Maria "Mary” Schuur

Born January 17, 1936, in the picturesque town of Huesca, Aragon in Spain, Maria was the cherished daughter of Mariano and Maria Alegre. When she wasn’t bicycling, roller skating, or hiking in the Pyrenees Mountains, she was dedicated to helping others. She became a popular member of the community known for her infectious smile and her generous nature. Her efforts feeding the homeless and her volunteer work at tuberculosis sanatoriums were a testament to her compassion and selflessness.

Educated in the arts, she found joy in expressing herself through visual arts, pianoing, and dance. In particular, she had a passion for the traditional Aragonese Jota dance of Spain. Having found the love of her life, she declined a contract to perform the Jota professionally in Vienna and married Willem Schuur, the handsome Dutchman who called her “Mary,” on January 2, 1960.

Together, their lives were full of love and adventure as they built and nurtured a young family while traveling to and living in many different countries. Maria’s family became her greatest joy and she was a loving and devoted mother. After Willem’s untimely death, Maria continued to be a beacon of faith, love, and grace for her surviving family and became known as “Momma” to all who visited her home. Her compassion and generosity remained throughout her life as she continued to support organizations for the homeless and opened her home to those in need. Even in her last days, she continued to display concern for the personal needs of her care team.

Maria was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Willem Schuur, and her son, Patrick Antonio Schuur. She leaves behind her children Jelle Schuur and wife Carolyn, Astrid Malouf, Ramiro Schuur, and Ian Schuur and wife Deena. Her legacy lives on in her five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren who were the recipients of her unwavering love and prayers.

Maria will be remembered for her love of the beauty of His creation, her faith in Diosito, her ability to bring joy to all who knew her, and her courage in facing life’s challenges. She will be greatly missed; however, there is comfort in knowing she is with our Father and is dressed in a white robe as she is reunited with her beloved Willem and Patrick. Her testimony will continue to inspire us all.