Maria and I have been friends since grade school. We played Barbies and she loved my Barbie Corvette. We would ride our bicycles up and down the street. Maria was always very quiet and reserved and I was the total opposite. She would laugh at me and tell me all the time oh you're bad. As I moved to California Maria and I started playing Words with Friends. We played nightly 3,000 miles apart. For the first three years I couldn't even come close to beating Maria. In the last year there were a few times that I did win the game. Our mothers were friends for years, our older sisters are friends and Maria and I stayed friends. Our last Words With Friends game was 22 hours before she passed. When I received the news of her passing I was paralyzed. Even though we are 3,000 miles away it just seemed like we are still connected as if she was just down the street from me as we grew up. Maria loved painting rocks and I commented on how I love her paintings. Well low and behold I received a heavy box in the mail. In that box we're two rocks that Maria painted for me. I had to laugh because it must have cost her a good dollar to mail that heavy Rock. One rock is on an end table on my patio and the other rock is with my flowers. My backyard is full of memories of friends and family that have given me things. As I walk around my garden and water I will think of Maria everyday. Rest in peace my dear friend

Attend grade school through high school with Maria. She lived just down the street from the school. Wonderful soul and classmate. My condolences to her husband and family. A loss too soon. My utmost sympathies. Hugs from afar. Susan Dibben Kennedy LaSalle class of 1973

She was so loved. It’s just so heartbreaking how quickly she left us. I loved her stories, her soft spoken wisdom she freely shared with anyone who asked, and I especially loved her deep faith. She is rejoicing in heaven because she’s with her savior. I’m also sure Maria is enjoying a pot of spaghetti made by her father. Until we see you again, Maria. ❤️🙏

— with Aunt Rosie with Maria