Suzanne SIKLOS

SUZANNE SIKLOS Suzanne Siklos (Rosner). Born in Budapest, Hungary, November 14, 1937, died Toronto, September 1, 2018. Mourned by children, Eugene and Richard, their spouses, Jacquelyn and Laine, and adored grandchildren, Alexandra, Juliana, Henry, Vivien and Anabelle. She grew up an only child across the street from the Budapest Opera House, escaping to Vienna during the 1956 revolution, evading armed border patrols. There, she and another refugee, Sandor Alex Siklos, soon married and started a new life in Montreal--arriving penniless, not speaking the language, or knowing a soul. They moved to Toronto in 1965 and were together until Alex's death in 2000. Suzanne was a dedicated mother who at various points worked in textiles, medical lab work, business planning, and tax preparation. She particularly loved reading, cooking, and travel, but had many passions along the way: collecting cookbooks, porcelain, stamps, coins, and Hungarian records; gardening, sewing, needlepoint, music and opera (singing when she was happy). She was unbeatable at Scrabble or Boggle, an expert at backgammon, and, after her husband passed away, took up bridge with zeal, becoming an ACBL Life Master. Suzanne was one of a kind - stylish, worldly, biting, a fan of cheeky jokes, strong-minded, contrarian and rarely content (always rearranging furniture!). A hard early life and other setbacks could form a tough exterior that made her not always easy to deal with or to get to know. But with astonishing energy and will she overcame adversity time and again, living independently well into her seventies despite increasingly serious ailments. She truly loved her family (including Charlie, the family's departed retriever mix), and was proud of her children and the grandkids who were the source of her greatest joy. She spent her last few days with her sons by her side. The family thanks the dedicated staffs of Meighen Manor and Revera Donway, and Dr. Hannah Zuckerman. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to the Salvation Army or Toronto Humane Society. A gathering celebrating her life will be held Friday September 7. For details please email siklosfamily@gmail.com.