Mary R. Maha

Mary Andrea Rasmussen Maha was born on July 22, 1926 in Breckenridge, Michigan to Helgo and Emma Rasmussen. She was the oldest of four daughters. Mary spent her childhood years on her father’s farm in Perrinton, Michigan. Upon graduating from High School, she enrolled in the St. Lawrence Hospital School of Nursing where she earned her nursing diploma and became a Registered Nurse. She subsequently joined the American Red Cross and traveled throughout the South in the late 1940’s as a Polio Nurse. After her assignment with the Red Cross, she settled in St. Louis, Missouri and worked as a nurse at Barnes Hospital where she met George E. Maha, a St. Louis University medical student. Mary and George were married on June 6, 1953 after George completed medical school. They were blessed with 64 years of marriage, 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed being a member of local garden clubs and volunteer groups including the Maple Glen Garden Club in Maple Glen, Pennsylvania and the North Carolina Botanical Gardens in Chapel hill, NC, the League of Women’s Voters, the American Red Cross and various church committees. After George retired, the couple moved from Ambler, Pennsylvania to Durham, NC and eventually to Longboat Key and Bradenton, Florida where Mary worked with the Women’s Guild at St. Mary’s Star of the Sea church. Her knitted and sewn goods were much sought after at the yearly Christmas Bazaar for charity. Mary was also an excellent cook and her holiday meals were a highlight of family gatherings. George and Mary enjoyed traveling and visited many sites within the US and abroad. She especially enjoyed vacationing at their cottage on the Outer Banks of North Carolina and watching major league baseball, college basketball and football and professional tennis.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband George E. Maha, sister Dolores Miller, and brothers-in-law Ralph Miller and Pete Peterson. She is survived by her children George C. Maha (wife Ruth), Richard D. Maha (wife Debbie), Mary Maha Elkins (husband Butch), Andrea Maha Litzenberg (husband Ken) and Sarah A. Maha; grandchildren Barbara M. Lanzikos (husband Kevin), George J. Maha, Daniel G. Maha (wife Carrie), John R. Maha (wife Jillian), Thomas D. Maha (wife Quena), Olivia M. Elkins, Laura L. Pagano (husband Jimmy), and Maggie Litzenberg; great grandchildren Carli Maha, Paige Maha, Reagan Maha, Adelyn Maha, Avery Maha and Seve Maha. She is also survived by her sisters Joan Peterson and Lorraine Scarane (husband Joseph).

A funeral Mass will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 810 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC on Tuesday, July 23rd at 10 a.m. with Father Hugh Macsherry officiating. Mary will be buried with her husband George E. Maha at the Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota, Florida on Tuesday July 30, 2019 at 10am with Father Michael Szyszka officiating.