Maria (Arvanites) Boucher of New Bedford, died February 20, 2008 at the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home after a brief illness at the age of 81. She was the wife of the late Norman Boucher and the daughter of the late Paraskevoula (Soumbasis) and Antonios Efstratios Arvanites, from Peloponnesus Greece. She was the oldest of seven children.
She was a 1945 graduate of New Bedford High School; a 1947 graduate of Kinyon Commercial School of Business receiving highest academic honors and awards in her graduating class. She completed numerous courses at the New Bedford Textile School today known as the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Maria served the Greek Orthodox Church with tireless effort with total devotion for over 50 years. Maria served as a Sunday School teacher for numerous years, Greek School teacher since 1981, choir director and a member of the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society along with advising, chairing and organizing many committees and events. She was the first woman of the parish to be honored with the Orthodox Laity Award presented by the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Boston for her many years of outstanding service to her Church. She was a founding member of the Hellenic Lodge and Society which she served in all offices.
Maria loved cooking Greek cuisine, reading, writing, dancing and going the beach. Maria had a vivid flare for fashion and an impressive admiration for art. Mostly Maria had an extraordinary gift of soothing words of encouragement and an infinite compassion for everyone. Humble, dignified, genuine, and selfless, a devoted inspiration to all who were blessed to have known her.
Survivors include three brothers, Constantine "Charles" Arvanites and Louis Arvanites, and his wife Jeannette, all of New Bedford and Peter Arvanites, and his wife Jimmie, of Virginia; two sisters, Olga Xiarhos, and her husband George, of Acushnet and Florence Hall of Sandwich; sisters-in-law, Brenda Arvanites and Connie Mello, both of New Bedford; several nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was the sister of the late Steven Arvanites and sister-in-law of the late Stephen Hall.
Her Funeral Service will be held on Monday at 10 AM in St. George Greek Orthodox Church. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday from 4-8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. George Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, 87 Ashley Blvd., New Bedford, MA 02746. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.