Novak Bijelonic age 72 of Wayne passed away peacefully on Sunday October 14, 2018 in the presence of and while receiving the loving care of his family.

Novak was born and raised in Velika Ilova, Yugoslavia and was one of six children to Djuradj and Stojanka Bijelonic.  Growing up in Yugoslavia after the Second World War was not easy under the stronghold of its communist government.  Novak had married his young bride Milenka Repic, after their first son Jerry was born, Novak decided to make his escape from communist Yugoslavia and ran the border on foot.  Novak was caught and placed in a refugee camp in Austria.  After being there for six months, the Austrian government worked out a passage with the Yugoslavian government for Milenka and Jerry to join Novak at the refugee camp.  After the family was reunited, they remained in the camp for another six months.  During that time was when their second child Gordon was conceived.  Novak and Milenka often recalled Gordon was conceived during their greatest pain and struggle and during their harshest time of their lives at the refugee camp.  Novak’s goal was not only to escape from the turmoil of communism, but to find a better life and pursue the American dream in the United States of America.  While in Austria the Serbian Orthodox Church in New York City sponsored safe passage and guaranteed a place to live for Novak and his family so that the US Government would allow their entry in the USA.  The tickets for the entire family to the United States were paid for by the church and the family immigrated to the USA on September 11, 1969.  Thus, the terrorism events of September 11, 2001 struck a devastating blow to the Bijelonic family, as they celebrated the same day as their first day of freedom.

When arriving in the United States, Novak and his family were assisted by the church and settled in the city of Paterson.  Novak found work quickly at a Dye House in Paterson and continued to work there for the next twenty years.  In 1986 Novak started his own company named BNK Restoration.  It was then Novak and his family moved to Wayne and where he and his wife would spend the rest of their lives together.   He ran his business with great success until 1992 when he then went to work with his son Jerry at JR Contracting in Wayne.  He would work there with his son for the next twenty years until his retirement in 2011.   Novak was a man of great drive and discipline, and an outstanding work ethic.  He was also devoted to his Orthodox faith.  He and his family were parishioners of St Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in New York City and also of St John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church in Paterson for many years.  Novak also devoted much of his time in helping the Holy Ascension Serbian Orthodox Church in Elizabeth.

Novak was a strong, humble man known for his honesty and loved by many people in his community and his church.  His wife and son’s recall the many family trips to the Jersey Shore and Shepherd’s Lake throughout their years together.  Only three months ago, tragedy struck the Bijelonic family when Novak and Milenka’s son Pavle passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  Although Novak was brokenhearted on the inside, he kept a strong and “pillar of strength” exterior and attitude for his wife and children.  To say the least, Novak was a devoted father and husband and his greatest passion was for his family.  Novak also remained devoted to his brothers and sisters.  Over the years he assisted his two brothers and two of his sisters to immigrate to the United States.  He aided them in getting settled and finding employment so that they might acquire the same “American Dream” that he was so fortunate enough to attain.  After the breakup of Yugoslavia occurred as a result of a series of political upheavals and conflicts during the early 1990s, Novak and his family frequented yearly to their homeland visiting friends and relatives.  Novak and Milenka cherished more than fifty years of loving and loyal marriage together.  He was an extraordinary person and will be missed by his family and friends alike.

Novak is survived by his wife Milenka (nee Repic), two sons Jerry Bijelonic and his wife Gina of Kinnelon, and Gordon Bijelonic of Beverly Hills, CA, three sisters; Veselinka Gunjevic of Germany, Vinka Radisic of Florida, and Jela Vukovic of Pennsylvania, two brothers; Ljubomir Bijelonic of Wayne, and Nedeljko Bijelonic of Paterson, and two grandchildren; Angelina and Giorgio Bijelonic.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Novak’s name to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.