Tamás Barek

December 25th 1962 - April 27th 2026

Tamás Barek was born in Budapest, Hungary. During his childhood Tom made so many friends that he kept in touch with until his final days. He studied to become a fire prevention engineer. In 1989, at the age of 27, he decided he wanted to move to Canada in hopes of creating a more prosperous life.

His love for dogs is what created this prosperous life. Instead of continuing with what he studied, he decided to go back to school to become a dog groomer. This later turned into a dog sitting business that he ran together with his wife Susan. Through these two businesses Tom met so many wonderful people and so many great dogs. He was loved by so many two-legged and four-legged customers.

He spent the majority of his life in Toronto surrounded by friends and family. Canada was a dream turned into a perfect reality. Tom loved the outdoors. This life he created for himself allowed him to do all the things he loved like fishing, canoeing, swimming, camping, and gardening. This was also the place where he achieved great things like building the home he lived in, getting a pilot licence, putting both his daughters through high-level universities, and making sure his family will never have to worry financially.

Throughout his adult life he made so many new friends to add to his already large community of love. He was always ready to help anyone when they asked. Friends and neighbours, to this very day, speak about how much they enjoyed his company, his stories, and his knowledge.

In his final days, Tom spoke about how he has no regrets in life and lived more in 63 years than anyone else could in 100. He never lacked for anything and spoke about how some of his fondest memories are from the many trips he took with his wife and children.

He will be missed by too many to count. He will be especially missed by the family he left behind. As a son, husband, father, and uncle he leaves behind a big family that all did and always will love him. His father Tamás, his sister Gabika and family, his wife Zsuzsanna, his daughters Stephanie and Laura, his nephew Máté and family, his father-in-law Gyula, his brother-in-law Gyuszi and family. We are all going to miss him very much but we are glad he will be together again with his mother Zsuzsanna, his nephew Viktor, his mother-in-law Szilvia, and his dog Barney who he always called his first child.

Köszönöm hogy egész életemben ilyen jó barátaim voltatok - Tamás

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local dog shelter, hospital, or humane society in his memory as after his family, dogs were the greatest love of his life.

Tom was such a planner. His family will keep his wishes of not having a sad funeral but rather, a joyful celebration of life outside in the warm weather.