Zora Kostelac

We bid a fond farewell to our beloved Zora J. Kostelac, who, at the age of 95, has left us to join the angels. Born on December 3, 1930, in a small farming town of Otočac, Croatia, Zora's life was a testament to her spirit, wit, and undeniable strength. She was a self-employed interpreter who and helped the Bosnian immigrants. Zora’s razor-sharp wit, coupled with her smart mind, made her entertaining at family gatherings.

Zora treasured her Croatian roots, often savoring a thimble of Slivovitza as an "eye-opener". Her love for her native land was only matched by her love for her son and family. As a widowed mother, she raised her son Phil, instilling in him loyalty and dedication to family. Zora's culinary prowess was renowned, she made the best turkey, supplied the family with homemade egg noodles, and baked a lot of apple pies. She is a healthy eater, enjoyed her fruits and never missed an opportunity to enjoy a family outing to a buffet restaurant, often insisting on picking up the check. In her leisure, Zora loved gardening, golfing, bowling, and puzzles. Her competitive spirit was especially evident during lively Scrabble and Wii games with her son Phil.

She is survived by her son Phil Kostelac, granddaughter Lisa Costanigro, sister Rosa Vrbnjak, grandson David Kostelac, and her great grandchildren: Alba and Matteo Costanigro, Ethan and Mia Kostelac. She is preceded in death by her parents and her spouse, George Kostelac.

We will be celebrating her life on Wednesday, 08 Apr 2026 at 2:00pm PDT at Lewis Funeral Chapel, 5303 Kitsap Way, Bremerton, Washington, 98312. For those unable to attend, you are invited to join us via live stream at https://my.gather.app/remember/zora-kostelac. As we gather to remember Zora, let us take to heart these words from the Bible, "Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4) — a testament to Zora's Catholic faith.

We encourage friends and family to share their memories of Zora and upload photos to her memorial page. Zora's life was filled with laughter and love, and it is these moments that we will carry forward in our hearts.