Maria came to the U.S at the age of 18 with her brother (Anton) and his family. They traveled to the USA by the ship Trave from Bremen & Southampton to the USA. She arrived on April 27, 1888. She married John Bertel who was also from Germany on January 5, 1891. They had 3 children. Rose born March 21, 1891, Clara Teresa born August 10, 1892, and John A. born April 1894. Maria became ill and passed away in November 1894. She is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. Her husband remarried to Lena Petroff who helped him raise the children.