Gizi, I honestly cannot say how I ended up seeing your mother's obituary, but something led me there.  After all these years, let me say how deeply sorry I am for your loss.

Back so many many years ago I remember your mom so well after spending countless childhood days at your house.  I was a newbie to Canada back then and had not experienced the fine hungarian cuisine your mother would prepare, it was years and years later that I finally developed a pallet for other cuisines, I do hope your mother did not take offence.

Seeing her pictures in this obituary, I would still recognize her anywhere, she was a beautiful woman and the outpouring of messages shows how much she meant to people and how deeply she will be missed.

Again, please accept my deepest condolences on the loss of your dear mother.

Donna Bourque (nee Lennie)

        * I have never forgotten how you always made my Christmas’s memorable as a little girl. You leave behind a beautiful family that will carry on your beautiful spirit. Of that, I am sure. RIP Kerestmama❤️ I love  you. 

I knew Grandma was a special person before I met her. One of the first things I learned about Alana was how important her Grandma was to her. And throughout the years, I was fortunate enough to get to know Grandma myself, and experience how special she was firsthand.

With Grandma, you always knew you'd be welcomed with a big smile and a swaying hug (she had too much love to share, she had to sway!). I shared the dance floor with her and dear Donci Baci several times (which of course was loads of fun), but my fondest memory of Grandma was one of the many times I slept over at the Fekete house. I woke up well before Alana, so I decided to go downstairs, and bumped into Grandma in the kitchen. To be honest, I don't even recall everything we spoke about (probably the old country, cooking, the family, etc.), but we chatted about life for about an hour, just the two of us, and I felt like I was sitting in my own Grandma's kitchen. I laugh thinking back on Alana coming downstairs saying, "How long have you two been in here?!" Something we will always laugh about, and cherish.

The love you all have for your Grandma is hard to put into words. The daily respect, affection, and sacrifices you all made to take care of her was truly inspiring. And I know on the flipside, she loved and helped take care of all of you as well.

I have nothing but fond memories of dear Grandma, and send all my love & prayers to the entire family during this difficult time.

All my love & hugs,

- Monica

Mama was the embodiment of love.  You heard it in every “hello”, felt it in every hug and you saw it in the love she had for her family; a love so great that it spilled over to the rest of us that had the honour and the pleasure of knowing her.  That said if Mama had a request saying no would be near impossible.  Such was the case when she said “Mari please come on the cruise with me and Gizi”.  Although I couldn’t agree out right, I did manage to surprise them both on that ship.  The smiles and hugs I got that day were priceless and the memories from that trip, precious. 

Mama, thank you for raising such a wonderful daughter; for inspiring her to be the woman and mother that she is.  You can count on her to carry on your legacy.
We will all miss you and it is with a heavy heart that I say good-bye to such a great lady.


Oh Grema, 

It kills me that I am having to write this here, but I am sure you knew how true all of this is while you were still here with us. 

Anyone that knows me, knows that Grandma is and was a huge part of me. She lived for her family, and she had a special and unique bond with each of us. Growing up, she was always my biggest cheerleader, my best teammate, and the person who always made me feel the best about myself. Nothing in this world could make a problem go away like a hug from grandma. 

Grandma was the sun in our system. She gave off nothing but warmth, and she pulled everything we loved and cared about into her orbit. Our friends became family. Our pets became her companions. Our spouses/partners became her grandkids. Anything that was special to us, was special to her, and she was going to show that same love she showed us to them, because anything that brought us happiness, was the most important thing in the world.

There's a huge hole left in the middle with her passing, but its our job to stick together, show each other the type of love grandma showed us, and fill that with her memories, and the memories we will create together, living each moment the way she lived for us.

I love you so, so, so much grandma. So much of who I am is thanks to you, and I won't go a day without thinking about how lucky I am to have been spoiled with your affection. 

In so many ways grandma was a grandma to me as I grew up. I knew her since I was so young that she informed so much of my childhood and filled so many of my memories. 

One thing I’ll always remember is, always say hi to grandma when you come over! And boy am I happy that was a rule because it was always met with such a warm hello and a big hug! Grandma always made me feel like she was my grandma too. She was there to greet you in the morning after a sleepover, she was there to just hang out and joke around with, and she was there to share in so many celebrations, and I am truly grateful for all the time I got to spend with her. She taught me so much about respect, resilience, family and love. 

Of course I couldn’t leave a memory without mentioning her plum dumplings!! To this day, hands down one of my favourite foods. And she so generously always knew to make a few extra for me! (Of which I marked with a giant “do not eat” sign in my family’s fridge). 

There is no doubt that she will live on through her beautiful family. I see her unconditional love, strength, humour and zest for life in each and every one of you. I will miss her so much. Please know you are all in my heart and that I am sending you all so much love. 

My Grema, 

Anyone who knows me knows that my grandma is my best friend and the person I admire most. Although our last few years  consisted mostly of FaceTime calls where she tried to lure me back from Quebec with schnitzel and kolbasz, every time I came home I was most excited to see my grandma (sorry family). She was a person you always wanted to be around; the life of the party. Although I am heartbroken to see her go, I know she will be with me every day. In moments of joy, laughter sadness - whatever it may be - I will hear and feel echoes of her all around me, I already do. There is never enough time, but we were the luckiest grandkids in the world to have had her in our lives every single day. Love you Grandma ❤️

My dearest darling mother,
I am so blessed to have you as my mother. Nothing can ever change that not even in death. You will always be with me in spirit and in the best seat in the house in my heart. Thank you for loving me and showing us all that there is nothing more important in life than giving and receiving love. I will forever honour you and your warrior spirit.   I love you forever,
Your loving daughter

For the past almost 30 years I have been blessed with so many wonderful memories with my grandma. I will never forget our family vacations to Florida, our family cruises, our trip to Cuba where she forgot to pack shorts, the hours spent in the kitchen together learning how to make Hungarian dishes, the summers spent on the deck just listening to music and chatting, and the endless laughs she provided. No one could make her laugh the way Phil did (dirty jokes and all). My heart is so full of memories from the big moments to the small everyday moments that the list is endless. 

The relationship my siblings and I had with grandma is not something you come across everyday. We grew up in a multi-generation home where we were blessed to see our grandparents everyday. There were no Sunday's at grandmas. For us that was everyday and I never took it for granted. Grandma helped raise us so she was more like a second mother to me. She wasn't grandma or nagymama, she was mama. 

I miss being able to wake up and only have to take a few steps to hug and kiss her good morning and good night. I miss lying in bed with her watching her favourite shows (Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune). I miss hearing her sing White Christmas or Egy Szál Harangvirág. I miss laughing with her. I miss having her with me every single day. 

The love I have for her is immeasurable and beyond words. I will spend everyday of my life missing her but I know she will always be with me. She was the strongest person I have ever known and I hope to carry her strength with me all the days of my life. I love you mama. 


OBITUARY

Gizella Viola

May 1, 1936 – February 9, 2021

Kane-Jerrett Funeral Homes

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