In the 1930s, Maria’s family immigrated to East Germany, where she was a sewing apprentice. When WWII began, she and her sister evaded the Russian army to arrive in West Germany. She worked in the kitchen at MCC’s Gronau refugee camp. In 1948, Maria immigrated to Canada. In Winnipeg, she met and married Johann, an Armed Forces fire fighter. Their family moved often. In addition to caring for 2 sons, Maria enjoyed square dancing, music, baking and travelling. She graduated from B.C. Institute of Technology with a certificate in baking. In the 1980, Maria and son Wolfgang visited East Germany. The last 21 years of her life were in Abbotsford, B.C., where she joined Clearbrook MB and took music lessons. Maria became ill June 17 and died in her sleep the next day.
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