It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother and grandmother, Maria Catherina DeVuyst.  After a brief illness, Maria went to her eternal home, surrounded by her loving family.  Predeceased by her loving husband Joseph in 1974, her daughter-in-law Merrill in 1999, and her long time friend Oswald Strauss in 2012, she leaves behind to mourn, her daughter Flavianne Sorensen-DeVuyst(fiance Wayne), son Dirk(Joanne), grandsons Jozef, Stefaan(Megan), Jordan and James and relatives in Belgium.  Maria was a woman of great courage and strength.  She touched many lives by her generosity, kindness and above all her great sense of humour.  She was very devoted to her family and friends.  Born in Brussels in 1924, she married Joseph in 1946 and they immigrated to Canada in 1953, establishing themselves in St. Boniface, Manitoba.  In the early years she worked in the maternity nursery in St. Boniface Hospital where she and her co-worker were credited for having the quietest nursery on the floor.  Soon after arriving in Winnipeg, she and her husband Joseph established a successful construction company.  In 1969 they moved to British Columbia where they settled in White Rock and built the family home.  They also successfully developed and constructed the Hillcrest Mall Shopping Centre.  Maria was an accomplished seamstress but loved learning which allowed her to learn bookkeeping and she employed this skill in business and her volunteer work.  Maria received a life-time membership in the Ladies Auxiliary Branch #240 for being their voluntary treasurer for over 30 years.  In her retirement years, she loved travelling to many interesting places.  She was one of the founding members of the Belgian Canadian Association of BC.  Maria will be dearly missed by her family and friends.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 18th at 11:00 a.m. at Good Shepherd Church, 2250-150 St.  Surrey, followed by a luncheon reception.  Internment at Gardens of Gethsemani Cemetery.