By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
IN between the flood of good words for Kristof Kollar and Lazlo Nagy, a spontaneous standing ovation erupted.
“I’m going to suggest something probably not appropriate at a funeral,” Lazlo’s grandfather John said – before he requested the round of applause from the 600-capacity crowd.
“They must have touched a lot of people. The reaction of everyone has been incredible.”
Together the friends lay side by side in caskets at Faith Christian Church in Dandenong North on 4 June.
The two teens had bonded over a passion for cars and mechanics.
A 19-year-old budding scientist from Narre Warren who loved a debate, coffee and heavy-metal, next to a calm 17-year-old ‘Mr Fix-it’ from Endeavour Hills who liked to break things down to basics.
They shared a love for each other’s Hungarian families, great sense of humour and a gentlemanly, caring manner praised by all.
The pair, who had died together in a car crash in Kallista on 24 May, were good kids and they had obviously showed it to the many who paid their tributes.
Their close Narre Warren North friend Aaron Goldsmith – who was also in the car – remains in The Alfred hospital, with great hope that he’ll pull through, the service was told.
Lazlo’s grandfather John spoke of the final moments, just before the three left his home in Kristof’s car on their last drive together.
Lazlo was told he had work tomorrow but he was keen to leave – to help install a muffler on Kristof’s car for his brother’s driving test the next day.
“I’ll be back,” Lazlo told his grandfather. Kristof shook John’s hand and bid him goodbye.
“And that was it,” John said.
Kristof and Lazlo were eulogised by their respective mothers Eva and Louisa and girlfriends Allie and Amy.
Lazlo had a can-do attitude, who loved to pull apart machines from an early age but was a “rock” who kept his family together, his mother said.
He often asked for small change to go to a Maccas drive-through for a caramel latte. He treated his brothers to milk bar treats, and built a train set for young relatives.
Lazlo had recently scored his dream job working in hydraulics.
In a recent post, he wrote: “I may not be there yet but I’m closer than I was yesterday.”
For Amy, Lazlo was her “bridge” -as you drove under on a wet night, everything stops and there’s silence. When you pass back out in the rain, it seems to hit you harder, she said.
Eva Kollar said her son Kristof had always been intrigued and excited by the world. A perfectionist and careful driver who followed his passion, landed a spot as an RMIT engineering student and was capable of anything, she said.
He would mimic Borat, loved his coffee, the outdoors and was remembered for his three-coloured beard.
Allie spoke of her boyfriend Kristof’s fun, goofy side.
How he’d dress up in ill-fitting clothes on holidays and not care what people thought he looked like.
No matter what mood she was in, Kristof would make her happy. With him by her side, she felt she’d be fine – whatever life threw at her.
One of his former teachers spoke of how he and Kristof would chat like mates. How he would have looked forward to seeing the fine man Kristof was destined to become.
As part of some of the pre-service preparations, Lazlo’s work-in-progress VK Commodore station wagon was dotingly prepared by loved ones.
Mates have also organised a tribute non-hooning car meet in Caroline Springs on 25 June.
At the service, senior pastor Matt Heins led a prayer that “you make the most of every time in your life”.
“In such a short amount of time, (Kristof and Lazlo) have had an impact on so many lives.”
