On Sunday, September 4th, Maria Hofmann unexpectedly died in her apartment in Windhoek. She was 72 years old.

Maria Hofmann had known Father Heinz Theo Stens from the time when she worked as a teacher in Kulmbach, south of Germany. She visited him 1995 in Namibia, where Father Stens was working in the mission, as priest of St. Boniface in Pionierspark in Windhoek. From 1997 onwards she had a place of residence in Windhoek. Soon she took care of a lot of people in need living in Windhoek and Namibia. When Father Stens went back to Germany she took over the lead of Thusanang in Windhoek. Since more than 10 years, she was the chairperson and the center of reference for the Thusanang council, the students and the Thusanang organisation in Germany. Maria was appreciated with respect in Windhoek, not only at University. For many people she was a true friend, for the students she was a motherly soul and advisor, she was a reliable contact person and attentive listener, who often found pragmatic solutions to help. We will miss her a lot.