It is with profound sorrow that the family of Darlene Mary Fejos announces the passing of their beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister, and Mother-in-law. Darlene was born in Dryden to Andre Joseph and Sadie (nee Mather) Piché. She was the second born of seven children: Oliver, George, Ruby/Becky (Rebecca), May, Norman, and Frank. She was raised in a home located west of town on Lever Road and spent her childhood enjoying country life.
Darlene attended local elementary schools and graduated from Dryden High School. In grade twelve she met her future husband, Arpad, at the “Bright Spot” café. They dated for several years and were married on July 3, 1964 at St. Joseph’s Church. They soon began their family and were blessed with their three children, Darlene, Arpad, and Sandor.
Throughout the years, Darlene held several positions doing clerical or secretarial work — most notably she held the position as an area manager for the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation — but her most important “job” was being a mother. She was faithfully there when her family came home after every school or work day and there was always a home-cooked meal for dinner each evening. Mom was so loving and was always so proud of all of her family’s accomplishments throughout the years. She was a wonderful mother who shared her love daily in many simple and kind ways.
As Darlene and Arpad’s family continued to expand, Mom happily embraced these exciting changes! She celebrated the marriages of each of her children with great joy – Arpad and Madeleine, Darlene and Doug, and Sandor to Sheri. Over a very short period of time, Darlene and Arpad were overjoyed to become “Grandma and Papa” with the arrivals of their much adored grandchildren Julianna, Jake, Cameron, Matthew, Riley and Reece. Being a grandmother was the joy of Mom’s life and she made certain that all of her grandchildren were well-spoiled with countless treats and gifts. She absolutely loved all of their phone calls, photos, cards and drawings that they made for her and would never miss an opportunity to be with her grandchildren for a special event.
Mom enjoyed baking, cooking, canning, crafts, ceramics, Facebook, and shopping! She was a great cook and baker and we always enjoyed the fruits of her talents, most especially her wonderful cabbage rolls, butter tarts (the best ever!!) and amazing dill pickles and beets. She also enjoyed cooking the Hungarian dishes that she learned from her husband Arpad, we all looked forward to those special meals! She loved beautiful things and she passionately collected delicate porcelain figurines, fine bone china tea cups and dinnerware, and treasured her many gifts of jewelry.
Darlene and Arpad enjoyed travelling on many trips their children as a family, and then as empty-nesters they continued to enjoy vacations and travelled many times throughout Canada, the United States, the Caribbean, and Europe. Spending time on vacation with their life-long friends was always a time for many celebrations for Darlene and Arpad.
Darlene became suddenly ill on Sunday, May 29th and passed away in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Health Sciences Center in Winnipeg on Thursday, June 9th with her husband Arpad by her side. As a family have been overwhelmed by Mom’s unexpected passing – she has left us much too soon! She was predeceased by her parents, Andre and Sadie Piché her brother Oliver Piché, her sister Rebecca “Ruby/Becky” Piché infant grandson Douglas Daniel Rousseau, sister-in-law Terezia Halasz, brother-in-law Imre Pocsai, numerous other relatives, as well as her dear friends Anna Boyko, Mary McComb, and Erno Balogh.
One of Mom’s favourite stories is Robert Munsch’s “Love You Forever” and she shared this story with her grandchildren many times. We have all known and felt Mom’s love no matter where we were or what we were up to and we know that her love will be with us always. “We’ll love you forever, we’ll love you for always, as long as we’re living our Mother you’ll be.” May the Peace of God be with you Mom. We all love you and will miss you so much!
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the doctors and nurses of Dryden Regional General Hospital and The Surgical Intensive Care Unit at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Center for the outstanding care that they gave to Darlene, as well as for the love and kindness they shared in so many ways with us throughout Mom’s final days. Their efforts and generous spirit will never be forgotten.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate Darlene’s life will be held Tuesday June 14th, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church with Reverend Alan Campeau officiating. Interment will follow in the Dryden Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Monday June 13th from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. in the Moffat Chapel of Stevens Funeral Homes with prayers to be recited at 6:30 p.m.
If friends desire donations may be made to DRHC Equipment Fund through the Stevens Funeral Homes P.O. Box 412, Dryden ON P8N 2Z1. Condolences may be posted at www.stevensfuneralhomes.ca
