Maria M. Kalafut

Maria M Kalafut went to be with Our Lord on November 24, 2012 after a lengthy illness. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Abilene. She was born on November 7, 1926 in Schweinfurt, Germany, a daughter of the late Barbara and Antone Kast. She knew hardship at an early age, losing her mother at 13, and growing up during World War II where her family was forced to live in bomb shelters. After the war, she became the executive secretary to the American military commander at the US Army Base in Bamberg, Germany. There she met her husband, the late Judge Robert J Kalafut. They were married on May 12, 1956, in Bamberg, Germany while he was serving with the US Army. Upon his return to the United States after completing his military duty, they moved to Struthers, Ohio where her husband began his law practice and political career. While living in Struthers, Ohio, she became an active supporter of her husband's career, often spending hours each day going door to door to meet people and campaigning for her husband. She also served as the local Historian for the Struthers V.F.W. Post 3538. She held many positions with the Mahoning County Bar Auxiliary and conducted courthouse tours for many years, encouraging young citizens to take an active role in government. She fluently spoke three languages, German, English and French, and her daughters remember her special attention to proper grammar. She encouraged education and careers at an early age for her daughters, always striving to bring out their best. She and her husband lived in Struthers, Ohio from 1956 until moving to Abilene, Texas in 1996 to be near their two daughters. Maria and her husband quickly made friends and became one of the "Fairway Gangsome", enjoying dinner each week with their friends. They were one of the initial couples that moved into the Wesley Court Executive Homes upon their completion, and enjoyed the company and fellowship of their Wesley Court neighbors, making many new friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Judge Robert J Kalafut, a daughter, Barbara Ann who died in infancy, a sister Hildegard Schnuttgen and a brother Franz Kast. She leaves behind her two daughters, Dr. Roberta Kalafut and husband Dr. Edward Brandecker; Rebecca Johnson and husband Frank Johnson and grandson, Robert Dale Johnson, all of Abilene, as well as niece, Dr. Barbara Jurasek and husband Dr. Richard, and great-niece, Christina Jurasek. The family wishes to express thanks for the wonderful and loving care provided by the Wesley Court Nursing facility; Hospice of the Big Country and Dr. Thomas Headstream and Teresa Headstream, NP. Memorial donations can be made to Sears Methodist Foundation, or Hospice of the Big Country. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, November 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. A rosary will follow at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, November 29, at Holy Family Catholic Church with the Rev. Monsignor Fred Nawarskas officiating. Interment will follow in Elliott-Hamil Garden of Memories.