4800 E Indian School Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85018
KMETTY, ESTHER MARY (MARIASSY)
Esther Mary (Mariassy) Kmetty of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away September 1st, 2017. Born in Budapest, Hungary, to Dr. Bela and Katalin Mariassy. While growing up in Budapest, she attended the Sacred Heart School, Sophianum, which led to a lifelong commitment to the Alumnae of the Sacred Heart. In 1948, the family escaped Communism and immigrated to the United States. Ultimately settling in Phoenix, her father established McDowell Animal Hospital. Known as “the Hungarian girl” when she started at St. Agnes Catholic Grade School, Esther quickly got herself involved and became a leader at St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Phoenix, and continued that passion and those friendships throughout her life. Esther joined Gamma Phi Beta sorority at Arizona State University, and into her first year there she met her Hungarian husband on a blind date. She and Geza Kmetty raised a family and were preparing to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary this year. A devoted mother, Esther focused on raising their children and was actively involved in several school boards and PTOs. She returned to work as Office Manager of the civil engineering firm she and Geza established, known at the time as McLaughlin-Kmetty Engineering and then EEC/MKE. She was a founding member of Arizona’s “Women Transportation Seminar” and is honored with an annual undergraduate scholarship in her name. As the matriarch of the Mariassy family in the United States, Hungary and Slovakia, she worked tirelessly to nurture relationships with relatives near and far. Esther is survived by her husband, Geza Kmetty and their children: daughter, Viki Snedden (husband, Russell Snedden) and their daughters Katrina and Elise; son, Tony and his children Peter and Anna; and son, Chris and his children Tyler and Kate; her brother, Bela Mariassy, his wife Leigh and his daughters Shawn, Hilary and Kendra. A Vigil will be at 6:00 P.M. followed by a Rosary at 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 7th, and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, September 8th, all at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 E. Thomas Rd. A reception will immediately follow at Fr. Feeney Hall. The family is planning to hold a celebration of Esther’s life in the future with details to come. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to American Cancer Society – Arizona www.cancer.org/about-us/local/arizona.html at 4550 E Bell Rd. #126 Phoenix, AZ 85032. Arrangements entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home.
We were so saddened to hear of Esther’s passing. She was a wonderful lady and we will always remember the day she spent with us in 2015 showing us “her Budapest.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Dear Geza and family,
Thinking of you and the wonderful moments we spent with you Geza whilst we were in Phoenix for the AMASC Congress. We are so sad that Esther is no longer with us. Please accept our sincere condolences and may our prayers help comfort you and your family.
With much affection from Roland and Anne de Broglio.
Dear Geza and family
Carlos and I have learned the sad news with deep sorrow and want to let you know that our thoughts and hearts are with you despite the distance.
May our Lord and the sweet memories of her life give you the peace and confort we all wish for you and your family. Esther was a remarkable person indeed and her commitment with the Sacred Heart familly will never be forgotten, she shall always live in our hearts!
With much affection,
Carlos and Marisa. From Mexico
Dear Geza and family,
My heartfelt sympathy with the passing of dear Esther whom I met through our Sacred Heart family. Her warmth and friendship is cherished and will be missed.
Dear Geza and family.
It’s with much sadness I read the passing of Esther. My sincerest condolences.
I meet Esther at the AMASC conference in 1998 in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
She was close to the Vancouver Alums. I told her I had a connection to Phoenix. Then out of the blue she asked me if I was related to a Bud & Mary Murphy from her parish or a Marty Murphy from a basketball team.
I said “yeah”. We had many more connections.
We spent one day together, just the two of us in a city of millions, in Sydney, Australia. We climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge together.
We had adventures with other alums at many different conferences. We had to persuade a man at gas station late at night in Miami to drive a large group of us back to our hotel in his van when there wasn’t a taxi to be had. All things that we could laugh about knowing we there for each other. I am sorry that I won’t be able to be at St. Theresa’s tomorrow night and on Friday morning. My deepest condolences to her family. Thank you for letting travel to the Sacred Heart conferences. Love, Frances Murphy, Vancouver.
Viki and family – We are so sorry to hear about your mother. Though it has been a while – St. Thomas grade school days – I remember her as a nice and caring person with a beautiful smile. We are thinking of you. Eryn McCarthy and family.
Dear Geza and family, I want to offer our condolence also. Esther was always a SPECIAL woman – from St. Mary’s HS where we first became friends to all the following reunions. Though we all will miss her, we rejoice at her now seeing Jesus face-to-face. I long for that one day.
I am so saddened to hear of Esther’s passing. She was such a lovely person and made the day a little brighter when you were with her.