Veronica Prpic-Uhing

Veronica “Vera” Prpic-Uhing, 73, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away on May 4th, 2020 at Hock Family Pavilion in Durham, NC. She was born in Oroslavje, Croatia (former Yugoslavia) on January 24th, 1947, to Katica and Miroslav Prpić.

Veronica was raised in Oroslavje and attended secondary school at the Chemical Technical School in Zagreb, Croatia. She later attended the University of Zagreb, earning a BSc in Medical Biochemistry and an MSc in Biology. Veronica earned her PhD in Biochemistry from the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia. She spent her research career at Vanderbilt University, Duke University, and Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where she authored numerous publications and left a lasting impact on the research community.

After retiring, Veronica transitioned full-time to translation work. Veronica was very active as a translator, interpreter and linguist in the Croatian and Bosnian languages for more than 30 years. She held numerous certifications and provided services to the US State Department, US Justice Department, US Defense Department, NATO, numerous universities, private organizations and businesses. Veronica served in Operation Allied Force as a translator for NATO in Kosovo, earning commendations in the process.

Ever since she was a girl, Veronica had a light-hearted spirit. She enjoyed singing, dancing, and making people laugh. As she grew older, much of her time was spent studying and looking after her younger siblings. She developed a great love of learning which would eventually become a lifelong passion. The curiosity she fostered went beyond just books; it also drove her interest in travel, history, literature, and dining. She was just as much at home with a science experiment as she was with a romantic book, a box of chocolates, or a new landscape to explore.

The inquisitiveness she brought to every aspect of life was matched only by her kindness. She would always lend a sympathetic ear to those in need, or share a hearty laugh in times of joy. Although she faced many trials which should have sapped her strength, the fount of her love could never run dry. She found her greatest joy in the time she spent with her family. Her warm presence always brought comfort to those who knew and loved her.

Veronica was always adventurous and unafraid to meet new people, try new things, or visit new places. She lived on three continents, moving to two of them without knowing more than a few people. But that didn’t stop her from quickly making herself at home and the people around her at ease. Her love of life and learning continued even after she retired. Known affectionately as Vera, Verica, Mom, and Baka, she remains an example of selfless love.

Veronica is survived by her three children; daughter, Dominika Albrecht and her husband, Bryan; son, Jimmy Uhing and his wife Ayse; daughter, Susan Uhing and her husband, Sampsa Heiskanen; granddaughter, Taiga Uhing; grandsons, Talay Uhing and Altay Uhing; sisters, Ana Dürst, Milica Prpić, and Ljubica Prpić; brother, Andrija Prpić and his wife Jelka; nieces and nephews; and many, many cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, Ivan Prpić.

Memorial services will be scheduled at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations honoring Veronica may be given to Hock Family Pavilion, 4023 N Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704; or to CurePSP, www.psp.org; or to the Cancer Research Institute, www.cancerresearch.org; or to Meals on Wheels, www.mowdurham.org. You may also send your favorite stories about Veronica to Vera.Memories@outlook.com. Photos are also welcome.



Veronika “Vera” Prpić-Uhing, 73, voljena majka, baka, sestra, teta i prijateljica, preminula je 4. svibnja 2020. u Hock Family Pavillion u Durhamu, NC. Rođena je u Oroslavju u Hrvatskoj 24.01.1947. od roditelja Miroslava i Katice Prpić.

Odrasla je u Oroslavju, završila je srednju Kemijsku tehničku školu u Zagrebu i zatim upisala biokemiju na Sveučilištu u Zagrebu. Diplomirala je medicinsku biokemiju, a potom magistrirala biologiju. Veronika je doktorirala biokemiju u Canberri na Australskom nacionalnom fakultetu. Istraživačku karijeru nastavila je u Americi - na Vanderbilt University, Duke University, Louisiana State University u Baton Rouge gdje je autor brojnih publikacija i ostavila je trajni utjecaj na istraživačku zajednicu.

Nakon umirovljenja postaje jako aktivna kao prevoditelj, tumač i lingvist na hrvatskom i bosanskom jeziku. U preko 30 godina dobila je brojna priznanja i pružala usluge američkim državnim službama (US State Department), pravosuđu, obrani, NATO-u, brojnim fakultetima te privatnim i poslovnim organizacijama. Veronika je služila u Operaciji Saveznička Snaga kao prevoditelj za NATO u Kosovu i zaslužila pohvalu u tom procesu.

Od djevojačkih dana Veronika je zadržala vedri duh, voljela je pjevanje, plesanje i nasmijavati ljude. Kako je rasla, sve se više bavila studiranjem i mlađom braćom i sestrama. Razvila je veliku ljubav prema učenju koja je s vremenom postala i doživotna strast. Znatiželja za knjigom pokrenula je i zanimanje za putovanjima, poviješću, znanosti i prehranom. Bila je jednako toliko “kod kuće” sa znanstvenim pokusom koliko i romantičnom knjigom, kutijom čokolade ili novim krajolikom za istraživanje.

Radoznalost koji je unijela u svaki aspekt života bila je u skladu sa njezinom ljubaznošću. Bila je suosjećajna, srdačna i uvijek voljna poslušati. Iako je bila suočena sa mnogim kušnjama imala je snage suprostaviti se i ne bježati. Svoju je najveću radost pronašla u vremenu koje je provela sa svojom obitelji. Njezina topla prisutnost donijela je utjehu onima koji je poznaju i vole.

Također je voljela susretati nove ljude, probati nove stvari, posjetiti mnoga nova mjesta. Živjela je na tri kontinenta s time da da je na dva otišla u nepoznato, znajući svega nekoliko ljudi. No nije posustala, brzo se udomila i uspostavila nova prijateljstva. Njezina ljubav za učenjem nastavila se i u mirovini. Zvali je Vera, Verica, Mama ili Baka, ostat će primjer nesebične ljubavi.

Veronika je iza sebe ostavila troje djece; kćer Dominika Albrecht i njezin suprug Bryan; sin Jimmy Uhing i njegova žena Ayse; kćer Susan Uhing i njezin suprug Sampsa Heiskanen; unuka Taiga Uhing; unuci Talay Uhing i Altay Uhing; sestre Ana Dürst, Milica Prpić i Ljubica Prpić; brat Andrija Prpić i njegova žena Jelka; nećakinje i nećake; i puno puno rodbine. Roditelji i brat Ivan Prpić su pokojni.

Spomen službe bit će zakazane naknadno. Umjesto cvijeća spomen obilježje može se donirati na Hock Family Pavillion, 4023 N Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27704; ili na CurePSP, www.psp.org; ili na Cancer Research Institute, www.cancerresearch.org; ili na Meals on Wheels, www.mowdurham.org. Također možete poslati svoje omiljene priče na adresu Vera.Memories@outlook.com. Fotografije su također dobrodošle.