Maria Tomczak, 87, of LaPorte, died April 18, 2013, at home surrounded by her family.
She was born in the Ukraine on Jan. 6, 1926.
Maria’s early life in Eastern Europe was tumultuous. She was raised by a single mother with help from her grandmother, aunts and uncles, who cherished her. The Ukraine, which was part of Poland, was invaded by the Nazis in 1939, followed by a short period of Communist rule, and then the Nazis again. She was sent as a young teenager to work in Germany during World War II, not by choice, and never saw most of her family again. After the war she lived in a Displacement Persons Camp in Germany for five years. There she met her husband and their son was born.
They emigrated to America in 1950 with one suitcase, and here they were able to realize the American Dream. She told many stories of her youth in Ukraine, where she was known for her singing in her home village and life in Germany, where she was treated well by the German family she worked for as a housekeeper.
Maria was a homemaker and gardener extraordinaire. Every year she planted a huge garden filled with vegetables, fruit and flowers, and shared the bounty with others. Indoors she also had a very green thumb, nurturing houseplants, one of them for over 40 years. She was very much appreciated for her baking and cooking skills. No one ever went away hungry or unhappy. Her grandchildren’s first question after hearing she was coming to visit was, “Will she bring pound cake and make perogies for us?” She was a fun, outgoing person, making friends all her life, and people loved her. She did not hesitate to speak her mind and kept things real. She was always ready to help anyone who needed it, especially her family. She was an active member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses for 59 years and loved Jehovah God. She was known for her generosity, big heart, and love for her family and friends. She will be missed by all who knew her.
Maria was married for 65 years to Michal Tomczak, who survives her. She had three children, Walter, Tina, and Rosemary, and four grandchildren, Justin, Vanessa, Ivoire and Aimee, who loved her very much. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and son.
Her memorial was held April 21 at Kingdom Hall, followed by a celebration of life reception.
Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.