Maria Augusta (DeShurko) Sommer, 93, quietly passed on the evening of May 29 in Grove City, Ohio. Her husband Dwight and daughter Rebecca were with her.
Her parents were John Andrew DeShurko (1876-1960, from the Tremen State of Minsk, Russia) and Carolina Oelke DeShurko (1884-1964, of Grunstahl, Russia, now Poland), who immigrated to America through Baltimore, MD.
Born on October 8, 1914 in the coal camp of Red Star in Fayette County, WV, Maria was raised in Jenera, OH with her seven other siblings:
Olga (Betty Newman), Lydia Sofia, George Henry, Edward Karl, Maria Augusta (Sommer), Anne Michelle, William Ewald, and Clarissa Elizabeth (Schleppi).
As was common in large families in those times, Maria lived some of her youth with other families who had few children and needed help in the home. While living with her cousin Carol (Lina Sinkowitz) Lockwood, the two became as close as sisters from that time in her home away from home.
Maria met Dwight John Sommer (b. February 26, 1913, Pandora, OH) on a blind date in the summer of 1938 at an ice cream social. Dwight’s good friend Harold Moench, a Lutheran Pastor, made the introductions, and Dwight presented her with a nosegay of sweet peas. He was smitten by her, and she believed that he would make a good father. They were married on June 10, 1939, with Harold as the Best Man and her sister Clarissa as Maid of Honor.
For the next 69 years together, Maria and Dwight made their home in several Ohio cities:
Findlay, Arlington, Kent, Cincinnati, Hilliard and finally in Grove City.
And they both shared their good parenting and enjoyment of life with their six children:
Roderick John, Garda Kay, Nicholas Alan, Timothy Dale, Rebecca Anne, and Frederick Scott.
Throughout Maria’s life, her creativity was expressed in her artwork, writings, and published poetry. Her love of flowers and gardening led to her participation in Cincinnati’s Green Thumb Garden Club and in being on All Saints Episcopal Church’s Altar Guild. Maria brought an elegant style and warmth to her home and family.
Although she was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, grandson William Elliott Sommer and nephew David Newman, Maria took a loving part in this ongoing legacy of generations:
Grandchildren
Karsten and Kristofer, from Rod and Sandy Sommer
Akira (Mann) Wright and Nicholas, from Garda and Dennis Mann
Jennifer, Kaitlin and Lindsay, from Nick and Donna Sommer
Ethan and Will, from Tim and Rita Sommer
Keegan Morrow, from Rebecca Sommer, and his father Ray Morrow
Luke and Audra, from Scott Sommer, and their mother Barb Sommer
Great-grandchildren
Grayson, Aidan and Chloe, from Karsten and Stephanie Sommer
Cassin and Hutton, from Akira and Rob Wright
Noah and Xander, from Nicholas and Deborah Mann
Nieces and Nephews, and their children:
Kathleen (daughter of Betty and Waldron Newman) and Bradley Johnson, and their sons Brian and Kevin
Bill (son of William and Evelyn) and Melissa DeShurko, and their children Allyson, Nicole, and Mitchell
Judy (daughter of William and Evelyn) and Ed Abraham, and their children Daniel, Benjamin, Suzanna, and Joanna.
Doug (son of Clarissa Schleppi)