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Helen 'Babi' HAMVAS
May 1, 1928 - March 12, 2016
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<div itemprop="description">Passed away at Lakeside Long Term Care Centre on March 12, 2016, in her 88th year. Born in Budapest, Hungary, the daughter of Baron and Baroness Spleny, Babi survived the destruction of their world during the Second World War, and the early Communist Era deprivations, she escaped with husband-to-be Jeno Bolvary, struggled through the refugee camps and arrived in Toronto in 1949. They worked as domestics until Babi was pregnant with little Eugene. They later divorced; she then met and married Joseph Hamvas, a professional engineer active in the Hungarian Catholic community. They had two daughters - Helen and Marika, and raised Eugene. <br /> <br />Babi played competitive tennis in the old CYO League in the 1950s, and then taught tennis privately for decades. Hundreds of people play tennis today thanks to Babi's teaching. <br /> <br />She is lovingly remembered by son Eugene Bolvary, daughters Helen Smith, and Marika Pedersen, sons-in-law Stuart Smith and Wade Pedersen; grandchildren Michael, Laura and Sophie Bolvary, Kevin and Michelle Smith, Jason, married to Kelly, and Sean Palter and Kiana Pedersen; and her four great-grandchildren - Grace, Chloe, Jackson and Lila Palter, and a large extended family in Canada and in Hungary. Babi was pre-deceased by her parents Istvan and Elizabeth Spleny, brothers Steve and Joseph Spleny, her husbands Jeno Bolvary and Joseph Hamvas.<br /> <br />The family thanks the staff and volunteers at Lakeside in Toronto for the care and comfort they provided Babi for well over a decade. We carry in our hearts Babi's gentle love and free spirit. 'Love each other and be happy !'<br /></div>