JOSEPH BARNA, OAA Member
Joseph Barna, Dipl. Architect, passed away in Toronto on Thursday April 23, 2020 at 90 years old of heart failure. Joseph is predeceased by his second wife, Viola Deak. Loving father of Melinda Rooke, Joseph Barna, and Emese Barna, born of his first wife, Maria Barna. Beloved grandfather of Lia Rooke, Tasha Rooke, Ryan Barna, and great grandfather to Sebastian Rooke Janitens. Loving brother to Elizabeth Magony and Piri Palvogyi, whose children Joseph Magony, George Palvogyi, Julia Palvogyi, and grandchildren will miss their uncle Joe, along with all cousins, older and young.
Joseph will be remembered not only for his architectural/structural engineering accomplishments but rather how he made a legacy by coming to Canada from Hungary during the ‘56 Uprising with very little in his wallet and with an ambition for a better life he succeeded with hard work and dedication to his family. With his two sisters he fled Hungary and met his first wife, Maria Barna in the Vienna Lager, and arranged for all of them to come to Canada and eventually brought his parents out to Canada in the 1960’s.
In Hungary, after graduation, he was part of an architectural design team responsible for flood reconstruction and rebuilding of homes. In Canada, from 1957 to 1966 before accomplishing his Canadian architectural examinations in the 70’s, he was part of an engineering team responsible for civil and structural calculations of school buildings, roads, and bridges throughout Ontario given an award by the American Bridge Division of United States Steel. From 1966, onward he was part of many design and workings drawings teams for high rise apartment, residential developments and shopping centres in Toronto, Brampton, and Ottawa. In the 1970’s after being awarded his architectural certificate and private practise he continued to work as Senior Designer of many high rise apartment and condominium buildings, townhouse, residential complexes, as well as, some industrial and institutional buildings. Joseph was a creative architect and a visionary for his time, and in the early 1980’s he designed/built his own dream home, modern, spacious, and functional which he always kept and enjoyed his entire life. We acknowledge and thank his many professional colleagues and firms that contributed so much to his journey of life as Joseph did find his true purpose working alongside you.
Joseph had big baby blue eyes and a huge sense of humour liberally spread daily. We are so proud of him for every mountain he had to move to build a name for himself in Canada, after a childhood spent in the WW2 years and the sacrifices his parents made to ensure his education and the journey through the Hungarian Uprising of 1956. We will miss you and you are in our hearts and thoughts always, you will live on in eternal love. We thank you for everything you have taught us, you live on in our hearts.
Visitation & Funeral Service at 11 am with Private Burial to follow at York Cemetery, and due to COVID-19 protocol the Service will be private but viewable on Funeraweb (9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Wednesday). In memory of Joseph, donations may be made to The North York General Hospital Foundation. In future days, the family hopes to celebrate Dad’s fine long life with family and friends.