Maria Kuyper

Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 13, 2010

Maria Christina Kuyper died peacefully on Feb. 27, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio, at the age of 82. She was born Jan. 2, 1928, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and came to the U.S. in 1950 to continue her education. She became a U.S. citizen in 1976. She is a graduate of LaFayette College in Brazil, with an M.A. in Romance Languages and the Brazilian Conservatory of Music. She graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1953 with an M.A. in Religious Education.
She married the Rev. John Kuyper in 1952 and they served in ministry together until his death in 1958. They had two children, Neal C. and Ruth. Christina served as director of Christian education in Presbyterian churches in Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Washington. She also owned The English Centre in Bellevue, Wash.
In 1968, she married the Rev. Neal A. Kuyper. They lived in Seattle, Wash., Willmar, Bradenton, Fla., and most recently, Columbus, Ohio.
In retirement, she and Neal enjoyed traveling abroad and being actively involved in their church and community. Christina developed a reputation as “hostess extraordinaire,” holding many gatherings for neighbors, family and church friends. She was especially known for her Christmas open houses featuring 70 to 100 different types of cookies. She will be remembered as a loving spouse, mother, grandmother and friend.
Christina is preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Daso Coimbra, of Brazil; husbands: John and Neal; and son, Neal.
Survivors include sister, Marilia; brothers: Decio, Roberto and Dirceu, all of Brazil; daughters: Ruth of Worthington, Ohio, Barbara of Quincy, Wash., Kathy of Silverdale, Wash.; and sons: Philip of Seattle and Charles of Port Townsend, Wash.; grandchildren: Marty, Mindy, Christina and Aaron; and great-grandchildren: Chloe and Lola.
Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea and at 11 a.m. May 1, 2010, at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Bradenton, Fla.
Memorials may be sent to Montaña de Luz, an orphanage for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Honduras, where she sponsored a child, at P.O. Box 410, Worthington, OH 43085.