LENKE SZATHMARY (LEGANY)

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LENKE SZATHMARY (nee LEGANY) Lenke Szathmary passed away, gently and unexpectedly, at home on Thursday, April 4, 2013 in her 92nd year. Beloved mother of Emoke (George Reilly) of Winnipeg, MB, Kara (Judy Riviere) of Panama City, FL and Tunde at home in Welland. She was the beloved Granny of Colleen (Tobias), and Geza (Andrea) as well as "Grannyface" to Draco, Orion and Ursa (Youssef). She was also the proud Dedi of Sasha, Maxwell and Gabriel. She leaves behind loving nieces, nephews and their families in Hungary. She was predeceased by her son Zsombor. Lenke immigrated to Canada in 1951 after six years in a Displaced Persons camp in Germany. Starting off as a farm worker she "graduated" to factory sewing before having her degree recognized and resuming her much loved teaching career in physical education at the St. Catharines Collegiate. Her passion was coaching girls in various sports and enabling them to experience victory in team competitions. She was particularly dedicated to gymnastics, becoming a local, provincial, national and international (brevet) judge. In her most recent years she focused on her needlework and the coming of summer with backyard swimming to the sound of Strauss waltzes she had danced to at balls in her youth. Lenke will be missed by an untold number of friends in Canada and the U.S. Despite a long life, much achievement, the frailty of age let alone recent pain from a fall, we are all loathe to lose her. Our consolation is that she passed to be welcomed by those she loved in life and death. She is free of pain and may be indulging in running like the wind in the endless light. The Funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Hungary Church, Welland, on April 9, 2013. A private Rite of Committal will be at Holy Cross Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her late son Zsombor Szathmary and her former husband Charles (Karoly) Szathmary. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Lenke may be made to The Ontario Gymnastics Federation. Online memories and condolences at www.jjpatterson.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 12, 2013