Maria Magdalena Siewert (née Ujváry)
Maria Magdalena Siewert (née Ujváry) passed away peacefully on October 13, 2026, in Edmonton, Alberta, at the age of 86.
Born on July 20, 1940, in Gyón, Hungary, a village southeast of Budapest, Maria was the youngest of seven children born to Frank Ujváry and Helena Kovács. She was predeceased by her siblings Gisela, Béla, Helene, Frank Jr., Therese, and Stefan.
Maria was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Willy Siewert, in 2021. She is lovingly remembered by her sons, Harry (Jo-Ann Dickinson) Siewert and Tony (Marlene) Siewert; her grandchildren, Jessica (Marcus) Dellaire, Christopher Siewert, Sophia Siewert, Ace Siewert, and Brandyn Siewert; and her great-grandchildren, Jaxon and Phoenix Dellaire. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Although Maria left Hungary at the age of three, she maintained a connection to her Hungarian heritage and language throughout her life. In 1943, her family, with the exception of her oldest brother Béla, relocated to Neustadtlein, Germany, where they lived for approximately ten years. It was there that Maria formed friendships that lasted a lifetime, maintaining handwritten correspondence with some of those friends well into her later years.
Maria's childhood was marked by both hardship and resilience. She lost her mother at the age of eleven. In 1953, Maria immigrated to Canada by ship with her brothers Frank Jr. and Stefan. She celebrated her 13th birthday upon arriving in Montreal before the family eventually settled in Edmonton. As a young immigrant, Maria built a life for herself in her new country, establishing herself in the workforce and forming many friendships that endured throughout her life.
Maria met her future husband, Willy in 1955 at the tender age of 15 while she was working in a local Hungarian restaurant on 97th Street in Edmonton’s downtown. Dad was immediately smitten with her, and they stayed in contact over the next couple of years. They started dating when Maria turned 17, at which point Willy asked her to marry him on one of their first dates. Mom held him off for a few years until she turned 20, and they were married on February 18, 1961. We fondly remember photographs of the young couple strolling down Jasper Avenue. Willy looking handsome in his suit and trademark fedora, and Maria elegant in her dress, fur coat, and heels. Together they built a life grounded in commitment, perseverance, hard work, and devotion to family.
Maria and Willy wanted to have children once they married, but struggled to do so and finally required medical intervention in the late 1960’s. With the help of medical science, Maria was 28 when Harry was born, and 32 when Tony was born, which at the time was reasonably late in life to be having children. Harry and Tony became the centre of Maria's world.
We admired our mother deeply. She had a generous heart and an unwavering dedication to her family, always putting the needs of those she loved before her own. Practical, disciplined, and strong-willed, she managed the family finances with care and ensured that there was always enough, regardless of circumstances. Through her actions more than her words, she taught us the values of responsibility, hard work, and commitment to family.
Our family lived modestly in Edmonton throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but Maria ensured that our home was filled with warmth, stability, and love. Dinner was prepared every evening, and we gathered around the table together as a family right up until we left home to begin our own lives.
Maria also expressed her love through baking. Some of our fondest memories are of coming home from school to the aroma of freshly baked cakes and cookies filling the house. Her "Momma Cake," “Plums cake”, and German Christmas cookies became beloved family traditions and remain inseparable from our memories of home.
In her later years, Maria devoted herself to caring for Willy and stood faithfully by his side through the challenges that came with aging. She took great pride in their 61-year marriage and in the life they built together. Their enduring partnership was a source of strength and comfort to both of them.
Maria will be remembered for her resilience, loyalty, determination, and devotion to family. She was always there when she was needed, and her love, guidance, and example will remain with us forever.
In accordance with Maria's wishes, there will be no funeral service or visitation.
She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.
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