Services will be held on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at Memorial Funeral Home in Columbia. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM with Father Mike Coleman officiating.
Maria was born January 13, 1923 in Krakow, Poland, daughter of Zophia and Michal Molitoris.
Maria came to America a scared 15 year old girl alone on a ship; she left Poland right before the German invasion of Poland in August 1939. Maria came to her father in Mocanaqua, Pennsylvania.
Maria married Walter Yaninas in 1948 and had two daughters, Mary and Helen, and son Walter.
After her husband passed away she came to live with her daughter Mary in Hallsville, Missouri. Maria made friends fast; she was known by most as either Grandma or Polish Maria. She loved everyone she met and they loved her back; she just had something about her that was lovable. Maria walked all over Hallsville, cleaning up trash, finding coins and visiting with neighbors and the local daycare. Maria was so popular that the local newspaper wrote a story about "Polish Maria" in 2009 after she was hit by a car on her 80th birthday. You could spot her by her black hat, she always wore it. Even after the terrible accident, Maria still cleaned up trash and visited with neighbors. She knew everyone in town.
Maria had not seen her family in over 60 years and yearned to see them. Her daughter Mary took her back three times; Maria was so very happy, it was a dream come true for her.
She is survived by her daughters Mary Plakorus and Helen Wylie; grandchildren William Lewis (Laura), Bryan Lewis (Jamie), Cathy Ales, Melissa Wylie, William Wylie, Chrissy Wylie, 10 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Walter Yaninas, her son Walter Yaninas, Jr., her sister Catherine, brothers Joseph, John and Frank, and her parents.
Maria knew what it meant to make people smile and in return they would do anything for her. She was a joy and a blessing to know.
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