One of 5 sisters, Maria was born on November 17th, 1923 in Ukraine to the late Theodorus and Xenia Stehnij. She emigrated to Argentina with her family at the age of 14 where she lived for almost 40 years before joining her utmostly devoted daughter Beatriz and son-in-law Enrique Farias, in the United States, with whom she lived for the last 47 years of her life.
Maria, her family’s matriarch, known most as Ma, Tia, Baba and Babusha was the epitome of strength, kindness and love. She was an extremely hard-working and strong-willed woman, made so by the many adversities life had handed her. Although she didn't like to speak much about the difficult and trying times in her life, they were the very things that made her resilient, headstrong and blessedly, deeply empathetic to all. There was nothing more contagious than her hearty, deep laughs and nothing that invoked happiness more than the twinkle in her eyes. Her greatest loves were her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Maria was so very proud of all of their accomplishments.
She adored caring for her many flowers, her daily tea-time, eating fruit, embroidering traditional Ukrainian designs and listening to Ukrainian music in her recliner. Her famous pyrohy (pierogies), holubchi (stuffed cabbage) and pampushky will be missed by her family and friends. She always missed her homeland and was blessed to return to her birthplace in Ukraine for a visit in her later years. She also had the opportunity to travel to Canada, Mexico, Italy, Spain, France and Argentina leaving her with no regrets in life except not having won the lottery.
She wanted most of all to be remembered- her family knows she will rest in peace knowing that she was loved deeply by her closest loved ones and will never be forgotten. Her family is at peace knowing that she knew how much she was loved in return.
She is preceded in death by her sisters Justyna, Antonia and Catalina. She will be most lovingly remembered by her youngest sister Anita, devoted children, Beatriz Farias, Ana Maria Pach; and Hector Acquaviva; beloved son-in-law Enrique Farias, and Daughter-in-Law Elena Acquaviva, most loved grandchildren, Tamara Farias, Sandra Clarke, Marcelo Acquaviva, Erica, Javier and Davide Pach, and her greatest joys, her 11 great-grandchildren, Cassian, Luciana and Valentina Kraus, Annabelle Roten, Amanda and Brandon Clarke, Veronica Doyle, Isabelle Acquaviva, Cristian, Georgia and Desiree Pach, and various loved nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family in New Jersey, Argentina and Ukraine.
A memorial service honoring the life of Maria will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2019 at 12:00 PM at Apex Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a memorial fund which her family will be donating to Transitions LifeCare in her honor.
Condolences can be shared at apexfuneral.net
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18