KIS, Erika Emilia -
May 5, 1932 – September 11, 2023
Passed peacefully, at home in her sleep, on September 11, 2023, at the age of 91.
Words cannot express the depth of our love and devotion to her. She is dearly missed and will be in our hearts forever.
She was predeceased by her husband, Imre. Devoted wife of 56 years.
Loving mother to Tony (Marian).
Devoted daughter to Antal and Margit.
She was a proud Hungarian and an even prouder Canadian. Born in Budapest, Hungary, she was blessed with a wonderful childhood.
She endured the ravages of WWII and the subsequent occupation by the Soviet Red Army. Russian soldiers were literally garrisoned in the family home.
October 1956 brought the Hungarian Revolution and with its failure, resulted in her family's dead of night clandestine escape from their ancestral homeland.
As with thousands of other Hungarians, they were never to return. Crossing farmer's fields, evading Soviet tanks, and crossing a river under sporadic fire while watching friends shot by border guards, they made it into Austria.
Canada awaited them through a special streamlined Hungarian Refugee Program. From England she set sail on the Cunard RMS Saxonia in January '57 for Canada, finally setting foot on Pier 21 in Halifax, February 2, 1957.
This was a day they commemorated every year to give thanks for now being Canadian.
Ultimately meeting and marrying Imre, they settled in Toronto. She was a very proud Bell Canada employee for 30 years. In her 80s, she spent every waking hour taking care of Imre who by now suffered from Dementia.
Until her dying day she possessed a razor-sharp memory and an even sharper wit. She was love and kindness personified.
She was the most wonderful Mother and Mother-In-Law and a true giant. We will miss her forever. Loved by extended family in Hungary, Germany and Ottawa (Ron and Else).
Loved by her neighbours and friends, and many care providers who are now close friends. We would like to thank our wonderful and caring PSWs, nurses and coordinators at VHA and HCCSS.
We would also like to thank the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care for their support, albeit short-lived.
A Visitation will be held at the Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., on Friday, September 22nd, from 6-8 p.m. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, September 23rd, at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church, 432 Sheppard Ave. E., at 1:30 p.m.
Donations can be made to the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Odette Cancer Centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre or a charity of your choice.
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