Ms. Edith Sziburies

Edith Sziburies, a long term employee in the Baltimore office of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (now known as Cigna), a refugee from East Prussia during the second World War, an emigrant to the United States in 1957, died June 14, 2022, at her home in Baltimore. She was nearly 94. Ms. Sziburies was born in Goldap, East Prussia, Germany, June 17, 1928, and was the youngest child of Karl and Hedwig Sziburies. Her father was a manager of canteens for the German army and her mother was a homemaker. Her family moved to Konigsberg, the capital of East Prussia, in 1937. As a teenager attending high school with her two brothers, Edith grew up during the Nazi regime and World War II. During the Russian advance into East Prussia in late 1944, her father was conscripted in the army. Captured by the Russian army and imprisoned, her father was released several years later; he then died one or two years after his release being a broken man. Her younger brother, a German army enlisted man, had been killed at the age of 19 in East Prussia and her older brother in the German army was later captured by the US Army. As the Red Army approached Germany, Ms. Sziburies and her mother were among thousands who made the exodus from Konigsberg to Danzig by boat, and then west by rail. The two arrived in Niebull, along the Danish border, then in a zone administered by the United Kingdom, a travail taking three months, avoiding bombings and hunger. After the war ended, they were relocated to Hamburg. Ms. Sziburies worked in England and two years later moved to Munich serving as an administrative assistant for the US Army as it administered post-war control in West Germany. Encouraged by Army officers, she applied and was granted immigration status and arrived in New York City aboard the USNS General Harry Taylor on January 24, 1957. Living with her American sponsors in Towson, she soon accepted a position with Connecticut General and was the primary assistant to the general manager of the office, Amos Hutchins, with the company enjoying exceptional growth over the years. Ms. Sziburies was a long term member of Govans Presbyterian Church, and spent many years participating with its choir. She enjoyed performances of the Baltimore Symphony, sharing her love of music, gardening, traveling with friends throughout the US and Europe, and visited frequently with her family in Germany. Ms. Sziburies was predeceased by her father, mother, and brothers. She is survived by her nephews Arno and Axel Sziburies, and niece, Anke Stoelzel and their families in Germany. Ms. Sziburies was loved dearly by two families that considered her one of their own, the Carter and the Hutchins families. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, September 14th at 11am at Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828 York Road, Baltimore, MD 21212. Please omit flowers. Memorials in her name may be made to Govans Presbyterian Church.

Ms. Edith Sziburies

June 17, 1928 - June 14, 2022