Elizabeth Stephanie (Farkas) Palkovits, 79, passed into the house of the lord and resides with the spirit of Jesus after she died early Monday July 31, 2017 following a long illness.  She leaves her husband of 61 years,Zoltan Gules Palkovits and three children, Zoltan, Judith and Elizabeth, five grandchildren and one great grandson. Elizabeth was born in Kormend, Hungary in 1938. She and Zoltan were married in 1956 in Vienna, Austria shortly after fleeing the communist country by riding bicycles across the temporarily open border during the Hungarian Spring uprising. Interned in Austria, they completed the documents needed to fulfill Elizabeth’s dream of emigrating to the United States. They arrived at a holding camp in Elizabeth, NJ, Camp Kilmet in 1956 and from there were sponsored by a family and moved to Salem, NH. The bright lights of Christmas decorations, not seen in Hungary, impressed Elizabeth and confirmed for her the decision to make the US their home. They moved to Lawrence, MA, in 1956 and began their family. Elizabeth worked as a seamstress for William Barry Clothing Manufacturers and on the assembly line for RCA. She also worked at Phillips Academy and met President George Bush, Sr. and Barbara Bush and was given a presidential coupling. She was active in her childrens’ school, Holy Trinity Catholic School in Lawrence and served for a time as president of the parents’ organization. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, traveling, shopping and cooking for family and friends. She enjoyed family vacations on Cape Cod where she learned how to swim and catch fish. Elizabeth was a dedicated Catholic and after Holy Trinity was discontinued, she worshiped at several area churches. In 2013, Elizabeth’s illness forced her to begin residence at Baker-Katz Nursing Home in Haverhill where she was treated with kindness and compassion until her passing. ​

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday August 8, 2017 from 4pm to 6pm at The Charles F. Dewhirst Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, Methuen. Burial will be private.  To leave an online condolence, please go to www.dewhirstfuneral.com.

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