Maya Hedda Andrau

Survived by her 2 sons:

Darwin Traver

Francis Traver

Preceded in passing by their father Robert Traver in 2024

Robine Andrau sister

There are few people who, upon being presented with the knowledge that God exists and came specifically in human form, would hold their love of Jesus and accept this new Savior, in a moment. One such was Maya Andrau. Once she accepted the truth of something, she gave her life to it, and so she did to Avatar Meher Baba, with whom she corresponded and gave devotion, yet never met.

Maya was born in Assam, India, where her Dutch father was the Project Manager for a well-known Dutch oil company, and oversaw breaking ground to create the Assam oil wells there (which are still pumping to this day). Her sister, Yvonne, was born a couple of years earlier in Germany, where her father was working for the same company in its German engineering headquarters (the Nazis were just coming to power). And her younger sister, Robine, was born in Java a couple of years after Maya. During it all, theirs was a life of hotels and maids, and in Java the accommodation was a small villa with local servants.

In Java their father was breaking more ground, this time for the famous Java oil wells (also still pumping), for the same company. It was these wells the Japanese sought as they swept through Malaysia and Indonesia in the early 1940s, invading and imprisoning the Europeans living there, and thus Maya and her family were trapped in brutal conditions in a Japanese concentration camp there for nearly four years. Many, many died, but Maya’s Hungarian mother, Klara, through grit and faith in God, kept the girls and herself alive, before they were rescued by the Allies.

Eventually they all came to the home of a paternal uncle in America, and finally settled in Woodstock, NY, where Yvonne met her future husband, Tom Riley. Maya and Yvonne both graduated from Columbia University in NYC with master’s degrees in physical therapy (when you could get that degree), and Maya soon started her own practice. She lived in the family home and had one of the first organic gardens in the area, ensuring the entire extended family was aware of healthy eating.

When Yvonne and Tom encountered the writings of Meher Baba, Maya was all-in as they were, and a small group of devotees began in Woodstock. Over the 50s and 60s this group became the touchpoint for countless people becoming aware of Meher Baba and finding love of God in their heart. Maya was proper and well finished, and it was occasionally humorous when those who were coming closer to Baba would reference their use of drugs (Baba had a zero-tolerance view of these mind-altering substances). All of that drug counterculture was foreign to Maya, and her obliviousness was often charming.

Maya hosted many events about Meher Baba and participated in every event in the area, coordinating with both the NYC and Schenectady groups, and her correspondence with Meher Baba and his close circle of disciples contained direct letters and orders from Baba. Yet she was unable to meet Baba in 1958 when he came to Myrtle Beach, SC. This did not stop her from dedicating herself and her life to her spiritual Master and keeping him in the forefront of her mind.

Through this dedication she met her husband Bob (Robert) Traver, and together they had two beautiful boys, Francis and Darwin, who survive her today. The family moved around the country for Bob’s work, until they settled in Myrtle Beach. Maya’s dedication to gardening, physical therapy and Meher Baba (not necessarily in that order) persisted there and through to her subsequent move to Asheville, until her own physical health necessitated a move to assisted living.

As the radius of her life grew smaller in High Point, NC, the more meaningful part of her day was her focus on remembrance of God (…and the occasional dark chocolate delight). She was beloved by the staff for her cheery attitude, and remained positive as her life gently faded, while her acceptance of God’s will was demonstrated to her last days. She was a point of light in dedication and love of God, and her life is an example in many ways of what it looks like to put devotion to God before all others.

She will be missed and remembered by many and remain loved by family and all who knew her well.

-Christina Riley niece

My grandma Maya was a smart, sweet and loving woman. I loved her very much. I have such great memories of my summer visits to her house in Asheville, helping her with her beautiful garden and going on fun adventures around the city. We would go on walks together every day when I was there, she would ask me about school and softball and tell me stories about her life and all the awesome things she had experienced. She was so knowledgeable about so many things, and she taught me a lot. I will always cherish the time we spent together, and I will miss her very much.

-Madison Poet granddaughter

Growing up, Grandma Maya was always a very enigmatic woman. A lady surrounded by stories from another place and time. Through her stories, we learned so much of what refined her strength and her determination and grew her into the headstrong, independent woman she was. As an adult, I was able to grow in a better bond with her and experience her more nurturing side. Whether doing puzzles together, sharing tea and a cookie, or chatting about things that interested her; we did our best to share joy and a laugh in our time together. In her later years as her independence became less, she remained immensely grateful for those that helped her and cared for her. Her stories, kind hands, and joyful chuckles will be missed greatly.

"End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path. One we all must take." - J.R.R. Tolkien

-Erica Poole granddaughter

Mom had a significant effect on who I am as a person today. She taught me to be independent, hardworking, strong-willed and an appreciation for the outdoors whether it was camping or growing a garden. She was also an amazing cook. I could look in the refrigerator after school and complain that there was nothing to eat and 30 minutes later there was a delicious meal ready for the family. I learned to appreciate the little things in life from her and how to always move forward in the face of adversity.

When she moved to Asheville, NC I did not visit her as much as I should have over the years. But the opportunity came along to be there for her as she was for me so many times over years. It was tough for the whole family to have an aging parent in the house, but it was a true blessing to see everyone’s individual contribution (especially Kim and Erica). In hindsight I was blessed to have extra time with her in her later years.

I pray that I did right by her in the end; I miss and love her dearly.

“When we close our eye in death, we do not cease to be alive; rather, we experience a continuation of personal consciousness. No person is more conscious, more aware, and more alert than when he passes through the veil from this world to the next.” R.C. Sproul 2011

-Francis Traver son