Maria (Chela) Amalia Hristovski passed away peacefully on Friday, March 13, 2026, at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie at the age of 90. She was a resident of St. Mary’s Seniors Residence in Barrie, Ontario.

Born on June 8, 1935, Maria lived a long and meaningful life marked by strength, compassion, and devotion to her family and community.

Maria is lovingly remembered by her children, Peter (Nancy), Sergio, and Aleks (Sheri); her sister Alicia (Ramon); her cherished grandchildren Brandi (Michael), Cassandra (Matt), Morgan, Elliot (Cassandra), Ryan (Dylan), Luke, Eric, and Tyler; and her beloved great-grandchildren Skyler, Ezra, Ellis, Ellie, and Levi.

She is predeceased by her husband Boris; her son Fernando; her grandchild Kyle; her parents Amalia and Juan; and her siblings Juan Antonio, Ilda Ledia, Walter Hugo, and Juan Carlos.

Maria (Aba) was an irreplaceable wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend. She was also one of the strongest women that most of us have ever met. Born in the small town of Durazno, Uruguay in 1935 she met her future husband Boris in Montevideo, where they married and had three (Petre, Fernando, Sergio) of her four children. In 1965, Maria immigrated to Toronto, where she later had her youngest son (Aleks). Her courage, curiosity and warm, caring personality were inspiring to all who were close to her. Maria was a special person who was always willing to provide a helping hand, lend an ear, or share wisdom and guidance to anyone who needed it. She was an intelligent and worldly soul with a rock-solid sense of right and wrong, who pushed you to be better. She had a relentless perseverance and a positive, never-give-up attitude, even in the hardest of times. One of her often-shared pieces of wisdom was, “If you don’t ask for what you want or deserve, you will never get it.” She deeply enjoyed welcoming people into her house and making them a special meal. Maria genuinely valued her family and friends and spent as much time as possible with them. A loyal friend, she was also a deeply religious person, and a devoted member of the St. Mary’s Parish and Residence community. Thank you to the community at St. Mary’s for the fellowship you have provided over all these years. Maria’s absence will be felt profoundly every day by those she loved, and who loved her just as deeply.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Parish, 65 Amelia Street, Barrie, Ontario. A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00 AM at Columbus Hall, 93 Berczy Street, Barrie, Ontario.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Centennial Infant and Child Centre Foundation in memory of Maria.