Ursel Ingeborg (Meyer) Maier, 96, of Indiana, Pa., passed away peacefully on August 1, 2026 in Indiana PA.
She was born on the 13th of January 1930 in the small West German town of Altenkirchen to the late Gustav and Pauline (Hirz) Meyer.
From birth, Ursel was an extrovert connecting with people in all walks of life, gathering their stories, choosing elements from their lives which she wanted to incorporate into hers, striving to be the best and to make the lives around her better. She overcame so many challenges with high energy, optimism and imagination, and she shared her curiosity and wonder of the world with anyone who would engage. And in the most distinctively Ursel way, with her feminine charm and fierce tenacity, she stood up and fought for what she believed in and had no fear in challenging anyone in opposition. She had an incredible knack for disarming even her greatest challengers with her quick wit and her warmth.
Her adventurous and curious spirit took her to England at the age of 16 to cook and clean for a diplomat and his wife after WW2 and then a few years later, further afield to America. Here with her beloved husband Siegfried, she eventually settled in Athens Ohio, raised and nurtured her family with the things she loved: classical music, art, reading, philosophizing, debating and her love of nature and good food!
In her later years she moved to the independent living community at St. Andrew’s Village and there, her concern for nature moved her to advocate for a pollinator garden at Saint Andrews; This dream became a reality in 2022 and we think she would count this her most important achievement in her 96 years on this earth.
Ursel was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Athens, Ohio and attended Zion Lutheran Church in Indiana, PA.
She is survived by a daughter, Friedericke Macinnes and partner, Lennie McLellan, of Scotland; her two sons: Christoph Maier and wife Prisca, of Indiana, PA.; and Stefan Maier and wife Lisa, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL.; 10 grandchildren: Matthew, Emily and Benjamin Macinnes, Henry, Reina, and Simone Harya, Sisca Huland, Sandra Indramohan, Dylan and Colin Maier. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren: Huilan Malatji, Khashana Harya, Cora and Quinn Indramohan, Theo and Eva Huland, and Nyah MacInnes.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Siegfried Maier; and her sister, Margaret Stolze.
Per Ursel’s wishes, there will be NO visitation. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026, beginning at 1:00 PM at Christ Lutheran Church, 69 Mill Street, Athens, Ohio 45701 with Pastor Chad Huebner officiating. Interment will be in West Union Street Cemetery, Athens, OH. Robinson-Lytle-Shoemaker Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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