Piroska Hari (Nee Schneeflock)

Piroska Hari, or Piri as she was known to her dear friends, was born on April 28, 1930, in Szentgotthárd, Hungary along the Austrian border. She married István (Steve or “Pista”) and had two daughters, Phyllis (also Piroska) and Eileen (Ildiko), before fleeing her beloved homeland during the Hungarian Revolution in 1956 which tore her from her parents and siblings. The family of four settled in Toronto, Ontario where she remained until her passing. Her heart never stopped aching for her homeland and the family left behind but her young family was quickly enveloped into an already robust Hungarian community that helped to ease some of her loss.

Piroska built herself and her family a stable home in Toronto, which was welcoming and supportive to refugees and immigrants in the 1950s. Her daughters were immediately sent to elementary school where they had to learn English and acclimate on day one. They soon rose to the head of their classes. Her only son, Steven, was born in 1959 and Adrianne in 1970. Assuming she would be having children of her own soon, no one was more shocked than the newlywed Phyllis when her mother announced the pregnancy months after her own wedding.

Piroska was strong in her determination that her children take advantage of all the new world had to offer. She enrolled them in numerous activities – tennis, hockey, soccer, swimming, and piano lessons, just to name a few, filled up their days. Hungarian school on Saturdays and mass on Sundays kept the younger children, and Phyllis’ children, able to keep up with the language spoken in the home.

Piroska was a force of nature and left an indisputably large footprint in her world. She was renowned for her cooking and baking, and the generosity with which she baked, for friends, neighbors, and the Hungarian community, by whom she was asked to provide cakes and pastries for endless weddings, showers and parties. Piroska’s “breakfast parties” following the community’s annual debutante ball were eagerly anticipated. She was especially famous for her krémes, rumos torta and mákos beigli, just to name a few. At one point, her children suggested opening a family bakery.

Piroska was also an incredibly gifted seamstress who loved to sew and made many remarkable dresses and ball gowns. As her reputation grew, friends and strangers arrived at her doorstep with requests for gowns and wedding dresses. It was not unusual to find her sewing late into the night on her old Singer sewing machine. She complemented her baking and sewing skills with a talent for numbers, completing the family's tax returns well into her 80s. Not surprisingly, she also devoted countless hours to her beautiful garden. Red geraniums, white petunias and bright gold marigolds adorned her front yard for years.

With what time she had to spare, Piroska devoted herself to St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church, a pillar of Toronto’s Hungarian community. The church was a core component of her life and she threw herself selflessly into any request for service it presented.

The highlight of her life was her seven grandchildren, whom she was able to enjoy over the span of 50 years. Tomi and Suzie came first in the ‘70s. Christine, Alex and Geni followed in the ‘90s, and, finally, Abby and Sophia were born in 2003 and 2006, respectively. Tomi always held a special place in her heart as the only grandson. Her grandchildren will undoubtedly remember her for generous spirit, especially when it came to spoiling them with desserts and her famous pogácsa.

Her husband passed away in 2006, but Piroska’s spunk and determination allowed her to remain in her own home until the age of 90. She entered the nursing home in 2021 after one too many falls and a bout with pneumonia. Her early stay was less than pleasant; she was incredibly sad not to have lost her home and belongings, but because she could not shower her visitors with anything to eat or drink. Having reflected on her long, full life, she would tell her children, “I am so ready to go. Why can’t I die?” Her youngest would reply, “Anyu, God still has big plans for you. We just don’t know what they are,” and they would both laugh.

Piroska passed away peacefully on May 28, 2025, at the age of 95. She will be sorely missed by all who were blessed to have her in their lives. She is survived by her children Phyllis and son-in-law Karl Kovacs of North York, Ontario, son Steven and daughter-in-law Carole Hari of London, Ontario, and daughter Adrianne and son-in-law David Dulio, of Beverly Hills, MI. Her adored grandchildren include Tom and Suzie Kovacs, Christine, Alex, and Geni Hari, and Abby and Sophia Dulio. Piroska has gone to rest with her husband Steve Hari, daughter Eileen.

The family acknowledges the staff at North York General Seniors Health Centre for the care provided over the past two years.

A funeral service will take place on Thursday, June 12th at 11am at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church (432 Sheppard Ave E, North York). Burial will follow at York Cemetery (160 Beecroft Rd, North York).

In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider a donation in Pirsoska’s memory to St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church or North York Seniors Health Centre.