Irma Hegedus Bongiorno

Irma always did it her way… and she never apologized for it.  She earned the right.

Irma grew up in small country, farm town of Gyomaendrőd, Hungary with her family.  She traveled into the city of Budapest for schooling and work and it was there that she fulfilled her athletic prowess as a track runner, broadened her horizons, and learned her “street smarts!”  It was in the city where she met her husband, Frank, the father of their two children; Frank and Peter Hegedus.  They were a young couple in love, and so young at just 16 & 17 years old when their lives got caught up in the middle of the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.  That was time of significant turmoil and unrest in Hungary that saw many civilians senselessly killed.  It was a revolution by the people of Hungary who were resisting the government’s capitulation to the Russian advances.  With unrest and danger in the streets of Hungary in 1956 their parents raised money to hire a guide to secretly lead them out of Hungary and into Austria.  The story of their escape is like the script of a Jason Bourne movie, including dressing as local peasants on a train boarded by Russian soldiers, and having the locals shield and hide them from view as they tried to protect them.

After a harrowing journey, and several instances of manipulation and deceit, they ended up in a refugee camp near Salzburg, Austria.  They arrived on Christmas Eve and that is where Irma first heard the words to Silent Night, which is a family favorite to this day.  You can hear Irma tell the story in her own words on a YouTube video. Just search YouTube for “Irma’s Immigration Story” and you should find it, or ask a family member to send you the link.  You can hear the story as you’ve never heard it told before.

Arriving in America in 1957 as teenagers, not knowing the language, they had to learn how to survive in this new and wonderful land.  Irma was trained as a bookkeeper and trained her boys in math as well!  Their Dad was a tool and die maker.  Fortunately, their chosen professions didn’t require proficiency in the native tongue, but they learned and adapted to their new home and Irma loved America.  They settled in Goshen, NY where they raised the two boys to be strong, hardworking young men.  Their immigrant values endeared them to the local community and their home was always welcoming to outsiders, friends and family.  Their hard work and dedication to their professions allowed them to provide for their family, and allowed so much opportunity for the fun thing’s life had to offer.  Irma and Frank loved their friends and to go out dancing late into the night.  The family loved to camp, boat, hike and play sports including their winter passion of skiing! Irma was active and continued skiing into her 70’s and you can even find video of those adventures!

After a divorce, Irma married Frank C. Bongiorno, and the two of them settled in the Rose Hill area of Bluffton, SC over 30 years ago.    While she still has many friends back in Goshen, her new life and her new friends are in the south… right here in Bluffton.  Her neighbors and local community were her strength and her protection. Irma always loved “showing off” her boys and their spouses and grandkids.  They were her pride and joy.  Her sunshine.  No one brought her more sunshine perhaps than her faithful dog Rocky.  Irma was game for anything, and always tried to remain current on technology as a way to keep in touch with all her friends, neighbors and family, including those back in Hungary.

Irma’s passing was sudden and unexpected, but her LIFE was full, rich, meaningful and purposeful.  As a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, neighbor, and believer she touched and helped so many people’s lives in so many ways, that her memory will live in our hearts forever.  She was a role model for what being a good person is all about.  Irma is survived by her two sons; Frank (Donna) and Peter (Lynn) and her 5 precious grandchildren; Alina, Zane, Drew, Kat and Paul.

Irma always did it Irma’s way, but she made us all better for it!

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in memory of Irma to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Wounded Warrior Project
7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100, Jacksonville FL 32256
Tel: 1-877-832-6997
Web: https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Default.aspx?tsid=10043