Family of late Lucija donates €20,000 to Herzkinder Österreich

That is part of a message from the parents and sister of the late Lucija Šišić, the former Miss Austria, to everyone who paid tribute to their daughter with a financial donation. More than €20,000 was raised.

Lucija, a young woman who died following heart complications, had been a member of Herzkinder Österreich, an organization that supports children with heart conditions and their families.

Her parents, Manda and Ivo, and her sister Matea explained why they decided to turn the outpouring of sympathy following Lucija’s death into a charitable donation.

“During the most difficult moment of our lives, on the day of our beloved daughter’s funeral, we decided to ask everyone who wished to express their condolences to donate to Herzkinder Österreich instead of sending flowers and wreaths.

“It is an organization that supports children with heart conditions, and one that our daughter was also a member of. We could never have imagined how many people would respond to our request or how much generosity and love would be shown at such a difficult time,” the family said.

Moved by the generosity

The entire amount raised — more than €20,000 — was donated to the organization.

“We were deeply moved and surprised by your kindness and generosity. The people at the organization welcomed us with enormous gratitude and emotion, as they too had not expected such a large amount to be raised.

“In the midst of our greatest pain, you showed us something we will carry in our hearts forever: that kindness, humanity and love know no boundaries.

“We would like to thank everyone who took part in this charitable initiative, everyone who made a donation, supported our wish or was part of this story in any way.

“Your help will not bring our daughter back, but it will help other children and their families. And that is where we see something beautiful and meaningful — that a part of her story can continue to live on through the good we do for others.

“Thank you for showing your big hearts in our time of grief. Thank you for joining us in doing something good. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

“May the kindness you have shown be a light and a source of hope for children who need help,” the Šišić family said.

Lucija was born and raised in Vienna, while her parents are originally from Bosnia’s Posavina region. She remained deeply connected to her roots and spoke Croatian at home.

The wider public came to know her in 2024, when she was first crowned Miss Vienna and later Miss Austria.