Maria Siegl
by Bette Yetman
It is with deep regret and sadness to
announce that Maria Siegl passed away on November 6, 1997 after a heroic
battle with cancer.
Maria was born and spent her early years in Austria. It was always her dream
to come to Canada and in 1952, with her husband and two young children,
immigrated to Edmonton. An astute business woman, she operated a
successful photographic studio in the city until the mid 60's when she
was in a horrendous car crash. It was feared that the severe spinal injuries
might leave her a paraplegic, but within six months and great determination,
Maria was out of the wheelchair. In the meantime, because of the accident
she had to sell her thriving business.
It was at that time Maria was introduced to ostomates, when she joined
Hollister Limited as sales representative for Alberta and Saskatchewan.
Before too many years, she was Sales Manager for all of Canada, holding the
position until she retired in 1980.
In the meantime, Maria had become very interested in the work of the United
Ostomy Association and the recently formed International Ostomy Association
(IOA) . After hearing Archie Vinitsky of the IOA at the Boston Conference
in 1983, speaking on the plight of ostomates around the world and the
gathering of unused ostomy supplies being sent to ostomates in under
developed countries, she initiated the S.H.A.R.E. (Sending Help and
Rehabilitation Everywhere) Program in Canada that same year. At the time she
was the IOA Representative in Canada. Maria travelled extensively to
countries around the world, often at her own expense, establishing contacts
for FOW shipments of equipment and literature. Through her efforts she also
helped organize ostomy groups in many of these countries.
She served as the first President of Friends of IOA Canada, later changed to
Friends of Ostomates Worldwide Canada from 1986 until 1992. Maria was editor
of the IOA magazine for many years until early 1997.
At the 1985 IOA Congress in Anaheim, California, she was presented with
IOA's highest honor, the Archie Vinitsky Award in recognition of her
volunteer work. She received the 1986 Canadian Association for Enterostomal
Therapy President's Award at the CAET Annual Conference for outstanding
contributions and/or service within the realm of Enterostomal Therapy.
In 1993, Maria received the prestigious Sam Dubin Award from the United
Ostomy Association, Inc. at the San Diego Conference.
Not an ostomate, Maria's compassion, empathy and unrelenting fierce devotion
to the cause of people experiencing ostomy surgery and concern for their
rehabilitation throughout the world will be long remembered. We will miss
you, Maria.
She is survived by her daughter Maggie, son-in-law Neil Flynn, grandchildren
Tania, Michael, Brandy and Melody; son Hans, daughter-in-law AnnaMae,
grandson Mark.
A memorial service was held Monday,
November 10th in Calgary. The family requested that donations may be made in
Maria's memory to:
United Ostomy Association of Canada Inc.,
P.O. Box 46057, College Park Post Office,
444 Yonge Street,
Toronto ON M5B 2L8
Palliative Care Unit of Calgary Regional Health Authority,
P.O. Box 4016 Stn. C,
120 - 17th Avenue S.W.,
Calgary, AB T2T 5T1
(Specify donations are to be directed to Home Care)
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Last updated Nov 21, 1997. Comments to: Mike Leverick