[Lory Nemeth]

I am Lory Nemeth from Cleveland, Ohio. My mother was born in Rakaca, Hungary. My dad was born in Pennsylvania, but his parents were from Rakacaszend, Hungary. All four grandparents were from Hungary, and I married a Hungarian, Jerry Nemeth! I grew up attending a Byzantine Catholic Hungarian parish in the Buckeye Road area of Cleveland. Sadly, I didn’t learn much Hungarian, but the teachers of classes I have taken tell me that I have very good pronunciation — I just don’t know what I am saying!! I love all things Hungarian and still cook and bake Hungarian foods (occasionally, I’m 82 now!).

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[Sonya Weaver]

I was born and raised in Pepper Pike, Ohio, which is a suburb of Cleveland. We lived on the east side. I miss Ohio A LOT and hope to retire in Chagrin Falls one day! Hope to visit again soon!

[Lajos Kriso]

This is a wonderful weekly program from Cleveland:

🇭🇺 Cserkésznap 2025 – A legnagyobb magyar fesztivál Ohióban!

[Veroniva Horvath]

We lived in the Buckeye Road neighborhood as well. We also attended St. Margaret of Hungary Parish and School. The Nuns were the Daughters of the Divine Redeemer. Two of our cousins belonged to the order. There were English speaking Masses and Hungarian speaking Masses. I especially remember that for special Holidays such as Holy Week, the services were in English, Hungarian and Latin. This was pre Vatican II. These services lasted for hours. In school almost every grade was required to attend these services and participate. In second grade, we became First Communicants. In 4th, 5th and 6th grade, we were in the Sacred Heart Guard and in 7th and 8th grade, we were in the Sodality. We attended Eucharistic Adoration once per month on the first Saturday. This was before the Vigil Masses. We have a very strong faith, which we attribute to our upbringing and our Mom.

[Steven Bondor]

I also grew up on Buckeye Rd. In Cleveland, Ohio. I attended St. Margaret’s in the 1960’s, then we had move out of the neighborhood by the early 1970’s. We lived closer to Kinsman Park, our house was next door to a bakery shop. We basically spoke and heard Hungarian at home. The elementary school by the nuns only taught us in English, there was no Hungarian language taught or spoken. I don’t remember if any Hungarian was used by the priests at St. Margaret’s church.

[Lajos Kriso]

Szia Lory,
Lajos vagyok. We lived on Cumberland Av and I went to Ellenwood Elementary School. Our church was Szent Erzsebet on Buckeye Road. Igazan Magyar vagyok! I spoke only Hungarian until ’56 but forgot it all when I started school and had to learn English. My cousin owned Settlers Tavern on Buckeye and my other cousin owned Ohio Sales on Woodhill.

Isten veled!
Lajos

[Liz Vos]

Hi Lory!

Welcome! We’re so glad you are here!

I guess all that Hungarian you heard as a youngster stuck in your brain and it comes out with great pronunciation! I have a similar problem. I can read and pronounce well but need to really, really work on my vocabulary!

I bet your family is thrilled you still cook and bake Hungarian foods — are your recipes written down? Has anyone in the next generation (kids, nieces, nephews or grands) expressed an interest in cooking/baking or are they just all about the eating?

[Author]

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