Elizabeth Tota Sisa

Elizabeth Sisa, loving wife and mother of Huddleston, Virginia and formerly of Newark passed away serenely in Roanoke, VA on 15 November, 2010, surrounded by her family. Elizabeth was born in NagykÖrÃ, Hungary during the upheaval of World War One. Prior to immigrating to the United States with her family, she lived in Budapest where she was a successful business owner, fashion designer and seamstress whose clientele included the prominent actresses and opera singers of the day. In the turmoil of the siege of Budapest towards the end of World War Two, she and her husband Stephen became swept up in the wave of refugees trying to stay ahead of advancing Soviet Communist forces. Finding themselves in Austria at the close of the war, they temporarily settled in refugee camps in Austria for 6 years. As part of post-war reconstruction of Europe under the Marshall Plan, they, along with millions of others in a refugee status were forced to resettle. The United States of America opened her doors wide to Elizabeth, Stephen and their young family in 1951 with Newark NJ as their new home. In Newark, while raising her family, she resumed her profession as designer and seamstress, working in the Dickerson Sportswear garment factory. She re-established a successful private practice and her clientele included a world renowned New York Metropolitan Opera diva. She offered her family to reside at her estate. In the 1970\"™s, she and her husband Stephen relocated to Smith Mountain Lake. Elizabeth loved the bustle of big cities, the opera, cooking and baking, tending her flower and vegetable garden and playing cards on a Saturday night with visiting family. A woman of deep faith and founding member of Resurrection Catholic Church (Moneta VA), she was active in parish affairs, designing and sewing church tapestries and supporting the annual Glorious Junque yard sale fundraiser. She also volunteered as a hostess for the Smith Mountain Lake Home Tours annual charity fund raiser. A tireless hostess and caregiver, she was active, busy and looking after her family to the very end. Elizabeth\"™s family is a sterling example of the American immigrant success story — starting over and carving prosperity from opportunity. She was preceded in death by her infant son, Ferenc. She is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Stephen; sister Eta Galambos, brother Jozsef Tota, both reside in Hungary; daughter Elizabeth Varnai (husband Karl) of New Hope PA; sons Steven Sisa (wife Melissa) of Colorado Springs CO and Peter Sisa (wife Karen) of Haymarket VA. She had 10 grandchildren (Elie Hansen, Billings MT, Christene Sherlock, Ventura CA, Erika Schoenberg, Ankeny IA, Peter Varnai, Rochester NY, Meredith Sisa, Washington DC, Stephen Sisa, Chapel Hill NC, Gregory Sisa, San Diego CA, Christopher, Emily and Mary Sisa, Haymarket VA, and 5 great grandchildren Eva, Heidi, Lesl, Anika, & Krista Schoenberg, Ankeny IA.

A Christian Wake Service was conducted at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, at Tharp Funeral Home, Bedford with Father Salvador Añonuevo, Celebrant.

A Mass of Christian Burial was conducted at Resurrection Catholic Church, Moneta, Virginia on Nov 20, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. with Father Tom Collins presiding. Burial was in the church cemetery.

To send condolences online please visit www.obituaries.tharpfuneralhome.com