Fast, Marie K. (1901-1945)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 17 May 1945 p. 1

Birth date: 1901

text of obituary:

MARIE K. FAST, MIDDLE EAST RELIEF WORKER, REPORTED MISSING

Dr. H. A. Fast and family of North Newton, as well as their many friends here, were saddened last week when word was received that his sister, Miss Marie K. Fast, a member of the Mennonite relief workers' staff in Egypt, is missing somewhere in the Middle East.

According to the cabled message received through UNRRA, Miss Fast and Dr. Richard Yoder of the El Shatt relief station were on a steamer bound for Greece with a group of Yugoslav refugees who were being repatriated to their homeland. As far as is known an explosion occurred somewhere en route, about which, however, complete details are at this time still unknown.

According to subsequent word, Dr. Yoder is safe and it is hoped that further messages will also report the safety of Miss Fast. She has been in overseas relief work under the Mennonite Central Committee for more than a year.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 24 May 1945 p. 1, 5

text of obituary:

First Hand Report of Tragedy at Sea

DETAILS OF TRAGEDY IN WHICH MARIE FAST, MCC WORKER, WAS LOST . . . . AS GIVEN BY DR. G. RICHARD YODER

(EDITOR'S NOTE: Mennonite circles were saddened last week at the report that Miss Marie Fast, MCC worker in the Middle East, was listed as missing as result of a tragedy at sea. The following details of the incident were recently prapared [sic] by Dr. G. Richard Yoder for the Mennonite Central Committee. The date of the letter containing this report was May 5 and the place of mailing, Italy. The Central Committee suggests that it might be well to remember that all reports to date have indicated that Miss Fast has been missing and have held out a slight hope that she may have been rescued or found. — M. S.)

Having been the only other Mennonite representative on board the ill-fated ship which was sunk on the night of May 1 and 2 it becomes my very solemn and sad duty to report to you in some detail concerning the circumstances which relate to that incident and resulted in the tragic loss of one of our numbers — Marie Fast.

You will, no doubt, have long since received the sad news via cable by the time this reaches you, and I am hoping that this letter may come through in much shorter time than any I could send from Egypt. It is now mare that 84 hours since our ship was hit by a high explosive and there is still no news or information from Marie and one other passenger with whom Marie was last seen after both had been thrown into the water during the lowering of their life boat. There is, therefore, only the very faintest hope that they may still be alive. Not only will she be a real loss to her family and hosts of friends but also to us her co-workers and to the cause which we represent. She will be mourned by all far and near. The remaining passengers and the ship's crew and staff fell deeply in this great tragedy and sorrow.

Assignment to Yugoslavia

Marie and I, together with four other U. N. R. R. A. personnel, had just completed a special assignment to Yugoslavia. It had been a unique and thoroughly pleasant experience in many ways. Marie had specially volunteered for this assignment and had given herself wholeheartedly in carrying out her duties. She had told me how much she valued the experience and of her earnest desire to have another similar opportunity in the future. It had been my first time to work with Marie and I found her a quiet, unassuming and pleasant person always congenial, hard working never complaining and thoroughly conscientious. The loss of Marie has come as a great shock and especially since others of us here might have shared a like tragedy. I praise God for his deliverance and watchful care over all those of us who have survived.

Explosion During Night

The accident occurred shortly before 2:00 A. M. during a cloudy and somewhat stormy night. The seas were running fairly high with occasional small breakers and very great waves. The difficulties of launching lifeboats successfully was considerable. Most of those on board were suddenly awakened by the great noise of the explosion and by the violent trembling of the ship. For a few seconds I lay quietly in my bunk not being able to realize what had happened. But when the alarm bell rang I was up. I remember grabbing my bathrobe and life-jacket and running out of my cabin. But I am not certain whether I went on deck immediately and returned to my cabin for a heavy coat, trousers, cap, shoes, flashlight and fountain pen, or whether I only went part way and then returned. After having grabbed these things I ran up to the promenade deck where there seemed to be considerable confusion. Already the ship had listed by about 20 degrees and then quickly straightened herself.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 21 Jun 1945 p. 1
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 9 Aug 1945 p. 1, 5