Maria Teufele (nee Daburger) affectionately known as "Mia", passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 2, 2012 surrounded by her immediate family and close friends.

Maria was a dear and cherished friend to many and her circle of friendship extended to the young and old alike. She lived for the close company of her friends and gave her time to them willingly. All she needed to stay connected was an afternoon around a kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a deck of cards.

Effervescent in spirit and mischievous in character, her cheerful nature was contagious and she brought out the laughter and carefree spirit in all of us. Never afraid to dance, when the music played, and always happy to sing or hum when the music stopped, Mia's spirit was uninhibited.

Born April 4, 1934 in the small Bavarian mountain village of Ruhpolding in Germany, Maria immigrated to Canada in 1956 taking up a life in Kamloops, B.C., including many happy years working at Harper Mountain.

She is survived by her common law companion Aloys Heinrich Moeller, her children, Roy (Cindy) Teufele, Harvey (Cindy) Teufele, Bernard (Wendy) Teufele and Sandra (Brad) Fornelius, her grandchildren Markus, Mia, Chloe, Cyrus, Keagan, Tenille, Sophie, Grace and Emily, her nephews Martin, Tony, Norman and Edwin Daburger, her sister- in-law Elisabeth Daburger, her sister Klothilde in Ruhpolding, as well as many other extended family and friends.

Mia was a happy person, not from the direct pursuit of happiness, but from the by-product of time with family and friends. Mia was a fortress of contentment, taking pleasure in the simple gifts of life. She did not desire to speed the pace of life or aspire to reach great heights, she was content with the flowers at her feet and the friends in her kitchen.

It is with great sadness and heavy hearts we pay farewell to a beautiful mother, a cherished aunt, a loving Oma and a trusted friend. Mia's passing will leave a big void in our lives, for which memories alone will not be able to fill.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for Maria at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 7th, 2012 at the Schoening Funeral Home, 513 Seymour Street in Kamloops.

Although she loved flowers, she would have preferred that donations be made to your local homeless shelter in lieu of flowers.

Donations can also be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.