SMOLENSKI, Bela Smolenski - April 7, 1932 – October 9, 2021
Died on Saturday, October 9th at Lakeridge Health, Oshawa as a result of a stroke he suffered a week earlier.
He will be joining his dear wife Sara, who passed away in 2003.
He leaves behind his daughter Maria (Frank) Horvath, grandson Robert, granddaughter Katelin (Mike) Pyziak, and his adored great-grandson, A Kis Macko (Little Teddy Bear) Milo.
Bela was born in Novi Sad, Serbia (the former Yugoslavia).
He and Sara left Yugoslavia in 1963, on a motorbike, with Maria tucked into the sidecar.
After stays in several refugee camps in Italy (Trieste, Capua, Latina) the family emigrated to Sweden, where they lived until October 1967.
At this time they packed up as much of their belongings as fit into a huge wooden packing crate which they sent by ship, while they flew to Canada via SAS.
Much as he loved the new life in Canada, he and Sara also loved the thriving Hungarian communities in Oshawa and Toronto, with all the foods that were available from “the Old Country”, and he loved making his own kolbasz, and his own wine.
Always a big reader – of comics, newspapers and books of all kinds, history and fiction – he in more recent years, especially after Sara’s death. He always missed her, but especially so this past year, and he spoke often of wanting to join her. Now he has. Rest In peace, Tatu.
Visitation will be held at the DeStefano Funeral Home, Oshawa, on Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 10:30-11:30am. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:30am. Interment will follow at GROVESIDE CEMETERY, Whitby..
