Ella Irene Neufeld (née Balázs)

Our dearest Ella left us to be with her Heavenly Father on May 21, 2026.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband and love of her life Wally; her parents Miklós (Nick) and Lidia Balázs; her Uncle József Balázs; her Uncle Sándor of Hungary.

Ella is survived by her three daughters Janet, Brenda (David) and Gwendolyn (Tim); her grandchildren Ellie (Doug), Ryan (Lana), Eric, Kevin (Madison) and Trevor (Montana); her great-grandchildren Arthur, Duncan, Sophia and William; her sisters Anne (Bob) and Sara; her sisters-in-law Adena and Irene.

Born in Lethbridge, Alberta on June 14, 1932, Ella was the daughter of Hungarian parents Miklós and Lidia Balázs, who arrived in Canada from Hungary in the late 1920s. She excelled as a basketball player in her youth and was part of the team that won the Alberta Provincial Championship. Ella worked in accounting, where she met Wally, who worked in finance nearby. It was love at first sight. They married in Great Falls, Montana and built a beautiful life together. Wally’s work later transferred the family to Calgary, Regina and finally Prince George--which became their permanent home.

Ella had a beautiful singing voice and sang in the choir for many years. She loved all music and took piano lessons in her life. She also enjoyed sketching animation and had a curious mechanical mind--often taking apart watches and other items just to see how they worked. A devoted Cougars hockey fan with season tickets, she rarely missed a game. She also cherished her beloved dog Blue. One of her greatest pleasures was reading and sitting with Wally in their flower garden in the evenings while watching the hummingbirds.

Special thanks to all our dear friends and family for their compassion, support and prayers during this difficult time.