Life Story
Lujza Daku was born at Bezdéd, Hungary, at three o’clock in the afternoon on 13 August 1897. Her civil birth registration identifies her as the daughter of András Daku, a smallholder and day labourer, and his wife, Teréz, whose maiden name appears in the record as Kaponyos. Both parents belonged to the Reformed Church. András had been born at Bezdéd, while Teréz was born at Záhony. The birth was registered on 20 August, when András appeared before the deputy civil registrar and confirmed the entry by making his mark.1
In 1902, Lujza left Hungary with her parents and her brothers András and Lajos. The Hamburg departure list records her as Luise Daku, age three, leaving Hamburg on 31 May aboard the Armenia for Boulogne and Halifax.12 The Canadian arrival list records the family under Hungarian and German-influenced forms of their names, with the child entered as “Luzja.” It confirms that the Armenia arrived at Halifax on 13 June, with Whitewood in the District of Assiniboia as the family’s intended destination.2 The departure and arrival records reported Lujza as three years old, although her civil birth record shows that she was nearly five.
By June 1906, the Daku family was established in Saskatchewan’s Assiniboia East district. Eight-year-old Lujza, recorded as Louisa, lived with her parents and her older brothers Alex, Andrew, and Louis. All members of the household were recorded as Hungarian-born immigrants who had arrived in 1902.3
The 1911 census again placed Lujza with her parents and a large extended Daku household in Township 12, Range 5, west of the Second Meridian, in the Qu’Appelle district. She was recorded as Luisa Daku, a single thirteen-year-old daughter, born in Hungary, immigrating in 1902, and belonging to the Presbyterian church.4 The census gave August 1898 as her birth month and year, but its reported age of thirteen agrees with the documented August 1897 birth.
By October 1913, Lujza had married Lőrinc Debreceni, whose name appears in Canadian records as Lorincz and Lawrence and whose surname is found as both Debreceni and Debreceny. Saskatchewan birth indexes identify three children: Mary, born on 14 October 1913; Joseph, born on 27 October 1915; and Julia, born on 1 November 1917.5 No reviewed marriage record yet provides the date or place of Lujza and Lőrinc’s marriage.
In the 1916 census, Lawrence and Louisa Debreceni were living in the Hazelwood district with Mary and Joseph. Lawrence was recorded as a farmer working on his own account. Louisa was born in Hungary, was Presbyterian, spoke both English and Hungarian, and could read and write.6 The census reported her immigration in 1904, but the passenger list and the 1906 and 1911 censuses establish the family’s arrival in 1902.
In the autumn of 1918, Lujza became gravely ill. Her physician recorded Spanish influenza and measles as predisposing causes, followed by four days of pneumonia. She died at four o’clock in the afternoon on 10 November 1918 at the rural location recorded as 32-12-5 in the Hazelwood district. She was twenty-one years old. Her husband supplied the civil death information and was present when she died.7
Her illness occurred during the worldwide influenza pandemic of 1918–1919, commonly called the Spanish flu. The pandemic was caused by an H1N1 influenza virus and could produce severe illness, pneumonia and death even among otherwise healthy people.11 In Lujza’s case, the medical certificate specifically records influenza and measles, with pneumonia as the final cause.7
Lujza was buried at Bekevar on 12 November 1918.7 Her grave memorial preserves the spelling “Luyza Debreczeni” and gives an alternate death date of 11 November.10 The certified civil record is used for the profile’s death date.
Her death left three young children. Mary was five, Joseph had recently turned three, and Julia had turned one only nine days earlier. Julia’s later family notes identify Julianna Kosik as her stepmother.8 Family recollection states that Lőrinc later married Julianna and that they raised Mary and Joseph. Julia was raised instead by Sándor Daku, Lujza’s brother, and his wife, Mary Debreceni, Lőrinc’s sister. The couple had no children of their own. No reviewed record establishes that Julia’s placement involved a formal adoption, so the profile describes her as having been raised in their household.9
The longer narrative From Bezdéd to Bekevar follows Lujza’s family from Hungary to Saskatchewan and places her short life within the migration and community that shaped it.
