkic, of the Bronx and Mamaroneck, New York - a devoted daughter, wife, mother, sister, grandmother, and tireless advocate for others, who died at the age of 65 after a courageous battle with leukemia.

Nena is survived by her husband of 47 years, Mladen, her Mother Dragica, her daughters Ivana and Nina, her sister Vesna, son-in-law Jimmy, and her beloved grandsons, Ivor, Luka and Liam, among a close-knit extended family. Her family was the center of her world, and she poured her love and strength into every moment spent with them.

Nena was born in Zagreb, Croatia on June 29th, 1959, to Mirko and Dragica Veliki, where she had a happy childhood with her sister, cousins and a group of best friends that she still has to this day. She married her husband at an early age of 18 and emigrated to New York in 1987 in search of a better life, and they settled in the Bronx, where they lived until recently.

With a strong determination to adapt and succeed in a new country, she found employment at AHRC NYC in late 1988, and she dedicated the next 35 years of her life to supporting individuals with and without disabilities in obtaining meaningful community-based employment. She was a tireless champion for her clients, and she contributed in countless ways to furthering AHRC's mission, and her legacy is reflected in the many lives she touched and the close relationships she built with her colleagues.

A lifelong animal lover, Nena found joy in caring for animals and ensuring they were fed and safe. She loved her two cats, Tiggie and Lucy, and more recently, our dog Zoe. It was not uncommon to see her buying pet food and feeding animals in the parking lot of her office.

She was an accomplished cook and loved to bake, and she had an ability to enjoy household chores like no other, leaving no laundry undone, and no mess untidied as organization and cleanliness gave her a sense of calm.

She leaves behind a legacy of resilience and compassion, integrity and love. Her strength knew no bounds and serves as an inspiration to all who knew her. She will be profoundly missed, and forever remembered as a fierce spirit, a truly good person, and an absolute warrior in her fight against leukemia.

The wake will be held tomorrow, Wednesday June 18th from 4 to 8 pm. A funeral mass will follow on Thursday June 19th at 11 am, at St. Agustine's Church in Larchmont, New York. Nena will be buried in her family's grave at "Mirogoj Cemetery" in Zagreb, Croatia, next to her Father and Grandfather.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: https://www.lls.org/