Maria Tipu Duduman

Maria (Tipu) Duduman was the oldest of three girls born July 7, 1939 to her father, Mr. Tipu, who was taken prisoner by the Russians during WWII and never heard from again. She was raised by her mother, Gheorghita Tipu, who counted on her looking after her two sisters. On May 21st 1956, she married Demitru Duduman in Hincesti, Moldova They moved into the same house as her husband's parents, Pastor George and Catinca Duduman, but Maria often went into the fields to help her widowed mother. Both families consulted the Lord about if they should marry before the actual wedding took place. Pastor George Duduman was a Pentecostal Pastor. All were living under tremendous persecution as Romania and Russia were atheistic and communist as the time. The police regularly watched and arrested, imprisoned and tortured her husband. Their daughter, Virginia Duduman was born one year later on April 13th 1957. Virginia was born at home in Hintsesti, Moldavia, Romania close to the Russian boarder. Their son, Costica Duduman was born October 28, 1958 , but died 5 1/2 months later . Maria's husband, Pastor Demitru Duduman, was called to deliver over 500,000 Bibles to Romania and Russian Pastors and congregations. This was done under threat of death and unimaginable persecution. His miraculous biography is told in Through The Fire Without Burning . Finally the Romanian government asked them to leave Romania in 1968 and the entire family came to the United States and ended up in Fullerton, CA where they had to learn a new language, and support themselves, which they ended up doing by witnessing about their story and God's hand in saving their lives. They then shared what little money they had to send supplies back to Romania. Maria died on December 9, 1994 in San Diego County, CA , but she and her husband wished to be buried side by side in the town where Demetri was born, Hincesti Moldavia, Romania