Matilda Herche, age 82, of Prince Frederick, MD died October 7, 2009 at her residence. She was born October 13, 1926 in Romania to Daniel and Karolina Schelski.

Her mother died when she was a small child, and in her youth she traveled from country to country due to political unrest and wars in Europe. She and her sisters were hired out as maids and caretakers to families with small children as a means to earn money for food and clothing.

She married in 1946, had four children, and immigrated to America in 1951 with only the clothes on their backs. She came to Maryland, had five more children, and worked as a sharecropper and devoted homemaker, making life bearable for her children. After the death of her husband in 1980, she began working as a home health aide at night, caring for several home-bound patients over the years, all the while working in the tobacco fields by day.

Matilda was an "old country" woman, and though she lacked formal education, was known for her ability to grow food, cook, sew, knit, milk cows, raise children and provide for others. She was an exceptional person, and faced many obstacles in life with grace and good humor, never feeling sorry for herself.

She is survived by nine children: Elizabeth Herche of Prince Frederick, Maria Rolando (Alexander) of Rockford, IL, Martin Herche of Prince Frederick, Julia Wallace (Thomas) of Gibsonville, NC, Frances Jones (Eric) of Kernersville, NC, Frank Herche (Linda) of Fulton, IL, Margaret Burch of Prince Frederick, Nicholas Herche (Joanne) of High Point, NC and Joseph Herche (Gail) of Huntingtown, MD. She is also survived by thirteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by four brothers and four sisters.

Arrangements provided by Rausch Funeral Home.

Funeral Service
October 10, 2009
2:00 P.M.
Location: Rausch Funeral Home - Owings, MD

Visitation
October 9, 2009
2:00-4:00 & 7:00-9:00 P.M.
Location: Rausch Funeral Home - Owings, MD