Ilona Lowe Preston

Ilona Lowe Preston, 91, resident of Sedona, passed away at home on Tuesday, August 28, 2007. She was born in Budapest, Hungary on May 4, 1916 to Dr. Kormanik and Ilona Vollman. Ilona was a ballerina; she also worked for the Government Administration in Budapest Hungary; and she was a mother and housewife. Ilona and her first husband, Ernest, safely transported their four children from War torn Europe; from Hungary to Austria and Germany, and eventually to the United States. She loved the arts; ballet, symphony music, ballroom dancing, and opera. Ilona also enjoyed reading, history, art and traveling.She also was very talented in sewing designer clothing, and one of her noted accomplishments was receiving her Interior Designer Degree at the age of 65. Ilona had a special love and compassion for her faith, family and animals; and she possessed a true appreciation for the beauty of nature. Ilona\u0027s strength of character and the constant presence of such will greatly missed. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Ernest John Lowe; and her second husband, James Edward Preston. She was the loving mother of Andras Lowe with his wife, Jacqueline of Riverhead, New York; Susanna Lowe of New York City, New York; Sheila Graf with her husband, Peter of San Francisco, California and Sylvia Lowe Herbert and her husband Liam of Sedona, Arizona; She was also the grandmother of four adored grandchildren, Paul (Deva) Graf of Scottsdale, Arizona, Adrienne Graf (Adam Forest) of Lotus, California, Alissa Graf of San Francisco, California, and Pamela (Mark) Waters of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and two great-grandchildren. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in her honor on Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 9:00am at the St. John Vianney Catholic Church; where Ilona was a faithful member. Contributions may be sent to: St. John Vianney, 180 Soldiers Pass Road, Sedona, Arizona 86336; RTA Hospice, 70 Bell Rock Plaza, Suite A, Sedona, Arizona 86351; or to your favorite local animal shelter. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com