Maria was born in Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands, January 5, 1919, the oldest of three girls. She attended a French Boarding School in Belgium and business college in Heerlen, where she met her husband-to-be. Her family owned a tobacco store where she worked before her marriage.
During WWII Maria successfully assisted the Dutch Resistance to prevent Dutch citizens from being sent to German camps. After Limburg was liberated she and her family often had soldiers to dinner and kept in touch with them for years.
She married Gerard Verschueren in 1945 and had two daughters, Yvonne and Margo. In 1951 they immigrated to the United States to join her husband who had immigrated six months earlier. Later that year, a son, John, was born. Maria was instrumental in relocating her immediate family: parents, sisters and spouses to the United States within the next four years.
Though she never held a job in the United States, she volunteered at the children’s elementary school and belonged to several church organizations. She was extremely talented in handcrafts: knitting, crocheting, sewing, cross stitching, quilting, baking, and gardening. Her family was always happy to receive her handwork and still treasure much of it today.
After Gerard retired, they enjoyed extensive traveling and cruises, collecting over 40,000 sea miles. Their cruise line of choice was, naturally, the Holland America Line.
Maria was devoted to her family. Known as Oma, she and Opa (Gerard) never passed up a chance to babysit for grandchildren or attend any of their functions, especially Rochester High School Marching Band and band concerts.
Maria had a pure heart filled with love, kindness and devotion to her family and friends. Her generous and loving spirit live on in the hearts of her family.
She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Gerard; daughters Yvonne Verschueren (Edward Brouhard) of Rochester Hills, Michigan, and Margo Tyghem (Tom) of Boca Raton, Florida; son John Verschueren of Madison Heights, Michigan; sister Kitty Odekerken of Sarasota, Florida; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her sister, Louise Munten of Grand Rapids, Michigan and her parents predeceased her.
Memorials in Maria’s memory may be made to Seasons Hospice or Rochester Hills Public Library.
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