Ria Maier Wolf, born in 1920 in Freiburg, Germany, came to Chicago in 1936 as refugee from Nazi oppression, and settled in Kansas City, Missouri, after her parents and brother joined her in 1937. She graduated from Central High School and then worked at the Alfred Benjamin Charity Clinic where she met her future husband, Jack W. Wolf, M.D., a clinic volunteer.
Following his advice, she received her R.N. from Research Hospital School of Nursing and then joined the U.S. Army during World War II, serving as a nurse at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Jack and Ria, both serving in the Army, corresponded during the war and then married in September of 1945. A devoted mother and wife, she raised three children, volunteered at a public school and community health clinic, and cared for her husband at home during his final eight years of illness. She was for many years a member of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Ria was preceded in death by parents Louis and Sophie Kahn Maier and brother Manfred Maier. She is survived by her daughters, Joan Abrams of Plano, Texas, and Kathy Wolf Fabiani of Florence, Italy; her son, Thomas J. Wolf of Gainesville, Virginia; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
She will be deeply missed by family, friends, and caregivers. At her request, there will be no funeral. Memorial donations can be sent to Prelude Clubhouse, P.O. Box 864301, Plano, TX 75086 or your favorite charity.
Online condolences for the family may be left at louismemorialchapel.com.
Arrangements entrusted to The Louis Memorial Chapel, 816-361-5211.
