Obituary of Mr. Istvan Szakaczki
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved István (Steven) Szakáczki, age 87, on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at Humber River Hospital in Toronto.
István was born on December 28,1936 in Szikszó, Hungary to the late Rozália Kocsis and Elemér Szakáczki, and lived a remarkable life, filled with many wonderful blessings.
Early Years in Hungary
During WWII, at the age of five, while his father was away fighting in the war, István and his mother both contracted Typhus disease. They were extremely sick and suffering terribly. Their living conditions were cold and damp, and they were starving. They were in constant prayer for their protection as they never knew when a bomb might hit their home. The doctor remorsefully told them he had no medicine to give them as it had all been destroyed. All he could do was tell them that their lives were in God’s hands. By the Grace of God, they survived.
In his late teens István bravely saved the life of a friend, who was drowning in an icy river. His rescue was followed by a heroic march, over a great distance, with his friend on his back. During that long journey their wet clothes had frozen together, even forming icicles. István risked his life to save his friend. This is the essence of who he was.
István was a true Hungarian patriot. At the age of twenty he participated in the 1956 Hungarian Uprising against the Communist Occupation of his beloved country, where many risked their lives in the fight for freedom.
Just a few years later István married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Erzsébet) Palkó on August 12, 1961. Soon after, this wonderful couple was blessed with three beautiful children and their life as a family began.
Leaving Hungary
Wanting to give their children a safer and happier life, they made a pivotal decision in 1971 to courageously escape from Communist Hungary. With three young children at the tender ages of 8, 6 and 3, despite great risk and with their faith in God, they fled.
Although fearful and uncertain, never knowing whether they would succeed in their escape, or be captured and sent back, they pressed forward. Leaving behind their family, friends and all their possessions they made their way to Italy as refugees. After spending a year in two different refugee camps in Italy, the family was granted legal immigration status to Canada, where they made their future home.
A New Life in Canada
When the family arrived in Canada, István was faced with a new challenge. His Hungarian teaching degree was not accepted in Canada and he had to attend university once again to get a Canadian teaching degree. While studying hard at university he also held down all kinds of odd jobs to support his family. He wasn’t afraid of hard work - he worked as a Beekeeper’s assistant, a door-to-door salesman, a truck/auto body repairman, a landscaper and a restaurant busboy. Once he received his teaching degree in Canada, he started supply teaching before landing his full-time teaching position. He kept upgrading his skills and added librarian and computer/technology teacher to his repertoire.
István had a passion for photography. As a result, our family is left with a wonderful and comprehensive photo journal of our lives, our experiences and all the places that we have traveled to. His portraits of his daughter, her wedding and the priceless images of his grandson helping his baby sister take her first steps ... are among the many cherished gifts he leaves behind. He eventually became a sought-after wedding photographer, while still teaching.
Later in life István and Elizabeth purchased a 50 acre property in Bancroft, Ontario, where they lived for twelve wonderful years enjoying the beauty of “God’s country”. István loved riding his tractor, chopping trees, tending to his chickens and tapping trees for maple syrup. He was an avid hunter and loved to take his favorite hunting dog Vezér on his hunting trips. Most of all he loved experiencing the beauty of Bancroft with his wife and family - swimming in the lake, hiking in the forest and enjoying campfires in the evening. Their home in Bancroft was a beautiful haven where István and Elizabeth loved hosting family and friends.
A Man of Character
István was a very loving husband and a great Father. He was also a very fun and endearing grandfather and great-grandfather, and had a special love for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. For his grandson, Peter, he planned and prepared weekly to teach him to speak Hungarian for many years. He loved to read stories to his young grandchildren and even made a recording, so they could hear the stories when they returned home.
He had a very generous heart and was always willing to help his family in any way that he could. Always going above and beyond. He was an upright and honorable man, good to the core and always honest. He was indeed a gentleman. He loved God and faithfully attended Church with his wife. He had an awesome sense of humour and a charming wit, and loved to make people smile and laugh. He was so friendly and outgoing, and wherever he went he filled the room with joy. To the very end he never complained about anything.
His Final Days
Most recently, István was so excited about our planned family reunion and vacation in Bancroft. It was a familiar place (up North) where they had lived for 12 years, a long time ago. Unfortunately, he suffered a major stroke just five days before the family gathering and was not able to attend. It was something he was so excited about and had already packed his bags for. He was truly blessed to be surrounded by his entire family in the hospital. It was a special Grace from God that we could all be together during his last days. Through it all he never lost his sense of humor, his sweet smile, nor the love in his beautiful eyes. We are all so very grateful to have shared our lives with such a kind and loving soul, who left the world a better place. We miss him more than words can say, and we are consoled that through his faith he entrusted himself to the loving embrace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
His Surviving Family
István is survived by his beloved wife, Elizabeth, his 3 children, Liz Braman (Brian), Reverend Father Steven Szakáczki, Tibor Szakáczki (Frances). Grandchildren: Gavin Braman (Kristy), Chelsea Andrades, (Theo) and Peter Szakáczki. Great grandchildren: Remi Braman, Wesley Braman and Bodhi Andrades, His brother, János Szakáczki who lives in Hungary with his wife Marika Szakáczki and their three children, Enikö Riedl, Monika Szakáczky and Istvánka Szakáczki.
