NORWICH – Maria Martha van Blokland Korver, 89, of Norwich, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 14, 2011 at Chenango Memorial Hospital.  
Born Jan. 10, 1922 in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Maria was the daughter of Wilhelmina Bakker van Blokland and Marinus van Blokland. Maria and Reinerus (Rens) Korver were married on July 3, 1945 in Amsterdam, Holland.
Alongside her husband, Maria helped run a successful engraving firm in Amsterdam where she kept the books and managed sales accounts for the business, an unusual position for women in postwar Holland. In 1957, the family moved to New York City where Rens accepted a position at the Amsterdam Steel and Die Company. Maria worked at many jobs after arriving in America, ending up as the senior bank teller in a bank in Huntington. Upon retirement in 1983, Maria and Rens moved to Norwich in Upstate New York.
Maria loved to knit and bake and took great pride in her six grandchildren. She made more sweaters than anyone could ever wear and baked more cookies and cakes than anyone could ever consume. However, more than anything, she loved her family and especially enjoyed the annual family beach trip to the North Carolina Coast where she spent hours playing cards with her grandchildren and savored the time spent together as a family. Maria loved to play practical jokes and could make anyone smile with her irrepressible sense of humor. She was the matriarch and will be missed by her entire family.
Maria was predeceased by her husband, Rens Korver and her sister, Marta van Blokland of Waalre, The Netherlands. Maria is survived by her son, Rennie Korver  and his wife Barbara Korver of South New Berlin; her daughter, Wilhelmina Korver Rotella of Durham, N.C.; her grandchildren, Jennifer Rotella of Durham, N.C.;  Danielle Rotella Adams and her husband, Brian Adams of Jamestown, N.C.; Sonja Korver O’Connell and her husband, Brandon O’Connell of Hoboken, N.J.; Erik Korver and his wife, Amy Korver of New Berlin; Lukas Korver of Los Angeles, Calif.; and Kaitlin Korver of South New Berlin. Maria is also survived by her two great-grandchildren, Finley Adams of Jamestown, N.C. and Kellen O’Connell of Hoboken, N.J., as well as numerous nephews and nieces in The Netherlands.
A memorial service in honor of Maria Korver’s life will take place in the future in the Norwich area pending family plans.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Norwich YMCA, where Maria spent countless hours swimming and socializing.
The arrangements are under the direction of the Wilson Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting the funeral home website at: www.wilsonfh.com.