ELIZABETH SZENDREI (BETSY SZENDREY)

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ELIZABETH SZENDREI (BETSY SZENDREY) December 25, 1915 - March 6, 2010 It is with mixed emotions that we announce that our beloved sister, aunt and friend, Betsy, has left the confines of her impaired mind to be welcomed into the arms of our Father in heaven. She was 94. For her last few years, she had suffered from advanced dementia. Betsy was the second child of Bela and Mary (Lakatos) Szendrei and started life in a dirt floor homestead in Woodridge, MB. She became orphaned at six years old and was subsequently placed under the care of the Grey Nuns in the orphanage which stood next to their historic convent in St. Boniface. Having received a French-Catholic upbringing, she would aspire to become a Grey Nun herself but she was turned down because of health concerns. She accepted the decision with grace and her faith in God never wavered, choosing to remain celibate. She found employment as a waitress at the Fort Garry Hotel, a position she held for 45 years until her retirement at age 65. She won many awards for her work there, enjoyed her work tremendously and made lifelong friends. Her work also permitted her to travel the world. She enjoyed vacationing in Jasper, AB, North America, China, and Europe and going on many cruises. Retirement did not slow her down. As in her working career, she continued to lead a life of service. For nearly 20 years she attended daily Mass, praying for her family and friends. She would then run errands, such as grocery shopping at The Bay and Eaton's, and cater to many other needs of the old people in her block at 185 Smith St. Then, her independence was taken from her by a thug who pushed her to the pavement as she was waiting to cross a downtown street, ostensibly because she was in his way. As a result, she received a broken hip, an injury she never fully recovered from. Now needing nursing care, she had to give up her suite and take up residence at the Taché Centre, successor to the orphanage she had grown up in. During her time there, she continued to be of service, doing small things for her fellow residents and taking them for rides in their wheelchairs. Because of concerns for her safety, she was eventually prohibited from doing this. With nothing to do and diminished human contact, though her body remained strong, her mind eventually failed her. Betsy was a loyal parishioner at St. Mary's Cathedral for over 60 years. Besides her sisters, Irma Robert and Rose Rivers, Betsy leaves to mourn her passing, her nieces, Jeanne (Allan) Hanis and Karen (Merv) Dill, nephews, Denis (Lucille) Robert, Emile (Diane) Robert, Robert Rivers and Warren (Carolyn) Rivers, best friend, Eveline Teillet and her sons, Paul and Léo, as well as grand and great-grandnieces and nephews and her countless friends and recipients of her kindness. Betsy's family would like to thank all her caregivers and staff on 4ABC at the Taché Centre who were so kind to her over the years. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral, 353 St. Mary Avenue in Winnipeg on Thursday, March 18 at 10:00 a.m. Entombment will take place in Assumption Cemetery Mausoleum, 3990 Portage Avenue following the mass. Shoo-shoo-shoo Shelaga, Betsy. LECLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements, 775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 17, 2010