John (Janos) Szirony passed away on April 5, 2013 in New Westminster at age 81. He was born December 15, 1931 in Szarvas, Hungary.
In 1956, he and his wife Elizabeth, who was eight and a half months along with their first child, fled from Hungary to Austria as refugees from the Hungarian Revolution. Soon after, his daughter was born in Vienna. He emigrated to Canada shortly after and for five years lived in Montreal where he had a second daughter and worked as an auto mechanic. Eventually he moved to Vancouver, BC with his young family. There he owned and operated an automotive garage, as well as becoming a ski instructor at Grouse Mountain. In 1971 he met his second wife, Carolyn and moved out of the city to Yarrow, BC where he raised five more children.
John had many interests and pursued them with a passion. He had a love for flying and taught hangliding while working toward a pilot’s license. He eventually was able to teach both flying and skiing, dividing the year between the two. In his spare time he enjoyed ballroom dancing and building ultralight aircraft.
John was a proud Hungarian and never forgot his roots, but he loved Canada and the life he was able to build here. He was predeceased by his wife Carolyn and his sons Christopher and Arpad. He is survived by his brother, George; his children Aniko, Gabriella, Matthew, Katalin and Melanie and his grandchildren: Brianne, Tamara, Sean and Sydney.
A graveside service will be held on Friday, April 12, 2013 at 2:00 pm at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Sardis, BC.