Eva Karniolova

Mom was born in 1956 in communist Czechoslovakia.

She wouldn’t like that I mentioned politics first, but it’s the truth.

Her parents, Dezider Karniol and Aurelia Karniolova (nee Friedmanova), were Holocaust survivors. From them she inherited resilience, strength, and an unshakable independence.

She taught me about beauty, elegance, hosting, caring, and love. She could be tough, but she was always full of spirit. One of her last words to me was, “Daniela, ti se hrozná,” after I teased her that I’d only give her a grape if she sat up in bed for it. We always laughed together.

Mom worried about me constantly, but she also loved life. She taught me to fend for myself, to give joy, to enjoy my life, and to be honest with myself.

Some of my fondest memories are in the kitchen with her. She didn’t like cooking, but her meals were divine, creative and full of flair. I learned a lot about love in those moments.

She was always beautiful and always up for fun and a good party. She might have been the only librarian in the world who didn’t like to read.

She loved films, theatre, and fashion. As a young artist, her ceramic work was exhibited at Expo 67 in Montreal. Later, she became a realtor, endlessly fascinated by houses and how people lived.

She was an adventurer at heart. According to her “been” app, she travelled to more than 45% of the world, exploring places like Cape Verde, Madagascar, Egypt, and Cambodia.

She laughed easily and spoke her truth. Whenever I told her she was being harsh, she’d reply, “If your mom can’t tell you these things, then who can?”

From an early age, I knew excellence was expected of me. I loved her for teaching me consistency, perseverance, and ambition.

Life had its ups and downs, and she was always there. I could call her about anything, big or small. Once, in university, I cried because I couldn’t assemble an Ikea set. I called her from Ottawa while she was in Toronto, and we ended up laughing at the absurdity of it.

In 2013, we took our yoga teacher training together. Her practice deepened over the years, and she eventually taught in condos and private spaces across the city. She had a luminous spirit, and as one of my friends said, “Eva was one of a kind.”

She leaves behind her partner, Daniel Bradac; her three children, Zuzana Drakul, Daniela Kelloway, and Richard Syrovy; her sister, Olga Karniol; and her four grandchildren, Monti Drakul, Lennon Kelloway, Viiva Kelloway, and Suri Kelloway.

Her journey at the end was fast and fierce - only four weeks from diagnosis to passing. She leaves a hole in our hearts and a sprinkle of her sparkle inside each of us. A beautiful gentle woman with a straightforward nature.

May she rest in peace, and may we honour her by living life to the fullest, now.

~

Mami, Babi, Eva, we love you ❤️

A visitation for Eva will be held Saturday, October 25, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Rosar-Morrison Funeral Home & Chapel, 467 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON M4X1K5.