Maria Cleofe Szczechowiak

April 9, 1931 - September 15, 2015

Maria Szczechowiak born Maria Cleofé Monzon Duran, passed away peacefully at her home on De La Vina st. on September 15th 2015. A longtime resident of Santa Barbara, Maria came to the United States from her native Peru in 1962. She married in Dover New Jersey after meeting her life-long love, Ted Szczechowiak. Once married, the newlyweds took torn pieces of a map of California and placed them in a hat. Maria picked Santa Barbara out of the hat, and they relocated later that year in 1964. Once arriving in Santa Barbara, Maria worked as a Registered Nurse and her first job was at St. Francis Hospital in the maternity ward. In the course of her 50 year nursing career Maria worked at Cottage Hospital, as well as Beverly Manor, Wexford, Oak Park, Casa Dorinda and Santa Barbara Convalescent Hospitals. The local medical community knew her for her professionalism mixed with kindness and affection. She was proud of her work and even prouder of the people she was able to help along the way. She was always happy to use her skills to assist the sick in her community whenever she was able. Marias family and friends enjoyed her love, wit and charm every day of her life. Maria is survived by her husband Teddy and her son Charles. Words cannot express how much she will be missed. We can only console ourselves in the thought that she is at peace. A funeral Mass will be held at Saint Barbara Parish at the Old Mission, Tuesday September 22nd at 10:00am. A Graveside Service will be held following the mass, at The Pines Mausoleum at Santa Barbara Cemetery.