Born Aug. 7,1923, passed away peacefully with her family by her side at Nanaimo Palliative Care Unit, after a short illness.
She is predeceased by her son Michael Feb. 22,1997 and her husband Stephen on Dec. 25,1997.
Maria was born in Hungary to a line of country gentry. She nursed during the war until she was swept off her feet by Stephen who married her on December 21,1944. ( the shortest day and the longest night)who was working for the American Embassy.
Soon after they started a family and Elizabeth was born. They moved to France after one year and then again to South Africa, where Maria gave birth to three more children, Martin, Michael and Dorothy.
In 1961, once again Maria had to start all over again as they decided to move to Canada. They had to leave behind their friends, their home and pets in tropical South Africa and come to an Ontario winter and snow for the first time. They lived there until 1972 when they took the train across Canada with Dorothy and one dog (Lady). After 17 years in West Vancouver, they moved to Nanoose Bay, in 1989.
Maria was fluent in Hungarian, French, German and English. She was an avid gardener, restarting gardens in new countries many times. She loved animals, was a dog obedience trainer, Champion Dog Breeder. She loved to play tennis and volunteered with Meals on Wheels, and took dogs to visit the infirm at hospitals.
Her last dog Libby was a P. A. D. S. hearing assist dog.
Service was held March 8th, 2013 and Burial at Yates Cemetery on March 9th, 2013
alongside her husband Stephen.
She leaves behind her children: Elizabeth (Robin) Gillespie, Martin (Susan) Sved, Dorothy (Joe) Morrison and five grand daughters; Jackie, Katie, Ally, Justine, Molly and Rebecca.
Special thanks to Nanaimo Palliative Care for comfort and understanding for all the family. Donation in Maria’s memory may be made to Pacific Assist Dogs Society www.pads.ca or Hospice.