Maria BOYTINCK

BOYTINCK, Maria T. On Wednesday, March 5, 2003, Mrs. Maria T. Boytinck of Edmonton passed away suddenly at the age of 89 years. She is survived by her three children, Paul Boytinck (Lewisburg, PA), Manfred and wife Doris Boytinck (Fairview, AB) and Monica and husband Bill Wright (Pincher Creek, AB); eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. She was born Maria Theodora Rohe on November 3, 1913, in Friesoythe, Germany, part of the former Duchy of Oldenburg. Her parents were Bernard Rohe, a master tailor and Margaretha Rohe (Witte). On September 4, 1935 she became a Canadian citizen and married Joseph Hermann Boytinck, a Canadian businessman born in Grouard, Alberta. After their marriage, she started a flourishing business in fashion hats and accessories. They had three children in rapid succession - Paul, Manfred and Monica - and family life in those days, even during the years of war, was happy, boisterous and full of interest. When her husband was interned as an enemy alien in Spittal, Austria, she carried on the business by herself. Unfortunately, three weeks before the end of the war the ancient town of Friesoythe was destroyed. On March 6, 1948, the family was reunited in Boston. The family lived in Toronto for two years from 1948 to 1950 and then moved to Alberta, where she began a new and active career as a businesswoman in Fairview, Pincher Creek and Edmonton. She was a cheerful soul, a superb wife and mother, and vital to the success of our family business in Germany and Canada. We will remember her with great and enduring affection. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2003 at the Floral Chapel, Connelly-McKinley Ltd., 10011 - 114th Street, Edmonton. In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Edmonton, 5R-01 11111 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5K 0L4. Connelly-McKinley Ltd., 10011-114 Street, (780) 422-2222, condolences: www.connelly-mckinley.com