Maria Elisabeth Zanders
| Geslacht: | Vrouw | |
| Vader: | Theodor Zanders | |
| Moeder: | Jakoba Jenniskens | |
| Geboren: | 19 Jan 1887 | Horst |
| Overleden: | 19 Sept 1964 | Venray |
| Aantekeningen: | Last Name: Geurts First Name: Maria Maiden Name: Zanders Date of Birth: 19/01/1887 Date of death: 19/09/1964 Rescuer's fate: survived Nationality: THE NETHERLANDS Religion: ROMAN CATHOLIC Gender: Female Profession: FARMER Place during the war: Venraij, Limburg, The Netherlands Rescue Place: Venraij, Limburg, The Netherlands Rescue mode: Hiding File number: File from the Collection of the Righteous Among the Nations Department (M.31.2/4396) In the spring of 1944, Paul Terwindt* (alias Ome Jan) approached Maria Geurts, a resident of Venray (Limburg), and asked her to shelter a Jewish boy, Louis Mossel (Wim Klein), who had been forced to leave his current shelter because of the imminent danger of betrayal. Maria did not hesitate even for a moment. She was convinced that people in need had to be helped, despite the risk to herself, her children, and the boy in hiding. Louis was soon relocated from the Hustinx* family in Heerlen to Marias home. Maria, recently widowed, lived modestly with her four daughters and a son on a farm. She was a devout Roman Catholic, like the majority of people living in the area. She immediately made Louis feel at home. Paul Terwindt stayed in touch, and often supplied her with extra food coupons. At the end of 1944, the inhabitants of Venray were ordered to evacuate. Maria took Louis and her children to a temporary address further north. Toward the end of the war, Marias son was taken to Germany to work. He was liberated soon after the war. Throughout this period, Louis remained with the Geurts family, only leaving after the liberation in March 1945. After the war, Louis immigrated to Israel, but he made contact with the Geurts family on every return visit to Holland. On November 15, 1989, Yad Vashem recognized Maria E. Geurts-Zanders as Righteous Among the Nations. |
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Gezin 1
| Huwelijkspartner: | Antoon Geurts | geb. 21 Apr 1883 overl. 11 Apr 1939 |
| Huwelijk: | 9 Apr 1923 | Horst |