IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Maria
Holzshuh
November 18, 2014
Obituary
ELKHART — Maria Holzshuh, 92, of Elkhart, gently departed this life at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in her home.
She was born Sept. 28, 1922, in Betschkerek, Yugoslavia, to Franz and Susanne (Schluthaer) Kolleth.
Maria married Willi Holzshuh on Nov. 2, 1946. They celebrated 64 years of marriage before Willi died on Oct. 15, 2011.
Maria is survived by her daughter, Susanne Marie Holzshuh of Elkhart; brother Franz Kolleth and his wife Helga of Nuehutten, Germany; and other family and friends in Germany.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant son; two brothers; and a nephew.
Maria, her mother and her brother, had to leave Yugoslavia because the Russians were invading. Anyone who stayed behind subsequently ended up in camps where they were either killed or died of disease because of their German ancestry. They escaped to Germany by train and on foot.
Unbeknownst to them, one of the trains they boarded took them to a concentration and death camp. Maria's mother learned what was happening and was able to convince the guards that she and her family were not Jewish and they were allowed to leave.
They eventually made their way to a Red Cross refugee camp in the Black Forest of Germany where she and Willi met and fell in love. They were married in Neuhutten, Germany, and lived and worked in Heilbronn for 10 years. Because of the imminent threat of a third world war due to the Cold War, she and Willi came to the U.S., specifically to Elkhart the home of their sponsors, the Heeters.
It's impossible to put into words the depth of gratefulness and thanksgiving that Maria was able to pull forth from the horrors of the war. Those experiences shaped her way of living life. Everything she touched was turned into something impeccably beautiful. She prepared food with love. Everything in her house was beautifully put together and it all sparkled. She was able to create an environment where beauty, health, serenity and creativity flourished.
She grew her own vegetables and canned the bounty. She cultivated a beautiful garden and fed her family with creativity. Her love of the elderly and people who had no other family meant that Maria's family was always growing and her house was always open; she created a new family in Elkhart with the many friends she and Willi made.
Maria passed on her love of learning, music, dancing and beauty to her daughter who saw her as the best mom anyone could ever have. It's been a real love affair for 48 years, and her tireless devotion to those she loved was total and complete.
Maria loved nature in all forms, loved animals, watching clouds, relished the beach, excelled at throwing parties and honored her physical body with exercise. She loved her family above all else. She had a great devotion to Mary and Jesus. She lived the words "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
Maria selflessly supported Willi and gave him the freedom of time and space he needed to create his amazing works of art as a master woodcarver. She formerly worked at C.G. Conn and was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Four Arts Club and the International Club.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Friday, Nov. 21, with visitation for an hour prior at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1505 N. Main St., Elkhart. The Rev. Jason Freiberger will officiate. In honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place.
The family has requested that you kindly refrain from sending flowers. Rather, memorials are welcomed to be sent to the church or the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Arrangements for Maria are under the care of Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart.
Susanne would like to thank the following for the loving care given to her mother on her end of life journey. The staff at Elkhart General Hospital, the EMTs, Dr. Fasih Siddiqi, Dr. Gammon, Hubbard Hill, Precious at Senior 1 Care and the Center for Hospice Care for Marie's end-of-life care and Elaine Postuma Kendell for her loving care and support.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
She was born Sept. 28, 1922, in Betschkerek, Yugoslavia, to Franz and Susanne (Schluthaer) Kolleth.
Maria married Willi Holzshuh on Nov. 2, 1946. They celebrated 64 years of marriage before Willi died on Oct. 15, 2011.
Maria is survived by her daughter, Susanne Marie Holzshuh of Elkhart; brother Franz Kolleth and his wife Helga of Nuehutten, Germany; and other family and friends in Germany.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; an infant son; two brothers; and a nephew.
Maria, her mother and her brother, had to leave Yugoslavia because the Russians were invading. Anyone who stayed behind subsequently ended up in camps where they were either killed or died of disease because of their German ancestry. They escaped to Germany by train and on foot.
Unbeknownst to them, one of the trains they boarded took them to a concentration and death camp. Maria's mother learned what was happening and was able to convince the guards that she and her family were not Jewish and they were allowed to leave.
They eventually made their way to a Red Cross refugee camp in the Black Forest of Germany where she and Willi met and fell in love. They were married in Neuhutten, Germany, and lived and worked in Heilbronn for 10 years. Because of the imminent threat of a third world war due to the Cold War, she and Willi came to the U.S., specifically to Elkhart the home of their sponsors, the Heeters.
It's impossible to put into words the depth of gratefulness and thanksgiving that Maria was able to pull forth from the horrors of the war. Those experiences shaped her way of living life. Everything she touched was turned into something impeccably beautiful. She prepared food with love. Everything in her house was beautifully put together and it all sparkled. She was able to create an environment where beauty, health, serenity and creativity flourished.
She grew her own vegetables and canned the bounty. She cultivated a beautiful garden and fed her family with creativity. Her love of the elderly and people who had no other family meant that Maria's family was always growing and her house was always open; she created a new family in Elkhart with the many friends she and Willi made.
Maria passed on her love of learning, music, dancing and beauty to her daughter who saw her as the best mom anyone could ever have. It's been a real love affair for 48 years, and her tireless devotion to those she loved was total and complete.
Maria loved nature in all forms, loved animals, watching clouds, relished the beach, excelled at throwing parties and honored her physical body with exercise. She loved her family above all else. She had a great devotion to Mary and Jesus. She lived the words "Cleanliness is next to Godliness."
Maria selflessly supported Willi and gave him the freedom of time and space he needed to create his amazing works of art as a master woodcarver. She formerly worked at C.G. Conn and was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Four Arts Club and the International Club.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon Friday, Nov. 21, with visitation for an hour prior at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1505 N. Main St., Elkhart. The Rev. Jason Freiberger will officiate. In honoring her wishes, cremation has taken place.
The family has requested that you kindly refrain from sending flowers. Rather, memorials are welcomed to be sent to the church or the Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Arrangements for Maria are under the care of Billings Funeral Home of Elkhart.
Susanne would like to thank the following for the loving care given to her mother on her end of life journey. The staff at Elkhart General Hospital, the EMTs, Dr. Fasih Siddiqi, Dr. Gammon, Hubbard Hill, Precious at Senior 1 Care and the Center for Hospice Care for Marie's end-of-life care and Elaine Postuma Kendell for her loving care and support.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Maria Holzshuh, please visit our flower store.
Services
Visitation
November
21
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Mass Of Christian Burial
November
21
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Starts at 12:00 pm