Khodakovskaya (Shemyakina) Maria Andreevna was born on February 6, 1922 in the city of Yaloturovsk, Tyumen region. Veteran of the Great Patriotic War, home front worker. From 1941 to December 1945, she worked at the Tyumen distance of the LM Kaganovich railway track - a repair worker and a foreman of a track measuring trolley. It was a truly titanic work to restore the railway and railway bridges after the explosions and during the hostilities. Maria Andreevna's works were marked with awards and gratitude, including cash prizes - for the skillful use of internal resources and the use of non-standard working methods. She was awarded several medals, including the “Defender of the Fatherland” medal. During the war, she lost her husband and two sons. The first husband was killed, died at the front. Two of her young sons died of pneumonia - there was not enough medicine, all medicines went to the front. In 1944, she met Nikolai Pavlovich Khodakovsky, her future second husband - to whom she was faithful and devoted to the end of her life, even after his death, and from whom she gave birth to 4 children (three daughters and a son). He was sent from the city of Chita to the Tyumen region as a mechanic and a hammer to restore the railway, steam locomotives and carriages. We worked together in the same field for the sake of common Victory. In August 1945, their eldest daughter was born. In 1946 they were transferred to Chita. Since 1948, Maria Andreevna lived with her family in the city of Korosten, Zhytomyr region, in Ukraine. In the Korosten depot she worked on the railroad as a switchman, and also worked at a confectionery factory. In addition, there was a needlewoman - with her own hands, with her little daughters, she made artificial flowers, boutonnieres, wedding (and not only) wreaths, which were sold even in Leningrad. Throughout her life she helped people and even cured diseases. Maria Andreevna was an incredible person with a strong spirit. She died on December 19, 2013, having lived for almost 92 years. She was buried in her historical homeland, in the city of Yalutorovsk, Tyumen region.