It is with the heaviest of hearts that our family says good bye to our beautiful mother but most fondly known to all who met her as Babi. Born Eva Maria Policky on December 18th, 1924 in Jaromer, Czech Republic.  Eva was one of two daughters raised by her parents in the Czech Republic. She and her sister Luisa were well schooled and travelled as young girls growing up prior to the war.

Shortly after the war ended in 1945 Eva married her husband Rudolph Steinsky. Their first son was born in 1948 and it was within 2 years of his birth that she, her husband and members of her family escaped the Czech Republic to post war Germany.

By ship, Eva and her family immigrated to Canada. It was here they made their forever home. For a period of time Eva and her family lived in Montreal. It was in 1966 when they decided to settle for good in Toronto to be closer to the majority of their extended family.

Eva and her husband Rudolph worked hard to make a new life for their three children. They longed for a cottage property and finally found land on Eagle Lake in Haliburton. It was there, that they built a cottage and some of their best memories for the years to come. In the early 90’s Eva and Rudolph retired to their beloved cottage where they enjoyed their family and many Eagle Lake friends. When Rudolph passed in 1999, Eva started to split her time between the cottage and her growing family. Many summer vacations were spent with her at the cottage. Each of her children and grandchildren had amazing adventures hunting for mushrooms after a rain, long rides in the paddle boat fishing or picking flowers from her gardens.

Eva was always a positive and an “up for anything personality”. She loved to “see what she could see” and fostered that curiosity in children and grandchildren. She was a good friend to all who ever had the chance to meet her. She lived her life with the philosophy “everything in moderation”. So it is quite a testament that when she arrived at Canterbury Gardens she was STILL smoking! She used to try and swim daily with Katie and enjoyed her perch on the bench at the front entrance of the building for her “puff” and talk to people!

Eva was to our family “the bestest Babi” and will forever be in our hearts. Staying behind to pass on some of her wonderful traits is her son Rudy (Ronnie), her daughter, Mary Lu (Vic Taylor) and her son, Stan (Kelly). Her 5 grandchildren, Suzanne Wall (Dave), Ricky Taylor (Emily), Trevor Steinsky (Lauren), Tanner Steinsky (Alley Lynch) and Jack Steinsky (Stephanie). Her 7 great grandchildren, Jake, Liam and Evi Wall, Penny and Cecilia Taylor and Gus and Wally Steinsky.

A special thank you to all the caring staff at Canterbury Gardens.

Cremation has taken place. A private family interment will be held in the spring at Pinehill Cemetery, Scarborough, Ontario. A celebration of her life will take place this coming summer at Eva’s cottage on Eagle Lake. If desired, a memorial donation to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation, in her honour, would be appreciated by the family. 

To donate to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation: click here