Maria Pilugin

1922-2023

Maria Pilugin was born on June 22, 1922 in Poltava, Ukraine. She was pursuing a teaching degree when WWII reached her city on her 19th birthday. Residents of Poltava attempted to resist the German invasion, but they were unsuccessful and the city was overrun. Those able to work were captured and sent to other locations. Maria was fluent in German and was sent to a typing pool in Austria. Later she was assigned to be a maid for a retired Austrian officer. When Salzburg was liberated, the Red Cross provided assistance and trained Maria to be a “practical nurse.” She loved nursing and worked in a TB hospital until she immigrated to New York, where she worked for one of the city hospitals. Because of the cold war, Maria was never able to return to Ukraine and she lost contact with her family for 40 years. Mutual friends introduced Maria to Wassily Pilugin, another war refugee and immigrant. Because of job opportunities, the couple moved to Milwaukee where Maria worked for Deaconess Hospital and later Sealtest Dairy. In 1955, their first child Nicholas was born. He was joined by sisters Anna and Irene. Maria eventually retired from Sears after working there for over 20 years.

Maria loved to read and study and took several classes thru MATC. She was an excellent seamstress and loved all kinds of “handwork”, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint and cross-stitch. She recreated many Ukrainian designs and created some of her own. Most of her work was donated to family, friends and the community.    

Maria was predeceased by her husband Wassily Pilugin in 2002 and by her son Nicholas in 2013. She is survived by her daughters Anna (Norman) Donkersloot and Irene (Walt) Skipper, as well as by grandchildren Katy (Kyle Harrington) Donkersloot, Liz (fiancée Brett Sherman) Donkersloot, Jonathan Skipper, Noah Pilugin and his mother Kathy Gamble Pilugin.

Services will be provided by and take place at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 8635 W. Warnimont Ave., Milwaukee, where Maria was a long-time member. There will be a visitation at the Church on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at 10:00 AM, followed by the Funeral Service at 10:30 AM. Interment Forest Home Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Maria's memory to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 8635 W. Warnimont Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53228, are appreciated.