Niagara – Marietta "Marie" L. Oja, 98, of Niagara, Wisc. passed away peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Sterling Heights, Mich.

Marie was born on December 17, 1920, in Niagara to the late Joseph and Emma (Barry) Van Hulla. She graduated with honors from Niagara High School in 1939 and went on to earn a two-year teaching degree from Marinette County Normal School. Marie then returned to Niagara to teach at Miller Country School, a one-room schoolhouse, for two years. After the US entry into WWII, Marie moved to Long Beach, CA where she worked as a timekeeper for Douglas Aircraft until the end of the war. On December 29, 1945, she married Veikko Oja, from whom she had been separated by the war for nearly four years. Marie and Veikko lived in Milwaukee for a short time before moving to Norway, MI and finally settling in Niagara in 1949. They raised a family of seven children, and Marie also found the time and energy to participate in the church choir, serve as a religious education coordinator and CCD teacher, and lead a 4-H club. In addition, she grew a huge garden each year and spent weeks canning and freezing the food for her family, even after the children were grown. Marie is also well-known as a baker of homemade bread and other delicious baked goods. In her 40's Marie returned to college and earned her bachelor's degree in education, after which she worked as a substitute teacher in the Niagara Public Schools.

A lifelong member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, service to God and to others was Marie's constant passion and example. She is survived by four sons, Dennis (Sabah) of Troy, Mich.; David (Evelyn) of Sterling Heights, Mich.; Robert (Sherry) of Walworth, Wisc.; and John (Vivien) of St. Anthony, Minn.; two daughters, Karen (William) Kufahl of Westlake, Ohio, and Donna Oja of Rowland Heights, Calif.; one daughter-in-law, Susan, of Pembine, Wisc.; nineteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind many nieces and nephews. The family would particularly like to express their appreciation for the entire Van Hulla family whose many acts of kindness and loving care to Marie enriched her life and allowed her to remain in her own home for many years.

In addition to her husband, who preceded her in death in 1997, Marie was preceded in death by her son Kenny; grandson Greg; parents; brothers Joseph and Kenneth Van Hulla; and sisters Llew Frye, Teresa Sears, Norma Gawlik, and Alice Mross.

Visitation will be Friday, March 22, 2019, from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at Jacobs Funeral Home, Niagara Chapel in Niagara, Wisc. and on Saturday, March 23, 2019, from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM at the funeral home. Prayers will be recited at 10:30 AM. The Funeral Mass will be Saturday at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Niagara with Fr. Michael Lightner officiating. Burial will be in the spring in Niagara Cemetery.

You may leave a condolence or tribute for Marie's family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Niagara Chapel, Niagara, Wisc. to honor Marie's legacy of life. They ask that in keeping with Marie's lifelong example of giving to those around her that donations be made to Karen's Pantry at St. Anthony's Church in lieu of flowers.