Parcourez la nécrologie de Maria Raugust Hetze September 25 1931 December 5 2024 93 Years Old résidant dans la province Alberta pour le détail des funérailles.

Maria Hetze Obituary
Maria passed away in the Ponoka General Hospital on December 5, 2024, at the age of 93. She is lovingly remembered by her children Herbert (Yvette) Hetze of Athabasca, Marion Hetze (Russell Swinehammer) of Nova Scotia, Gary (Debbie) Hetze of Ponoka; grandchildren Corina Lasiuk, Yvonne (Cameron) Keats, Shawn Wilson (Rachel), Kurt Wilson (Jess), Megan Hetze, Lucas (Sharelle) Hetze, and Rebecca Hetze; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Maria was predeceased by her husband Manfred; parents Johannes «John» and Dorothea Raugust; sister Erna Freiman; brothers Hubert, Alfred, and Adolf Raugust; brother-in-law Alvin Freiman; sister-in-law Ilse Raugust; and grandson Karl Hetze.
Maria was born in 1931 in Ebenfeld, Besserabia, Romania, in a region now known as the country of Moldova. She was the second oldest of five siblings born to Johannes and Dorothea Raugust. The Raugust family was part of a large German settlement that had lived and farmed in Besserabia for several generations. In 1940 the war broke out and they were forced to abandon their home and flee to Germany. The family settled in a German refugee camp where they remained for 2 years before being relocated to a farm in Poland. Her father, Johannes was soon forced to join the German army leaving her Mother Dorothea to carry on raising her five children alone. As the war drew to an end, Russian soldiers occupied their farm. In the midst of nearby gunfire and exploding rockets, they brought their wounded soldiers into their house as the family hid on top of a pile of potatoes in their root cellar basement. This went on for days and there as very little to eat. Eventually the family was to flee to Germany once again. Their journey was plagued with hardships and danger as the family endured hunger and humiliation in the refugee camps along the way. Eventually they were placed on trains which were to take them to Germany. Once in Germany, they were turned back at the newly established east German border. A kind and compassionate local whom Oma had befriended, lead them to a secluded place where they were able to sneak into west Germany late at night under the cover of darkness, escaping a life under communist rule. God’s miracles did not end here; with the help of the Red Cross, they discovered that Opa Raugust too had survived the war and had made his way to West Germany. Reunited, the family was once again complete. They settled in a rural district near the city of Osnabruck where they found employment as farm hands. It was here, while working on a farm as well as the local Gasthaus that Maria met the love of her life, Manfred Hetze. Maria and Manfred were married in 1952 and immediately following the wedding immigrated to Canada together with the rest of the Raugust Family with the assistance of the Canadian Lutheran World Relief. Maria and Manfred worked on a farm in Southern Alberta for a short period, then relocated to join Maria’s relatives in Ponoka in 1953. Maria went to work as a cook at Bud Grant’s Royal Hotel where she remained for almost 20 years. In 1973 she took a job as Dietary Aide at the Ponoka General Hospital where she worked until her retirement in 1991.
Maria cherished the many joyful moments spent together with her family and friends at her home and Pigeon Lake cabin. Biking, cross-country skiing, canoeing, cooking, sewing, reading, playing games, traveling and music were among her favourite past times. Together with Manfred, her siblings and/or friends she went on numerous trips to Germany and Nova Scotia, and bus tours to eastern Canada, throughout the US and Mexico and to the music halls in Branson Missouri. Following Manfred’s passing in 1999, Maria continued to live in her home behind the old general hospital. In early 2018, after 50 years in her own home, Maria moved into Legacy Place and then in 2022 to the Golden Leisure Lodge (Rimoka). She loved her new home at both Legacy and Rimoka where she enjoyed getting together with her neighbours and friends to visit and play cards. Throughout the years, Maria maintained a strong faith in God and was highly appreciative of the many blessings bestowed upon her. She was an active member of the Grace and Trinity Lutheran church ladies aide and choir, always helping whenever she could. Her special talent at making the most yummy cabbage rolls and pastries for the pot lucks were especially enjoyed by all. Maria brought joy and laughter to everyone she met. She will be loving remembered and sadly missed by her family and all those who knew her. May God grant her peace and eternal rest.
The family thanks Dr. Gregory Chan and the staff of the Ponoka General Hospital for their excellent and compassionate care.
Donations may be made to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Alberta Heart & Stroke Foundation, or any charity of your choice.
A Funeral Service will be held at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Ponoka, Alberta on Friday, December 13th, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. The service will be livestream broadcast (the link will be located below).
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September 25 1931 December 5 2024 93 Years Old

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Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Maria Raugust Hetze September 25 1931 December 5 2024 93 Years Old et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.