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Maria Schindler
Posted
Maria Schindler passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2024, in Sun City West, Arizona, after celebrating her 93rd birthday. She departed this life surrounded by the love and care of her family and hospice caregivers.
She was born on December 15, 1931, in the former Yugoslavia, to Joseph and Katharina Tilli. Maria's childhood was marked by the challenges of World War II. Even so, she managed to pursue her dream of apprenticing as a dressmaker at the age of fourteen. By seventeen, she had relocated to Halifax, England, where she worked in a cotton mill while learning English. It was there that she met her first husband, with whom she had two children.
In 1960, Maria and her children immigrated to the US, settling in Chicago. She purchased a dry cleaning and alterations business. It was in Chicago that she met the love of her life, Hans Schindler. They married in 1971 and built a beautiful life together with their blended family.
Their journey took them from Illinois to Colorado and then to New Mexico, where Maria’s dream of owning a boutique became reality with the Adobe Boutique in Taos. Her eye for elegance made it a beloved destination. Retirement led them to Arizona, where Maria remained deeply connected with family and friends.
Maria is survived by her children: Sylvana Siegel (Rick Fish), Roberto Pocaterra, Ingrid Sullivan (Jim), Mary Slawek (Joe), and Allen Schindler (Pat); grandchildren Rachel Sullivan, Jared Schindler, Luke Slawek, Sean Sullivan, Inga Williams, Kirk Slawek, and Joy Gerhart; twelve great-grandchildren; and many beloved extended family members.
Maria’s family will be hosting a celebration of her life in Phoenix, Arizona on Mother’s Day weekend. Please visit Legacy.com to read her full obituary.