Research Notes
Name forms
The profile uses Lujza Daku, combining the normalized Hungarian form of her given name with her birth surname. Married-name forms remain in the aliases and source discussion. The records preserve numerous variants: Luiza, Luzja, Luisa, Louise, Louisa and Luyza. Her married surname appears as Debreceni, Debreceny and Debreczeni. These variations refer to the same woman when correlated by parents, husband, children, age and residence.
Birth date
The original Bezdéd civil registration records Lujza’s birth on 13 August 1897.1 The passenger list reported her as age three in June 1902, although she was nearly five.2 The 1911 census gave August 1898 but also reported age thirteen, which is consistent with an August 1897 birth.4 Julia Debreceni Daku’s later family notes gave 20 July 1897.8 The contemporary civil record controls.
Mother’s maiden name
The 1897 birth entry appears to record Lujza’s mother as Kaponyos Teréz. Later family notes use Teréz Kaponyás.8 The profile uses Kaponyás as the normalized family form while preserving the record reading in the source card. Additional Hungarian records should be correlated before treating the spelling as fully settled.
Marriage
The reviewed sources establish that Lujza was married to Lőrinc Debreceni by the birth of Mary in October 1913, but no marriage registration or church entry has yet been reviewed.5 The profile therefore does not supply an exact marriage date or place.
Death date and burial
The certified Saskatchewan death registration and medical certificate give 10 November 1918.7 Julia’s family notes and the online grave memorial give 11 November.810 The civil record was created close to the event and includes the attending physician’s certificate, so 10 November is preferred. The grave source corroborates burial at Bekevar but is not used to replace the civil death date.
The children after Lujza’s death
Family recollection states that Lőrinc Debreceni later married Julianna Kosik and that Mary and Joseph were raised by their father and stepmother. Julia was raised by Sándor Daku and Mary Debreceni, her maternal uncle and paternal aunt.9 Julia’s notebook independently identifies Julianna Kosik as her stepmother.8 No adoption or guardianship record has been reviewed.
Map scope
The profile map uses four curated points: Tiszabezdéd, the Port of Hamburg, the Port of Halifax, and Bekevar Presbyterian Cemetery in Hazelwood Municipality. The port markers show broad port areas rather than specific 1902 piers or berths. The Bekevar marker identifies the documented cemetery and the centre of Lujza’s Saskatchewan life story, not her exact residence or the rural location recorded on her death certificate. Whitewood is mentioned in the passenger list as the family’s intended destination but is not mapped as a confirmed residence.
Evidence Timeline
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Born at Bezdéd
Lujza was born at Bezdéd, Hungary, where her civil registration named her parents and recorded the family's Reformed faith.
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Arrived at Halifax
She arrived aboard the Armenia after the family embarked at Hamburg, with Whitewood listed as their intended destination.
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Saskatchewan household
The Assiniboia East census placed Lujza with her parents and brothers.
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Extended Daku household
The Qu’Appelle census placed her in Township 12, Range 5, west of the Second Meridian.
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Married Lőrinc Debreceni
The birth of Mary establishes that Lujza and Lőrinc were married by October 1913; the exact marriage record has not been found.
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Son Joseph born
Joseph Debreceni was recorded in the Saskatchewan birth indexes as Lujza and Lőrinc's son.
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Hazelwood census
The household included Lujza, Lőrinc, Mary, and Joseph; Lőrinc was recorded as a farmer.
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Daughter Julia born
Julia Debreceni was the youngest of Lujza and Lőrinc's three children.
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Died during the influenza pandemic
The certified Saskatchewan death registration records influenza, measles, and pneumonia as the causes of death.
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Buried at Bekevar
Lujza was buried at Bekevar Presbyterian Cemetery.
