Deloras Maas

Longtime St. Clair Shores resident Deloras Maas, died Monday, April 14, 2025. She was 87.

Born October 17, 1937, in Detroit to Gottlieb and Elizabeth Maintzer, Deloras was the second of five daughters. When she was just six months old, her family moved to a 50-acre dairy farm outside Mount Clemens, where her love for nature and hard work took root. She graduated from Mount Clemens High School.

In 1958, Deloras married Marvin Maas and together they made their home in St. Clair Shores, where they lovingly raised their two sons, David and Ronald. While raising her children, Deloras took on jobs that kept her close to them—working as a church secretary, librarian and bus driver at St. Thomas Lutheran Church and School in Eastpointe. She was a steadfast, loving advocate for Ron, ensuring he received the education and support he needed to develop his strengths and live independently.

Deloras’s life was anchored in her faith in God, her belief in lifelong learning, and a strong work ethic — values first instilled during her early years of farm life, with its before- and after-school chores. She began working at Kroger at age 16 and later at Chrysler at 18, where she held various office roles until she became pregnant with her first child.

Once her sons were in high school, Deloras joined the Department of Neurosurgery’s Biomechanics Laboratory at Wayne State University, focusing on football helmet safety. There, she secured an NCAA grant — an impressive achievement for someone outside the medical field.

Her time at Wayne State University also opened doors for her own academic growth. Deloras earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State and began a Bachelor of Science program in gerontology at Madonna College. Just five credits shy of completion, she had the opportunity to pursue a Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, which she proudly earned in 1985. She went on to counsel patients at Port Huron General Hospital for 12 years until her retirement in 1998.

Nature remained a lifelong passion. If you wanted to know the name of a tree or a flower, just ask Deloras. She found deep peace in the natural world, especially in her later years watching the creatures visiting her bird feeders and the deer in her backyard.

Deloras loved music. She and two of her sisters played the accordion competitively in their youth, and she became an accomplished pianist, filling her home with classical music and hymns played on her treasured Steinway.

A talented seamstress, Deloras created countless garments for her family — favorites included sailor suits for her sons that won first place in an Eastland Shopping Center Easter contest, and a lovingly crafted “I Dream of Jeannie” Halloween costume for her granddaughter.

Deloras also pursued excellence in the world of dog breeding and showing. Through her Delshire Kennel, she bred and exhibited Yorkshire Terriers across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, reaching a career high in the late 1980s when one of her dogs ranked sixth in the country. She remained a dedicated member of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, earning a Lifetime Membership in 2024, serving 15 years as treasurer of the YTCA Foundation, and continuing as a consultant.

Deloras was predeceased by her beloved husband, Marvin. She is survived by her sons, David (Karen Fontanive) and Ronald; her cherished grandchildren, Michael (Milo) and Dayle; and her last Yorkshire Terrier, Houdini. She also leaves behind her longtime, devoted caregiver and friend, Mary Corcoran — whom Deloras often called “one of the angels God sent her way” — whose care made it possible for Deloras to remain in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her music, her dogs, and her computer.

Visitation will take place from 9 to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, 1345 Gratiot, Detroit. A funeral service will follow at 10 a.m.

In honor of Deloras, donations may be made to Historic Trinity Lutheran Church at 1345 Gratiot, Detroit, MI 48225 or online at historictrinity.org/give.

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