Vincencij Srebrnjak (Vinko)

Vincencij Srebrnjak was born in the village of Veliki Slatnik, Yugoslavia on January 18, 1936.  He was the son of Janez Srebrnjak and Marija Jerman.  He was the youngest boy from a family of 12 brothers and sisters including his brothers Janez, Tony, Alojz, Polde, and Joe, and sisters Nežka, Marija, Anica, Tončka, Angela, and Jožefa.

It was a difficult time on the farm, surrounded by the unsettled tapestry of World War II in the background.  Stories of having to share their shoes so they could go to church, and meals consisting of boiled milk and flour (called močnik), allowed them to survive.

Vinko attended trade school in Novo Mesto to become a tailor and trained in the army for two years.   He eventually met his love and wife, Ivanka Štih.  After the birth and sudden loss of their daughter, Lilijana, in 1963, they decided to embark on a journey to Canada.  They left for Vienna, Austria and worked for a few months before purchasing tickets to fly to Canada.  They settled in Toronto, Ontario, where their son Tommy was born in 1965.  Eventually they moved to Malton, where he raised his family with the addition and birth of his daughter, Mary-Anne, in 1975.  To support his family, he adapted and worked at many occupations, including John Inglis, Can-Car, Maislin Transport, Richvale Concrete, and his favourite job at Air Canada, eventually retiring in 2000.  Retirement witnessed Vinko fishing at the cottage on Lake Simcoe, always welcoming a visitor to share a glass of wine and some home-made sausages.  Vinko loved to be around people and to be the centre of attention.  Multiple family anniversaries and birthday parties involved game show antics with laughter and fun.  Multiple visits to his beloved Slovenia would energize him like a boy who had come back home.  He loved his Slovenian roots and family.  He also loved to dance.  Even after two hip replacements, he loved to dance to a good Slak Polka or an Avsenik Waltz.  All of a sudden there was no pain and he was young all over again.  And so now, Vinko has left us to dance with all of those who have departed us before him.  We will miss him dearly.

Family and friends are invited to join Ivanka, Tom & Lori, and Mary & Peter in a celebration of his life and remembrance gathering on Saturday, September 12, 2026 at an Open House in Rockwood, Ontario between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a cancer research organization in honour of Vinko’s mother and/or to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada.