ETHEL KRIZSAN

1910 - 2014

It is with sadness that the family of Ethel Anna Krizsan (nee Panczak) announces her passing on Monday, December 29, 2014 at the age of 104 years and 5 months.
Relatives and friends were invited to Prayers at Southland Funeral Chapel, 5006 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at 5:00 P.M.
The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church, 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber on Friday, January 2, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. A private burial service was held at the Taber Memorial Garden.
Ethel is survived by her son Bill (Audrey) Krizsan of Barnwell, son-in-law Ralph Thomson of Lethbridge, youngest sister Isabelle (Leslie) Androkovich, ten grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.
Mother was predeceased by her husband Andrew Sr., son Andrew Jr., daughter Ethel Thomson, granddaughter Connie Spittal, parents John and Julia Panczak, sisters and brothers-in-law Julia (Frank) Jablonkay, Teresa (Louis) Molnar, Caroline (Tom) Kaytor, Elizabeth (Frank) Goulle, brother John (Helen) Panczak and infant brother Bert as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
Ethel was born on July 24, 1910 in Emod, Borsod Megye Hungary to parents John and Julia Panczak. Mother arrived with her family as a young eighteen year old woman to Grassy Lake, on March 1, 1928 on a snowy spring morning – to the waiting home of her sister Julia and Frank Jablonkay who had emigrated earlier. The harsh prairie spring that greeted her left a lasting impression and for the remainder of her life and she wistfully lamented to return to southern Europe and the home of her youth. She and her husband Andrew Sr. were able to travel to visit family in Hungary ten times between 1959 and 1985 where they renewed loving family ties and friendships.
Following her whirlwind engagement (three days) she married her husband of fifty six years in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Calgary on November 12, 1928 whereupon they travelled to Andrew’s homestead in Lac La Biche, Alberta. The northern years were difficult times but the loving friendships they developed lasted a lifetime. After seven years, and the birth of two sons (Andrew and Bill), they moved to the Barnwell area in 1935 where they purchased a farm and raised their family which now included a daughter (Ethel). She and Grandpa retired to Taber in 1965 where she lived in the home they had built with their own hands until her ninety sixth birthday.
Grandma was an amazing cook – her bread, doughnuts, soups, pastries, cabbage rolls and homemade Hungarian food created memories for her entire family of their home being full of family and friends gathered for all types of celebrations including Christmas, Thanksgiving, graduations, birthdays, weddings and any other reason which would bring them together.
Ethel was active in the Taber Hungarian Society and helped cook for many of the old fashioned Hungarian wedding feasts held in and around Taber. She organized young people and put on plays and taught traditional Hungarian dancing. She was also a long time member of the St. Augustine’s Catholic Women's League.
Grandma had, even until the day she passed, an incredible memory of her life. From memories of her father being wounded in World War One and suffering in a prisoner of war camp, to her youth (she never kissed not even one single boy), to her immigration to Canada and her many travels back to the old country.
Great Grandma was always well dressed and knew that you were not ready to appear in public unless your coordinated outfit included a hat, purse and shoes and lots of jewelry. Until her passing she never went to dinner without being stylishly dressed.
During her 104 years of life she witnessed countless changes to the world around her. As she witnessed and experienced these changes her family remembers most her many prayers on their behalf, her unchanging faith in Jesus Christ and her unfailing devotion to her God.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Ethel’s name may be made directly to St. Augustine’s Catholic Church (Youth Ministry), 5009 - 48 Avenue, Taber, Alberta T1G 1T4.