Maria VORDERWINKLER 1906-2004
(married MANN)
- Born: Jan. 27th, 1906, Letten (Sierning - Austria)
- Died: Jan. 22nd, 2004 in Enns (Austria)
Parents:
- Father: VORDERWINKLER Ludwig 1876-1955
- Mother: MAYR Maria 1880-1965
Marriage:
- on Apr. 20th, 1926 in Linz (Austria) with Anton MANN 1895-1972
Children:
- None
(Author's note: our aunt Mimi, actually a great aunt as she was a sister of my grandfather)
Recalling My Aunt's Stories:
As per my aunt's recollections, she had a relatively happy childhood despite their poor circumstances. They lived in Parzerhaus (which no longer exists) in Letten, and she went to school with her brothers in Sierninghofen.
In 1923, she moved with her family to Steyr's Wehrgraben (Wehrgrabenstraße 35).
She attempted to do an apprenticeship as a seamstress but failed to find a job. She later received training as a "sewing freelancer" in a tailor's shop on the "Pfarrberg" in Steyr. Although the training was free of charge, it was not a learnable profession, and there was no pay for it.
On April 20, 1926, she married Anton MANN in the Linz Cathedral. The wedding was a modest affair, with only the two fathers as witnesses. After the ceremony, the couple visited Anton Mann's relatives in St. Valentin on their way home, causing them to arrive home late when the food was already overcooked.
For the time being, they also get an apartment at Wehrgrabenstr. 35. Around 1929, they can afford new furniture for the first time. These are supplied by the furniture store "Lang" (Author's note: these were the black furniture including the pendulum clock which - newly renovated - still stands in our dining room today).
In 1939, the couple relocated to Letten, where Anton became the plant manager at the Letten factory during World War II. While there, they hosted a Dutch child named Hanni Dusch from the Netherlands, who was about six years old at the time, for a six-month recreational stay. This turned into a lifelong friendship.
Following the war, Anton Mann was acquitted during the denazification process, but his past prevented him from becoming the plant manager. He remained the deputy plant manager at the Letten plant for the remainder of his life.
After Anton's retirement, the couple used their savings to purchase a small house in Plaik (Kronstorf). She lived in the house contentedly for many years after her husband's death in 1972.
However, old age eventually took its toll, and in March 1981, she moved into the old people's home in Enns. Despite this, she remained mentally active and continued to do crossword puzzles until shortly before her death, even requiring a magnifying glass to do so. Nonetheless, she passed away peacefully in her sleep a few days before her 98th birthday in 2004.
Information about her husband:
- Anton MANN born Apr. 14th, 1895 in Steyr, died June 22th, 1972 in Linz (in hospital), buried in Steyr
- Father: Anton MANN died approx. 1929 in Steyr (approx. 68 years old)
- Mother: Josefine REICHEL
