Our mother, Mary Karnay, passed away in the morning on June 23, 2025, at age 92. She will live on in our hearts and will never be forgotten.
Our mother came to Canada at the age of 19, from Germany. A few years earlier, at the end of the Second World War, her whole family had been deported to East Germany from their German speaking village in Hungary. They subsequently escaped to West Germany and settled in Bavaria. But the call of Canada ignited in my mother. The journey across the ocean by ship took her through Montreal, to Oshawa, to start her new life. There she met our father, had our family, and made a home. Although our home life was a little chaotic with four very active children, it was always filled with music, dancing, reading, good food and love. Our mother was the embodiment of unconditional love and kindness, and was the compass in our home. From her we learned not only how to love deeply and be a good person, but also we learned a love of reading and education, the importance of healthy eating and an active lifestyle, and how never to be embarrassed to ask for directions or engage with others.

Our children (her grandchildren) enjoyed their Grandma coming to visit with a bag of library books, or heading out to a park or a swimming pool with them. When they were young, they also enjoyed ‘Camp Grandma’ in Oshawa for a few summer weeks. They were blessed with her presence in their lives, and the impact she had on them will stay with them forever.

As dementia took hold, we arranged supports in her home. With these supports, and the ever watchful community of her neighbours, her Civic fitness buddies, and even the Oshawa Centre Starbucks baristas, our mother had an enjoyable life, living it as she wished. Sadly, in mid-April she suffered a fall from which she ultimately never recovered.
Our mother was predeceased by her husband Steve and our brother Steven. She will be dearly missed by her daughters Diane (Stuart), Linda (Henry), and Susan (Ted), and her grandchildren Andrew, Julia, Tatiana, Nicholas, Caroline, Sebastian, Anna and Christopher.
We are so grateful for the care she received from Carol and the other wonderful Home Instead PSWs prior to her fall, and we thank Asha for her loving companionship and steadfast support of our mother. We are also thankful for the care she received at Lakeridge Health in these last couple of months.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2025 at 11 a.m. at Armstrong Funeral Home (124 King St. E., Oshawa). A Funeral Service will be held in the Armstrong Funeral Home Chapel at 12 p.m. that same day, with a reception to follow. Burial at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery will follow the reception.
If you wish, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Oshawa Public Libraries (through Canada Helps at https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/oshawa-public-library-board/) or to a charity of your choice.
For online condolences please go to www.armstrongfh.ca.

Visitation