Joseph Kovesi passed away peacefully at the Ottawa Hospital, General Campus, on Monday, August 24, 2020. Joseph was born in Kaloz, Hungary in 1928, and immigrated to Canada after the Hungarian Revolution, in 1956. He took great pride in his work as a master tailor, and owned and operated Rudy’s Tailoring on Bank St. for over three decades. He had a particular affinity for other refugees and newcomers to Canada, and his store was always a hub for new immigrants. He was predeceased by his parents, Imre and Erzsebet Kohn, and his brother and sister, Ferenc and Katalin. His memory will always be cherished by his wife, Vera, his son, Tom, his daughter-in-law, Nicolette, and his granddaughters Andrea, Michelle, and Caroline. We wish to express our thanks for the incredible medical care provided by Drs. David Tobin, Nicole Scherling, and Mark Nassim, and all the staff at Maplewood Retirement Community – particularly the chef, nurses, Gillian, Dennis, and the management. For those wishing, donations may be made in his memory to Amnesty International, Care Canada, the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization, or CHEO.
Livre de visiteurs
Peter Keller
Susanne Kappler
Dear Vera, dear Tom,
My thoughts are with you at this sad time. With heartfelt sympathy to you, Susanne
ROBERT KAPPLER
Dear Mrs Kovesi, Dear Tommy,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I have such fond memories of your family that I will cherish forever.
With much love and sympathy, Robby
Susan and Robert Heckler
Dear Vera, Tom, Nicolette, Andrea, Michelle and Caroline, Your Joska/Papa was a hero in so many ways. He loved each and every one of you with every fiber of his being. Although Joska was a quiet man, if he ever spoke about his family, there was no end to the conversation. We were always welcome in his life. I have the fondest memories of my holidays at your famous "Champlain Towers" apartment building which had a "real life: indoor swimming pool. It might as well have been the Ritz. Robert was welcome in Joska's home as another son while he built for Bell Canada in 1983. Our daughters wove in and and out of Vera and Joska's lives as they grew up, and Joska always loved hearing about everyone's whereabouts and life situations. Joska was admired and loved by his clients in his tailor shop. It was a treat for me to visit the store and watch as he practiced his craft. Joska's love will live on his in family.
Though I didn't know Joska…
Though I didn't know Joska Basci well, I am in awe of the courage he's shown throughout his life (including when he defended Nicolette's honor) and at the end.
Sending love to everyone who loved him.
Balazs
Dear Joska bacsi,
I know it's been a long time since we talked. I will never miss those memories we had in Hungary and in Canada, however I will always miss you. You were a great person, a real human being, who always wanted to help everybody. I will be always grateful to you and Vera neni what you did to me.
Bye,
Balazs
Imre Gams
Dear Family,
It was such a beautiful and touching ceremony to have been able to watch online. We are all thinking of each and every one of you and truly hope it will not be too long until we can be reunited once again.
We all miss Joska so very much.
Christopher Clunas
We were very sorry to hear of Joseph's passing. He was a wonderful man and a good neighbour to have. Our sincere condolences.
Olga Gross
Dear Vera, Tom, Nicolette, Andrea, Michelle and Caroline,
We are so sorry for your loss and we are with you, and thinking of you during this difficult time.
I have known Joska bácsi basically my entire life. I remember visiting him in the shop on Bank street on some of our trips to Ottawa, and being mesmerized by all the spools of thread. He was always very quiet, but when he did speak, it was inevitably a zinger! Very pointed and funny.
Emma and Jonathan both really related to him, and fondly remember playing pool in the basement. Emma was especially thrilled when Joska taught her how to use a sewing machine, a skill she still uses. A few years ago, I brought Joska my beat up harp cover to ask him if it was worth fixing - he said 'give it to me' and within one day, he had found industrial strength fabric, and had fixed it. He even gave me the leftover fabric 'just in case'.
We all loved him very much, and we will miss him.
All our love,
Olga, Jonathan and Emma
Dear Vera, Tom. Nicolette, Andrea, Michelle and Caroline:
Sylvie, I and the girls send you our deepest sympathies on the loss of your beloved Joska. Our hearts are with you as you mourn a husband, father and grandfather of special warmth, strength and character. May his memory be a source of strength and blessing.