Obituary of Betty Roman

BETTY ROMAN

JUNE 5, 1923 – AUGUST 27, 2017

Passed away with her family at her side on Sunday evening August 27, 2017.  Betty was 94 years of age.

Born in Slovakia, her given name was Božena which means “gift from God” in Slovak.  She truly was a gift from God for all of her long and fruitful life.

In 1934 at age 11, Betty arrived in New York City on the S.S. Vandaam with her mother Suzanna and brother John.  Met there by her father, also named John, a landscaper, who had come the year before to prepare a place for his family.  After taking the train from New York City to Toronto, they settled on Johnson Avenue in Willowdale.

From the time she was a small child in Záriečie, she had an exceptional lyric soprano voice and loved opera, music, from classical to Scottish bands marching music!  Betty sang all her life.  She would love to sing at many family occasions and the many parties at Romandale would always end with songs and music.  She was a life long patron of the Canadian Opera Company.

Betty Gardon had a professional career as a secretary after high school.  She was a gourmet cook and baker.  Her apple pies and strudels were legendary.

She married Stephen Roman on October 20, 1945, they had a full life together including many travels and charitable work.

Betty loved nature, cats, dogs, birds, all animals.  Her home always had animals in residence.  She loved watching the wild birds at her outside bird feeders.

She was the beloved mother of Helen Roman-Barber, the late Angela Maria Roman, and Stephen George Roman (Janine) and the late Paul Michael Adrian Roman, (Claudia), John Peter Roman (Patty), David Andrew Roman (Clare) and Anne Catherine Ruth Roman (Ron) and the beloved grandmother of Tommy, Adrienne, Daniel, Matthew, Mark, Stephen, Luke, Abianna, Nicholas, James, and Kristina.

Betty had two great-grandchildren, Ivy Mudd and Charlie Roman.  She was the beloved sister of Mary Mudrik and aunt to Mary’s children.  Also, aunt to Linda Gardon and her siblings.  Cousin to Jan Gardon in Slovakia and other family members there. Special godmother to Andrea.  Special thanks to her faithful caregivers, Norma Patricio, May Catiter, Janine Agtarap and MyLuck Wailan, Private Nurse, Cadina Meadus and her physiotherapists, Louisa Simpson and David Simpson.

The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 7th, at the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (10350 Victoria Square Blvd., Markham), with visitation at 10:30 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cathedral of the Transfiguration (c/o The Slovak Greek Catholic Church Foundation) would be much appreciated.  Condolences, photographs and memories may be forwarded through www.humphreymilesnewbigging.com