Elizabeth Horvath

BACKGROUND

Betty was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. She lived in Scarborough, Canada. She was a hard worker and was the Supervisor of Payroll for Academic Press in Don Mills, Canada.

HOW WE MET

In 1982, I was working at Occidental Chemical on Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls, NY. Every Friday I would go with some of the girls and guys in the department to a beer call just down the road at The Red Jacket Inn (now the Crown Plaza). The bar had about 15 stools and was separated by a half wall where tables and chairs were set.

We always took a table and ordered our drinks. While sitting there, 2 girls walked in and sat at a table in front of me. I looked at one of them and commented to my friends, “Holy shit, I think I’m in love!”

I wanted to go over and introduce myself but…. every opening line sounded so phony (as I used them so many times before!) While I’m contemplated this there was a fly buzzing around the table (it was a warm June afternoon). As I’m thinking of an introduction, I kept swatting that fly away from my two Black Velvet and ginger ale drinks. I swatted it one more time and knocked over both my drinks which fell to the floor and shattered. The place clapped. I got up from my chair and walked over to the girl and said: “Do you mind if I sit here; some asshole at the other table spilled drinks.” My very first line! And that is how we met.

WE DATED

After we “met”, I found out that she was Canadian and was down with her girlfriend to enjoy the sights as the Canadian dollar was worth 10% more than the USD (hasn’t been that way since!) So, I took them sightseeing of the falls and other surroundings. I asked for a date, and she agreed but she was going back home and I would have to come up to Canada. I agreed. When I got home that evening, I called the four girls I was dating (two in Buffalo, NY, one in Montreal, CA and one in Tullahoma, TN) and told them I can’t see them anymore: I’m in love! Every weekend I would drive 110 miles to Scarborough. I even bowled in her 5-pin league!

WE MARRIED

After about a year we knew we were in love and wanted to get married. We talked to the US Embassy in Toronto, and they told us to apply for a Fiancée Visa. We did that and received the Visa in about two months.

Now we have to play the wedding. We decided that we will have the wedding at the place we met: The Red Jacket Inn. So, we invited 20 friends from Canada and 20 friends from Buffalo. We told the reception desk that we would like to have all the Canadian guests on the same floor and offer each of them their choice of a bottle of wine or whiskey on us. AND for the party afterwards for food, we had two Buffalo favorites: Buffalo Wings and Beef on ‘Weck”.

The ceremony was held on February 18, 1984, and we became Mr. and Mrs. Horvath!

All had a great time!

OUR LIFE

Betty was a hard worker. She was the Administrative Assistant at Sportec International (1985 – 1988), Executive Director of the Ken-Ton Chamber of Commerce (1989-1997) and Controller of Comtel (1998-?). She loved to cook and travel. Our vacations took us to The Fingerlakes (Taughannock Falls), Las Vegas, San Francisco (we were there for the 7.0 earthquake!), New Orleans (we stayed in the French Quarter) and Florida.

My golf foursome came down to Myrtle Beach for 5 days twice a year. Betty said she wants to come down and see what Myrtle Beach is like. So, she started coming down with the golf foursome. While we golfed, she went sightseeing in Myrtle Beach. She loved it! We bought a time share condo on 70th Ave. North in Myrtle Beach, one of the Drydock units. When we came down, we booked our condo and stayed for free. The rentals paid for the mortgage. And the more that Betty saw of Myrtle Beach she wanted to move here! So, for the next five years we looked at 100 houses a year, from Murrells Inlet to North Carolina. We chose a lot at Wrens Crossing in Little River and had our house built. We sold our house in Tonawanda and our condo in Myrtle Beach and paid for our new house.

Betty was a traveler. Her and her brother flew to Europe four times to visit relatives in Scotland and also sight see in Italy, England and France.

BEGINNING OF THE END

Around 2021, Betty said she lost her purse at Walmart. Six weeks later she found it in her closet. Next year she called me from Aldi’s. She lost her car keys. I got the spare set and drove to Aldi’s. I found her keys in her purse. It was starting to see that she had the start of dementia. Her symptoms continued to worsen until she could no longer function well at anything. Many called the Paramedics to assist her and take her to the Emergency Room. In March of this year, she was taken to the ER again. I got her into a nursing home but that lasted two weeks as she hit two of the patients. She was transferred to hospice where I was asked to sign a “Do Not Resuscitate” which I did.

On March 31, 2026, I received a call from Jennifer Somers, RN, and she informed me that Betty passed away this morning.

All arrangements taken care of by Lee Funeral Home in Little River, SC.

Betty’s death wish is to be cremated and her ashes to be cast into the ocean.

ONE LAST ITEM

Sometime when we were still dating, a song came on. We looked at each other and hugged and kissed. If we could, we also danced. And we did this all through our lives.

That song: “Always on My Mind” by Willie Nelson.

PS

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

When tomorrow starts without me,

please try to understand, That an angel

came and called my name, and took

me by the hand; The angel said my

place was ready, In Heaven far above,

And that I’d have to leave behind all

those I dearly love. But when I walked

through Heaven’s Gates, I felt so much

at home, for God looked down, smiled

at me, And told me “Welcome Home”.

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don’t think we’re far apart, for every

time you think of me, I’m right

there in your heart.

Lovingly written by the husband.