Maria Miranda

Maria Miranda, 82, of Mansfield, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2017, surrounded by her family. She was born August 26, 1934, in Rosario, Argentina, to the late Angelo and Clementina (Filipotte) Fiorenza.

She came to know the Lord at the age of 13 and met the love of her life, Juan Carlos, 14, at the Brethren Church in Rosario, Argentina. They both felt called to Christian ministry and after graduating from seminary, they were married on December 3, 1953. Maria spent her life serving the Lord alongside her husband as pastors, church planters, Bible teachers and missionaries. She wrote 17 booklets and a book of poetry entitled "Para Ti Mujer". She was a member of the National Religious Broadcasters, the American Association of Christian Counselors and the National Association of Evangelicals. Maria's ministry was mainly supported by the Brethren Church in Ashland, Ohio and Fuller Evangelistic Association in Pasadena, California.

One of her greatest accomplishments was writing over 5000 programs during her 30 year award-winning radio ministry, "Para Ti Mujer" (For You, My Dear Lady). The program, produced by her husband, Juan Carlos Miranda, had listeners in over 23 countries (Latin America, United States and Europe) and was broadcast by more than 1600 radio stations. It was through this ministry that she touched the lives of millions of people. Maria was known as "the most listened to woman in Latin America" according to Christianity Today Magazine. In 1998, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Christian radio and television stations in Lima, Peru, invited Maria to speak to thousands of women.

A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Maria leaves a legacy of love and devotion to the Lord for all to follow.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Juan Carlos Miranda; five children, Adriana Miranda of Mansfield, Gustavo (Gladys) Miranda of Glendora, CA, Samuel (Lynn Newman) Miranda of Huntington Beach, CA, Michael Miranda of Mansfield and Yvonne (Tony) Viscioni of Ontario, Ohio; fourteen grandchildren, Melinda (PJ) Burgett, Alisa (Tony) Rourke, G. Ezequiel (Nury) Miranda, Melody (Christopher) Anderson, Heidi (Mark Jennings) Miranda, G. Ebenezer Miranda, Caitlin Miranda, Jonathan Miranda, Corinne Miranda, Dustin Newman, Kyle Newman, Kelsie Newman, Leandra Viscioni and Jeremiah Viscioni; fifteen great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law and best friend, Erica Fiorenza of Greenwood, IN; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Maria was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Francisco Fiorenza and Eduardo Fiorenza; and a great-granddaughter, Ava Burgett.

The family will receive friends from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Monday, January 16, 2017, at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service conducted by her son-in-law, Rev. Tony Viscioni, will follow at 11:00 a.m. Burial in Mansfield Memorial Park will follow the funeral service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ashland Theological Seminary, International Student Scholarship Fund.