Veronica Nagymihaly December 3, 1919 - December 21, 2022

and her husband traveled in a wagon with their 3 daughters, aged 7 months, 2 and 5, toward the Austrian border. Aided by the underground, they came to within a few miles of the border. Then, underground members told them, “you’re going to have to make the last couples of miles by yourself”. Hiding in the bushes, the family passed through the marshlands directly under a heavily armed border patrol watchtower. Veronica knew that God was looking over them when she was certain they had been spotted by the guards and they did not shoot and were able to cross the border. The Nagymihaly’s were taken to a Red Cross shelter in the French controlled section of Vienna but they were only allowed to sleep at the shelter. Their days were spent walking the streets without food or money. At the Hungarian government’s request, the Nagymihaly’s were arrested by French troops to be returned to Hungary. But sympathetic for the family’s plight, the French released them and they were smuggled into the American sector. Mr. Nagymihaly immediately requested admission to the United States. Before it was approved they lived two years in a refugee camp in Salzburg, Austria. Even with these hardships her memories of that time were gratifying because of the closeness it brought to the family. Arriving in America with no money and no job, Mr. Nagymihaly decided to bring his family to Miami. He had seen a postcard of Miami and he realized Miami was a growing city and he wanted his family to be a part of it.

Veronica started work as a maid at the Everglades Hotel while Gesu Catholic church hired Gaspar as a janitor. They learned English at Miami High and Gaspar obtained a contractor’s license. With his license, he started a family business constructing and operating apartment houses. The entire Nagymihaly family went to work. Veronica and her daughters helped construct the buildings, putting on roofs and laying block. When the day was done, Veronica came home and continued to take care of her family’s personal needs and to maintain the financial records of the business. She worked tirelessly and unselfishly to build a solid foundation and a prosperous future for her family. Due to their hard work and dedication by the time Gaspar passed away in 1985 the family business consisted of over 700 apartment units. The Nagymihaly’s shared their riches by supporting many causes including fellow Hungarian-Americans by building a low-income senior citizens home for the Hungarian Kossuth Hall. Veronica and her daughters continued to operate the business in which she was active even through her later years. Finally, upon her retirement she was blessed with being cared for by 8 dedicated caregivers, Rita, Carline, Ellie, Elsa, Alina, Esther, Brenda and Rosita.

Veronica is predeceased by her loving daughter, Charlotte. She is survived by her daughters, Eva & Theresa, her grandson, Brandon and son-in-law, Robert. She is also survived by her American relatives, Irmi and her 3 daughters, Judy, Mary and Adrianna as well as other relatives still living in Hungary. She will always be fondly remembered by her employees, Toni, Robbie and Rasim and all of her friends.

Mass will be held on Friday, January 13th, 2023 at 1:30 pm at Saint Augustine Church and Catholic Student Center located at 1400 Miller Road, Coral Gables. The burial will be held following the services at Woodlawn Cemetery located at 3260 SW 8th Street Miami, Florida. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Samaritan’s Purse (Billy Graham’s legacy) or the Humane Society of Greater Miami, organizations Veronica felt strongly about.