Mary Jane Soos

Mary Jane Soos, age 86, passed away, in peace with courage, at Living Care Summitview Healthcare Center on 22 February 2012 (Ash Wednesday) to be with the Lord, her beloved husband, and other family and friends who preceded her in death.

Mary was born in what is now Kosice, Slovakia (Kassa, Hungary) on 14 February 1926 (Valentine’s Day) to Josef Szotak (a gold and silver artisan) and Maria Laszlo (a homemaker). Being raised in a Hungarian Catholic household, and with her father creating works for the church, she was involved with the local parish from an early age.

At age 9, she had her first communion. A year later, she lost her mother due to complications encountered during a pregnancy. She was drawn even closer to her faith, was a daily attendee at Mass, and cemented friendships with fellow students who would become life-long friends and spiritual guides. Her father remarried, but a short time later, Mary lost her second mother under tragic circumstances. Mary became even more involved with her friends who were teaching young children about the Lord. She counted among her friends, Ida, Hermine, Cornelia, Eva, and several others. With Sister Ida Peterfy’s immense spiritual strength and leadership, the nascent organization grew gaining support from several communities. Mary attended university in Szeged graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Administration and Commercial Science including a teacher’s certificate. During this period, her father married for a third time. She returned to Kosice and became part of the team involved with day-to-day operations of the established religious organization formed by her friends.

During this time, WWII was unfolding, with carpet bombing of Budapest and other cities in Central Europe by Allied forces. Following the war, the Russians began to extend the Iron Curtain by encircling Central Europe with barbed-wire and mines. Religious organizations were under siege. Mary helped in the exodus of several of the key staff and Jesuit priests to Austria, and then to Canada. In 1951, she and the remaining colleagues, closed down the organization’s local office, destroying papers and records which would have put remaining families, friends, and Jesuit supporters, in peril should the records have landed in the hands of the Communist-run government. On a moonless night, she and a colleague were guided through breaks in fenced and mined territory into Austria. From there she was able to find religious sponsorship and passage to Canada, working for a family for a year in exchange for safe harbor.

During this time, her close friends who had escaped from Hungary were re-establishing their organization in Canada and later would be invited to base themselves in the United States. This organization for religious education is the Sisters of the Society Devoted to The Sacred Heart (S.D.H.S) which has thrived and grown to include offices in the USA (Los Angeles and St. Louis), Taipei, Taiwan, and in Budapest, Hungary. Though Mary did not feel the direct calling to become a nun, she was a missionary of God’s love in her own way. She stayed in close touch with her childhood friends until her death.

After making the decision to pursue other challenges in life, she relocated to Winnipeg, Manitoba where she met and married the love of her life, Alexander Soos, on 17 March 1957 (St. Patrick’s Day). Alex himself had left Hungary with one of the last legal visas in 1949 finding his way to Buenas Aires, Argentina to live and work, with the help of relatives, before later moving to Canada. Ironically, Mary and Alex lived within 1/2-mile of one another while in Budapest, but never met one another until a church dance in Winnipeg. Both learned English from a dictionary and through newly found Canadian and Hungarian friends. They started a family and had two boys. In November 1962, the family moved to Yakima, WA upon Alex having accepted an offer of employment as a Medical Technologist at what is now Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center (formerly St. Elizabeth’s Hospital).

Beginning in 1968, Mary worked as a Central Supply Surgical Instrument Technician also at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. After 20 years of faithful service, she retired with her husband in 1988. They continued to enjoy life together, spoiling their sons, travelling and meeting with friends, until Alex’s sudden passing on 20 October 2002. Mary carried on with her life. She successfully survived lymphatic cancer at age 81 while continuing to live at home. She remained at home until other health issues required her to move to Living Care in October of 2011. She enjoyed making more friends at her new home and was a positive spirit to those she encountered.

Mary loved the arts in general, but especially chorale music and opera. She was a member of the St. Paul Cathedral choir as well as Bell Canto for several years. She enjoyed going to the symphony and had many friends in the local musical and theatrical community. She volunteered in several capacities at St. Paul Cathedral where she was a member for 50 years. She also was a talented oil painter and gave her works to friends and family. Alex and Mary were proud to call Yakima their home. Spring and Fall were their favorite seasons.

Daughter, wife, mother, devoted servant of God, friend, artist, music lover, gardener, friend to all animals, cancer survivor. Those who knew Mary were acutely aware of her kindness to all, her infectious smile, her deep love for the spiritual and physical well-being of children, and her strong devotion to her friends. But many locally may not have known the full and life-long history of her devotion to our Lord Savior, Jesus Christ. Her life was formed by her faith. May she now rest in peace with the Lord.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents and her husband Alexander Soos. She is survived by her sons, Steven Soos (Marysville, WA) and Peter Soos (Salem, OR), nephews, nieces and grand nieces all of Kosice, Slovakia, and additional relatives on Alex’s side in Tahi-Totfalu, Hungary.

The family wishes to especially acknowledge the devoted attention and love of the caregivers, nurses, and facility staff at Living Care Summitview Healthcare Center, Dr. Paul Emmans, Dr. Albert Brady and his staff, Dr. Vani Bremjit, Dr. Erik Monick and Carrie Brewer, PA, the doctors, staff, and colleagues at Yakima Regional Medical & Cardiac Center, Rev. Msgr, John A. Ecker, and all her devoted friends, many who were able to visit, call, or write often, and/or kept her in their prayers.

A visitation and prayer vigil will be held on Thursday, 01 March 2012 at Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Home in Yakima. Viewing begins at 4:00pm and the prayer vigil will begin at 6:15pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00am on Friday, 02 March 2012 at St. Paul Cathedral followed directly by interment at Calvary Cemetery.

In her loving memory, donations are suggested to Sisters of the Society Devoted to The Sacred Heart (S.D.H.S) (www.sacredheartsisters.com), St. Paul Cathedral (www.stpaulyakima.org), or St. Paul Cathedral School (www.stpaulsch.org).