Ilona (Szemenyei) Bognar
May 1, 1929 – September 30, 2024
Ilona (Szemenyei) Bognar, age 95, of Henrico, Virginia, passed away at home on Monday, September 30,2024. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of passing.
Ilona was born in Nagybánhegyes Hungary on May 1, 1929 to Sandor Szemenyei and Rosilia Babarczi. She came to the United States in 1959 after fleeing Russian occupied Hungary in 1957 and living in an Austrian refugee camp for two and a half years. Ilona lived in New York City for many decades prior to her relocation to Richmond, Virginia. She loved cooking and baking for her family and worked as a personal chef for many years. Some of her Hungarian special recipes included stuffed peppers, stuffed cabbage, chicken paprika, fasirt, zserbo pastries, and many other delicious cakes, pies, and cookies. She especially enjoyed making potato pancakes and rakott krumpli for her grandchildren.
Ilona loved being around people and looked forward to visits with her family and friends, playing bingo at her residence’s clubhouse. She had a witty sense of humor and enjoyed making people laugh. Besides cooking and baking, some of her favorite hobbies included shopping, scratching lottery tickets, and watching Wheel of Fortune every night. She also loved tending to her houseplants and was especially proud of her Christmas cacti. Ilona loved her children and grandchildren. She had a heart of gold, giving to others whenever she could.
She had amazing energy, even into her later years, and lived her life to the fullest until the very end, when her body no longer could. She is, and always will be greatly missed, but never forgotten, by her family and friends. Her faith in God gave her hope that she would be reunited in heaven with all her loved ones.
Ilona is survived by her daughter, Maggie Falasco (Gil); her son, Andy Kiss (Janet); her grandchildren, Erika Falasco, Sofie Falasco, Niles Kiss, Aleana Kiss, and Andrew Kiss. She is also survived by two loving sisters, Maria Ruck and Lilly Libor.
She is predeceased by her brother, Sandor Szemenyei; her three sisters, Bertuska Szemenyei, Iren Hadju, and Rosalia Lang; father, Sandor Szemenyei; mother, Rosilia Babarczi; brother-in-law Andreas Ruck; and lifelong friend, Annie Kristaly.
The family will receive visitors from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 5, at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway Richmond, VA 23294. A Celebration of Life will follow at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Flowers can be sent to the aforementioned address.
Guestbook
17 Comments
Bob and Becky UnderwoodOctober 1, 2024 at 5:18 pm - Reply
We are saddened to hear of the passing of Sofie’s dear grandmother. Though we never met, we have heard stories of her from Sofie and Seby. Her life here was well lived and it sounds that she gave joy to all who knew her. Our heartfelt condolences for the family.
Daniel and Fumiko DunaOctober 1, 2024 at 7:23 pm - Reply
We are broken hearted to hear of Ilona’s passing. My mom, Fumiko, met Ilona back in 2016 when she moved to Richmond to a retirement community. They would ride the shuttle bus together, and quickly became friends. I became acquainted with Ilona in 2020, when I came to Richmond to take care of my mom who had a stroke. She was a delightful and spunky lady, with a mischievous smile and sparkly eyes, who had an enormous amount of energy, and treated us like family. That included phone calls to check on us, cookies at Christmas and birthday gifts. She will be sorely missed by so many who love her, and for me, it will be the talks when I would stop by after work. Our prayers and well wishes go out to her family in this time of sorrow and grief. RIP, dear lady.
David Lawrence and Barbara HajekOctober 2, 2024 at 12:03 am - Reply
Our love and prayers embrace you We regret not having the
Pleasure of knowing Ilona personally and look forward to Sophie sharing stories and Maggie too. And perhaps some of her recipes as well! Knowing she was surrounded by her loved ones is comforting.. May the best memories and Ilona’s spark and humor case these difficult times.Barbara SmithOctober 2, 2024 at 6:01 am - Reply
Ilona you will be greatly missed. I loved playing Bingo with you and hearing stories of your life in Hungary. Carriage Hill will not be the same without you. RIP beautiful lady!!
Kiera( Ruck) DimeoOctober 2, 2024 at 12:11 pm - Reply
Ilona (itzuneni) was a beautiful soul! She always knew how to light up a room and make people laugh with her amazing sense of humor. She was a joy to be around always! She treated us like her own grandchildren and was kind, loving, and a great baker. I know you are resting in peace now with your loved ones. We will miss you dearly.
