Suddenly and much too soon our father has now passed and left us with a void that is deep and unreconcilable. He is survived by his sons Peter (Debra) and Richard (Bonnie), grandchildren Jaime (Jonny) Cracower, Jessica (Caley) Adair, Samantha and Sabrina and great grandchildren Judah, Jacob and Milo. May he find comfort in rejoining with our mother Elizabeth, father Mihaly and mother Regina.
Dad lost his innocence early in life when deported from his birthplace of Hungary to a concentration camp in Poland on the day of his 14th birthday, July 7, 1944. He survived under the most inhumane conditions imaginable and emerged from the experience with a clear vision of his future. He would live his life as if every day was a gift and that he would share that gift by giving everything of himself to others. And through that giving, he found the peace that was long ago stolen from him and the many millions like him.
Dad left Hungary and came to Canada with his young family in 1957, crossing the Atlantic on a ship without a stabiliser, a fitting analogy for the rough road that lay ahead. First settling in Winnipeg and moving to Toronto shortly thereafter, he persevered, working his way from assembly line worker to draftsman and from small businessman to budding entrepreneur. Eventually moving to Ottawa in 1974 he founded West-Way Taxi, achieving a lifelong dream of owning and overseeing his own business.
But for our father, finance was never the measure of his success, his metric was always the happiness of his family. His wealth was his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and he was forever determined to ensure their wellbeing. Guiding them through difficult times with words and acts of kindness and generosity and celebrating with them in happy times, never happier than when everyone was all together. And it is through this legacy of family, togetherness and joy that we now celebrate the life of our father.
We extend a special thank you to Rosa, Aneta, Flor and Timea for their compassionate care. Private graveside service held at Jewish Memorial Gardens. Donations to the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation (Holocaust Education) are appreciated.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Julian Gyula Szirtes Wednesday October 27th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Ottawa, Province: Ontario