Family Group Sheet
- Parents
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- András Daku
- Teréz Kaponyás
- Spouse / family connection
- Lőrinc “Lawrence” Debreceni; married by October 1913, exact date not documented
- Children and direct-line notes
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- Mary Debreceni
- Joseph Debreceni
- Julia Debreceni - direct-line child
- After Lujza’s death: family tradition says Mary and Joseph were raised by Lőrinc and Julianna Kosik; Julia was raised by Sándor Daku and Mary Debreceni Daku. No legal adoption or guardianship record has been reviewed.
Places in Lujza Daku's Life
Photographs
Photograph Index
Images embedded in the story are gathered here with the additional family photographs connected to this profile.
Documentary Base
Sources
civil-registration
[1] Civil birth registration of Lujza Daku, 1897
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Hungary, Szabolcs County, Bezdéd civil registration, births, 1897, entry 87, Lujza Daku, born 13 August 1897 and registered 20 August 1897; digital image, "Hungary, Civil Registration, 1895–1980," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVBD-1LFW : accessed 24 July 2026), digital folder 004524844, image 132.
Access: FamilySearch digital image and associated indexed entry; image 132 of digital folder 004524844.
- Lujza Daku was born at Bezdéd on 13 August 1897 at 3:00 p.m.
- Her birth was registered at Bezdéd on 20 August 1897.
- She was the daughter of András Daku and his wife, whose maiden name appears to read Kaponyos Teréz.
- Both parents were members of the Reformed Church.
- András was described as a smallholder and day labourer, born and residing at Bezdéd.
- Lujza’s mother was born at Záhony.
- The FamilySearch index renders the child’s name as Luiza.
- The exact spelling of the mother’s maiden name should be correlated with additional records.
passenger-list
[2] Passenger arrival of the András Daku family, 1902
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Canada, passenger list, S.S. Armenia, arrived Halifax, Nova Scotia, 13 June 1902, p. 13, András Daku household, including Luzja Daku; Library and Archives Canada, RG 76-C, roll T-496; digital image, Ancestry.com, "Canada, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1865–1935" (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1263/images/IMCANQC1865_T496-00161 : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Ancestry subscription image; original passenger list held by Library and Archives Canada.
- Lujza Daku arrived at Halifax on 13 June 1902 aboard the Armenia.
- She travelled from Hamburg with her parents, András and Teréz Daku, and her brothers András and Lajos.
- The family intended to travel to Whitewood in the District of Assiniboia.
- The passenger list records her name as Luzja.
- The list reports her age as three, although her civil birth registration establishes that she was nearly five.
- András Daku was described as a labourer and the family as Hungarian.
census
[3] 1906 census household of András and Teréz Daku
Contemporary record Back to first citationCitation: Canada, 1906 census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, Saskatchewan, Assiniboia East District 11, subdistrict 18, p. 1, family 2, András Daku household, especially Louisa Daku; digital image, Ancestry.com, "1906 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta" (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8827/images/e001207196 : accessed 24 July 2026); citing Statistics Canada fonds, RG 31-C-1, Library and Archives Canada.
Access: Ancestry subscription image; original census schedule held by Library and Archives Canada.
- Lujza Daku was living with her parents, András and Teréz Daku, in Saskatchewan in June 1906.
- The household also included her brothers Alex, András and Lajos.
- Lujza was recorded as Louisa, daughter, single, age eight and born in Hungary.
- Her age agrees with the civil birth registration showing that she was born on 13 August 1897.
- All six household members were recorded as immigrating in 1902.
- The household was located in Assiniboia East subdistrict 18, covering Townships 11 and 12 in Ranges 4, 5 and 6 west of the Second Meridian.
- The Ancestry index misreads several names; the original schedule controls.
census
[4] 1911 census household of András and Teréz Daku
Contemporary record Back to first citationCitation: Canada, 1911 census, Saskatchewan, Qu’Appelle District 213, subdistrict 5, Township 12, Range 5 west of the Second Meridian, p. 25, household 285, András Daku household, especially line 44, Luisa Daku; digital image, FamilySearch, "Recensement du Canada de 1911" (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27XR-V9Q : accessed 24 July 2026), digital folder 007526702, image 438; FamilySearch microfilm 002418578.
