Eva Koltai

(Durham) – Eva Koltai, age 87, died peacefully on November 22, 2021.

Eva was born on July 1, 1934 to the late Rózsi Szilvási in Székesfehérvár, Hungary. After her mom died in a WWII bombing in 1944, Eva’s aunt accepted her into her home and Eva gained a brother and best friend, Les Besser.

A brief window opened the Hungarian borders in 1956 and a hopeful Eva fled to Canada, where she had her first daughter Claire Sandra. In 1967, Eva then immigrated to the US where she had her second daughter, Deborah Catherine. She moved to California in 1986 to be close to her brother.

Eva worked in tailoring, picture framing, and office management, but her passion was her gardening, which brought her much peace and joy. She loved European art, music, and culture and instilled a love of these and travel in her daughters. She will be remembered as being a vibrant, sparkling, funny, resilient woman with a zest for life, a love of M&Ms, and a beautiful smile. And, she could hold a hand like no other.

Eva is survived by her daughter Deborah Koltai and son-in-law John Vargas, her four grandchildren Noah Attix, Eva Koltai, Maximus Attix, and Chance Attix, and her brother and his wife, Les & Susan Besser, and extended family. She is predeceased by her daughter ‘Sandy’ and her half-brother Ferenc Szilvási.   

In lieu of flowers, the family would be honored if you would add a flowering plant to your garden in Eva’s honor this spring.

The Koltai family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.