Wallingford, CT

The invitation to be a guest speaker at the Hungarian Community Club of Wallingford, Ct., on April 25, 2009 was a great honor for me.  Both my husband and I were extended much courtesy.

Jay Farrell had been formulating plans for this Seminar since August of 2008.  We would like to commend her and members of the committee for their hard work and dedication to the furthering of our Hungarian Heritage.

Emese Latkoczy gave the introduction and welcomed everyone to the Seminar. The Moderator was Jay Farrell.  Each attendee was given a binder with much material to further their research. The entire program was open to questions and answers.
The first speaker was Peg Limbacher, a Ct. State Certified Genealogist, the second speaker was Barbara Kapy, the Town Clerk of Wallingford, Ct., and the third speaker was Erika Papp Faber, Historian.  She also writes for Magyar News Online. Everyone was so interested in the topics that you could almost hear a pin drop.

After the morning session an authentic Hungarian luncheon was served consisting of appetizers, stuffed cabbage, dessert, coffee and drinks.
The Find Your Ancestors link which is on the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America website was my portion of the afternoon program.  Letters have come to me from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii greeting me with Aloha Margaret and inquiring about my parents village of Timar, Szabolcs Megye in Hungary.  I have also received mail from San Jose, Cal. from a woman who ended every letter with a bless you and asked permission to call me Margitneni.

Carol from Illinois sent me a letter inquiring about the final resting place of her Hungarian Reformed great grandfather who she thought was buried in our area.  We didn't find the gravesite but through further correspondence with her realized that her maiden name was familiar. Eventually we found out that the person my family knew very well was a brother to her grandfather. He and his wife are buried in our St. Michael's Cemetery. After taking pictures of the headstones I emailed them to her.  Although we didn't find one relative, we did find another one. Mary from Painesville, Ohio also responded.  To her I dedicated a letter on the Find Your Ancestors link of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America website.  It is entitled "Hungarian Heritage, Leaving A Legacy".  She wanted to make a family tree just as I did.
During the day at the Seminar someone introduced herself as having been in contact with me previously.  Her name was Esther Tierney.  She was looking for the city of Oros in Zemplen Megye and a Reformed Church.

On my laptop computer I have a program called Hungarian Village Finder which can locate cities, give current information and also tell what Churches are in the cities.  It also has many other features.  I showed Esther where the city was located.  We also looked to see if there was a Reformed Church in the city, which there was.  Her next step would be to go to a Family History Center to rent microfilm for the city of Oros in Zemplen Megye for Church Records.  Working backwards in time, Esther would be able to slowly put together her family tree.
Another woman was interested in the city of Agard.  There were a few cities listed by that name on the Hungarian Village Finder.  She wanted one with a Greek Catholic Church.  We found one located next to Damoc in Zemplen Megye which is the birthplace of my mother-in-law and all her family.

A parishioner from our St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church and a member of our Branch 501, Joseph Bresnock, has many family members in Wallingford, Ct.  His grandfather was one of the founding members of the Hungarian Community Club there.
My husband and I hope that other areas will try to formulate plans for a Hungarian Genealogy Seminar such as the one we attended.  In our estimation it was a huge success and exemplified a true dedication to our Hungarian Heritage.

Mrs. Margaret Paull, Branch Manager
APRIL 25, 2009