Ann TooheyOctober 2, 2024 at 2:42 pm - Reply
Ilona was a dear friend and neighbor in our community. She was so full of life and enjoyed being around people and sharing stories. Ilona loved to play Bingo and was so thrilled when she won. I became very fond of her and she would always get a big hug and kiss when we saw each other. I will miss her very much, she was like a light shining bright. Now she is at peace and will be in heaven with the other angels.
Dianna GabayOctober 2, 2024 at 8:51 pm - Reply
Dear Maggie & Family, We will remember Ilona always. I am sorry I met her just these past two years when I moved to Carriage Hill. I believe that she never met a person she didn’t like. She was a wonderful woman who enjoyed life and she will be missed.
Chris RuckOctober 3, 2024 at 11:57 am - Reply
Ilona was always one of my favorite people to have the pleasure to spend time with. She was always a shining light of joy and would spread that to everyone in her company. We enjoyed so many laughs and created so many happy memories I will never forget. I love you Itsuneni and you will live on forever in my heart and mind.
Charla BjostadOctober 3, 2024 at 12:01 pm - Reply
Bingo will not be the same without our beloved Ilona. She lit up the room with hugs for everyone. Dearest Maggie, she was so loved and will be sadly missed. I feel honored to have know such a gracious lady.
Hannah RuckOctober 3, 2024 at 8:04 pm - Reply
Ilona was such a loving, warm person! To me, she was Itzuneni, and she was so special to our family. Her laugh was so contagious, and she had such a zest for life. She was always so kind and loved her family dearly. I love you and will miss you Itzuneni. May she rest in peace with the angels in Heaven.
Sebastian HajekOctober 4, 2024 at 2:51 pm - Reply
Ilona, or “Mamama” as she was introduced to me, was the rare type of person that could leave you with an unforgettable experience after only a brief interaction. She was comedic, witty, and a great entertainer for any audience. She could lead any conversation, she could make anyone laugh, and she could brighten up any room. Mamama also lived to serve others – quick to offer humor, advice, perspective, hugs, or her unbelievable recipes. She was never sitting idly, always looking to help or get involved with her family, friends, and community around her. I cannot recall a single instance where I spent time with Mamama and did not laugh or smile – and that is what I will always remember about her. May we all make as many consistently positive impacts on others around us as Mamama – so that when our time also comes, our friends and family, too, have no other option than to spend time together laughing and crying at joke after joke and story after story that they experienced with us. Mamama, we love you and you will be forever in our hearts.
Mary harrisonOctober 4, 2024 at 4:54 pm - Reply
A gracious and loving Ilona will be greatly missed , not only by me, but her friends at bingo. We were all happy when she won, happily for her. Maggie, her sweet daughter, brought her Mom to bingo every week. Ilona, peace be with you and the angels watching over you. I will miss you. God speed!
Caitlan WronaOctober 4, 2024 at 9:12 pm - Reply
Ilona was such a special person. Her energy, spunk and laughter were contagious, and her love for her family was pure and unwavering. I will always think of her when I hear the song “God Bless America”, see someone cover their eye with a spoon, or are affectionately called “darling”.
Thank you for all of the laughter, love and memories, Icunemi- we love you and miss you so much. May you rest in peace.
Dolores RuckOctober 5, 2024 at 9:27 am - Reply
Icunemi was one of my favorite people of all time !
She loved to laugh and make others laugh . She never acted her age … she was always young at heart . She will be greatly missed
May God hold you in the palm of His hands , until we meet againDeacon Tom RuckOctober 5, 2024 at 10:14 am - Reply
My dear aunt Icu neni was one of a kind. she was always filled with joy and was especially fond of our family gatherings. She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren, and her infectious smile will by missed by all of us. Her suffering is over and now she is free to enjoy everlasting life with our Lord and her family members that passed before here. We love you and will miss you until we meet again.
Jorge PezzatOctober 5, 2024 at 1:48 pm - Reply
Ilona was one of a kind. For me she was more like a celestial event that occurs only once in a lifetime. We were fortunate to have witnessed and to have known such a beautiful soul. Years ago when I first met her and her husband, I was impressed by how they were towards each other. If there is a place where one can reunite with one’s other half, I hope they have found each other and have reunited.
Both of these kind souls will live in our memories until we too become memories ourselves.
Judi and JorgeMichael & Véronique EivazOctober 5, 2024 at 2:03 pm - Reply
1 Thessalonians 4 13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with their words.
