Maria Barna

Maria Therese (Szakonyi) Barna, fondly known as "Marika" of Hallandale Beach, Florida, formerly of Hollywood, passed away on Monday, May 18, 2015, one day after her 79th birthday at Kindred Hospital in Hollywood. She fought the good fight following a lengthy valiant battle with cancer.

She was born in Kecskemet, Hungary on May 17, 1936 to Michaly and Maria (Toth) Szakonyi. At the age of 20, Marika became a freedom fighter during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 and escaped to Vienna, where she met and fell in love with her husband, Joseph Barna. In an interview for the local newspaper, Maria explained "I like the American people, they're liberal, very human, and very nice. I came to this country to enjoy freedom, because freedom is the greatest thing in our lives. If you don't have freedom you have nothing to live for." From Vienna, they both migrated to Toronto, Canada where they married and raised three children. During the 1960's Maria resumed training in the medical field in Toronto, first at Toronto General Hospital, and then in private medical clinics.

In 1977, Maria and her family moved to Hollywood, Florida and then to Hallandale Beach where she was well known in the medical community as a dedicated compassionate physicians' assistant, x-ray technician, and then clinical nurse.

Survived by her loving children and grandchildren and her former husband, Joseph Barna Sr. - oldest daughter, Melinda Rooke, her children, Lia and Tasha Rooke; her son, Joseph Barna Jr, his wife Lori Barna, and their son, Ryan Barna, and her youngest daughter, Emese Barna and her husband, Larry Hebert. Maria will also be missed by her family in Hungary: her sister Klara Vincze, her beloved brothers Michaly and Jeno Szakonyi and their surviving children, and her dear friend, Ernest Schoff.

Visitation is on Thursday, May 21st from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Fred Hunters Hollywood Memorial Home, 6301 Taft Street, Hollywood. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 22nd at 11am at St. Teresia of Little Flower Catholic Church, 1805 Pierce Street, Hollywood. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial will follow at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Cemetery.