Ilona Kiss

Ilona Kiss (nee Szakal), age 84 of Amherst Township, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at her residence.

She was born to Hungarian parents on March 11, 1940, in Lorain and grew up in Elyria Township where she graduated from Elyria High School, class of 1958. Ilona worked for W.T Grant Co as a credit Manager as well as St. Ladislaus School as a teacher’s aide. She also cleaned at Nordson Corp. (Building 100) for 20 years. Ilona was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Elyria Township and was a lifelong member of the former St. Ladislaus Hungarian Roman Catholic Church in Lorain where she sang in the Hungarian choir during Hungarian Mass. She was also a member of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Ann’s Societies, choir and parish council.

Very proud of her Hungarian heritage, Ilona represented the Hungarian community, dancing on stage at the O’Neil shopping center for the Lorain International Festival and Bazaar and was an active performer with the Kalocsai Folklore Group. She also took part in the International parade and float and worked the booth for St. Ladislaus Church.

Ilona instilled in her children Hungarian Pride and said she was blessed with amazing and appreciative children and grandchildren. She was a devoted and caring wife, mother and grandmother who cherished the family’s monthly family gatherings. She also enjoyed dancing, especially Hungarian dancing as well as going to ethnic dances in the Cleveland area.

Ilona will be deeply missed by her family. Surviving is her husband of 60 years, Jeno; children, Ilona Kiss of Elyria Township, Theresa (John) James of Florence Township, Linda (James) Serafino of North Ridgeville; grandchildren, John James, Kayla James, Jonathan Kiss, Jessica Serafino, Amanda Serafino as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, Eugene Kiss in 1997; mother Helen Szakal (nee Pummer) in 1987, father Joseph Sokol Szakal in 2002; sister, Eleanora Rupp in 1989; brother, Joseph Szakal in 2021 and a nephew Joseph Szakal in 2020.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 28 from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:00 p.m. at Dovin Funeral & Cremation Specialists, 2701 Elyria Avenue, Lorain. Rev. Craig Hovanec will officiate. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.