Alex Sr. and Alex Jr.

My memories of Maria are plentiful as we met in school in Winnipeg.

There were lots of laughs and some tears. My favorite memories are

our camping trips to Gallagher Lake and Waterton Lakes and our

visits in each other’s homes. She is at peace now with her mother

and her daughter.

Alex (Jr) I'd like to express our heart felt sympathy, so sorry to hear of your loss.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Neil Besler & Brenda Lewis

Alex (Jr) our heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your mom. We know how much your mom and dad mean to you.

“Mothers hold their children’s hand for a while, but hold their hearts forever.” (Author unknown)

Lots of love Shelly & Marv Smith

Susan Van Loon (formerly Susan Szegedi)

Maria and I met when we were five years old in Hungary. Our mothers were best friends, and we became best friends as well. After the revolution in Hungary in 1956, Maria and her family escaped and ended up in Winnipeg, Canada. My family alslo escaped about the same time, and knowing that Maria's family had settled in Winnipeg, we decided to join them.

Maria and I were very close for the next 7 years until I moved to the US, but even then we kept in touch. The most memorable moments that I remember is when she and I were around 15, (our birthdays were one day apart), we started to experiment with makeup. Our mothers told us we looked like clowns, but we thought we were gorgeous! In the summer we loved going camping, and soaking up the sun.

I will always have loving memeories of Maria, and even though I haven't seen her in many years, I still remember all the good times.

Alex, we hope we can find the words to express how sorry we are for the loss of your wife Maria, but there are not any that will easy your pain, so from far away, we will share that pain with you.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, your son, and the rest of your family.

With love

Julio and Luz Elena Villegas.

Maria and I met in kindergarten in Hungary. We kept in touch most of our lives because our destinies were intertwined. My oldest memory of her was when I was about six years old. At Easter, it was customary for little boys to give a batch of violets to little girls accompanied by a verse, then sprinkle some some perfume on her. I was reluctant to do it but my mother insisted on it and it has always been my fondest memory of Maria.

In 1956 when the revolution in Hungary opened the floodgates for refugees, her family moved to Winnipeg, Canada via Austria and our family followed them shortly. My father and Maria's father were close friends. We spent many years together as kids, then teenagers. Our family moved to California in 1965 but my wife, Ildiko, and I visited them in Calgary in 1978 for a New Year's celebration where Ildiko took a pregnancy test. It was positive and our only daughter, Jessica, was born in August.

I am 75 years old now and cherish a life filled with fond memories.

Our thoughts are with you Alex and Alex Jr. on the loss of your very beloved wife and mother Maria. We know how much of a cornerstone she was to you both during all the challenges life manages to interject, and to suggest she will be irreplaceable is an understatement.

Cherish your memories and allow those memories to steer you through these difficult times.

Dave & Arlene