Emma (Soloman) Horvath

She will be lovingly remembered by Kevin Vanderstel (Son-in-law), Lindsay and Ashley Vanderstel (granddaughters). Shirley (niece) and Lazlo Pothe and their son Joey (Suzanne) and children Keith & Justine; Bob Szucs (nephew); Joe (nephew) and Leslie Szucs and family.

Predeceased by her husband Charlie Horvath in 1999 and more recently her daughter Anita Vanderstel in 2020.

Emma was born on November 7, 1923 on a farm near Jedberg, Saskatchewan. In the early 1950s she met Charles Horvath at the home of one of her sisters. They married shortly there after around 1954 in Jedberg. They lived in Winnipeg throughout their life together and had a baby girl, Anita, on September 1, 1966.

Emma was always a very hard working person, which started in the early years, while living on the farm, as that’s where she learned to do chores, including milking cows, feeding the chickens & what would later be her life long passion of gardening. In 1970, Emma & Charlie purchased their home on Brewster Bay in Transcona, where the small family lived for many years. Even though Charlie passed away in 1999, Emma continued to live in the same home on her own for about another 10 years, where she always maintained a sizeable garden in her yard. During this time she also continued to drive & remained quite mobile despite being in her eighties. Emma was always an independent & feisty woman. And while not the most sociable, you could not deny her love for her daughter Anita & her granddaughters, Lindsay & Ashley.

Emma eventually decided that her mobility prevented her from staying in her home any longer & with some regret, moved into a one bedroom apartment in Madeline Estates, on Regent Ave. This began what became a series of moves, including years later, in which she lived several years with her daughter, Anita (& family), whom she was so close to & loved so very much. It was a special space in time for everyone involved, as Anita felt that her daughters would get the opportunity to bond with their grandmother, which they most certainly did. Eventually however, it became clear that Emma needed a little more assistance with her everyday living & was able to move into Springfield Place in Oakbank, which provided supportive housing benefits to her. The best part about that, was that she received the assistance she needed, while still residing only minutes away from Anita & family. This arrangement remained intact until it became clear that Emma needed physical assistance far more than Springfield Place could offer, which eventually led to her move into Red River Place in Selkirk, followed by her last home, Kin Place Personal Care Home in Oakbank. It was just before she was placed in Selkirk, in August 2019, that she found out that her beloved one & only daughter, Anita, was diagnosed with a blood cancer, called T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. After an incredibly courageous fight, Anita passed away one year later in August the following year. It was was of the most difficult things to ever relay to Emma & looking back now, it is clear that this is a major factor which lead to her rapid decline in health, as she was utterly heartbroken. COVID-19 made things all the more challenging, as her granddaughters, Lindsay & Ashley & son-in-law, Kevin, had very limited access & reduced opportunities to visit her, which would’ve been very difficult for Emma to understand. Fortunately, a few visits in person allowed Kevin or Lindsay the opportunity to provide a FaceTime visit to her niece, Shirley & her husband Lazlo, which was nice for Emma. In the week leading up to Emma’s passing, Lindsay & then Kevin & Ashley were able to visit her one final time. Emma was very weak & not eating or drinking much & Lindsay & Ashley both lovingly told her that it was ok to go. This was very hard on them, especially because it felt to them like she was the last true link to their mother.

Emma was blessed with a very long & healthy life, but it is clear that her final years were the most difficult for her emotionally speaking & we wish her nothing but peace, joy & serenity forevermore, as she is once again reunited with her beloved husband Charles & her daughter Anita. Now in the Lord's care, the little family from Brewster Bay, is together again.