Magdalena Anna Nemeth

She was born to her parents, Veronica (Piak) Vilagos and Joseph Vilagos, both from Hungary and both passed in 1973. She is predeceased by her brothers, Joseph Vilagos, Attila (Irene) Vilagos, Istvan Vilagos, and sisters, Irene Bertram and Rose Illes. She is survived by one brother, Laci (Aranka) Vilagos, and one sister, Matild Szucs.

She leaves numerous nieces and nephews in Hungary, including a special niece, Ilboya Nagy, who she spoke often with and visited many times.

Magdalena was predeceased by her first love, husband, and father of her daughters, Steve Nemeth. They spent 26 years together and were married until Dad passed away in 1984.

She was also predeceased by her second love, Miklos Nemeth. They spent 32 years together until he passed away in 2016.

Hopefully she has been reunited with both of these souls, and her family are all rejoicing.

Mourning her loss are her three daughters, Zsuzsanna Nemeth, Gloria (Daryl) Gordon, and Victoria Nemeth. In addition, she leaves seven amazing granddaughters, Sarah (Joey) Keys, Jessica (Cody) Price, Emily (Brian) Levy, Julia (Robert) Biddlecombe, Marina McLellan, Gabrielle McLellan, and Veronica (Jeremy Budd) McLellan. She always thought it was funny to tell the kids that breaded fish was really “chicken of the sea” and that she tricked them into eating it - she still laughs about it.

There are also eight great-grandchildren – they were the sunshine of her later years. Emma and Olivia Keys, Bennett and Evelyn Price, Hunter and Miles Levy, and Hannah and Nora Biddlecombe.

Magdalena was very proud of her family unit.

She leaves many friends in the Hungarian community, where she has spent many years attending events and dances. She leaves a couple of very close and dear friends and neighbours, Kati Fernci and Angela and Tony Cuzzulo, whose friendships have endured over 50 years. There are too many cups of coffee and cards games to mention but they were all enjoyable and required. Pam and Donald McLellan have both been immense help and great friends, just like family to us. You can’t have a week go by without mom yelling “hello” to them from the balcony. She also had a niece in the neighborhood, Andrea Szucs.

Magdelena was born at the start of WWII, and she grew up with eight brothers and sisters where they lived in harsh conditions in a small community. In 1956, during the Hungarian revolution, Magdelena was only 17 when she left Hungary. She made her way to Italy for a short time until Steve Nemeth sponsored her to come to Canada as a refugee. She was only given $5.00 by the Red Cross and often spoke about how little she started off with in Canada. Magdelena and Steve eventually got married and settled down to raise three daughters.

Magdelena worked hard at a young age, raising three girls. She was involved with the school committees and activities and the Tuxedo Community Hall. She loved the skating nights and lived for bingo.

Magdelena enjoyed time with her neighbours. When her daughters started school, Magdelena spent a few years working as a security guard at the airport and brought home many unbelievable stories. She then took on a career in lighting. She loved the people and being in sales and she worked in lighting until she took a position with Canada Post at the main terminal. She had worked there until she hurt her back and had to have surgery which ended her career. This became a very difficult time as Steve also passed away around the same time.

Magdelena met Miklos and they spent the following 32 years together. She enjoyed all the camping and fishing trips with friends or just the two of them. There were many card nights around fires, and they enjoyed their dance nights at the Hungarian hall. They also took a few trips together to Hungary to visit both of their families. Sadly, she lost her second love in 2016.

Magdelena has enjoyed countless dinners and events with family over the years. Her family has always been grateful for all of the time they had together. She enjoyed being able to walk next door to family gatherings at Gloria’s. She spent many years living with Sue, watching shows, playing cards, and building puzzles together.

She enjoyed traveling to Hungary, visiting relatives, embracing her home country, and bringing gifts to those she saw. She always tried to stay connected to her Hungarian family overseas. She was generous with loved ones, helping out others when needed, and over the years she had brought many family members for a visit to Canada and always enjoyed having them and sharing her life here.

Mom has enjoyed many trips around the world, whether it was to Vancouver to visit Victoria and enjoy the seawall walk, or if it was to Macedonia with Victoria and her daughters to check out the sights and to Turkey to have some Turkish ice cream and sit in a hotel built for the Sultan. She enjoyed every moment, she was a true diva.

In the last year or so Mom had said, "I have lived a good life, I have no complaints, I would not change anything. My life has been good to me – I’m just peachy.”

Safe Travels Mom,

Love you, from your entire Family

A Memorial Service will be held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Monday, September 28, 2026 at 2 p.m.

This obituary has been authorized by the family for posting on Foster’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home’s website. As such, it is protected against any form of reproduction or redistribution without prior consent from the family.