Our beautiful mother, Maria, departed this world and transitioned on to her next journey in the early morning hours of July 11, 2022. Although her departure was unexpected for her four daughters left behind, there is peace in knowing that she passed through in the comfort of her home.
Maria came into this world on August 26, 1952, in Mexico City, Mexico, the second daughter of Regina Gliwa and Fernando Ramírez. In January 1962, she arrived in the Windy City of Chicago alongside her mother and loving sister, Theresa Mercedes. She grew up speaking three languages: Spanish, Polish, and English, one of her many superpowers.
In 1981, she arrived in Zeeland with her husband Marco, making it her home, expanding the family, and raising her four daughters: Regina, Rebecca, Marolyn, and Aniela.
Since 1995, Maria has been one of the original residents of the Logan Estates community. Known by many of her neighbors, she often was seen either working in her yard tending to her flowers or walking her loyal companion, Chiquis. She also had a tender heart for all living creatures, especially the neighborhood cats; she could not bear to see them go hungry.
Our mom lovingly prepared homemade meals and delicious desserts for her family, friends, and neighbors. Often, she would prepare her infamous flan as a “thank you” to a neighbor for their help with her car or the removal of snow or lawn care. We will greatly miss her delicious beet soup, handmade meatballs, egg foo yung, arroz y frijoles, and most of all, her “out of this world” flan.
She is preceded in death by her father Fernando Toral Ramírez, step-father Jozef Czwornog, mother Regina Gliwa Czwornog, brother Rene, brother-in-law (cuñado) Jorge De La Vega. Maria will live on in memory by her four daughters, her four grandchildren, Alexander Michael, Marco Moon August, Eleanora June, and Elliott Dean, her beloved sister Theresa De La Vega, and her sons through partnership Jay, Chad, and Taylor.
A private visitation was held at Yntema Funeral Homes in Zeeland. The family will plan a celebration of life ceremony later this summer-early fall. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in our mother’s memory to:
Resilience: Advocates for Ending Violence (formerly Center for Women in Transition)
411 Butternut Drive, Holland, MI 49424
https://resiliencemi.org/donate-today