Access: FamilySearch digital image and associated indexed entries.
- Lujza Daku was living with her parents and extended family in the Qu’Appelle district of Saskatchewan in 1911.
- She was recorded as Luisa Daku, daughter, single and age thirteen.
- The family lived in Township 12, Range 5, west of the Second Meridian.
- The census records Lujza as born in Hungary, immigrating in 1902, of Hungarian origin, Canadian nationality and Presbyterian religion.
- The schedule reports August 1898 as her birth month and year, but age thirteen agrees with her documented 13 August 1897 birth.
- Several other names and relationships in the indexed household require separate review.
vital-record-index
[5] Saskatchewan birth indexes for the children of Lujza Daku and Lőrinc Debreceni
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Government of Saskatchewan, eHealth Saskatchewan, "Genealogy Index Searches," birth registrations 14602, Mary Debreceny, 14 October 1913; 23954, Joseph Debreceni, 27 October 1915; and 25548, Julia Debreceni, 1 November 1917; database search results (http://genealogy.ehealthsask.ca/vsgs_srch.aspx : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Online genealogy index maintained by eHealth Saskatchewan; full birth registrations not reviewed.
- Mary Debreceny was born on 14 October 1913.
- Joseph Debreceni was born on 27 October 1915.
- Julia Debreceni was born on 1 November 1917.
- The indexes identify Louise or Lujza Daku as the children’s mother.
- The father appears under the name forms Lorincz Debreceny, Lawrence Debreceni and Lorincz Debreceni.
- The records preserve the surname variants Debreceni and Debreceny.
- These are derivative index entries; the underlying registrations should be consulted for fuller details.
census
[6] 1916 census household of Lawrence and Louisa Debreceni
Contemporary record Back to first citationCitation: Canada, Saskatchewan, 1916 census, Qu’Appelle District 26, subdistrict 11, Hazelwood, p. 30, dwelling 253, family 261, Lawrence Debreceni household; Library and Archives Canada, RG 31-C-1, microfilm T-21942; digital image, Ancestry.com, "1916 Canada Census of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta" (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1556/images/31228_4363971-00853?pId=759164578 : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Ancestry subscription image; original census schedule held by Library and Archives Canada.
- Louisa Daku Debreceni was living with her husband, Lawrence Debreceni, in the Hazelwood district in 1916.
- Their household included Mary and Joseph.
- The family lived in township 12, range 5, west of the Second Meridian.
- Louisa was born in Hungary, was Presbyterian, spoke English and Hungarian, and could read and write.
- Lawrence was recorded as a farmer working on his own account.
- The census reports Louisa’s immigration year as 1904, conflicting with the 1902 passenger list.
death-registration
[7] Death registration of Lujza Daku Debreceni, 1918
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Saskatchewan, Hazelwood Registration Division, Municipality No. 94, death registration no. 37 (1918), Louisa Debreczeni, died 10 November 1918, with attached medical certificate of cause of death; certified true copies issued 15 March 2019 by Vital Statistics, Saskatchewan; privately held by Davis W. Simpson, Calgary, Alberta.
Access: Certified true copies ordered from Vital Statistics, Saskatchewan, and issued 15 March 2019; digital photographs supplied by Davis W. Simpson.
- Lujza Daku was recorded under her married name, Louisa Debreczeni.
- She died on 10 November 1918 at age twenty-one.
- She was married and ordinarily resided near Kipling, Saskatchewan.
- Her parents were reported as Andrew Daku and Theresa Daku, both born in Hungary.
- Her husband supplied the civil death information and was present when she died.
- The medical certificate records Spanish influenza and measles as predisposing causes and pneumonia as the final cause of death.
- She was buried at Bekevar on 12 November 1918.
- The record gives the place of death as 32-12-5; the meridian is not stated on the form.
- The certified copies establish the provenance of the family-held images.
family-notes
[8] Family notes of Julia Debreceni Daku
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Julia Debreceni Daku, "Julia Debreceni Family" and "Julia’s Sister + Brother + Families," undated handwritten family-history notes, pp. 1–2; privately held by Davis W. Simpson, Calgary, Alberta; digital images supplied by Davis W. Simpson, 24 July 2026.
