March 15, 1918 Vilma is born in the suburbs of Boston.
A few years later, her parents move the family back to Hungary, where they live in the small town of Börcs. The nearest cities are Abda and Gyor.
April 24, 1927 Vilma receives First Holy Communion in the Abda Roman Catholic Church.
September 16, 1930 Vilma receives Confirmation in the same Abda Roman Catholic Church.
Her childhood is not easy. For several weeks each year, the city of Börcs requires families to send the oldest son for manual labor. Since the family had no sons, Vilma is sent to the rock quarry to break stones with a sledge hammer. She is taught to use a sickle to harvest barley, which cuts her arms and legs until they bleed. Her super-human strength and bone-crushing grip remain until the week she died.
As a teenager, Vilma was sent to live in Budapest while working in a relative’s butcher shop.
July 18, 1937 Vilma becomes a Third Order Carmelite and receives the brown scapular. Each day until the end of her life, she prays the traditional “Our Lady of Mount Carmel” prayer, murmuring it repeatedly even in her dementia.
1937 At age 17, Vilma is put on a boat and sent to America, told to earn money and send it back to the family. Her name is anglicized to Velma. By day, she works for a Hungarian family. By night she attends English classes and earns her GED diploma.
1939 Vilma loves to visit the New York World’s Fair!
September 20, 1941 Andrew and Velma are married in Saint Stephen of Hungary Church in Yorkville.
December 7, 1941 Pearl Harbor day. Andrew and Velma realize they will surely be separated by an impending war.
January 1942 Andrew is drafted and spends WWII in Africa, Italy, and the Philippines while Velma works at home.
January 16, 1954 They welcome their beloved son Andrew.
March 15, 1955 Daughter Barbara is born.
The 1960’s Velma again loves and visits the New York World’s Fair!
At the height of the “‘mini skirt” craze, Velma gains notoriety by sewing the first-ever bridal mini dress for a neighbor’s wedding in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral – after obtaining the rector’s permission, of course. The dress is hemmed one inch above the bride’s knees, truly shocking at the time!
The 1970’s Velma is at the top of her career as a seamstress, working for one of New York City’s most exclusive boutiques. Her clients include the daughter of a former U.S. President, the owner of Old Westbury Gardens, and a major Cleveland philanthropist.
The 1980’s Velma’s son Andrew is married to Gigi, a great source of joy to Velma and Andrew.
Andrew and Velma travel to Austria, Hungary, Italy and Ireland, with a pilgrimage stop in Lourdes, France. They visit Hawaii and love it. Andrew and Velma become Eucharistic Ministers at Saint Stephen of Hungary, while volunteering countless hours at the church.
The 1990’s Their grandson Andrew is born. Andrew senior celebrates his 80th Birthday with family, travelling to Strasburg, Pennsylvania to visit his favorite train museums. Velma is inconsolable when Andrew senior passes away at 81 year of age.
The 2000’s Velma’s health continues to decline slowly, especially after 2012. She is unaware that her grandson has married his sweetheart Katie on November 22, 2016.
January 29, 2017 Velma receives the Anointing Of the Sick, and passes on to her eternal reward only six weeks shy of her 99th birthday. May she rest in peace forever.

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