Eleonora Gizella Adelaïde Madeleine (Zaránd) Halmi, Dies at 95

Eleonora Gizella Adelaïde Madeleine (Zaránd) Halmi, Dies at 95

Eleonora Gizella Adelaïde Madeleine Zaránd Halmi, died August 17, 2021, in Providence, Rhode Island at the wise old age of 95.

Born in Budapest, Hungary, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Ede Zaránd and Alianore (Detiech) Zaránd, and the beloved wife of the late Dezso (Dezi) Halmi, who passed away in 1996.

She is survived and beloved by her children, Dezi G. Halmi and wife Lynn M. Halmi and Gabriella I. Halmi, and her grandchildren, Linden C. and Meredith B. Wyatt, Nicole A. Halmi, and husband Benjamin Cardoza and Jonathan D. Halmi.

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Crossing many borders and breaking many boundaries, she came to the US as a refugee from Hungary with her young family in 1956 and lived in Cranston, Rhode Island from 1957 until her passing. Speaker of at least 7 languages, a linguistic savant, she worked as a translator and for the Red Cross in Germany.  She overcame incredible challenges throughout her life with grace and passion. With her family, she shared her love of (and talent for) nurturing animals of all kinds, crosswords, languages, and translation, travel, plant and flower identification, Hungarian craft collecting, fortune-telling, sewing, furniture making, cooking and baking, and generally being able to make anything she set her mind to. She would look at a pattern, sketch it and create her own pattern on newspaper to hand sew her children’s clothing up until adulthood.

She was a gifted storyteller with a sparkling sense of humor, weaving stories from her early life into hours of entertainment for her grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren, and generously exposed them to different experiences, cultures, and travels that brought her stories to life. We always knew a joke was coming when we saw the child-like twinkle in her eye. Eleonora was an all-encompassing creative, quick-witted, loving, generous, talented person. She was a true force, and we miss her immensely.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her visitation from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Friday, August 20, 2021, with a Funeral Service at 4:30 p.m. in Woodlawn Funeral Home, 600 Pontiac Avenue, Cranston.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 1085 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904, or the Rhode Island Food Bank, 200 Niantic Avenue Providence, RI 02907.

Please share memories and condolences at Woodlawn Gattone.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Eleonora Gizella Adelaïde Madeleine (Zaránd) Halmi, please visit the floral store.