Maria Margarete Neumann Borroway

A third generation ethnic German, Maria Margarete Neumann Borroway was born in 1919, the youngest of nine children, to Jacob and Lydia (Albrecht) Neumann in Wola-Celejowska, Poland. She passed away November 10, 2017 at Kendal at Granville.

After grammar school, Mary enrolled in homemaking school and later worked in a post office in Lodz, Poland. In the bitter winter of 1945 she escaped Poland with her two year old daughter and fled to near Dresden then to Bamberg, Germany. It was there that a young M.P. serving in the U.S. Army protected and provided for Mary and her daughter. This began a 61 year love affair and relationship of devotion with her husband Frank Borroway whom she married in 1949. They returned to the States settling in Jacksontown, Ohio where they lived for over 50 years. Both Mary and Frank enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their home. They were members of First Baptist Church and Discovery Church for many years and taught Sunday school and were youth fellowship leaders. Additionally, Mary was a member and past president of the Coterie Club.  It was her strong faith in the Lord that sustained her throughout her long life.

Living close to Dawes Arboretum, Mary enjoyed riding her horse there and her special love for bluebirds led her to being instrumental in initiating the 40 years of extensive bluebird monitoring conducted there. An accomplished artist, Mary initially studied under Dr. Charles Dietz at the Zanesville Art Center and later received instruction from Daniel Green, master pastel and oil artist. She was a fervent gardener, meticulous seamstress and embroiderer, traveled the U.S. and Europe extensively, and absolutely loved being “Oma” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Heidi and Sam Schnaidt; granddaughter, Deborah Allen and her husband Tom, granddaughter-in-law, Becky Schnaidt Flora and her husband Doug; great grandchildren, Spencer, Tyler, Madeline, Gabriella, Sydney, Abby, Nick, Ethan, Calvin, and Elliott; special niece, Rosemarie Furey; and many nieces and nephews in Germany.

In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Francis “Frank” Borroway who died April 29, 2011; grandson, David Schnaidt who died September 1, 2013; and eight siblings.

A funeral service celebrating Mary’s life will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 14, 2017 at the McPeek-Hoekstra Funeral Home, 133 S. Prospect St., Granville with Pastor Bruce Weaver as celebrant. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Newark. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Heartbeats of Licking County, 336 E. Main St., Newark, OH 43055. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mcpeekhoekstra.com.

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