Marie Maier

I Remember Mama Marie (Hinsz) Maier was born May 1, 1919 in the small rural town of Ashley, North Dakota. Andrew Maier came to work one summer on Marie's father's wheat farm. It was love at first sight and Marie's younger siblings loved him too. Marie brought her ability to cook, sew and entertain from her years on the farm where serving up large meals for family and workers was a part of everyday life. She brought this ethic for hard work with her when she and Andy moved to Bremerton in 1941 at the height of World War II. They managed in a one bedroom house where Marie cared for her young daughter, Darlean, as well as her widowed mother and three siblings who came West to help with the war effort. Later they moved to Dogwood Road in Port Orchard and then to a bigger house on Sidney Ave. There they raised their five children: Darlean Hanner, Bellevue, WA; Audrey Samuelson, Hansville, WA; Beverly Godfrey, Silverdale, WA; and Dale Maier and Steve Maier of Port Orchard, WA. Marie's days were filled with activities surrounding her family as well as friends and meetings at Bethany Lutheran Church in Port Orchard. She and Andy were members at Bethany for over 50 years were she served as president of the women's circle, helped on the altar guild and even was the janitor with the help of her teenage children. Hard work was a part of her nature. Pamela Jacobson her oldest grandchild remembers wash day. With a wringer washer she did load after load of wash, hanging the clothes on the line and the jeans on the fence. Summer was especially busy with a big garden, fruit trees and berries came endless day of canning and jam making. The family remembers the huge family dinners. The table was extended and others added so that it could accommodate everyone. Her family grew over the years to include eight grandchildren: Pamela Hanner Jacobson, Shoreline, WA; Curtis Hanner, Bellevue, WA; Sandra Hutchison, Bothell, WA; Erica Samuelson Anderson, Seattle, WA; Brenda Griesemer Metro, Valencia, CA; Gregory Griesemer, Santa Clarita, CA; Autumn Godfrey Ajanovic, Bremerton, WA; Garett Godfrey, Silverdale, WA and four great grandchildren: Ben Jacobson, Bryan Hanner, Allison and Tyler Metro. She is also survived by a sister Lavina Mitchell and brother Ed Hinsz, both of Yakima as well as numerous neices and nephews. As her health declined and her husband of 64 years died, Marie struggled to continue to live, first in her home with the help of family and caregivers and later at the Life Care Center of Port Orchard. Her faith was her strength at this time as well as visits from family and friends. She died peacefully at the Martha and Mary Nursing Home in Poulsbo, WA while grandson Garett was reading John 14:1 "I go to prepare a place for you...for in my house are many mansions." Mother will be missed but we know she is in a better place with a new body, her beloved Andy and her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Submitted by Darlean Maier Hanner.