Eti Balazs-Piri went to be with her Lord from the Peace Arch Hospital, White Rock, BC. She had a strong will and spirit, but her body could no longer keep up with her.
She was born December 16, 1939, in Horgoš, Hungary to Pista and Margit Balazs-Piri. She grew up in a family of twelve children, at a time of unrest in Europe during WWII, her father worked as a butcher while her mother cared for the children and helped with the business occasionally.
In her late teens, she married Attila Ferenczi, a young soldier in the Yugoslavian Army. With unrest in Yugoslavia (now Serbia) her husband was forced to leave for weeks on end, as she stayed home alone with a new baby and felt the loneliness and fear as many women did in a small village at that time.
Feeling the need to leave Europe, to a country with opportunity and a promise of freedom, the family applied for vacation time, escaped to Italy and stayed in a refugee camp; where they waited a year for approval to come to Canada.
While they landed in Halifax, their destination was Toronto where her husband had family. On a trip out to Vancouver, the family pulled in to find it warm enough for t-shirts and short sleeves in December. That was all it took and Burnaby, BC welcomed them for several years until finding their way to Abbotsford for a greater part of Eti’s future. While there they started a business together, Abbotsford Transmission, but Eti soon found herself alone and responsible for three children.
In the next forty years she was known for building businesses. First, she opened the city’s beloved Renaissance Fine Arts and Antiques, on the weekends she enjoyed attending the Hungarian church in Vancouver and treasure hunting at antique auctions, looking for store inventory, with her youngest children.
Finally, her dream of becoming a jeweler came true when Eti opened Abbotsford’s well known Renaissance Discount Jewelry and Fine Arts, a place that she joyfully taught her children how to run a business by having them help in the store. Etelka surprised the city by encouraging her youngest at just 13 years old to start a business of her own, a party shop that the young teen opened next door to the Jewelry Store. Eti also enjoyed flipping properties and made a successful life for her and her children. She always worked very hard during the day, still making the time to clean, cook, and bake at night.
In her final years of retirement, she moved to White Rock, finding a place that would give her a beautiful view of the ocean. Another lifelong dream of hers.
Eti is survived by her son Attila Jacob Ferenczi (Gertrude) in Abbotsford, his son Matthew (Lydia) in Vancouver.
Her daughter Ildiko (Dan Caldwell) White Rock, their son Daniel and daughter Destiny.
Eti was proud of her children and was extremely happy connecting with her grandchildren; watching them grow and becoming intelligent, talented people.
Her remaining siblings Erzsi, Rozsika, Zoli, Gabor and Denes; are in Europe, Ontario and BC. Many nieces and nephews are spread around the world.
Eti was predeceased by her son David Ferenczi who passed away at 18 years old of a tragic workplace accident in 1987. This her greatest heartbreak of which she never recovered. She is also predeceased by her parents and siblings Ferri, Joszka, Margit, Irene, Pista and Laci.
The Funeral Mass will be Tuesday, 12th July 2022; 11:00 am at Good Shepard Church, 2250 150 St, Surrey, BC. Light refreshments will be served at the Church followed by internment at Musselwhite Cemetery, 35301 Old Yale Rd, Abbotsford, BC.
Condolences for the family may be left at www.kearneyfs.com.