Maria Smits

Maria P. Smits, age 92 of Faribault, MN passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at the Pleasant Manor Nursing Home in Faribault.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, July 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at the Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Faribault with Fr. Brandon Theisen, officiating.  Interment will be held at the Calvary Cemetery, Faribault.  The service will also be live-streamed through a link found on Maria’s obituary page at www.parkerkohlfuneralhome.com.

Visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Arrangements are being completed by the Parker Kohl Funeral Home & Crematory of Faribault.

Maria Petronella, the daughter of Gerardus and Wilhelmina (Brouer) Loeffen was born on March 25, 1928 in Ewijk, Netherlands.  On February 10, 1953 she was united in marriage to Anthony J. Smits in Ewijk.  In March of 1953 the couple immigrated to the United States and settled in the Faribault area and began farming.  Maria assisted Tony on the farm and took care of their growing family.  She spent many hours sewing, knitting, crocheting, making blankets for baptisms for family members and prayers shawls for anyone in need.  She also was a eucharistic minister and would bring communion to the homebound and also delivered meals on wheels.  Maria and Tony were the honorary grand marshal’s for Heritage Day’s in Faribault when Faribault was honoring its Dutch heritage.  Maria was also a member of Divine Mercy Catholic Church and the Order of Franciscans.

She is survived by her six children, John (Deb) Smits, Wilhelmina Bice, Gerry Smits and special friend Janet, Caroline (Dale) Tatge, Netta (Pete) Wegner and Henry Smits, all of Faribault; by 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; by four sisters, a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, son-in-law, Ray Bice, four brothers, two sisters-in-law and three brothers-in-law.