“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15
Sister Maria Rolih was born in Kulpin Backa Petrovac, Yugoslavia on November 21, 1924.
In the year 1943 Maria was joined in marriage to Mr. Gaidos in former Yugoslavia.
Approximately 10 years into her marriage – in about the year 1953 – she was accepted into the International Missionary Society, Seventh-day Adventist Reform church while still in the former Yugoslavia
In 1958 she fled the country together with her son, John. They lived in Saltsburg, Austria for almost a year, after which they travelled to Canada in the year 1959.
In Canada Maria lived in Toronto and worked at Toronto General Hospital as a ward assistant for many years.
She then got remarried to a man named Mr. Mike Rolih, following which they went to live in Australia for a year where he had family.
Upon returning to Canada they came to live in Vancouver in the 1970’s. Here she worked in Vancouver General Hospital until her retirement.
While in Vancouver Mr. Rolih became very ill with cancer and, although they were already separated, because of his abusive behaviour towards her, Sister Maria graciously allowed him back under the same roof and took care of him until he got so sick, he wanted to go and die in his motherland of Yugoslavia where he passed away in 1987.
Sister Maria became a Member of the International Missionary Society once again in Vancouver in 1989. She was a very faithful sister, and was very, very supportive of the other members of the church. She always was very happy to see the work of God go forward.
Sister Maria was kind, forgiving, very hospitable, always welcoming to people, and very gracious.
She was a very frugal person and saved her money well. She wanted to give her children a better life than she had had.
Sister Maria loved to sing. Some of her favourite hymns were: Nearer my God to Thee; What a Fellowship; I Come to the Garden Alone; What a Friend We Have in Jesus; Rock of Ages; On the Wings of a Snow White Dove, Trust and Obey.
Maria was a very active woman, and loved to ride her bicycle – even in winter time. Her attendance to Church services was exemplary. She attended church no matter what the weather was like.
The Lord laid Sister Maria Rolih to rest on June 2 at 4:55pm in the German Nursing Home. She awaits the resurrection of the righteous when she will meet her Lord in the clouds of glory. “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1 Corinthians 15:51–52
Sister Maria will be greatly missed by her loved ones in both her physical family and her church family. Her faithful example will always remain with us, and will be an encouragement for us to also run the spiritual race and be faithful until the very end.