Eva Vass July 22, 1936 - March 4, 2021 Obituary for Eva Vass It is with a sad heart that we announce the passing of our Mom, Eva Vass of Brandon, Florida on May 4, 2021. She was born to Jozsef and Sara Kossanyi on July 22, 1936 in Szentpeter, Hungary. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Frank Vass and brother Miklos Kossanyi. Eva is survived by a large and loving family that includes daughter Susan Vass, daughter Kathy Dewey and son in law Donald Dewey. Granddaughter Nikki Fitzharris and her husband Brian Fitzharris, grandson Spencer Dewey and his wife Julie Dewey, granddaughter Kirsten Dewey and her partner Matthew Raybon, grandson Donnie Dewey and his wife Evelyn Dewey as well as grandson Jason Dewey. She also leaves behind 5 great grandchildren, Chloe, Evan and Arnold Fitzharris as well as Emma and Ethan Dewey. In Hungary, she is survived by sisters Marta Alpar and Kati Yokkel as well as her brother Josef (Dodi) Kossanyi and his wife Marianna. She is also survived by her three nieces and their families: Edit, Marta Flothmann and her children Alidar, Marti and Lehel, Nora and her husband Peter and children Daniel and Zsofia as well as two nephews and their families Attila Kossanyi with wife Kym and children Kelley and Noah and Tibor Alpar with wife Rita and children Akos, Flora and Balazs. Growing up in Hungary, she studied forestry at the University in Sopron where she met her husband Frank and they began their life together. However, shortly after they married, communist rule took hold in Hungary influencing Frank and Eva to immigrate to the United States. In 1956 they moved across the Atlantic to start a new life in Miami, Florida. There, Eva and Frank went to night school to learn English but continued to speak Hungarian at home so their daughters could remain connected to their culture. During their time creating their life together in Miami they found and connected with a large Hungarian immigrant community with whom they enjoyed a robust social life and were able to continue the many traditions of their homeland. Many of these people became their life-long friends. Eva left such loving and lasting memories for several children of this close Hungarian social circle that these children now young adults came to visit Eva at her bedside in the last few months of her life. Eva was an incredible Hungarian cook, baker, and hostess who loved to entertain. She was a gardener at heart, and an active and honored member of both the Miami and Temple Terrace Garden Clubs. She was passionate about yoga, herbalism, and holistic health. She loved to dance. Her and Frank spent many years Waltzing wherever the music played. Eva was a spiritual woman who was always involved with her church, St. Francis of Assisi, and its community. By trade Eva was a bookkeeper. She worked diligently for an aircraft parts company for over 30 years. Throughout her life she found many ways to give back to her community. One of those ways that was very important to her was the ten plus years she spent volunteering as a labor coach to young girls who did not have any familial support during their pregnancy. After retiring, Eva and Frank moved to Tampa to live near their grandchildren. They enjoyed being able to spend lots of quality time with them with them and teach them about their Hungarian heritage. She had a special way of making people feel warmly welcome and comfortable around her and will be deeply missed by many. An honorary mass and funeral reception will be held in celebration of the life of Eva Vass at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 4450 Country Road 579, Seffner, Fl on January 8th 2022 at 11 a.m. with reception to follow. Upcoming Events Visitation Service Times