Maria Aivalis, 84
Dateline: Franklin, MA
Maria Aivalis, 84, beloved wife of forty nine years of the late George Aivalis of West Falmouth and Longmeadow, MA passed peacefully in her home on July 17, 2015 in Franklin, MA, at the age of 84. Maria was born and raised in Springfield, and was the daughter of Andrew and Ourania (Baldman (Baldoumis), and the sister of the late Conrad Baldman.
Maria graduated from Springfield Commerce High School in 1949, where she was a star softball player. She continued her education at The Charles F. Gaugh Business School.
While working, she met George Aivalis and they married in 1956 in Springfield, where they lived and started their family.
In 1970, Maria moved to Longmeadow with her family and was employed by American Saw MFG., Company in East Longmeadow for thirty years as a data processing assistant. After retirement she and George moved to West Falmouth, where their children and grandchildren vacationed for many years.
Maria led a very active life. She was a founding member of, and advisor to, the Hellenic Senior Citizens Over Sixty Club, where she brought many smiles to the senior Greek community. She was an active choir member of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Springfield, and later a charter member of St. Luke in East Longmeadow, where she was a member of the choir and organizer of the church festival for many years. She and George regularly attended church functions with long-time friends, where they enjoyed dancing into the evening. She also was an accomplished artist, painting many beautiful landscapes, still-lifes, and portraits in oil. She played tennis and was a highly respected bowler on the Falmouth senior league.
Maria loved the outdoors, and spent countless days sunning on the beach, picnicking and camping on the New England Coast with her family and friends. She enjoyed travelling throughout the country, and overseas in England, Greece, and many Caribbean islands.
Maria was blessed with a tight knit group of loyal friends and family with whom she loved to spend time.
After a courageous struggle with Parkinson’s disease she leaves a son, James Aivalis and wife Lucinda of Katy, TX, a daughter, Cynthia Heimann and husband Christopher of Arlington, VA and a daughter, Andria Emond and husband Scott of Franklin, MA and four grandchildren, Ryan Aivalis, Alexander Heimann, Catherine Heimann and Victoria Emond, and many nieces and nephews. Her family and friends will miss her beautiful smile and loyal, fun-loving friendship.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:00 on Tuesday July 21, at the Sherman Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main St., Mansfield.
Her funeral service, to which all family and friends are cordially invited, will be held at St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church,1007 West St, Mansfield, at 11:00am on Wednesday July 22. On the following day, a burial will be held at 11:30 A.M.in Bourne at the MA National Cemetery at Otis Air Force Base.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Maria’s memory to The Hellenic Cardiac Fund of Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115 or St. Gregory the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church, 1007 West St, Mansfield, MA 02048.
To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com
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