Maria Kormanik Michaels of Stratford, CT entered into eternal rest on Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Maria was born in Litmanova, Czechoslovakia, predeceased by her loving parents, Melania and Michal Kormanik, her husband Stephen Joseph Michaels, her daughter, Melanie Michaels Ordner, and her brother Vasil Kormanik, sisters Anna Vislocka, Katarina Hlinkova and Melanie Konevalova. She is survived by her children, daughter Stephanie Michaels Jones and her husband Richard Jones of Delaware and son Gregory Stephen Michaels and his wife Janet Leary Michaels of Colorado, her four granddaughters Vanessa Maria Talley, Rachel Barbara Jones, Emilia Georgianna Ordner, and Miranda Rose Michaels, and her three grandsons Luke Stephen Jones, Magnus Martin Ordner, and Stephen Atlas Ordner, her great-granddaughter Aubrielle Talley, her two sisters Justina Murgasova and Helen Kaminsky and their families.

Maria emigrated from Czechoslovakia to NYC at age 4, traveling alone on the Cunard White Star Liner "Aquatania", arriving on Ellis Island where she has a permanent tribute to her family heritage with a brick in her name on the Wall of Honor at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. As a result of this experience, she helped many family members emigrate to the United States over the years by welcoming them into her home until they established themselves.

Maria was raised by her aunt and uncle Katarina and Adam Berish in Brooklyn NY where she graduated with a BA from Brooklyn College. She met her husband when she went to a St Nicholas 10th Street Church dance and accidentally pulled him into the circle, eventually marrying Stephen Joseph Michaels, and settling in Connecticut. She was proud to work for Industrial Container, McKinsey & Company in Manhattan, Bridgeport School System as a kindergarten teacher and Community Development Agencies for the Town of Stratford and the City of Stamford. She was the owner of Exclusively Yours Gift Shoppe in Stratford, Connecticut until retirement at age 80.

Maria was a founder and parishioner of the former St John the Baptist Canonical Church on Silver Lane. In place of flowers, Maria asked for monetary donations to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Visitation on Monday, July 29, 2024, from 4-7 p.m. in the Adzima Funeral Home 50 Paradise Green Place Stratford. Panachida at 4:30 p.m.  A Requiem Funeral Service will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 30th at 10 a.m. meeting directly at The Carpatho- Russian Orthodox Church of St. John the Baptist 364 Mill Hill Avenue Bridgeport. Interment will follow in Putney Cemetery, Stratford.