Maria Malushizky became part of the Wetenhall family on October 6, 1951 with her marriage to Ben R. Wetenhall, Jr. Maria and Ben have lived in Orangeburg, South Carolina for nearly 40 years. But, her younger years were full of change and adventure.

Maria was born in Kiev, Ukraine in 1927. Her parents were well educated and, as a result, suffered in the early years of the communist regime. Her father, Alex Pavlovich Malushizky, was a veterinarian and a professor at Kiev University. Her mother, Alexandra Boyko, was originally from Cherkassy, Ukraine. Alexandra was a teacher before she was sent to Siberia. Upon her return, she worked as financial comptroller in a small dairy and, there, she met Alex.

World War II brought dramatic change to Maria’s life. As a young teenager, she found herself living under occupation when the German army took Kiev in 1941. After years of communist-led hardship, Maria’s family hoped that life would be better. And, a few things improved. They were now able to celebrate religious services openly in their Ukrainian Orthodox church, rather than secretly in private homes. The years of occupation proved to be scary, however, due to the constant uncertainty and brutality exhibited by the German soldiers against many Ukrainians.

More dramatic change, and adventure, came to Maria as a sixteen-year-old. The Red Army had begun to push the Germans back. One day, Maria’s father rushed home from the clinic. He said that they must leave in three hours and go with the retreating Germans. Maria and her mother packed their horse-drawn wagon with essentials…and valuable items such as silver, gold, and a Victrola! The horses, brought from the clinic, were racehorses and difficult to handle as wagon pullers.

The journey was harsh and long. Maria, her brother Paul, and their parents were cold, sick, hungry, and frightened. They were often close to the front and several times narrowly escaped death. As the months dragged on, there were times when they thought they might return to Kiev. But, their journey moved through Buchavina, Bessarabia, Romania, and Hungary. Finally, at the Austrian border, they were forced to give up their horses and wagon. For a time they stayed at camps in Passau and Dresden. Eventually, they were put aboard a train to Berlin, but it was diverted to Munich.

The remainder of the war years was lived in the Munich Veterinary College. While there, Maria and her family survived the bombings by British and American planes. At war’s end, her family had made it through German occupation, Soviet shelling, and Allied bombing…all in one piece!

Maria was not yet done with change. Her family, now displaced persons, applied for permission to emigrate to the U.S. While living and working in Munich, she met a young American college graduate, Ben Wetenhall. In 1951, Maria and family received permission to move to America and Ben and Maria made plans to marry.

In August 1951, Maria’s family left the Old World behind and sailed for New York City. Her family settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Maria and Ben married in October and settled in Rochester, New York.

At only 24 years old, Maria had already experienced more adventure, sadness, and change than most people experience in a lifetime. More change was ahead, but now, the changes were to be good ones.

In August 1957, Ben took a new job in Utica, New York and Maria settled her family into a home in New Hartford. Her oldest child, Paul, started school, and Daniel was a playful two-year-old. Marsha was born a few months after the move.

Maria was ready to stay in one place, but one more major change was yet to come. Ben’s company decided to relocate to the south. In November 1962, Maria packed her family once again. Instead of horse and wagon, the Mayflower van moved her family’s possessions. And, instead of months of difficult wagon travel, Maria traveled south by airplane with stops in New York and Washington. The day after Thanksgiving Maria and her family arrived in Columbia, South Carolina via Eastern Airlines.

The family moved into their new home in Orangeburg, South Carolina, put away their snow gear, and settled into the small, lovely city by the Edisto River. Maria has been active in civic and church activities. She is well known for her delicious baking and warm personality. And, her Ukrainian accented English now includes a distinctively Southern sound!