Maria Waverek

Maria Waverek of East Wenatchee, WA, went to be with the Lord on June 8, 2019. Maria was born in Pincota, Romania, to parents, Katrina and Carol Ditchen. She was married to Alois John Waverek of Holdingford, MN, on January 13, 1946, at the end of WWII, in Germany. They settled in the Wenatchee area to be near many of Alois' sisters from Minnesota. In the 60's, Maria started her Antique Apple Label Business and was known by many in the Wenatchee area. She often traveled to Vancouver, Canada, with her daughters to pick up various art pieces for her customers. She loved music, art, singing, dancing, and played a variety of musical instruments. As a young girl in Romania, her aunt often took her to the opera in Hungary and encouraged Maria's singing and dancing. Due to the death of her mother, Katrina, when she was five, she wanted to stay close to relatives and was greatly influenced by her grandparents. Her grandfather was the Supreme Judge for the Timishurara region of Romania. Her grandmother was culturally minded and made sure she had exposure to literature, art, music, and lectures. She started her nurses training in the Arad area. She liked the doctors, nurses, and pharmacists she worked with and commented that "she always did the best for all her patients and people often asked for her help." When World War ll broke out, she was forced to leave Romania and found herself working in hospitals and convents in various countries. Near the end of the war, as a displaced person, she was taken in and helped by a German family. There, she met an American soldier, Alois Waverek. Later, they married in Germany and moved to the Wenatchee area, where they lived and remained the rest of their lives. She is survived by her daughters: Linda Mae (Tim) Munro of Lewiston, ID, Mary Ann (Tom) Gerber of Oak Harbor, WA; grandson, Eric (Tracie) Gerber; great-grandsons: Grant Gerber and Gabriel Gerber; granddaughter: Christi (Mike) Gerber; and great-granddaughter, Ashley McGirk. She is additionally survived by nieces: AnnaMarie (Hans) Wildner and Irmgaard (Hans) Brindel; and great-nieces and nephews in Bavaria, Germany; and family and friends in Romania; as well as nieces and nephews in Minnesota. The family would like to thank the Argonne Adult Family Home for their kind, thoughtful care of their mother. There will be a Celebration of Life at Chapel of the Valley, 302 Ninth St., Wenatchee, WA, on Friday, June 21, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. Memorial donations may be made to Columbia River Music Conservatory for scholarships as needed: P.O. Box 2246, Wenatchee, WA, 98807. Please express your thoughts and memories on Maria's Book of Memories page at: www.chapelofthevalleyncw.com. Arrangements are by Chapel of the Valley, Wenatchee, WA.

Maria Waverek

December 27, 1923 - June 8, 2019