Ana DjetvayNaray
Ana was born in a small village in what is now Croatia to Hungarian parents, Pavo and Rosa. She was the middle of three girls.
The village had three ethnic/language groups: German (Schwab), Croatian and Hungarian. As a result. Ana was fluent in all three languages.
She was somewhat of a tomboy and encouraged by her father, she rode horses, worked hard in the fields and was up to any challenge presented.
During WW II, successive armies (German and Partisan) moved through her village confiscating their food stores and animals. She saw Roma villagers and Jews being taken away never to be seen again. At one point, her father gathered the family and showed them where the family’s gold (ducats and other jewelry) would be buried so that if they were separated, the survivors could come back to claim it.
Many of her German friends’ families moved to Austria while others later made it to Canada.
She married George Naray in 1949 and they had three children-Margita (Margaretta) and the twins, Duka (George) and Ana. Unlike her peasant home, Ana’s new (marital) home had both tiled and wooden floors. Ana also changed from her traditional peasant clothing to modern dress and got rid of her braids.
George and Ana moved to Canada in the late fifties settling first with George’s parents on Augusta Avenue in the Kensington Market area. Sadly, at five years old, littleAna (George’s twin) suffered severe medical problems and died shortly after the family settled in Canada.
Ana soon found work as a cleaning lady for several families. Eventually she became the housekeeper for one family looking after the household in every way including looking after the children. She was a trusted member of the household and set her own hours. She retired when her husband George did.Like many immigrant women, Ana learned to speak English by watching television, especially soap operas.
Within a year, the Narays bought a car and moved into their new home in the Bloor-Landsdowne area of Toronto (on Margueretta St) where they lived for four years. Later they moved to Flamborough Drive in North York.
Ana loved Canada right from the beginning. Life was so much easier-indoor plumbing, running water, washing machine (wringer style) and good health care. Many of her childhood friends and relatives were already in or eventually came to Canada.
After their children married and both families settled in in Aurora, the senior Narays also settled into a home in Aurora across the street from their son’s family’s home. The grandkids and grandparents visited daily. Their daughter and her family eventually moved to Alliston.
When the house was getting to be too much to handle, the senior Narays moved into a condo in Aurora. Eventually, with her husband’s physical needs and dementia as well as her own difficulty continuing to maintain their condo, they moved to Good Samaritan Lodge in Alliston. She and her husband loved it right away. No more worries about meals and later self care. They truly felt at home. Family (clan) gatherings eventually took place in the activity room and outdoor gardens with children, spouses, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends enjoying major events-birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving and summer BBQs.
After her husband George died, Ana often visited him at the cemetery next door. When she was no longer able to do so on her own, staff would sometimes walk her over. She missed George very much. They had spent their entire adult lives together.
Ana died peacefully on December 25 at her home, Good Samaritan Lodge 3 years after her husband who died on December 27, 2017.
Ana is survived by her oldest daughter Margaretta Naray and husband Mel Pyper.
Margaretta’s children Ashley Wheelan (Lulu) and their girls Isabelle and Catherine.
Emily Wheelan (Rich van den Ende) and his daughter Hannah
Beau Wheelan
Mel’s son Jason (Bryonie) and their children Gilbert and Greer
Mel’s daughter Charlene
Her son George J. Naray
His children George Alan Naray (Katie) and their children Easton, Mason and the twins Georgia and Jayce
Nicole Coelho (Nelson) and their children Ethan, Benjamin and Matthew
Michelle Naray (Chris Fenwich) and their son Hudson
She is also survived by her younger sister Maria Djetvay Puskaric and her family, as well as her nephew John Djetvay and his family.
Arrangements entrusted to Drury Funeral Centre, Alliston.705-435-3535
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Ana Naray Friday December 25th 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Alliston, Province: Ontario