Access: Original handwritten notebook privately held by the family; digital images supplied by Davis W. Simpson.
- Julia Debreceni Daku identified her parents as Lawrence Debreceni and Louise Daku.
- She identified Louise Daku’s parents as Andrew Daku and Teréz Kaponyás.
- She identified Joseph and Mary Debreceni as Julia’s brother and sister.
- The notes preserve Louise as an English form of Lujza Daku’s given name.
- Julia identified Julianna Kosik as her stepmother.
- The notes give Lujza’s birth as 20 July 1897 and death as 11 November 1918; both conflict with contemporary civil records.
- Julia was an infant when her mother died, so information about Lujza’s earlier life was inherited family information rather than firsthand recollection.
oral-history
[9] Family recollections concerning Lujza Daku’s children
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Davis W. Simpson, family recollections concerning the children of Lujza Daku and Lőrinc Debreceni, including information transmitted through the Debreceni and Daku families; research notes recorded 24 July 2026, Calgary, Alberta.
Access: Private family information supplied by Davis W. Simpson.
- Family recollection states that Lőrinc Debreceni married Julianna Kosik after Lujza’s death.
- Mary and Joseph were raised by their father and stepmother.
- Julia was raised by Sándor Daku, Lujza’s brother, and Mary Debreceni, Lőrinc’s sister.
- Sándor and Mary reportedly had no children of their own.
- No reviewed source establishes that Julia’s placement involved a formal adoption or legal guardianship.
- The source represents family tradition rather than contemporary legal documentation.
cemetery
[10] Grave memorial of Lujza Daku Debreceni
Contemporary record Back to first citationCitation: Find a Grave, memorial 110510518, "Luyza Debreczeni," Bekevar Presbyterian Cemetery, Bekevar, Saskatchewan; database and memorial images, Find a Grave (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110510518/luyza-debreczeni : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Online cemetery memorial; derivative memorial and user-contributed images.
- Lujza Daku Debreceni is memorialized at Bekevar Presbyterian Cemetery.
- The memorial preserves the spelling Luyza Debreczeni.
- The memorial gives an alternate death date of 11 November 1918.
- The certified Saskatchewan death registration gives 10 November 1918 and is preferred for the profile death date.
- The grave source corroborates the death registration’s statement that she was buried at Bekevar.
historical-context
[11] Public Health Agency of Canada overview of pandemic influenza
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Public Health Agency of Canada, "Causes of Pandemic Flu (Influenza)," Canada.ca, 22 January 2018 (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/pandemic-flu/causes.html : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Public Health Agency of Canada webpage.
- The 1918–1919 pandemic was an H1N1 influenza pandemic commonly called the Spanish flu.
- Pandemic influenza can cause severe illness, including pneumonia, and death in otherwise healthy people.
- This is a context-only source and does not document Lujza’s individual illness; her medical certificate supplies that evidence.
passenger-list
[12] Hamburg departure list for Luise Daku, 1902
Strong support Back to first citationCitation: Staatsarchiv Hamburg, Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850–1934, Luise Daku, departed Hamburg 31 May 1902 aboard the S.S. Armenia for Boulogne and Halifax, Volume 373-7 I, VIII A 1, Band 131, p. 1385, microfilm K_1774; digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1068/images/K_1774_080533-0508 : accessed 24 July 2026).
Access: Ancestry subscription image; original record held by Staatsarchiv Hamburg.
- Records Luise Daku departing Hamburg on 31 May 1902 aboard the Armenia.
- Names Boulogne and Halifax as the listed arrival places.
- Identifies Luise as a Hungarian child from Bezdet travelling with Andreas, Terese, Andras and Lajos Daku.
- Preserves the record form Luise Daku and gives her departure age as three.
- Provides an independent departure-side record that complements the Canadian arrival list for the family's 1902 voyage.