Kocijančič Home, Mali Osolnik 9, Škocjan pro Turjaku, Slovenia.
Jožef was born in Mali Osolnik #9 to Janez and Marija (Grebenc) Kocijančič on February 8, 1841 at a time when Slovenia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Historically, in Slovenia, land is inherited by the oldest son, called primogeniture, as a way of keeping land and property in families. So far, I have documented 4 generations of Kocijančić's born in house #9 with the 5th generation, although not born there, listed as the current owner of the abandoned home. Jožef spent his lifetime in that home
Jožef probably married Franciska Novak sometime
Jožef Kocijančić, date unknown.
Jožef probably married Franciska Novak sometime in 1871, the year their first child was born. I have been unable to locate a marriage record which probably means she was not from Mali Osolnik herself and the marriage took place in her village. Together they had 10 children: Tomaž, Jože, Johanna, Franciska, Janež, Jožef, Anton, Franc, Ana and Katerina. Jože, 10, died in September 1874 just three days before my great grandmother Johanna was born. More tragedy followed when Franciska died on December 1, 1888 followed by two of her children Janež on December 2 almost 11 years and Katerina on December 4 age 1 most likely from some type of infectious disease, possibly cholera. Johanna, Franciska and Ana immigrated to Eveleth, Minnesota, Jožef immigrated to Joliet, Illinois, Anton stayed in Slovenia and inherited house #9, Tomaž remains a mystery. Tomaž also most likely died as a child or he would inherited the house as the firstborn son. The hardships, adversity and suffering my Kocijančič ancestors lived through breaks my heart.
My knowledge of Jožef's life is very minimal. However in a settlement near his home called Škocjan (formally known as Staro Apno) sits a Catholic church
St. Cantius and Companions
called St. Cantius and Companions. The church dates to medieval times, approximately 1260, and has gone through many renovations and architectural styles-Romanesque, Gothic (First and Second) and Baroque. Of note, during one of the remodeling the original medieval chapel was uncovered. The parishioners of St. Cantius are proud of the fact that Primoz Trubar, the first person to translate the Bible to Slovenian, was baptized in this chapel in 1508. Then in 1891, preparations began for an extensive church remodel and Jožef was one of six chosen to be on the building committee. It wasn't until 1906 when work finally began on the church and almost exactly a year later the "new"
Medievel chapel, circa 1260, where Primoz Trubar was baptized in 1508.
church was consecrated on October 27, 1907. "And why all the effort for this selfless work? Because, as the valiant sons of the Church may now say with pride: This is the work of our hands, this is truly our church! This is a monument to our faith, taken from the fathers inherited from ancestors, a monument to the late centuries speaks to grandchildren: Stand firm in the faith, true to his God as me! wrote Fran S. Finžgar, a catholic priest and popular Slovene writer, in a blessing published on November 15, 1907 (at least I'm fairly certain this was his quote as I am translating the Slovenian report! Apologies if I am incorrect).
In 2013, I had the privilege to set foot inside St. Cantius Church, the church of my ancestors. And very near the church through a gate and down a set of stairs sits a beautiful cemetery. This is where I found my great, great grandparent's Jožef and Franciska.
Jožef and Franciska's gravesite.
Their grave site is the oldest in the cemetery. Jožef died on May 11, 1916 but he lived long enough to see his new church.
Bog jim a daj vecni mir in pokaj - God Give Them Eternal Peace and Repentance
is written on their headstone. Amen to that, you both have earned it.