SZILAGYI, Thresea

SZILAGYI THRESEA “JOAN” SZILAGYI formerly of Lethbridge, beloved wife of Gyorgy “George” Szilagyi passed away peacefully at the Peter Lougheed Health Centre in Calgary after a brief illness on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at the age of 90 years.
Thresea Joan Walsh was born on December 17th, 1932 at home in Dunboyne, County Meath, Ireland to Martin & Theresa (Healy) Walsh. It was a Saturday.
Joan was the fourth child and first daughter of eleven children. Her father was a sergeant in the Irish Guards, and her family moved several times over her childhood. She spoke fondly of her freedom in those days: “running wild in the hills” with her brothers and her joy of being surrounded by nature. At the age of seventeen, Joan left for nursing school in Yorkshire, England. She subsequently received her midwifery degree and worked in the inner city of Glasgow, which she found very rewarding. Tired of the grey and wet weather, Joan decided to immigrate to Canada with a close friend. They departed on the SS Arcadia, arriving in Montreal on June 9, 1959, and proceeded by train to Alberta.
Joan was awestruck by the Rocky Mountains and decided to settle in Calgary. At the German Canadian Club, where Joan and her friends attended weekly dances, she met George Szilagyi, who had recently immigrated from Hungary. On November 24th, 1962, after a three-month courtship, Joan and George married, honeymooned in Banff, and moved to Lethbridge. They started a family that grew to include four children.
Joan was the foundation of family home life, leaving an indelible, life-long and positive impression on all her children. The love she had for them was palpable; her default mood was cheerful and industrious, fun and warmhearted. By example alone, she taught the importance and power of caring and empathy, and not judging a book by its cover. She modeled strength and resiliency in the face of life’s challenges. Unfailingly polite and hospitable, she had a genuine interest in everybody she met, and showed great generosity of spirit. She loved to laugh, and laughed often, as much at herself as anything. Her children would go to her for encouragement, knowledge and advice. She was always their biggest supporter.
When grandchildren arrived, Joan felt too young to be a “granny” and became “Nagy mama”. She showed each of them the same devotion, always with a quiet word of appreciation, a gentle manner, and undeniable love. She will be deeply missed by her grandchildren: Adriana, Fiona, Andrew, Elijah, Rain, Grace and Cache.
Joan was a lifelong learner: she sought out new knowledge, experiences and adventures as a matter of course. She loved flowers, birds, gardening, walking, reading, crossword puzzles and sitting outside on the swing. Joan was a great conversationalist and was always ready with a relevant fact or anecdote over a cup of tea. Musical by nature, she was quick with a snippet of a song or a bit of verse as it came to mind and was an enthusiastic member in several church choirs. Joan was a woman of great faith, very active in her church community, and a lifetime member of the CWL. She especially enjoyed time spent working with the sisters at the Martha Retreat Centre. She tirelessly gave her time, energy and efforts to help others wherever there was a need.
After George’s passing last July, Joan moved to Calgary where she received compassionate care from the staff at Scenic Acres Retirement home and most recently at Holy Cross Manor. Although she was having memory issues later in life, she remained her wonderful self, and her family gratefully had her, and she had them, until the end. Her heart took its last beat, and she slipped away peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of January 28, 2023. She was ready. It was a Saturday.
Joan is survived by her children: Maria (Gene), James, George Jr (Sharla) and Martina (Jeff) Szilagyi, her siblings: Francis (Irene) Walsh, Maura Pedersen, Peter (Bridget) Walsh, Sal Connellan & Imelda Funk. She was predeceased by siblings: Dorothy Strom, Derek, Bernie, Bob, John and infant Martin Walsh.
Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and very dear. Slán go fóill. (Bye for now)
A Prayer Vigil will be held at CORNERSTONE FUNERAL HOME, 2825 – 32 Street South, Lethbridge, AB, on Sunday, February 19, 2023 at 7:00 P.M. with Sharon Hagel officiating.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH, 2405 – 12 Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB, on Monday, February 20, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Father Kevin Tumback celebrating.
Both the Prayer Vigil and Funeral Mass will be live-streamed and may be viewed through Joan’s obituary on the Cornerstone website.
In lieu of flowers and in memory of Joan, donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

To send a condolence, please visit www.cornerstonefuneralhome.com