Maria Ann Aiken

Longtime Wasilla resident Maria Ann Aiken, 77, died at home June 6, 2013.

A visitation is from 6 to 7:30 p.m., June 14. Dr. Roger Copeland will officiate at a memorial service at 10 a.m., June 15 at Chapel Wood Funeral Home, 1015 N. Kings Hwy., Nash, Texas.

Pallbearers are Pete Hays, Virgil Hays, Billy Hays, Jeff Hays, Jarred Finton, John Smith and Andrew Croom.

Flowers may be sent directly to Chapelwood Funeral Home, 1015 N. Kings Hwy., Nash, TX 75569.

Maria was born Jan. 29, 1936, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Peter and Mary Varvaro. She graduated from PS Brooklyn 145, and later married Lewis Aiken in March 1974 in Kilgore, Texas. Marie and Lewis also moved to Anchorage in 1974, where they lived for five years before moving to Wasilla.

Maria’s family wrote, “Maria never met a stranger. She always struck up conversations with others. She was a very proud and classy Italian. Growing up she was an avid roller skater. She loved to line dance. Maria — wife, mother and friend to so many — you will be missed.”

Surviving are her husband, Lewis B. Aiken of Wasilla; brothers, James and Pete Varvaro of Florida; daughter, Debbie Hays of Texas; and sons and daughters-in-law, Pete and Karen Hays, Virgil and Donna Hays, Billy and Sharon Hays and Jeff and Jolena Hays, all from Texas.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Kehl’s Palmer Mortuary.