Zoya (Yankulovich) Stefan's Obituary
Zoya (Yankulovich) Stefan, 90, of Shallotte, NC, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2026. She was known for her generous heart and an unwavering devotion to her family and to her faith. She was born in Velusina, Macedonia (former Republic of Yugoslavia), on June 20, 1936. She emigrated to the United States, in 1953, with her mother, Velika Yankulovich, and two of her three sisters. They were reunited with their father, Marko, who had previously settled in Syracuse, NY, with the goal of establishing himself so he could bring his family to America. This reunification took 15 years due to WWII and the political situation in Yugoslavia.
In 1956, Zoya married Risto Dimitrijevich and, soon after, began what would become a lifelong career in the grocery business, working for her father, and alongside her sisters, at Liberty Market in downtown Syracuse. In 1959, Zoya and Risto moved to Detroit, Michigan, where they purchased Lucky Restaurant. After several successful years, they sold the restaurant in 1965 and returned to Syracuse.
In 1966, they purchased Collamer Stop and Shop, a grocery store and deli in East Syracuse, and Zoya eventually became sole owner. She was dedicated to her work and loved her customers and the community. In 1999, she sold the business and settled in Florida after marrying Walter Stefan. Zoya’s love of people and her desire to continue working led her to a second career at Saks Off Fifth, in Palmetto, FL, where she worked for close to ten years.
In addition to her lifelong commitment to St. George Macedonian Eastern Orthodox Church in Syracuse, which her father helped found, her greatest joy was her family. Zoya was a devoted mother and grandmother who celebrated every milestone and accomplishment achieved by her children and grandchildren with absolute pride and unconditional love. Her favorite pastime was cooking, especially preparing favorite meals for her children and grandchildren. Her kitchen, whether at home or at Collamer Stop and Shop, was her domain. It always gave her great pleasure when her family, especially her grandchildren, would tell Baba Zoya how delicious her mandzas (stews) were.
She will be remembered for her remarkable work ethic, her resilience, and her desire to treat everyone she encountered as family. She touched many people through her friendships, her business, and the example she set for those who knew her. She lived a life defined by her positive attitude, sense of humor, generosity, and gratitude for the opportunities she found in America. She passed those values on to her family. Whenever she heard a story of someone’s success, she would smile and say, “Only in America.” She truly believed that she had achieved the American Dream.
In the final years of her life, she lived with and was cared for both by her children and her sister and brother-in-law. In 2022, she moved to coastal North Carolina and resided at Coastal Pointe Assisted Living and Memory Care. Even there, she took it upon herself to help others who were struggling, or those who were not having a good day, by sitting and talking to them to cheer them up.
Zoya will be missed by all who were touched by her kindness. Her family will remember her for the loving mother and grandmother that she was, and for the values she instilled in each of them. She will be deeply missed.
Zoya is predeceased by her sisters Milica Dudevski and Mara Mangovski, and her brothers-in-law Alex Dudevski, John Mangovski and Slavejko Aleksovski. She is survived by her children Mary Ann (Douglas) Fitzgerald and John (Merry) Dimitri; her grandchildren Nicholas (Meghan) Fitzgerald, Jessica (Michael) Beddow, Samuel Dimitri and Alex Dimitri; her great-grandchildren Henry Worth Fitzgerald and Olivia Zoya Beddow; her sisters Luba Aleksovski, Menka (Peter) Ristevski, Diane (Nikola) Paunovski; and many nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 10:00 A.M. in St. George Macedonian Eastern Orthodox Church. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation will take place on Thursday, July 9, 2026, from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M. at the church, 5083 Onondaga Road, Syracuse, with Trisagion Prayer to follow at 6:00 P.M.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Zoya’s memory may be made to St. George Macedonian Eastern Orthodox Church, 5083 Onondaga Road Syracuse, NY 13215.
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