Maria (Marusa) Olga Judy (Sikura)

Maria (Marusa) Olga Judy (Sikura)

Born September 12, 1931, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia

Died October 9, 2024, Edgewood, Kentucky USA

Predeceased by her husband Bill (1999) and good friend Herm Stein (2014)

She leaves behind sons William (spouse Mary), Christopher (spouse Teri) Jeffrey (spouse Judy) and 12 Grandchildren.

A WWII Political refugee who endured Nazi occupation and fled persecution at the hand of rabid socialism. She was a fiercely independent, intellectually capable, results-oriented person who found herself on her own at 14. A competitive person by nature, Maria was an avid golfer who developed a passion for Croquet later in life.

 After graduating college from University of Montreal, Maria worked for Proctor and Gamble in their Market Research department. Fluent in 4 languages (English, French, German and Slovak), she was quickly promoted and sent to Europe to lead efforts introducing Duncan Hines cake mixes to European households. While overseas she would eventually meet her future husband Bill while skiing with friends in the Alps. A fortuitous unheated train trip home would eventually lead to marriage and a life in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

 A fifty-year breast cancer survivor, she regularly volunteered her time with the American Cancer Society counseling women facing cancer diagnoses and difficult recoveries. 

A patron of the arts, Maria supported and helped raise funds for the Cranbrook Art Academy and the Detroit Institute of Art.

A firm believer in education as the single most important investment.

A mother, who will be greatly missed and whose legacy will live on.

A Mass/Celebration of Life gathering will be held later this year.