Maria Rohm

Maria Rohm, age 92, of Elizabeth, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at the Elizabeth Nursing Home. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 8, 2017 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Elizabeth, with Father Dennis Morrissy as Celebrant. Burial will take place in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Elizabeth. A memorial gathering will take place from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. prior to Mass at the Church. Memorials may be given to St. Jude’s Children Hospital in Maria’s memory.
Maria was born October 12, 1924 in Pancevo, Yugoslavia. She grew up during a time of war and strife in her home country, her life was a struggle for survival from a very young age. Maria’s first marriage was to a man named Branko in 1943, they were blessed with a daughter, Johanna. Branko was killed during the Partisans movement in 1945. (The Yugoslav Resistance was Europe's most effective anti-Axis resistance movement during World War II.) Maria cared for her daughter as a young lady and worked in the local cafeteria preparing meals for her community. In 1951, Maria married Karl Rohm in Skopje, Yugoslavia. Shortly after their marriage they went to Germany, and in 1956 they migrated to Chicago, Illinois for a better life. In Chicago, Maria worked for Wilder Book Binding and Finishing Co., while her husband Karl was a Cabinet Maker. They retired in 1983 and moved to Elizabeth. Karl passed away on April 15, 1994.
Maria was a member St. Mary Catholic Church and she supported St. Jude’s Children Hospital. Everyone knew Maria as Oma, and she would tell how. Maria enjoyed watching old t.v. shows. Maria cherished their property on Poplar St, and she was always outside gardening, landscaping, and growing flowers and if the weather was nice she would swing on the patio in the sunshine. She was a great cook and loved having the whole family over for dinner. She always made sure there were leftovers to take home. Maria traveled back to visit Yugoslavia in 1992.
Maria is survived by her son Wolfgang (Janis) Rohm of Elizabeth; three grandchildren, Monica Schmitt, Heidi (Brian) Jones, Sonya (Frank) Dorner; two great grandchildren, Matthew and Scotty Doherty; and a son-in-law, Hans Schmitt of Arlington Heights, Illinois. Maria was preceded in death by both of her husbands; her daughter, Johanna; and two brothers.