DR. ALEXANDER VERES

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

DR. ALEXANDER VERES Dr. Alexander Veres, our beloved Apu and Granpa, died at home on January 31, 2010, surrounded by his family. Dr. Veres was born in Nyárád, Hungary, on July 29, 1912. He grew up in Hungary and was educated in Budapest where he received his doctorate in veterinary medicine. He was a successful and well respected veterinary practitioner in Pápa, Hungary. Dr. Veres and his family were deported to Auschwitz during the Holocaust. He was the sole survivor in his family. His first wife Marica, daughter Eva, parents and sister died in Auschwitz. In 1946, Apu married his beloved wife Judith and they had two daughters, Eva and Agi. After prospering for a decade in Hungary, the family was again uprooted during the Hungarian Revolution. They travelled to Canada and Israel and ultimately settled in Canada. The family moved to Winnipeg, where Dr. Veres had a successful career as a respected veterinarian. Apu was the center of his family. He devoted his life to his wife and children. His daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren were the beneficiaries of his wisdom and brilliance. They sought his advice till the day he died. He instilled in his children and grandchildren the value of an education and took tremendous pride in their accomplishments. Apu had a unique relationship with his great-grandchildren who loved to receive chocolates from Granpa. Apu and Anyu had a wonderful, loving marriage for 52 years until her death in 1998. They enjoyed family gatherings and winters in Hawaii where their children and grandchildren visited. Apu loved life. He enjoyed nightly phone calls from his grandchildren. He was an avid sports fan who loved watching hockey, soccer and football. He was a great Blue Bombers fan for half-a-century who sat in the stands until he was 96 years old. He loved visiting with his friends and lunches at his favourite restaurants. He was a voracious reader. He also enjoyed the horse races and travelling to Florida and Europe. Dr. Veres is survived by his daughters Eva Wiseman (Nathan) and Agi Weizman (Sam); grandchildren Sam (Natalie), Marni (Shane), David (Debra), Amy (Micah) and Adam; and great-grandchildren Jacob, Isabel, Nikki, Jonah, Molly, Poppy, Chloe, Sienna, Jack and Max. The family would like to thank the wonderful ladies who took such good care of Apu in his home during the last year of his life: Josephine, Maria, Mila, Precy, Fabie, Doreen, Liezel and Kim. Special thanks to Dr. Stephen Hodge and Dr. Kevin Coates. The funeral was held on February 1, 2010 at the Herzlia Synagogue with interment at the Shaarey Zedek Cemetery. If so desired, donations may be made in Dr. Veres's memory to the Judith and Alexander Veres Fund at the Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun Synagogue.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 13, 2010