Susan Mentes

Susan Kish Mentes passed away peacefully on January 27, 2023 at the age of 78 in Arizona, in the presence of her loving daughters. Susan was born on April 25, 1944 in Szombathely, Hungary to the late Kalman and Ester Kish.  When Susan was 11 months old, the Kish family escaped communist Hungary They spent the next 4 ½ years in a refugee camp before immigrating to the USA and settling in Columbus, Ohio. Susan graduated from South High School in 1963 and remained a proud Bulldog. Shortly after graduation, Susan married Julius Mentes, the love of her life, whom she met through the Hungarian Reformed Church. They had two daughters, Nancy and Susie. Susan was employed by Discover Card Services in Columbus, Ohio and retired after 20 years. After escalating health issues, Susan moved to California to be closer to her daughters. Susan was a very talented artist and writer. Her short stories and poems won many accolades. Susan enjoyed traveling, spoiling her cats and spending time with her dear friends Doris, Roza, Claire and Theresa. Susan loved animals, pink flowers and going out to eat with friends. Her travel adventures included a road trip with Theresa to Niagara Falls, a rainforest in Australia, snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef and Hawaii, climbing the waterfalls in Ocho Rios for her 50^th birthday, Paris, Stockholm, Switzerland, Hungary and falling into the Great Salt Lake while taking a picture. She had a wicked sense of humor – even in her final years. Her greatest joy was the time she spent with her grandsons during trips to Disneyland or watching them play sports – especially football. Susan was proceeded in death by her parents, Kalman and Ester Kish and her husband, Julius. Susan is survived by her daughter Nancy (George) McNeill and grandsons Geordie and Connor of Oregon; her daughter Susan Mentes Hamlin (Garrett) of Arizona; cousins Zsuzsi Giczi and Karci Takacs of Hungary, and brother in law Ferenc Mentes of Hungary. A Memorial Service for Susan will take place on June 16 at 11 am, Worthington United Methodist Church with private interment at Sunset Cemetery. Susan will be buried beside her husband Julius as they had wished. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Susan’s memory to the Columbus Zoo – one of her favorite places or Hospice of the Valley, Eckstein Center in Scottsdale, Arizona.