Obituary of Tibor Hary

Tibor passed away peacefully in the way he loved the best- surrounded by family.  A Hungarian who fled his country during the Soviet invasion, he spent two years in a refugee camp before arriving in Canada in 1959. He embraced life in his new country with joy and positivity, learning to speak English and acquiring drafting skills in night school, becoming a die-hard Maple Leafs and Argos fan, and falling in love forever with a lady from the East Coast.

He had a successful career in construction management, but his heart was in helping others – be it at work, the church, the cottage he built in Gravenhurst, and in his community. You could always find Tibor helping with a renovation, solving a problem, or puttering around in his ‘shop’ finding a part or a screw that would save you a trip to the hardware store. He was happiest when surrounded by family and his vast network of friends. He was always a gracious host and the life of the party. If you met Tibor once, you would never forget him! We cannot imagine our lives without his many sayings and Hungarian inventions. His love for his wife, Elaine, and admiration for his children and grandchildren was evident in every moment of his life.  

Tibor leaves behind Elaine, his wife of 59 years, Jennifer (Len), Beth (Mark), Peter (Deborah), Karen (Ryan) and his beloved grandchildren Nicole, Jessica, Mackenzie, Logan, Claire, Michael, Luke, and great-grand daughter Millie. We offer tremendous gratitude to the palliative team at Markhaven: Joanne, Hazel, Lourdes, Donna, Gloria, Jessie, Kim, Vida, Pam, Seetha and especially Amy, who kept his joyful energy alive until the end.

Family and friends may visit at Dixon Garland Funeral Home, 166 Main St Markham from 4pm-8pm Thursday March 16, 2023. Funeral mass will be celebrated at St Patrick’s Church, 5633 Hwy 7, Markham, at 10:30am Friday March 17, 2023.  The celebration of Tibor’s life will continue at Angus Glen Golf Club, 10080 Kennedy Road, Markham immediately following the funeral.  

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Markhaven Foundation in support of the recreation team.