When you think of a famous actress, you expect a crowd to see her off, not just 20 people! Yes, you read that right. Žiža Stojanović, known for her role as Cana Fontana in the cult series “Happy People,” died at 95, and her funeral at Belgrade’s New Cemetery was a quiet drama. Only 20 people came to pay their last respects, with host Goran Stojićević Karamela being the first to arrive, dressed in black and inconsolable.
Žiža spent the last four years of her life in a nursing home, far from the spotlight and glamour. Her life story is a real tragedy—she survived war, hunger, losses, including the death of her daughter Sonja after a tough illness. Yet, she never gave up. Her love for acting kept burning, and memories of her youth and early successes, like an audition where she earned 4,000 dinars and bought new shoes, stayed with her.
Adding to the sadness, Žiža once admitted to having an affair with the legendary singer Duško Bulajić, who later married actress Olivera Marković. “My greatest love,” she said about him, even though they were never married.
Her cremation was held in a close circle of family and friends, including singer Milica Dugalić, visibly shaken. Žiža left behind two grandchildren—grandson Uroš, a conductor in Germany, and Ana, a pharmacist.
This story is more than a funeral—it’s a reminder of how harsh life can be and how celebrities are often forgotten when the lights go out. Žiža Stojanović didn’t get the farewell she deserved. What do you think? Has society forgotten its heroes? Drop a comment, maybe together we can shed light on this sorrow hidden behind the glamour.
