Maria Therese Schlachtun was born on November 6, 1968, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The first child of Amy Giant and the first grandchild in the family, she was immediately surrounded by love and joy, doted on by her parents, grandparents, and nine aunts and uncles. From her earliest years, Maria was remembered as gentle, good-natured, and endlessly optimistic"an angel God let us borrow on earth for a little while." A true flower child, she loved all things Disney, animals, and classic rock. Her kind heart shone through in small gestureslike immediately following up a joke with "just kidding!" to be sure no one's feelings were hurt. She always picked up the phone, always showed up, and always gave more than she had to give. Maria's faith and optimism never wavered, no matter what life placed before her. She faced cancer three timesfirst as a 27-year-old single mother of two young children, then again ten years ago, and finally late this summer. At 27, she underwent a bone marrow transplant after being diagnosed with leukemia, and she cherished attending the annual bone marrow transplant picnic where she could reconnect with fellow survivors, donors, and her doctors. Those gatherings reminded her of the strength found in community and the gift of second chances. Through each diagnosis, Maria met the challenge with calm determination, often saying, "I've beat it before, I'll fight it again." Gentle and soft-spoken, she was nonetheless a pillar of resiliencesteady, faithful, and unwavering even when those around her felt like crumbling. Hardworking in every sense, Maria never believed any job was beneath her. Whether at The University of Oklahoma, taking on extra shifts at the laundromat, or lending a hand to family and friends, she could always be counted on. If Maria said she would be there, you knew she'd be there. On August 21, 2025, Maria passed away after a brief but difficult battle with cancer. She is survived by her grandmother, Monica; her mother, Amy; her children, Monica and Zachary; her siblings and their partnersKatrina and Alex, Justin and Melissa, Kenneth and Rachel, and Emma and Bobby; along with many grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and extended family. Even the least religious among them take comfort in knowing they now have a new guardian angel watching over them. As her family remembers and mourns Maria, they invite others to honor her memory by performing an act of kindness in her name. A celebration of Maria's life will be held in the summer of 2026. "How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." Winnie the Pooh