Maria Lewis was born on April 4, 1937 in Zarszyn, Poland to Roman and Anna (Semczyk) Chowaniec. She passed away on Sunday, May 20 at Presence Resurrection Hospital in Chicago after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Elmer Lewis, her parents, and nine siblings: Franciszek, Zygmunt, Stanislaw, Roman, Jozef, Helena, Zofia, Aleksandra, and Wiktoria. She is survived by nieces, nephews, and cousins and their families in both the US and Poland.
Resilient, strong, and independent, Maria was known as an excellent cook, an avid gardener, and a fan of classic cinema. She was a beautiful woman with elegant style, sophisticated taste, and quick wit. She lived and loved with passion, loyalty, and generosity. Her advice to others was always to “hurry to love, enjoy life, and live now because life is too short!” She will be missed!