Ulfeta Poljak

Ula was born on November 21, 1947 in Zenica in the former Yugoslavia, the youngest of four. Ula was a woman of considerable courage, resilience, and will, which served her throughout her life. She graduated from Zenica Nursing School in 1964. After graduation, she worked as a pediatric nurse at Zenica Regional Hospital. During that time, the citizens of Zenica used to stroll the beautiful city center boulevard in the evenings where they could meet friends and acquaintances, visit, or have a coffee in a nearby café. It was during one of these strolls that Ula met Tomislav "Tommy" Poljak. Tommy was taken with her from the moment he saw her, and even after 51 years of marriage that never changed. They were married on October 19, 1968. Ula had a full life in the former Yugoslavia working as a nurse, raising two boys, and keeping up with her wonderful family and many friends. Her advice and help meant so much to those who knew her, and she will be remembered for her kindness and generosity. Ula decided to use those skills to further her education by becoming a social worker. Ula wanted the best for those she knew and loved, particularly her sons. She encouraged them to "be kind, work hard, always do your best, treat everyone with love and respect and everything will fall in the right place." To this day, they attribute their accomplishments, work ethic, and love of family to the values that Ula and Tommy instilled in them. When her oldest, Denis, decided to try his luck at college in America, she supported him. And when her younger son, Davor, decided to join his brother at Centenary College of Louisiana, she supported him too. That was a particularly brave decision as tensions in the former Yugoslavia had begun to flare up, and she did not know if she would see her sons again. She and Tommy lived near some of the worst of the fighting during the 1992-1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it was her love for her sons and her determination to see them again that helped her through. In 1995, at age 47, Ula used that same determination to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina and start new life in America with Tommy. Their reunion with Denis and Davor after four long years at the Shreveport airport is the stuff of family legend. For many, a new home, new language, and new traditions would be overwhelming. Not for Ula! She loved the United States, and one of her proudest moments was becoming a US citizen in 2003. She loved her home in Shreveport and working in her courtyard garden, especially in the spring with its azaleas and gardenias. What she loved most, though, was being able to spend time with her four adored grandchildren. Her life revolved around them, and they loved her very much. Ula is predeceased by her parents, her two sisters, her brother and Ula and Tommy's first born son, Damir. She is survived by her husband, Tommy, her son, Denis, and his wife, Susannah, and her son, Davor, and his wife, Megan. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Thomas, Laura Charlotte, David and Danny. Services will be held on November 23, 2019 at noon at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall St., with a celebration of her life to follow at the Woman's Department Club, 802 Margaret Place. The family would like to thank the wonderful and caring doctors, nurses and staff at Willis-Knighton Pierremont who made her last five months comfortable. There are too many of you to list, but please know that she said your care and concern made her feel "like a queen."