Margaret Nemes

Margaret Ludmilla (Englisch) Érfalvi Nemes was born on February 17, 1927 in Nova, Hungary, the third of four children of Ferenc (Englisch) Érfalvi and Margit Vukán. She died peacefully at age 93 on March 16, 2020 in Toronto. She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Frank Érfalvi and her older sister Zita Nagy. She leaves behind her younger sister, Erika Balogh.

She is lovingly remembered by her seven children: Margaret Kuilman (Kees), Les Nemes (Eileen), Bea Nemes, Aggie Nemes, Ed Nemes (Jackie), Andy Nemes (Marcy) and Patty Doraty (Larry), twelve grandchildren: Lisa Kuilman-Bolla (Dan), Teresa Seroke (Joe), Jason Kuilman (Michelle), Daniel Nemes (Courtney), Jessica Thomas (Spencer), Kristin Nemes, Adam Nemes, Sophia Greene, Spencer Doraty, Rachel Nemes, Eric Greene, and Evan Nemes, and eight great grandchildren: Colin, Maggie and Casey Bolla, Gianna and Mina Seroke, Jackson and Anna Kuilman and Benjamin Nemes.

Margaret’s teenage years were during World War II. She was forced to dig ditches after the Nazis invaded Hungary in 1944. To help her family, she tutored in exchange for basic farm food. She graduated Teacher’s College in Köszeg in 1946 and married Dr László Nemes shortly thereafter. To support her two young children after her husband left Hungary in 1948, Margaret taught middle school and completed her Masters. After the war, she was part of rebuilding the decimated education system and became a principal and the Student Director of a Teacher’s College in Veszprém where she was the Head of the Psychology Department.

After the Revolution, she left Hungary and emigrated to Canada on April 7, 1958 to rejoin her husband. The condition of her leaving Hungary was that she had to leave everything behind--renounce her citizenship, property, pensions, and inheritances. Most heartbreaking of all, she had to leave her very close-knit, supportive family, not knowing if she would ever see them again. With the one small suitcase that she was allowed, two young children and not speaking any English, she bravely arrived to create a new life in Canada. Between 1959 and 1965, they welcomed five more children into their family.

By September of 1964, she began her teaching career at the Metropolitan Separate School Board (now Toronto Catholic School Board) in a Grade 1 class of 42 children at St Ann School. Over her 27-year career, Margaret taught Special Education, Grade 7 & 8 and the Gifted Program at St Gabriel, St Antoine Daniel, Regina Mundi, St Cyril and Blessed Trinity. As a single parent, she worked tirelessly to support her family. In addition to her day job, she worked as an ESL teacher at Night School and a principal at Summer School. She also tutored a wide range of students and helped adults pass English Language certification in their profession. She even offered Hungarian lessons for adults. Margaret was an incredibly versatile teacher who touched many lives. Her students respected and admired her; many kept in touch long aftertheir time in her classroom. We, her children, are so very proud of her achievements and thankful for her many sacrifices.

After retirement in 1991, Margaret had the opportunity to travel extensively in Canada, the US and Europe. Always up for an adventure, she loved exploring beaches, mountains and big cities. Spending extended periods of time in Hungary, she was able to re-connect with her siblings and became a favourite aunt to their children.

Margaret was very proud of her family and particularly loved celebrating milestones and special occasions. Her grandchildren always had a fun tour guide in Toronto. She took them everywhere, sharing her love of the arts (concerts, plays and museums) and exploring the sights of Toronto.

She was a representative of a bygone era: writing notes to family with beautiful penmanship, including nuggets of wisdom or admonitions carefully enclosed in loving messages. She kept her place immaculately clean and exquisitely decorated. She was the ultimate host. Always very elegantly dressed, Margaret was a fabulous cook, a passionate gardener and an accomplished craftperson, enjoying sewing, knitting, crocheting and needlepoint. She was also an eloquent speaker. An eclectic reader, Margaret enjoyed a variety of genres. Her favourite book was Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet. Music was her greatest comfort in her last years of life.

In the first part of her life, she was able to be carefree. She had many friends and jumped into new situations with joy and flair. In the second part of her life, she became more careful and kept her distance. But, regardless of the difficulty of the situation, Margaret remained strong-willed, stubborn and optimistic, willing to face challenges head on.

We love you, miss you and will always remember you. Nagyon szeretünk Téged!

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In lieu of flowers, donations to The Angel Foundation for Learning are gratefully accepted. The foundation

supports TCDSB students with nutrition programs, eyeglasses, EpiPens and other needs.

https://angelfoundationforlearning.org/?page_id=10265

Arrangements to celebrate the life of Margaret Nemes are on hold until all of the out-of-town family are able to travel.