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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- Maria L. Verven, formerly a lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie, died peacefully July 26, 2016, at the Casa de la Luz Hospice in Tucson, Ariz.
She was bornAug. 2, 1926, in Plattsburgh, the daughter of the late George and Calliope (Anagnos) Larios.
She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Patricia Verven Miller and James D. Miller of Tucson.; son James S. Verven, formerly of Poughkeepsie; two grandsons, Cameron and Adam Miller, both of Tucson; granddaughter, Alicia Verven of Poughkeepsie; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She married to Stephen J. Verven on Nov. 19, 1950.
She was predeceased by her husband in 1966; and by her two sisters, Constance Patsalos and Demetra Riley.
She graduated in 1948 from Russell Sage College with a degree in French and linguistics and in 1975 with her masters from SUNY-New Paltz. She taught French in the Arlington Junior High/Middle School for 22 years. She developed the language arts program for Arlington Junior High, which included annual cultural trips for students to practice French in Quebec.
She was a lifelong member of the Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church, serving on the church board, was a member of the Woman’s Philoptochos Society and the Daughters of Penelope. She was a longtime docent of the Francis Lehman Loeb Art Center of Vassar College. She enjoyed the arts, opera and theater. She spent a year in Besancon, France studying the French culture. She was an avid bridge player, reader, traveled the world and thoroughly enjoyed current events and politics. You could find her traveling with friends and family first class or on a train staying at hostels.
She was a compassionate woman whose advice, wisdom and comfort were valued by many family members, friends and students.
Calling hours will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday at the Timothy Doyle Funeral Home, 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Kimisis Greek Orthodox Church, 140 S. Grand Ave., Poughkeepsie. Burial will follow at the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
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