Fonds 20-032 - John and Adela Ridzon fonds

Ján (John) Ridzon was born in the village of Polhronska Polhora, near Brezno, Slovakia. Having grown up in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, he learned to speak fluent Hungarian as Slovak was not recognized in the school system. His parents however had been careful to pass on Slovakia's ancestral language and culture to their descendants. At the age of 17, John served briefly in the Austro-Hungarian army during the First World War. He was inspired to come to Canada by the stories of others, including his own father, who had come to America three times
to work in the mines.
In 1926, John applied to immigrate to Canada. Receiving no response, he decided to marry Adela at Polhora, on February 13, 1928.
A few weeks after his marriage, John learned that his application to immigrate to Canada had been accepted. John left Slovakia on June 15, 1928 aboard the SS Arabic (Red Star Line) and arrived in Halifax on June 22, 1928. Adela joined him in Canada in 1932 and they settled in Delhi, Ontario. .

Both worked very hard before they were able to buy their first home in Delhi. John was a railroader with CN and also worked in a factory. He was dedicated to the independence of Slovakia and was a life member of the Slovak World Congress. Adela and John never ceased to promote the Slovak language and taught their four daughters to speak Slovakian. John returned to his homeland once, in 1979, with three of his daughters. Adela was unable to make the trip due to her health. There, he visited his three brothers and sister in Polhronska Polhora.

John died in 2000.

Adela Ridzon was born in the village of of Polhronska Polhora, near Brezno, Slovakia.
Having grown up in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, she learned to speak fluent Hungarian as Slovak was not recognized. Adela excelled at school and was chosen to continue her studies in Hungary. However, her parents did not support this plan and wanted her to continue studying in Slovakia. Her parents had been careful to pass on Slovakia's ancestral language and culture to their descendants. Adela married Ján Ridzon on February 13, 1928 and after learning of her husband's acceptance to immigrate to Canada, she encouraged him to answer the call as she was confident of soon joining him. He left on June 15, 1928 and Adela remained in Slovakia and worked as a housekeeper for the Lupac family for four years, at Rimanska Sobota. On December 14, 1932, she joined John in Canada. She travelled by ship on the TSS Veendam Holland-America Line to New York, then by train to Delhi, Ontario. Both worked very hard before they were able to buy their first home in Delhi with Adela working in a local tobacco factory. They had 4 daughters Irma Iglar, Emily Halyk, Margaret and Pauline.
Adela and Ján supported organizations dedicated to the independence of Slovakia. Adela joined the Canadian Slovak League in 1950, and John was a life member of the Slovak World
Congress. Both were avid readers of many Slovak magazines and newspapers. Adela and John never ceased to promote the Slovak language and culture to those around them, including their children. Adela encouraged her daughters to pursue their education.
She died in 1987.