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January 22, 2020
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 2-6 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 from the funeral home, then to St. Paul RC Church, Prospect Park, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum in Totowa.
Maria Mayer, age 88 of Wayne died peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. She had formerly lived in North Haledon before moving to Wayne in 1999.
Maria was born in Marko, Hungary and her childhood was largely shaped by the events of World War II. After the war had ended, Hungary was under oppressive Soviet control and at just seventeen years old, Maria went seeking a better life. Along with her family, she escaped under cover of darkness into Eastern Germany and then to Western Germany where they had family to stay with. She wanted to go to America, but the immigration quotas had been reached and she was denied. While most of her family chose to remain in Germany, her older brother, George, emigrated to Australia. However, Maria waited patiently for passage to the United States. In 1956, at twenty-five years old, she boarded a ship alone and sailed to New York City. She settled in Union, NJ with her aunt and uncle, quickly finding work in a drapery shop.
Maria was very talented at making draperies and custom upholstery. Upon arriving in America, she went to a drapery shop for an interview and was quickly hired. She was so incredibly talented that within two weeks of taking the job, they promoted her to forewoman of the shop! In 1970, just fourteen years after coming to America, she took a leap of faith and opened her own business! This was nothing less than a true realization of the American dream for her and “Maykin’s Custom Draperies and Slip Covers” was opened in Prospect Park. She operated her business for nearly eighteen years before retiring. Her beautiful handiwork has adorned many homes throughout the area. Becoming a grandmother was her motivation to retire, and she poured her heart into her grandchildren. She loved to cook with them and share her incredible baking skills. She was an “outrageous baker” and worked real magic in her kitchen. Her traditional Hungarian fare was to die for, especially her Chicken Paprikash, Palacinka, Zwetschgenknodel and Kipfel!!
When Maria first arrived in New Jersey, she used to go to Hungarian social dances, which were common in the area. At one such dance in Manhattan, she met Anthony Mayer who happened to be a fantastic dancer. They had a great time that night, and a romance ensued. Before long, Anthony proposed and they were married on October 10, 1959 at St. Boniface RC Church in Paterson. Their honeymoon lasted just one day and they both returned to work on Monday, October 12! The two of them shared a loving marriage that Anthony describes as “the best!” Maria was a devoted wife and homemaker, managing just about everything. They were both very hard working and built a wonderful life together. They traveled back to Europe at least once every two years, visiting family in Germany and Hungary. They even went to Australia to see her brother. Her favorite destination of all was “home,” close to her family and loved ones. After more than sixty years of marriage, Anthony will surely miss her dearly, as will her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Maria is survived by her devoted husband Anthony of Wayne, two children; Anton Mayer and his wife Jeanie of Cedar Grove, and Christina Strang-Wolf and her husband Peter of Cedar Grove, six grandchildren; Gioiella Belasco and her husband Anthony of Little Falls, Anton Mayer and his wife Nicole of Hoboken, Max Strang-Wolf and his fiancee Jordyn of Hoboken, Nick Strang-Wolf and his wife Shaina of Dumont, Alexia Strang-Wolf of Cedar Grove, and Frank Mayer and his wife Natalie of Hoboken, four great-grandchildren; Maxemilia, Anton, Michelina, and Anthony, and two brothers; George Brenner of Australia and Hans Brenner of Germany.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 2-6 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 from the funeral home, then to St. Paul RC Church, Prospect Park, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum in Totowa.
January 22, 2020
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 2-6 PM. Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020 from the funeral home, then to St. Paul RC Church, Prospect Park, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Entombment will follow at the Holy Sepulchre Mausoleum in Totowa.
Maria Mayer, age 88 of Wayne died peacefully on Wednesday, January 22, 2020. She had formerly lived in North Haledon before moving to Wayne in 1999.
Maria was born in Marko, Hungary and her childhood was largely shaped by the events of World War II. After the war had ended, Hungary was under oppressive Soviet control and at just seventeen years old, Maria went seeking a better life. Along with her family, she escaped under cover of darkness into Eastern Germany and then to Western Germany where they had family to stay with. She wanted to go to America, but the immigration quotas had been reached and she was denied. While most of her family chose to remain in Germany, her older brother, George, emigrated to Australia. However, Maria waited patiently for passage to the United States. In 1956, at twenty-five years old, she boarded a ship alone and sailed to New York City. She settled in Union, NJ with her aunt and uncle, quickly finding work in a drapery shop.
Maria was very talented at making draperies and custom upholstery. Upon arriving in America, she went to a drapery shop for an interview and was quickly hired. She was so incredibly talented that within two weeks of taking the job, they promoted her to forewoman of the shop! In 1970, just fourteen years after coming to America, she took a leap of faith and opened her own business! This was nothing less than a true realization of the American dream for her and “Maykin’s Custom Draperies and Slip Covers” was opened in Prospect Park. She operated her business for nearly eighteen years before retiring. Her beautiful handiwork has adorned many homes throughout the area. Becoming a grandmother was her motivation to retire, and she poured her heart into her grandchildren. She loved to cook with them and share her incredible baking skills. She was an “outrageous baker” and worked real magic in her kitchen. Her traditional Hungarian fare was to die for, especially her Chicken Paprikash, Palacinka, Zwetschgenknodel and Kipfel!!
When Maria first arrived in New Jersey, she used to go to Hungarian social dances, which were common in the area. At one such dance in Manhattan, she met Anthony Mayer who happened to be a fantastic dancer. They had a great time that night, and a romance ensued. Before long, Anthony proposed and they were married on October 10, 1959 at St. Boniface RC Church in Paterson. Their honeymoon lasted just one day and they both returned to work on Monday, October 12! The two of them shared a loving marriage that Anthony describes as “the best!” Maria was a devoted wife and homemaker, managing just about everything. They were both very hard working and built a wonderful life together. They traveled back to Europe at least once every two years, visiting family in Germany and Hungary. They even went to Australia to see her brother. Her favorite destination of all was “home,” close to her family and loved ones. After more than sixty years of marriage, Anthony will surely miss her dearly, as will her loving children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Maria is survived by her devoted husband Anthony of Wayne, two children; Anton Mayer and his wife Jeanie of Cedar Grove, and Christina Strang-Wolf and her husband Peter of Cedar Grove, six grandchildren; Gioiella Belasco and her husband Anthony of Little Falls, Anton Mayer and his wife Nicole of Hoboken, Max Strang-Wolf and his fiancee Jordyn of Hoboken, Nick Strang-Wolf and his wife Shaina of Dumont, Alexia Strang-Wolf of Cedar Grove, and Frank Mayer and his wife Natalie of Hoboken, four great-grandchildren; Maxemilia, Anton, Michelina, and Anthony, and two brothers; George Brenner of Australia and Hans Brenner of Germany.
Guestbook
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