Obituary of Elizabeth Szmolyan

September 9, 1927 – Békéscsaba, Hungary

September 29, 2022 – Calgary, Alberta

Elizabeth Szmolyan of Calgary, AB, passed away on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at the age of 95 years.

Born September 9, 1927 to Elizabeth and George Klement in Békéscsaba, a city on the great Hungarian Plain. Elizabeth was eighteen months when her family immigrated to Canada, being considered, as Eastern Europeans were, the best settlers for the challenging Prairies because of their familiarity with agriculture and harsh climates. The Canadian West presented seemingly infinite possibilities and Elizabeth embodied that spirit.

She graduated from the Western Canada High School as WWII concluded; became a hand model for Birks, and gained a business school diploma, starting her career alongside the rugged adventurers in Alberta’s gathering oilpatch. Becoming a partner in ‘High-Light Printing’, Elizabeth moved to Edmonton where she became one of Canada’s most successful businesswomen. It is where she was introduced to the man she would be married to for 28 years, who she brought her four daughters into the world with.

Elizabeth married Leslie G. Szmolyan December 24, 1962. They moved to Calgary in 1963, from Mount Royal to Brentwood to Britannia Drive. Elizabeth loved her operas, had a brilliant green thumb, made every Christmas unforgettable for her children, she made sure each was inspired to graduate from university. Elizabeth took great pride in making places beautiful; her taste was impeccable, she loved to dance the Charleston in stilettos, her leather handbag collection exquisite, her sense of humor priceless. Somehow, she managed to make magic in the kitchen, even after years of having to cook; her grandchildren pleaded for her ‘Chicken Paprikas’ every time they visited. Elizabeth taught them and her daughters to never say ‘I love you’ only once, rather “I love you, I love you,” to always look another in the eye, and to know that anything they aspired to was possible.

In her second chapter, Elizabeth launched ‘Botanicals, for Fabulous Flowers,’ a successful floral design boutique doing arrangements for Prince Phillip’s visit to Calgary in 1998 (Bow Valley Club), for the Earl’s Restaurant Group properties and Calgary’s toniest for seven years. She then traveled to England where she committed to transforming an overgrown yard of brambles into an award-winning rose garden. After that, she decided on university; politics had been an obsession for years. Just before passing, she shared memories of traveling to Windsor Castle, Cambridge, of drinking beer in Belgium, of drives into the mountains she loved. Elizabeth was reflective of the beautiful life she felt privileged to have lived, better she said than the heroines of the novels she was captivated by as a young woman. Elizabeth regarded character as consequential, beauty as paramount, and charm delightful.  

Elizabeth is lovingly remembered by all her daughters, Sharon (Michael), Patti (Jason), Suzie and Nancy (Lawrence), and her grandchildren, Aundene, Lauren, Patrick, Lexi, Ryan, Lars Peter, Will, Sophia and Pierce who live in Los Angeles, New York, Austin, Rwanda, Boston and Calgary. Elizabeth is also survived by her brother George; as well as numerous well-loved nieces and nephews living in France, Australia, and here in Alberta.  Elizabeth was predeceased by her sister Helen, brothers, John, Leslie and Charlie and in-laws, James Page and Marlene Klement.

A private Celebration of Elizabeth’s Life will be held at a later date. Condolences, memories, and photos can also be shared and viewed here.

In living memory of Elizabeth Szmolyan, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.