Maria Kuzmin

Maria Kuzmin, 89, died peacefully at her home on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, with her son Michael, daughter-in-law Jane, and granddaughter Tayne at her side. She was born the daughter of Ivan and Eugenia (Borovik) Misiuk. Maria was born on October 21, 1922, in Bogoshevo, Belarus (White Russia) at that time, under Polish occupation. During World War II, German army forces selected one able-bodied member of Belerus families for forced labor in Germany. Maria left her older sister Anna, brother Michael, and younger sister Olga, and was taken to Grundstadt Germany, where she worked on a farm where she later met her husband Nicholas, also a forced laborer who had been born near Moscow in 1922. Following the war, Maria and Nicholas were married in Wetzler, Germany, by a Russian Orthodox Priest. After the birth of their first child, Olga, in 1946, they immigrated to America, via Ellis Island, in 1950. Sponsored by the Mennonite Church, the family lived near Tiskilwa, Illinois and worked on a farm until Nadia was born and the family moved to Rockford. The family grew as Michael, and Eugenia were born while the family built their family home. Nicholas worked as a machinist while Maria worked as a custodian. Maria was a life member of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Rockford and loved to garden and cook for her beloved family. Mom, you always did so much for your family that we will be forever grateful, and you will remain in our hearts forever. Vechneya Pomyat, Eternal Memory. She was preceded in death by her husband Nicholas and sisters Anna and Olga of Belarus. She is survived by her son Michael (Jane) Kuzmin, of Rockford, daughters Olga (John) Haub, Eugenia (Paul) Kuzmin-Walling of Portland, Oregon, and Nadia (John) Spring of Oregon City, Oregon, granddaughters Katya Haub of San-Tan-Valley, AZ and Tayne (Jacob) Wolfe of Warren OR, a brother Mikhail (Evdokia) Misiuk of Belarus and nieces and nephews in Belarus.
Visitation at Sundberg Funeral Home, Ltd., 215 N. Sixth St., Rockford, from 5 - 7 PM, Wed., November 2, with a Panahida prayer service to follow. The Funeral Liturgy will be served Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at the funeral home at 10:00 AM, with Father Basil Aden, of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, officiating. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery. Online condolences at www.sundbergfh.com. A special thank you to Dr. James Woodman, the nurses at Wound Care, and Jessica and Lisa of No. IL Hospice.

Visitation at Sundberg Funeral Home, Ltd., 215 N. Sixth St., Rockford, from 5 - 7 PM, Wed., November 2, with a Panahida prayer service to follow.

The Funeral Liturgy will be served Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 at the funeral home at 10:00 AM, with Father Basil Aden, of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, officiating. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery.

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