Maria Koch (Gaus), age 98, of Middleburg Heights, Ohio died on April 22, 2024. Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Franz, in 1982. Maria is survived by her daughter, Roswitha Stanford (Richard – deceased); son, Rudolf Koch (Tina); grandsons, Anthony Koch (Anne Tyler), Christopher Stanford (Jessica), Andrew Stanford (Ashley), Ricky Stanford; and great-grandchildren, Gracelyn, Knox, Oaklyn and Rhett. She leaves behind nieces and nephews, who were much loved and a large part of her life.
Maria was born in Mrzovic, Croatia, former Yugoslavia on March 8, 1926 to Adam and Elizabeth Gaus (Hemlinger). Her parents died when she was very young. Maria and her sister, Juliana, were then very lucky to have the love and care of their step-grandfather Wendelin Beer. Wendelin, Juliana and Maria escaped Yugoslavia in 1942 and lived in Salzburg, Austria in a refugee camp. Maria met her husband, Franz in Salzburg. They were married on September 22, 1946. In October 1955, they had a daughter, Roswitha. They lived in the refugee camp until January 1956, when they moved to Cleveland, Ohio. In March 1958, they had a son, Rudolf. They bought a house in Cleveland and spent years restoring it. In 1968, Franz and Maria built a home in Middleburg Heights, Ohio bartering with their friends in the construction business to build it. They planted a large garden and were busy all summer and fall tending to it. Maria loved gardening and she canned much of what they grew. Maria, also, had beautiful flower gardens in her yard. Maria loved entertaining family and friends. She loved to cook for her family, especially her grandsons. She baked cookies for every occasion.
Maria was a longtime member of the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center. Maria had many friends who had similar backgrounds at the Center and participated in festivities held there honoring her heritage. She was a member of the Frauengruppe and the Senioren Club. She enjoyed traveling with the group and had many fun trips with her friends.
Maria loved being a grandmother and great-grandmother. She was very proud of her four grandsons and enjoyed spending time with them whenever possible. She will be dearly missed by her entire family.
Arrangements have been made at The Zabor Funeral Home where visitation will be, Sunday, April 28, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Parma, Ohio on Monday, April 29 at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.