Eileen Griffith

Eileen Griffith (nee Kormos) was born on July 27, 1930 and died on October 17, 2018 at the age of 88 years following a brief illness.

Eileen, the third oldest of six children, was born to Steve and Mary Kormos (nee Somogyi) in the Willowbrook area. The family later moved to the Waldron area where she attended Good Hope School.

Eileen was a survivor of childhood trauma, and as a young child, she developed a strong faith which helped her to overcome obstacles and from which she drew strength. Mom also loved to spend as much time as she could with her Grandma Somogyi, who nurtured and supported her, and whom she adored.

Eileen married Russell Griffith on October 27, 1954 and settled on a mixed farm in the Willowbrook area. Within a span of nine years, five girls were born to their delight. As a farm wife, Eileen was very busy actively working on the farm with Russell and raising their children, but she also enjoyed gardening, sewing, and cooking (including her Hungarian specialties). She supported family activities including archery and 4H as a General Leader for Sewing. She was also very creative and loved to paint, quilt, knit, crochet, and arrange flowers among many other crafts.

Our dear sweet mom … she was a shining star, radiating love and light to those around her.

As a mother, she so unselfishly gave of her time and energy helping and teaching all of us so many wonderful skills and qualities -- cooking, sewing and the love of nature. Later in her life, many hours were spent out on the deck at the lake, teaching us and her grandchildren the names of birds and flowers. On walks, she would point out and name the trees, which were her friends, calling each by name. She identified with them. She often said that each tree is so unique, like all of us … battered and bruised by the storms of life, but also standing firm and deeply rooted. Most recently, she was teaching her great grandchildren. She had a gift with children. She would have them up on her lap in a blink of an eye, reading to them and pointing out pictures. She had a way that would keep them spellbound. If that wasn’t enough, she would pop onto the floor and get to their level. We are not talking years ago. It was days ago. That’s the woman that Mom was.

She was kind and loving to all. She loved to joke and laugh, visit, give hugs and so many kisses. She made many new friends at McDonalds and cherished all of her friends in the Manor.

However, most important to Mom was her family. She stood by and loved Dad, her husband of nearly 64 years. In addition to farming, she supported Dad in all of his endeavours including working alongside him and Marie at Russell Studios. The two of them were always together; they were inseparable. Over the past few years, Mom relied on Dad more and more as her health began to decline. She so appreciated Dad’s love and support.

Her gifts live on -- not of the material kind that is here today and gone tomorrow, but gifts of the spirit, which are ever lasting. Love never ends!

Eileen was predeceased by her parents, Mary & Steve Kormos, her siblings Theodore, Andrew, Steve, Mary (John) Bodnarek and John (Donna) Kormos, her son-in-law, John van den Heuvel, her mother & father-in-law, George & Ruth Griffith, and Russell’s siblings, Arthur (Florence) Griffith and Evelyn (Steve) Bella.

Eileen is survived by her devoted and loving husband, Russell Griffith; her children --Marie (Doug) Hayden and children, Rachel Kleebaum & Cory Griffith; Dorothy Griffith and children Jennifer & Shelby Dawson (partner Travis Smyth); Debbie Griffith (Gerald Langner) and children Brendon Purton (Candace Northey) and their son, Oliver Purton, and Kendra (Javan) Fisher; Colleen (Scott) Hoffort and children, Angela van den Heuvel (Dean Radford) and their children, John & Daelan Radford, Shana van den Heuvel (Jesse Timoruski), and Ryan van den Heuvel; Sharon (Grant) Michalishen and children Sarah (Nolan) Auchstaetter and Regan Michalishen. She is also survived by her long-time pen pal and Aussie friends, Irene Lyons and her husband, Brian Hallett (whom she cherished as daughter and son), her sister-in-laws, Ellenor and Donna Kormos, along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends.

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