Obituary of Elek SZABO

November 3, 1918 – April 15, 2021

In his 102nd year, Elek/Papa/Nagypapa died peacefully at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, AB, after a short battle with cancer. Despite the pandemic restrictions, it was a blessing for the family to be able to be with him.

Elek, son of Anna and Pal Szabo, was born on November 3, 1918, in the small village of Gor, Hungary. This was eight days before the armistice that ended WWI and the year of the Spanish Flu pandemic. He was the youngest of four children. Elek attended grade school in Gor, where he had his eye on a pretty girl named Maria. He told her that he would marry her one day and he did. They were married for fifty-two years.

In 1957, they immigrated to Canada during the Hungarian Revolution. With one suitcase in hand and four children, they fled to Austria, travelled to Genoa, Italy and boarded the SS Venezuela ship to Halifax. They were taken to Winnipeg and then on to their final destination of Calgary. Here, Elek and Maria established a new home for their family and took great pleasure in watching the family grow. There are countless family events and celebrations that will remain in our hearts and minds indefinitely.

Papa lived a full, eventful, passionate, and adventurous life. He was witness to, and a participant of, ten decades of world events. No matter what he did, there was always a sparkle in his eye. He was always an independent soul with a passion for gardening. Papa worked for the City of Calgary Parks and Recreation for many years until his retirement. He worked in the gardens of Riley Park, the City Greenhouses, and the Devonian Gardens. He always had his own garden and offered his green thumb expertise and labor to the gardens of family and friends. This prevailed until last year, as he created and maintained vegetable gardens around Aspen Lodge, where he resided for the past seventeen years.

Papa was always a willing and enthusiastic participant - whether it was a game of tennis, table tennis, cards, biking, or climbing the stairs of the Calgary Tower and Bow Building for the annual Wilderness Climb. At the age of 99.5 years, he achieved his final climb. Papa was an entrepreneur as he invested in several properties in Calgary. He was a social butterfly with a love of being around people enjoying wine, food, and sharing stories. Throughout the years, Papa travelled back to Hungary several times and visited family and friends in Canada and the U.S., with Palm Springs being a winter destination for a number of years.

It was a difficult transition for Papa when his beloved Maria passed away. Over a period of time, he re-acquired the mischievous sparkle in his eyes and zest for life. At Aspen Lodge, he established many new friendships, including his companion, Zubi.

No matter where Papa went and who he encountered, he made a lasting impression. In the end, with the final curtain, Papa’s life can be simply expressed as Frank Sinatra sang, “I did it my way!”

He will be deeply missed by his daughter Gabriella (predeceased by Laszlo) Feher, son Carl (Linda) Szabo, daughter Theresa (Tony) Lui, daughter Sylvia (Chris) Armstrong, his grandchildren, Les Feher, Victoria Smith (Marc Norlin), Greg (Stacey) Szabo, Andrea Szabo (Brendan Morrissey), Jeesin (Jim) Bloomfield, Jeremy Armstrong, Michael (Sarabeth) Lui, Victoria (Brandon) DeSimone, Jessica Armstrong, and Jacqueline Armstrong; and his great-grandchildren, Donavan Smith (Madison), Taylor and Shannon Szabo, Hannah, Lucy, and Madeline Bloomfield, Xavier and Hugo Morrissey, Noah and Lily DeSimone, and Benjamin Lui. Papa’s spirit and passion for life will continue through his family.

Elek was predeceased by his loving wife Maria Simon, his siblings, Regina, Ferenc, and Istvan; and several other relatives in Hungary and North America.

A Private Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, April 23, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Silvera at Aspen Lodge. It became a home away from home for our Papa. The family also wishes to thank the staff of Unit 61 at the Foothills Medical Centre for the compassionate care that was given during Papa’s short stay there. If friends so desire, memorial tributes in memory of Elek may be made directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation, c/o Tom Baker Cancer Centre, 1331 - 29 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2N 4N2 Telephone: 1 (866) 412-4222. www.albertacancer.ca/memorial. 

In living memory of Elek Szabo, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 CENTRE STREET NORTH, CALGARY, AB T2E 2V6, Telephone: 403-243-8200.