Maria (Mitzi) Reish was born in the fall of 1925 in Sopron, Hungary, a town bordering Austria
which she loved and never intended to leave. Hungarian by birth yet German by ancestry, she
was born to two loving parents, Julius and Katharina Feichtinger. Mitzi, as she was
affectionately called, was the oldest of six children: Gyula, Imre, Kathe, Feri, and Resi. She
experienced a wonderful childhood, loved school and had a mind for mathematics and
business. Unfortunately, things changed with the passing of her father. At the age of 13, while
her mother managed the family business she took over the household caring for the younger
children, cleaning, and cooking for her family and their workers. Managing her household, her
love for business along with her culinary gift would eventually lead to a lifelong career that she
loved.
Sadly, WWII disrupted her family’s life and they had to eventually flee their home. Mitzi, being
the oldest at 19, was sent on and separated from her family; she lived in a displaced person’s
camp in Austria for over 2 years. It was there while she worked in an American officer’s club
that she met the soldier who would eventually capture her heart and take her on an adventure
further from home than she ever had imagined. Tony was her husband for over 40 years; she
loved him and she was grateful for how he provided for her and family once they located them
in Germany. They were married and had their first son, Anton in Linz, Austria. In 1952, she left
Europe and family behind to begin a new life in Fort Dix, NJ. She was grateful to have a place
to call home. While in Fort Dix, they had another son, Tom.
Happily, they built a home in Bordentown, NJ where she cheerfully resided for the majority of
her life. She began her 30 plus year career in a cafeteria in Fort Dix where she learned to
speak and write proper English and worked her way into management. She loved her job
laboring with joy and excellence. Later in life, she gave birth to her daughter, Kathy. Maria was
a devoted mother, an extremely hard worker, an amazing cook and baker, and a faithful friend.
Mitzi understood loss. She experienced hardship. She was an overcomer, and she was
grateful for all that she had. Though she experienced great loss over her lifetime, she retold the
stories of fleeing the Russians and living as a displaced person with a sense of adventure
rather than sorrow. She never focused on her hardships but always reminded everyone to
count their blessings. She would always say that things don’t matter—they can be replaced;
only people matter. If one could only use three words to describe her, those words would be
loving, grateful, and generous.
She loved the simple things. A handful of daisies picked from a field, a backyard picnic with
family and friends, a good meal, a hard days work. She loved her church and served faithfully
whether it was in the kitchen, with the woman’s guild, or serving members in their homes. She
loved people and never had a negative word to say about anyone.
On December 25th, 2019, Mitzi passed peacefully at her home in Virginia where she resided
during her senior years with her daughter’s family. Entering into her Savior’s arms on the day
we celebrate his birth, she received the greatest gift of Christmas.
Anton (Tony) Reish, her firstborn, preceded her in death in 2002. She leaves behind Anton’s
wife, Margaret and two children: Tom Reish and his wife Patty of Westmoreland, NH and Kathy
Ranfeld and her husband Dan of Chesapeake, Virginia. She has five grandchildren: Victor,
Denis, and Svyeta Reish, and Nathaniel and Christina Ranfeld.
Maria will be dearly missed and will always be remembered for her heart of love, her beautiful
smile, her precious laugh, her positive outlook, and her kind and grateful heart.