Maria Elisabeth Chambers

1940 - 2016

Chambers Maria Elisabeth Chambers, age 76, passed away in her Gahanna home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 7 p.m. following a courageous six year battle with cancer. Maria was born in Germany on March 14, 1940, to Franz and Margareta Steffen. After losing Franz in the war, Margareta raised Maria and her older brothers, Hubert and Heinz in the small town of Olzheim. Maria came to America in 1961 after meeting and marrying Air Force Airman First Class Jerry A. Chambers. Maria and Jerry had three children and built a life rooted in her German heritage and the love and support of the Chambers family. Surrounded by her friends and family, Maria became a US citizen on June 4, 1996. Maria and Jerry celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this past May. Maria worked as a Food Services Manager for the Limited Brands for eleven years. Following her employment there, she worked at Blocks Bagels for many years. In her professional endeavors, Maria was known for her no-nonsense determination, her high standards, and her sincere interest and concern for her staff and her customers. She was preceded in death by her mother Margareta and her father Franz, her mother- and father-in-law Lucille and Carl Chambers and her brothers-in-law Robert, Carl and Richard Chambers. She is survived by her beloved husband, Jerry; her brothers, Hubert Steffen (Paula) and Heinz Steffen (Christa); sisters-in-law, Lynda and Carol Chambers; her children, Janette (James) Thomas, Bruce (Yolanda) Chambers, Keith (Ann Marie) Chambers; and her grandchildren, Christopher, Steffen and Benjamin Thomas, Amara (Joshua Decker), and Susan (Brett Coons) Chambers, Maddie Bray, and Sebastian Chambers; as well as cherished nieces, nephews and cousins in Germany and the US, and numerous life-long friends. Maria was known by many nicknames including, Dutch, Mutti, Mimaw, Grandma Fluffy, The German General and The Bagel Lady. To know Maria was to know unconditional love. She gave it generously and unselfishly to all she met through her warm smile, and her willingness to listen. She was the definition of grace, positivity and strength. Ruhe in Frieden unsere gliebte Maria. Special thanks to niece Carla Chambers and her colleagues at Kindred Hospice, as well as sister-in-law, Pastor Lynda Chambers. Maria's family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2016 at the SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL, 1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna, where the Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. Interment will follow at Mifflin Township Cemetery. To share memories and condolences, please visit www.schoedinger.com