Elizabeth Maria Donas

Born in Budapest, Hungary, during WWII, to Matyas Veres and Iren Szeles, her earliest years were shaped by love amid poverty due to the war and its aftermath. Elizabeth's childhood ended abruptly at age 11 with her father's death. To support her daughters, her mother turned to floristry and enlisted Elizabeth and her younger sister, Iren, to help. Elizabeth quickly mastered the craft of weaving wreaths and creating floral arrangements. When food was scarce, she was sent to wait in lines for bread—a task that taught her determination, as she learned she must push forward to secure sustenance for her family. Her unwavering work ethic, tenacity and drive to better her family’s financial situation were born from these early experiences.

In pursuit of her dreams, Elizabeth left Hungary for the United States in 1970 with her young daughter, Marianna. Unfettered by pride, she worked her way from cleaning homes to owning a restaurant within just a few years. She named it “Csarda” (“inn” in Hungarian) and for over 14 years lived a dual role: by day, a chef in her white coat butchering meat and preparing meals; by night, a glamorous hostess in power suits and heels. Energized by little sleep, she often kept the celebration alive after closing—hosting musicians at the restaurant or venturing out to Studio 54 in her mink coat.

Her free spirit and fearlessness were undeniable. She carried a pistol in her purse and walked New York's streets alone at night without a second thought. This same strength made her the steadfast friend others turned to in crisis. During the early, frightening years of the AIDS epidemic, when many retreated in fear, Elizabeth’s loyalty never wavered. She never turned a friend away, accompanying them to appointments, sitting vigil in hospitals, and later, organizing funerals for those she loved.

Amidst her busy life, she met her future and lifelong partner, George. He first served as her lawyer before becoming her husband in 1978. Their daughter Catherine was born in 1980, and they shared 41 years together until George's passing in 2021. George, hailing from a vibrant Greek background, and Elizabeth, who was never one to withhold her opinion, created a spirited—and often boisterous—home. Beneath the lively clamor, their deep mutual affection was always clear. George affectionately said Elizabeth came with a “money back guarantee,” a testament to her tireless work ethic, while she, in turn, praised his profound intellect.

After selling the restaurant in the early 1990s, Elizabeth and George left city life for Easton, Connecticut. There, she embraced gardening and building their dream home, filling weekends with estate sales and entertaining. Throughout, she remained devoted to her family in Hungary, providing consistent support and care for her mother and sister. This devotion extended to her grandchildren and several other family members, whom she tenderly cared for at the end of their lives without hesitation. Her family was her life force, and nurturing them gave her purpose.

When diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer in 2008, she faced it with characteristic resolve, enduring surgery and difficult chemotherapy without complaint. Her fierce love of life and dedication to her family sustained her for another 17 years—a survival that amazed her doctors.

Above all, she strove to provide her children with opportunities she never had and to instill in them the unwavering principle to never give up.

Elizabeth is survived by daughters Marianna, Catherine (Omar), stepdaughter Daphne (Steve), stepson Harry, grandchildren Gregory and Viktoria, and step-grandsons Brant and Dustin. She was also a cherished aunt to Ildiko. Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband George and her sister Iren.