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.«
